Horse Vibes December 2019

DECEMBER 2019

Christmas issue

Inside: OUR HERO ANDREW HOY ON TRACK FOR HIS 8TH OLYMPICS

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

HAPPY SHOPPING!

OUR THOROUGHBREDS HOW WE LOVE THEM

CHRISTMAS TAILS WITH SALTY OF SLEEPY CREEK STABLES

TRAINING TIPS

JUMPING PREPARATION WITH BROOK DOBBIN PLUS MUCH, MUCH MORE… RRP: $9.99

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FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH

8

BRISTER’S BRIEF

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OUR HERO ANDREW HOY

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OUR THOROUGHBREDS

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GIVE ME LAND, LOTS OF LAND

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DELIVERING DREAMS SCHOLARSHIP

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DIGESTIVE HEALTH

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THE HORSE LISTENER

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CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

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TACKBOX: DENTISTRY

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PUB RIDES

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AROUND THE TRAPS

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YOUNG RIDER

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SADDLE REVIEW

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TRAINING TIPS FROM BROOK DOBBIN

Cover photo: Tayleeha Cordwell and No Equivalent relax after their showjumping round at the Gold Coast Show. (Image by Steph at Style It Photography.)

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SAFETY FIRST

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HORSE BREED: LOVELY LUSITANOS

Published by Equestrian Hub PO Box 13, Tintenbar NSW 2478 info@horsevibes.com.au www.equestrianhub.com.au

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GIVING BACK

76

HORSES IN HISTORY

Follow HorseVibes horsevibes @horsevibesmag

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SALTY OF SLEEPY CREEK STABLES

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STARS BY EPONA

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64 INFORMATIVE, INSPIRATIONAL & ASPIRATIONAL

HorseVibes Editor: Candida Baker candida@horsevibes.com.au Deputy Editor Amanda McWhinnie editorial@horsevibes.com.au Advertising Enquiries: Lainie Towner advertising@horsevibes.com.au The Saddle Hub Sales Enquiries: info@equestrianhub.com.au Website/subscriptions: www.horsevibes.com.au

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THIS PUBLICATION IS PUBLISHED BY EQUESTRIAN HUB. MATERIALS IN THIS PUBLICATION HAVE BEEN CREATED BY A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE PUBLISHER ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR MATERIALS CREATED

BY OTHERS. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS PUBLICATION DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE OPINION OF THE PUBLISHER, ITS AGENTS OR EMPLOYEES. CONTENTS OF ADVERTISEMENTS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ADVERTISERS. ANY USE OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS PUBLICATION IS AT THE SOLE RISK OF THE PERSON USING THAT INFORMATION. ©2019 HORSEVIBES EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY LAW, NO PART OF THIS MAGAZINE MAY BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR PART WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF HORSEVIBES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. INFORMATION AND CREDITS ARE CORRECT WHEN GOING TO PRINT BUT MAY CHANGE AFTERWARDS.

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PUBLISHER’S LETTER

don’t! Charlie has some great tips to help you along the safe hoof-lifting road.

From the Horse’s Mouth

Amanda Mac looks at the beautiful Lusitano breed, who doesn’t want one of these magnificent beings under the Christmas tree?

Our Tackbox this month is renowned equine veterinarian and dentist, Dr Oliver Liyou, who climbs onto his tackbox and talks about how to tell if you are getting value for money from your equine dentist. Also on all things medical, Dawn Blackwell explains the horse’s digestive system and how to feed in these dry and challenging conditions.

With Fiona Todd

W

elcome to our fabulous jam-packed with goodies Christmas edition, which has come to you with a few special challenges. Leading up to the this month’s issue, we at HorseVibes HQ have dealt with fires, evacuations, no internet, air that is so thick with smoke that the solar energizers won’t charge, water shortages and paddocks that are turning into dirt bowls.

We know that here in the Northern Rivers we are luckier than most. We’ve always been protected from the worst droughts and the worst fires, but this has given us a taster for what it’s like out there for those continuing to battle this drought and the terrible fires that have engulfed so much of Australia.

