EQUINE INTERNATIONAL AIRFREIGHT
IN-FLIGHT SEPTEMBER 2018
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Welcome to the September 2018 issue of Equine International Airfreight (EIAF) News and what a remarkable couple of months it has been since we last flew on to your computer screen. As you’ll see in the following pages the Australian Eventing Team has done an incredible job at the World Equestrian Games, our Show Jumpers are about to do their bit, our WEG winner, Stephanie Mackillop has had a wow of a time at Tryon, while, in other news, Emma Booth has taken on the world in the Para-Dressage at WEG, Amanda Ross and Koko Popping Candy grabbed a top 10 spot in the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials and Chris Burton has been crowned British Open Eventing Champion for the second time. Meanwhile, EIAF continues to provide a first class and ‘diverse’ service for clients, with recent charters to the Philippines for broodmares, stallions and polo ponies, brought ‘babies’ from New Zealand and, yes, even bringing in a team of ‘miniature donkeys’. As we like to say, “no job too big or too small”! - CAMERON CROUCHER, EIAF Managing Director
‘weg’-ing on the aussies Eventing team qualifies for Tokyo 2020
Battling the wet and windy conditions, EIAF congratulates the Australian Eventing Team on finishing in 6th position at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon and qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. With Hurricane Florence forcing an unexpected rest day between cross country and show jumping, the Australian event riders at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games weren’t quite sure what to expect in yesterday’s finale at Tryon, but with some brilliant jumping and determined efforts the Australian’s proudly ended the competition on a total score of 135.8. Equestrian legend Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos stole the show with an incredible clear round and finished on their dressage score of 29.8. They just missed a podium finish and were fourth placed individually. Australian Equestrian Team Chef De Mission Chris Webb said after the day’s competition; “We came to WEG to qualify for Tokyo and we have achieved that. No one can question the effort and application, perhaps the execution is something we still need to work on.” “Stuart Tinney and his team should be proud of what they have achieved at WEG, however they are under no illusion of what lies ahead in the next 18 months.” Team GBR won Gold, Ireland Silver and the French secured Bronze. Japan finished fourth and Germany was fifth placed.
AUSSIE PARALYMPIAN EMMA BOOTH TAKES ON THE WORLD AT WEG Emma Booth is Equestrian Australia’s Para-Dressage representative at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games. At the 2016 Rio Paralympics, she rode her Danish-bred horse Mogelvangs Zidane and finished fifth in the Individual Championship Test Grade II. The Victorian based rider said she is looking forward to competing at Tryon with Zidane: “I’m just thrilled to be given the opportunity to represent Australia on the world stage again. I learnt a lot from my experiences with Zidane in Rio and know that this has no doubt made us a stronger combination going forward to WEG. “With the incredible support from the High-Performance team at Equestrian Australia and my coach, Lone Joergensen, I am going away with the best possibility of bringing home a medal,” said Booth. EIAF is privileged to have flown Zidane to Amsterdam for the start of their FEI World Equestrian Games journey. Travelling beautifully, equine athlete Zidane boarded his EIAF flight without a fuss and together with his experienced groom Katelyn they arrived in the best of health. To tune into all the action, you can follow FEI TV
aussie show jumpers ready to go The 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tyron will now play host to the exciting team and individual Show Jumping competition. The Australian Jumping Team riders include Scott Keach and Fedor, Jamie Kermond and Yandoo Oaks Constellation, Billy Raymont and Oaks Redwood and Rowan Willis and Blue Movie. EIAF wishes them the very best of luck! To stay informed with the up to the minute Show Jumping news and results– follow Stephen Lamb’s ‘The Back Rail’ Facebook page.
WIN A TRIP TO WEG WINNER Our win a trip to WEG winner Stephanie Mackillop excitedly took off for her Equestrian Australia WEG experience and by the looks of her first photos, the journey so far is everything she dreamed of … and more. To follow her adventure as she promises to keep us updated from the frontline of the FEI World Equestrian Games please visit the EIAF Facebook page. Safe travels to #teammackillop and enjoy the once in a lifetime experience.