To be honest, turning our mind to a ‘festive season’ wasn’t always easy, but we rose to the occasion to bring you a gift guide full of our favourite things, and we hope that some of these ideas, as well as a subscription to HorseVibes, lands in your stocking.

Our Hero this month is Andrew Hoy who was interviewed by HV editor Candida Baker.

Andrew has qualified two horses for the Olympics, and if he makes the team this will be his 8th Olympics. What an outstanding feat. His belief in the importance of

We bring you the winners of the #lifeafterracing competition as well as a massive compilation of Around The Traps, keep those pictures coming, we love seeing everyone out and about with their ponies.

Brook Dobbin talks striding in Training Tips; the Horse Listener reminisces about freezing Christmas rides in the snow; Jane Camens gives us a quick round of pub rides – don’t get drunk and ride! And we introduce the dates for the next round of the Delivering Dreams Scholarship.

harmony, and his dedication to his horses and his sport of eventing are inspirational.

We have a cheeky little character making his way into our pages as a regular contributor.

Don’t ask me how he did it. I think he broke into the feed shed and wouldn’t come out until I agreed. Meet Salty of Sleepy Creek Stables, whose pony adventures are a great reminder of those tiny terrors we all loved as pony-mad kids.

Charlie Brister gives us his usual unique take and this month’s lesson is to teach us how to safely teach a horse to lift its feet. So easy when they do it for you. So hard when they

Us HorseVibers are going to take a little summer break, since we don’t produce a January edition. Our BIG news is – watch out in February as we move to a bi-monthly publication, so that we can bring you an even bigger and even more beautiful publication, with all your favourite pieces and so much more. Don’t worry. If you have a subscription, you will still get the same number of editions you’ve purchased, just spread out over a longer time.

From all of us here at HorseVibes and The Saddle Hub, have a safe and wonderful Christmas, see you in 2020. Relax, pour your favourite glass of Christmas cheer and enjoy our December issue.

W NO DECEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

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Featuring Australian horse men and women Training tips, advice & workshops Equine health and maintenance information Top columnists, sections & features Delivering Dreams Scholarship

TH ON

-M BI

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BRISTER’S BRIEF

Heel toe, heel toe, the importance of kick-ass leg work Picking up your horse’s hooves safely and easily is an absolute essential for all of us, writes CHARLIE BRISTER.

N

early every working horse I know has its hooves manicured more often than their owner’s toes get any attention.

So making foot work a happy and relaxed time with the farrier will improve your quality of horse-life immensely.

Some horses will pick up their feet well, but misbehave when the farrier needs to hold them up for a longer period of time to trim the hooves. If the horse is being shod, the pressure of nails being hammered in can also cause issues for ‘hammer shy’ horses.

Every rider should pick out their horse’s hooves each day - even for barefoot horses.

This essential grooming habit is easy to overlook in a rush, but quite often riders actively avoid picking out hooves if the horse behaves badly each time.

Vets also appreciate checking hooves that can be calmly picked up and held. Some horses need a needle to handle their feet, which is expensive and unwelcome and could have been avoided by having better training, consistent practice and positive experiences early.

Starting your foal early on the road to good hoof manners can set up a great life habit, but there is plenty you can do to older horses to make leg work safer for you and more comfortable for the horse.

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Pressure, release and treats First of all, choose which of the following two methods you are going to use to train your horse to pick up its feet and stand still, or you might want to use both: Negative reinforcement is the removal of pressure following the desired response. If you choose this method make sure not to remove the pressure from the horse’s leg or halter when it starts to misbehave because that rewards the undesirable behavior.

Positive reinforcement is the addition of either food or a wither scratch following the desired response.

Equipment It’s usually best to use a rope halter for this training work. It is also handy to have a towel nearby and a hammer to practice tapping.

Having an extra person can be very helpful.

Make sure they always stand on the same side as you.

Your helper might hold the horse, or your horse may be tied up, but if it’s a very young horse being in a small yard or box is helpful.

There is no need to be a weightlifter but a little bit of strength is helpful for making this process easier. If you aren’t confident, then ask your coach or someone more

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

experienced to help establish good habits that are safer for all involved.

Getting started Ideally, start with some ground-work with your horse. Make sure you bring the horse forward and back from the halter pressure.

Then ask the horse to yield the hind-quarters in both directions.

Will they stand still or are they fidgeting?

If you haven’t established these basics focus on them and it will make the next job a lot easier.

We want the horse to say ‘yes’ as often as possible. To do this you have to reward correct behaviour. If the horse fidgets and you drop the leg, they can decide this is a good way to avoid holding the leg up. This is very frustrating and stems from not standing still in the first place.

Front legs Start by rubbing the horse on the shoulder and slowly running your hand down to the top of the front leg. The main thing is rewarding the horse when they are still and calm. Move your hand down in small increments rewarding the stillness by removing the hand.

Keep repeating this process until you can run your hand down the whole leg without the

BRISTER’S BRIEF

School starts today little one.

Starting early with hoof education saves a lot of hassle later.

Keeping a hand on the sole of a foal’s hoof helps them feel secure.

First the front leg then the back.

DECEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

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BRISTER’S BRIEF

Above: An older horse making it look easy.

Below: How long do I have to stay here?

Using a towel to encourage a young, or reluctant horse, is a soft, and safe, way to persuade them to lift their leg.

While the leg is up you can use the hammer to gently tap the hoof or shoe. If the farrier mentions the horse is ‘hammer shy’ you may have to work on this more often.

Ideally the horse will have learned to stand quite still and be relaxed while you pick up the front feet before you move onto the back legs.

Hind legs Rub the horse all around the girth area and on top of the rump before moving down to the back legs. Personally, I run my hand down the inside of the leg rather than going down the outside/rear of the leg. This helps to prevent you being kicked if they lash out.

horse moving away from you. Eventually you can reach down and lift up the leg. Hold it up for a short period before gently placing it back down. Give the horse a big scratch on the wither to reward them.

Work towards holding the leg up for longer periods rewarding in between.

It’s better to ask for a small amount in the beginning. Little and often is the secret. If the horse fidgets with the leg, try to hold it up, if you can hold it until the leg relaxes then put it down and you will be able to train them that holding their leg up will bring the release much more quickly.

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Repeat the same process that you used for the front legs. This time picking up the leg and grabbing under the toe of the hoof pulling it forward.

Once the horse is calm while you pull the hoof forward, you can start taking the leg back a little at a time.

It is really important not to reward undesirable behaviour, so make sure that you are very clear on the process before you start.

If the horse kicks out and you can’t hold the leg, ask your helper to immediately back the horse up.

Do not hit your horse to punish them for kicking. Back them up to override that

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

reaction. Maintain trust and confidence while making it slightly uncomfortable when they misbehave.

Start again at the rump and work your way down again.

Backing the horse up if necessary If the horse is still lashing out get a mid-sized towel and rub it over the rump and down the hind leg. Then put the towel around the back leg and run it down to the fetlock and pull the leg up. This allows you to stay slightly safer while habituating the horse to touching in that area. Do not hesitate to contact your local horse professional to help with this. It’s much easier if it’s done well in the beginning rather than trying to fix it later.

If you can conquer these basics, you can start to teach the horse to keep its foot on the stand.

I’ve never seen a farrier lose his patience with a calm, well-educated horse. So if your horse is well behaved for his manicure, maybe the farrier will be the one to give you a case of beer this Christmas rather than the other way around!

Charlie Brister can be contacted for any questions on: charlie@bristerequestrian.com

OUR HERO

Harmony and the horse Andrew Hoy is in the spotlight to be chosen to compete at his eighth Olympics, writes CANDIDA BAKER, of a true Australian legend.

Y

ou know it, don’t you, when you see it – the effortless fluid grace of a true athlete, whether it be a swimmer, a runner, or in Andrew Hoy’s case, a rider. And for me, the invisible communication between a great rider and a great horse takes that grace to another level.

“Someone once asked me to describe my riding in one sentence,” he tells me, on the phone from Melbourne, “and I said to them, ‘I can tell you what it means to me in one word – and that’s harmony’. It’s harmony between me and the horse in whatever we’re doing.”