EIAF STAFF PROFILE
ANDREW SKINNER
Farrier & Flying Groom
Attention to detail and a genuine love for horses is paramount for those who join EIAF’s ‘Flying Team’, but ANDREW SKINNER also brings vast experience and – importantly – the added skill set of being a licensed farrier. So, you can safely say at EIAF that we have you covered from head … to foot! How many years experience have you had flying with horses? I’ve been involved in flying and relocating horses for the past 20 years. Having been based in Asia for some of that time, I would regularly accompany horses for clients in Singapore/Malaysia and Thailand. I was appointed the team farrier and Flying Groom for Team Singapore at the South East Asian Games and for the past 5 years I have been flying with EIAF to a lot of countries and looking after many breeds of horses. I have also travelled on numerous types of aircraft with horses, including Malaysian Airforces C130 and a multitude of other types of planes, transporting many different types of air stables. You have been a licenced farrier for the past 35 years – does having these skills help with horses that are relocating overseas? For many of these years I have been based overseas and this experience has allowed me to become aware of the effect on a horse’s feet that can occur from a change in environment/season, coming and going to different ports. Identifying and actioning appropriate treatment quickly can often ensure a good outcome for the horse and owners. Does standing on a plane for extended periods affect a horse’s soundness? Standing on a plane should not affect soundness. However, it is important that a horse does not have any discomfort from their feet before departure. That is where a thorough foot check is ideal and, to make sure, in most cases shoes are removed before a flight. Part of the important process of managing a horse’s welfare is looking after their feet – how does your role help EIAF to deliver a horse in great condition? The horse’s feet and shoes are routinely checked prior/during/after flights and I always carry some emergency farrier equipment in case of a problem with a shoe or a hoof, which can usually be dealt with quickly and smoothly. Do you need to provide any assistance or advice to the receiving party when it comes to post arrival care in their new country? If a problem or a potential problem is identified and treated, but requires ongoing management after departure, we would then provide clients/ stable managers with recommendations for hoof care post arrival. At the end of the day we want the horses to be comfortable and the owners to be happy that we have provided the best care and attention possible. My contribution is a part of that process of delivering a horse in first class condition.
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WINX ... simply the best! She is, simply … sublime. The history books will record that the wonder mare, Winx, won her 27th successive race at Royal Randwick on Saturday 15 September 2015 in the Group One Colgate Optic White (George Main) Stakes. It was her third victory in a row in that race – another record - and she is now on target to capture her fourth straight $5 million WS Cox Plate at Moonee Valley next month. Winx’s next start is likely to be in the Group One Turnbull Stakes where, if successful, she will take her earnings past the $20 million mark … and yes, another record. Quite amazing really when you consider that she was sold for only $230,000 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale!
YU(BELONG) IN CHINA
Long regarded the sleeping giant, horse ownership in mainland China has gone ahead in leaps and bounds in recent years and clearly one of the main drivers is the remarkable Zhang Yuesheng, owner of the Yulong Horse Group. Earlier this month, a large contingent of Australians – including EIAF’s managing director, Cameron Croucher – travelled to Shanxi Province in China to witness the fourth conference of the China Horse Owners Alliance at the Yulong International Hotel. The Yulong Autumn Sale (featuring a 174-strong thoroughbred catalogue, along with a further 33 Akhal-Teke horses, warmbloods, Arabians, ponies and Friesians. And just to top it all off, the sale was followed by another outstanding raceday at the Yulong Racecourse where the main race of the day was taken out by a Victorian bred racehorse, Ji Di. “The progress being made in the region is incredible,” Cameron Croucher points out. “It would have to be the fast growing centre for racing in the world and Mr Zhang has done a remarkable job: the professionalism on the ground is tremendous and, not only are the horses given the best of care, the facilities are all world class.”