Andrew Hoy is one of Australia’s most experienced elite eventing riders, with two of his current horses, Vassily de Lassos and Bloom Des Hauts Crets recently qualifying for Tokyo, coming second and ninth respectively at the recent three day event at the Strzegom Horse Trials in Poland. “That doesn’t mean I’m selected at this point in time,” he tells me.

“Selection will take place in 2020, and the final selection is in July.”

If he makes the team, and the chances are high that he will, it will be his eighth Olympics, placing him right up there in the record books. Only 14 athletes in the world have competed at eight or more Olympic games. Two have competed at nine, and one at ten.

When I mention it, he corrects me kindly.

“Actually,” he says, “it would be the ninth time I’ve been selected, because I was also selected for the team in 1980 for the Moscow Olympics, but because of the fighting

Above: Andrew Hoy Photo supplied by Hoy Enterprises. Opposite page: Through the brush! Andrew on Vassily de Lassos during the cross-country phase of the CHI0 Five Nations Cup at Aachen in July. Image Libby Law Photography.

between Russia and the US at the time, some sports chose to boycott. The Australian Team competed at the Alternative Olympics in Fontainebleau instead and we won a bronze medal – which was great, but in Olympic terms, it doesn’t have any relevance.”

At the London Olympics, Andrew was already breaking the Australian record for an athlete attending the most Olympic Games. He was the flag bearer at the 1996 Olympics and has won four Olympic medals, three-team gold with the eventing team, and silver in the individual three-day event in Sydney. He

was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2000.

But despite his continuingly stellar career, there’s something more prosaic on his mind at the moment than Olympic selection.

“Sleep,” the 60-year-old who has come somewhat late to parenting, laughs.

“Stefanie and I have two children, Philippa who is 27 months, going on 27 years, and Oscar who is twelve-weeks-old. I find I don’t get down to the stables quite as early as I did before I was a parent.”

DECEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

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OUR HERO

had some lessons from some great people, so I suppose there was something there.”

Davey was the start of a lifelong affinity with Thoroughbreds, a breed for which Andrew has the highest respect. “Of course they’re bred for racing,” he says, “but of all the breeds, I think the Thoroughbred is the most versatile – they still move so easily into the Olympic disciplines of dressage, jumping and eventing.”

Left: Andrew with Davey. Right: Andrew with his first Olympic horse – the amazing Davey. Images supplied by Hoy Enterprises.

I have to say It feels good to know that even Olympians find parenting has its challenges.

“It’s definitely challenging,” he says. “I had no idea how much joy children could bring you, but along with the joy there are definitely challenges, wonderful as they are.”

The ‘stables’ are his eventing complex in Leicestershire, about an hour north of London. Stefanie and Andrew, who married in 2017 live a kilometre away from the stable complex in a village.

“It works very well. Stefanie runs her own communications business from the office at the yard, which now also works as a meeting place, and conference area,” he says.

His lifestyle is a long way from his rural upbringing in New South Wales, but despite all his success Andrew still remembers his first ‘real’ horse with pride. “Davey was a 15.3hh Thoroughbred who’d raced in

Queensland,” he says. “He came to central Victoria on a train with a load of other horses, he was sold through the saleyards in Wangaratta, a dairy farmer called Dave bought him – hence the name – then someone else bought him, and then my parents bought him for me thinking he’d be a good pony club horse for me to go up the grades with. Well, that horse took me to two Olympic Games, two World Championships and won the Burghley Horse Trials. He was special.”

As he’s got older – he turned 60 in February – he’s learned to appreciate his earlier horses even more. “I honestly had zero knowledge in those days. I mean, when I rode Davey at the World Championships, I was only 19.

I used to kick and point, and it was extraordinary how they went for me considering that I feel as if I had no talent at all. But I suppose I must have had something, and I

That said, his current star, Vassily de Lassos, is Anglo Arabian, with Selle Francais jumping lines in there. “He looks like a Thoroughbred,” he says. “In Europe there’s very much the endurance Anglo Arabian, but he doesn’t look like that.”

Andrew dismisses the idea of ‘quirky’ horses.

“A quirky horse is a sensitive horse,” he says. “The more I do with horses, the more knowledge I’ve gained, the more I work with the personality of the horse. I try to work with them, I want them to tell me what’s going on. Just as not every Thoroughbred will make a racehorse, not every ex-racehorse will transition to high-level performance, but that doesn’t mean there’s not the opportunity for the horse to have a useful and happy life.”

But at the moment, he couldn’t be happier that what Vassily appears to be telling him, which is that he is at his very best at big events. “So am I.” he says. “The bigger the event, the calmer I am. I’m really focused on that one job, and it usually works out much better for me.”

With his absolute belief in the importance of harmony between horse and rider, he was pleased when several people who saw him ride Vassily in Poland, told him that it seemed as if he was doing nothing, and that he didn’t even appear to move.

“What a lot of riders don’t understand when they’re jumping horses is that a horse doesn’t actually fully see a fence until only about three seconds before you get to it,” he says.

“So there’s no point in getting anxious or nervous, or pulling a little to the left or right, or wriggling in the seat for a fence that’s 15 seconds ahead. The secret lies in the quality of the canter, not the actual fence. Good rhythm, balance and a good take-off will get you over the fence.”

The budding eventer! A young Andrew Hoy on Halo. Image supplied by Hoy Enterprises

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HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

Bloom Des Hauts Crets, otherwise known as Bloom, has similar breeding to Vassily, and Andrew is excited at the idea of her

OUR HERO

Bringing it home. Andrew on Vassily de Lassos heading towards the cross-country finish line at Aachen. Image Libby Law Photography.

future. “Vassily is ten, Bloom is only eight, so it’s looking as if she might have a truly exceptional career ahead of her,” he says.

“Plus there’s also Basmati, a ten-year-old Trakehner, who came third at Montelibretti CCI43*, at the end of October. All I need to do for him to quality is a short 4* competition.”

An obvious question is if he has a favourite phase in eventing. He’s kind enough to humour me. “I’m so often asked that,” he says, “and what I’ve worked out is that if I have a horse that is unbelievable in one phase of the competition then that’s my favourite!” He laughs. “The fact is, I love it all.

It’s a passion for me.”

So what, I ask, does a typical Andrew Hoy day

look like, if he’s at home and not travelling and competing.

“How I work is I do a plan the night before, working out which horses I’m going to ride, and the structure of the ride, whether I’m going to work them on the flat, at a canter or a gallop. In the morning I get down there around eight, and work the horses.

Then after lunch we spend more time on organisation, meetings, planning etcetera. I like to mix up the horses work to keep them interested, and me too, for that matter.”

Of course, like anyone who has achieved great success in their field, he’s occasionally had a high price to pay. His international debut, with Davey, was at the 1978 World

Championships in the USA. In 2008 he was accused of using spiked boots at an event in Portugal, a claim he strongly denied. “I’m absolutely convinced someone is out to get me,” he said at the time. He was cleared of all charges, but it was still hurtful. “I’ve always prided myself on my treatment of my horses,” he says. “I’m not the kind of person to anthropomorphise horses, and give them human qualities. They don’t know what I’ve done in my life, they don’t care what I’ve done. What they need from me is the most professional relationship I can give them, and that’s what they get.”

If you think, for a minute, about the accolades that Dawn Fraser received when

DECEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

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OUR HERO

Andrew Hoy on Rutherglen at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in September 2019. Image Libby Law Photography.

she won three gold medals in a row, it does

calling out “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie…Hoy, Hoy,

seem as if equestrians in this country fly

Hoy,” whenever he competed.

slightly below the ‘popular’ radar. That said,

As well as his Olympic records, Andrew and

Andrew was the first Australian since Fraser

his previous wife, Bettina Hoy (nee Overesch)

to win three gold medals consecutively, and

were the only married couple to ever

at the Sydney Olympics the crowd were quick

compete against each other from different

to adopt their own Aussie chant to fit the bill,

countries – Bettina for Germany, Andrew

I like to mix up the horses’ work to keep them interested, and me too, for that matter.