‘PINES PONIES (& BROODMARES & RACEHORSES & STALLIONS ...) Equestrian pursuits in the Philippines have been popular since time immemorial, but none more so than the country’s horse racing and polo. In July, EIAF organised a charter to the Philippines which included a wide range of polo ponies, racehorses, broodmares and the thoroughbred stallion Keep The Faith (sire of the multiple Group One winning racehorse Trust In A Gust who is now standing at Swettenham Stud in Victoria). As you can see from the photos, the horses all arrived in immaculate condition and including the valuable Medaglia d’Oro colt which was purchased by Mr Jun Almeda, who was on hand at Manila airport to greet his new acquisition. Meanwhile, the polo ponies – as evidenced by the photos of the Manila Polo and Equestrian Club – will be put to very good use in the months and years to come.
EIAF’s Cameron Croucher (above) shows Mr Almeda his newest acquisition.
LIGHTNING RESULT IN GOLDEN HORSESHOE The Aushorse sponsored Golden Horseshoe is dedicated to juvenile racehorses and is arguably the most sought out series in Singapore. Consisting of four heats which then lead into the S$325,000 Group Two Aushorse Golden Horseshoe Final in July. One definite disciple is Australian expat, Steven Burridge, who is the trainer of this year’s Golden Horseshoe winner, Lim’s Lightning, who races for leviathan owner, Siah Mong Lim. Notably, Mr Lim’s team entrusted EIAF with the transport of Lim’s Lightning to Singapore, from Queensland last year, and we’re happy to report that his pride and joy has now won three of his four races: resuming with a resounding win only last week.
magic millions british eventing champion an aussie ... Elite Australian rider Chris Burton has been crowned the British Open Eventing champion for a second time at Magic Millions’ showpiece equestrian event at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire. The event is a landmark partnership between the Magic Millions and the Festival of British Eventing. Headed by Magic Millions owner Katie Page-Harvey, the event brings together Australia’s iconic thoroughbred auction house — and home of the world-famous Magic Millions January Carnival — and Britain’s top equestrian festival.
size doesn’t matter! EIAF flies all kinds of equine animals … including miniature donkeys. These little guys came to Australia from the USA and, yes, they may be unusual cargo but aren’t they just the CUTEST? If you need to fly horses, ponies or donkeys to different parts of the world EIAF can help! I don’t think we need to say much more … we can let the photos do the talking!
OVER THE DITCH!
EIAF staff give the babies a drink before they head on their way
Horses have been going backwards and forwards between Australia and New Zealand since … well, long before Phar Lap was in a foal rug! However, that old black and white film from the 1930s that you see of Phar Lap being craned on to a ship, is very much a thing of the past and the state-of-the-art stabling used by EIAF makes for a much smoother ‘ride’ these days. But just like Phar Lap, New Zealand horses continue to play a large (and valuable) role in the Australian thoroughbred industry and, in July, EIAF was charged with the responsibility of bringing across 65 ‘future’ racehorses from Auckland to Sydney. The large contingent of ‘babies’ (weanlings) left New Zealand in the dark and arrived on a bright Australian morning. With respect to our beloved Kiwi cousins, we could say they have finally gotten to see the light!
AMANDA POPS INTO TOP 10 SPOT SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials have wrapped up in the UK, with Australian combination Amanda Ross and Koko Popping Candy (Zarzy) finishing 10th of more than 100 starters. It was a fantastic effort by the Australian WEG reserve combination. Amanda was the highest placed international rider, with the 9 riders above her being British. It was Bella Innes Ker and Carolyn who won the class on 28.4, with William Fox-Pitt and Oratorio II in 2nd on 28.7 and Alexander Bragg and Zagreb in third on 29.6. After stretching Zarzy’s legs on a relaxing post Blenheim hack, Amanda happily reporting that Zarzy is feeling a million dollars. Team Ross will leave for Germany to join Shane Rose’s Virgil in quarantine, to get ready to fly home to Australia with EIAF.