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HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

for Australia – in different teams for the same Olympic medals. (Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks also competed against one another in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, but both were riding for Australia.) The couple lived for 12 years in Gloucestershire, at the Gatcombe Estate of the Princess Royal. In 2009, they moved to Germany, with Andrew moving back to the UK only a year later, and their separation announced in November 2011.

When I ask him if his second wife, Stefanie, is horsey, Andrew laughs. “Not at all,” he says. “Well, she’s not a rider. I met her at a horse show. I’ve always had a passion for motor racing that came from my father. I was looking at some of the cars on display at the event, and Stefanie, who handled the communications account for Jeep, was

OUR HERO

there. She asked if I’d be interested to do an autograph session, and gradually over a period of time, I realised that she was a very interesting person. She is used to hard work and commitment as well. She played for the German Youth Orchestra, and she has a communications business that specializes in companies that want to invest in the equine industry. Her clients include MercedesBenz, Deutsche Bank and Hermès, so she is involved with horses at the sponsorship level, and she’s learned a lot about them, but she’s not riding, or taking care of them at the yard.”

Mind you, that might change with little Philippa showing signs of being a chip off the old block, as they say. “All she wants to do is ride, ride, ride,” Andrew says. “She has a miniature Shetland called Toad. We originally bought him as a companion pony, first for Rutherglen, and then for a short period of time for Vassily. Vassily gave him such a hard time, we separated them again. Toad wasn’t broken in when we bought him, so basically Philippa has broken in her first pony already.”

Andrew says that there is no way he would push his children into an equestrian career, but it seems in Philippa’s case as if it may already be too late for that, and with baby Oscar coming up behind, it maybe that the catchcry of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Hoy, Hoy, Hoy,” is heard for generations to come.

Top: Andrew Hoy riding Bloom des Hauts Crets in the show jumping phase of the CCI4* at the Blenheim Horse Trials in September. Image Libby Law Photography.

Bottom: Andrew Hoy with his wife Stefanie, and Bloom des Hauts Crets on the second day of the dressage at the CCI4* at Blenheim. Image Libby Law Photography.

DECEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

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FEATURE

Honouring your beautiful Thoroughbreds & Standardbreds We asked for photos and stories, you gave them to us in spades. Here, we publish our top ten, with prizes for all. Thank you for showing us how special your horses are to you in their lives after racing.

H

ere at HorseVibes, many of us have Thoroughbreds we’ve competed on, bred from, had as companion horses, play with in therapy work, and generally enjoy.

They have larger-than-life personalities, for sure, and we were so moved by your stories and photos that we’ve chosen eleven of the best, which we are sure will move our readers as much they moved us.

Congratulations to our top three. Amy Cullen wowed us with her story of Cartoosh. Amy has won a copy of the just published book, From Newmarket to Riverside, the journey of the Thoroughbred auctioneer company,

Inglis, from their humble beginnings to their amazing complex at Warwick Farm.

She also receives a one-year subscription to the printed edition of HorseVibes, and a woven belt. Our runners-up Jodie Lee and Stephanie Huntley have both won a one-year subscription to HorseVibes, and a beautiful woven belt.

Our other entrants have all been given a oneyear subscription to HorseVibes. We hope you enjoy your prizes and congratulations.

We are so thrilled to have given you the chance to show off your Thoroughbreds.

Long may they rein over us!

AmyCullen Cartoosh is 22. She was born in November 1997, and her race name was Royal Cartoosh.

She wasn’t a brilliant race horse, she only won a small amount of money, so she went on to be a broodmare, and had two fillies. Originally she was meant to be on a three-month lease with me. I got her in poor condition, and after I got her the owners communication ceased completely and she’s been with me ever since. We will have been together seven years on the 28th of November this year, and I got her when she was 15.

She has the absolutely sweetest temperament.

It’s true with mares, once they trust you they give you their all. And she sure does. We’ve showjumped, evented, and we did some dressage through 2013-2014.

In 2015 a stick went through her leg at the beach and she tore her digital flexor tendon, and her suspensory tendon. I was told she wouldn’t be paddock sound. 295 days later we were back in the saddle starting a rehab program. She’s had the largest vet bills: torn tendons, two-eye lacerations, torn hamstrings, colic, surgery at UQ Gatton, where a mass needed to be removed from her sinus – she had an Ethmoid Heamatoma, she’s had leg and shoulder lacerations, abscesses. You name it, she’s had it, but every

DECEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

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Winner: Amy Cullen with her injury-prone princess Cartoosh • Amy’s photos taken by her soon-to-be-husband.

Ali Searle with Bruno at Ev80 Canberra CIC Sept 2018 • Image: Amy McIlrick

time we’ve come out on top and beaten the odds. In 2017 we changed disciplines and tried our hand at trick riding, and she took to it like a duck to water, but at the end of the year I injured my back and we were both out of action for around nine months. Last year, my partner left for the army, and Rella was there for the entire year picking me back up while I was down. When my back got better, we restarted trick riding and learned mounted archery and she’s just taken everything in her stride. She always takes care of me when I’m on her back!

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India Cochrane with Para Mi Amor • Image Blue Ribbon Photography

Next year I’m getting married to my partner of six years, and she’ll be my companion walking down the aisle. I am very excited to be able to Trick ride in my wedding dress on the day with my best four-legged friend. It’s been a roller coaster ride!

Ali Searle Bruno raced as Cheval. He was a pretty unsuccessful racehorse – but he’s a freak showjumper! He’s like a giant puppy at 17.2, but he can be a challenging ride with so much leg to try and coordinate! He’d love it

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

if bitless competition was legalised across all disciplines.

India Cochrane Para Mi Amor is my super talented and athletic nine-year-old OTT. He was a very good racehorse with 28 starts under his belt. After racing he was campaigned to 2* eventing in just three years. Now he has been passed onto me and I love eventing him! At the recent inter school nationals competition held in Sydney Amor placed 2nd in the Combined Training 95cm winning

Tameka Ellard with Shanghai Noon aka Cappa • Image: Chrissy May Photography.

Kathleen Howse with Classy Candidate • Image Alex Stotter Photography

Runner-up: Jodie Lee’s Savannah doing a nursing round • Image: Jodie Kajewski.

Annabelle Mill with Brahmastra, aka Ned • Image: Rebekah Kinley.

the highest placed OTT award. Amor is such a gentle giant with the kindest nature and I wouldn’t change him for the world.

Jodie Lee We’ve had our OTT, Savannah, since she was a two-year-old straight from the track. She is

Tameka Ellard

now seven-years-old, my children compete

Shanghai Noon (Cappa) is an 11-year-old

have learnt to ride on her and she also goes

OTT out of Cape North who raced until he

at pony club on her, a lot of kids and adults to nursing homes, going for walks around

was five in the Pilbara region and is now

the home for the elderly to enjoy time with

doing really well in the dressage and show

her. We are blessed to have Savannah.

horse ring! We recently participated in the PHP Rising Star awards. He has the most wonderful nature!

Annabelle Mill Brahmastra aka Ned thought racing was

Kathleen Howse

overrated, so since I bought him at the start

After 191 race starts Classy Candidate (show

partner in crime at pony club, dressage,

and race name) is doing it really tough as a

showjumping, and eventing. I bought him

show horse! Perhaps spoiled rotten would

myself soon after finishing year 12, and I work

be a better name!

two jobs to cover his costs but it’s all worth

of this year he’s become my best friend and

it. From never having competed he’s now got numerous successes under his belt including many ribbons/rosettes, reserve dressage champion, reserve champion hack plus more.

From not having any jumping education, or ever having done a dressage test he’s now easily getting around 60-70cm courses and novice level dressage. We’ve also done musical rides, polocrosse, mounted games, obstacle courses, horse ball, trail riding plus more! I honestly couldn’t ask for a better horse. Next year we’ll be moving interstate to complete a Diploma of Sports Development so who knows what the future will bring.

Stephanie Huntley Agent 86, who formerly raced as Casting, retired from racing as a six-year-old, ended up neglected and was surrendered to

DECEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

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Runner-up: Rachael Baker on Stephanie Huntley’s Agent 86 • Image: Jasmine Dunmore Photography.

the RSPCA. The RSPCA took him on and handed him over to Save A Horse Australia, a Queensland based horse charity, back in 2014. I adopted him from in January 2016 after he was brought back to health. He was an eventer until he fractured his pedal bone on cross country. He has been rehabilitated and is now a para dressage pony and doing a mighty fine job of it. In this photo Rachael Baker is riding him.

Salena McBride Mr Jacobs is 20-years-young, and he raced for eight years on the northern circuit. He wasn’t a big prize winner, but he is a lovely gentle horse, so I think that’s why they persisted with him for so long. But now he’s conquering the show ring. He’s had a couple

22

Salena McBride with 20-year-old Mr Jacobs • Image: Kelly A Lucey Photography.

of different owners, but we have owned and competed Jake for three years. My daughter Leah successfully competes in dressage showing and hacking as well as using Jake for Pony club and as a school master at one of our local riding schools.

Rebecca Phillips The Prodigy is a nine-year-old Standardbred mare that retired from racing in August 2018.

She won her first race as a two-year-old in a Heat of the WA Sales classic and was then lightly raced for a further two wins and 12 placings, and a winning mile rate of 1.58.3.

Since retiring from racing she has been started under saddle and has attended Adult Riding Club. She was awarded Supreme Champion Standardbred at the 2019 Perth

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

Royal Show, at only her third competition, which was amazing! I have attached two photos from the event.

Centaur Connection Maroon Creek, who is now called Shival, was saved from the knackery and retrained.

He now has a new career as a much-loved riding school horse for beginners in Cairns, Far North Queensland. He really seems to enjoy his job and the attention he receives.

Yvon Raywike, the instructor at Centaur Connection, says this horse definitely needs to take centre stage! I know he is the most kind hearted, patient and forgiving horse I’ve ever came across in my whole horsey life – 27 years – with kids as little as seven years being able to ride him.

Rebecca Phillips with The Prodigy • Image: Vicki Tapper.

Centaur Connection’s Maroon Creek • Image: Centaur Connection, 2019.

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FEATURE

Give me land, lots of land and a starry sky above…

And, as the song goes, don’t fence her in! When self-confessed ‘townie’ Tara Shiels left the Blue Mountains for the Pilbara it was the beginning of a seven-month adventure, writes JANE CAMENS.

N

ot everybody thought it was a good idea when 18-year-old Tara Shiels confessed she had a desire to spend her gap year on a remote cattle property. After all, says Tara, “I’m absolutely a town girl, hot and cold water at the turn of a tap, a short walk to the shop, all those convenient things.” Where she’s been living for the past seven months, the nearest shop is a three-hour drive away, but still she says, that’s been a small price to pay for the extraordinary adventure she’s had.

Tara arrived at Yarrie Station, where they run 5,000 head of cattle on the 250,000 hectare (617,000) acre property, just before the start of the mustering season. The station, which is in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, has been in the Coppin family for five generations, and is now owned and managed by 34-year-old Annabelle Coppin, who purchased the property from her parents. The nearest town is Marble Bar, which is about 140 kilometres away, mostly on dirt roads.

Tara was one of three 18-year-olds chosen to work as station-hands, alongside a small crew, all under the age of 35, and from various parts of the world.

“Sometimes you just need something different,” she says. Station life certainly ful-

24

filled that need. She found out quickly that she could, if she had to, swap spinach for bread, almond milk for long life milk, and tofu for red meat.

“At home mum would say if I ever got a flat tyre I should wait in the car and ring the NRMA for assistance. Out here in the Pilbara, good luck trying that! You might wait a lifetime,” she laughs. “It always seemed to happen on the days we had a million other things to do, but you just get on with it. Jack that car up, pull the tyre off, pray the spare was checked, get it on and away you go.’

Doing something like this had been in the back of her mind for four or five years, Tara tells me. “My grandmother, Fran Arbuthnot, worked on a country property when she first came out from England and when I was young she introduced me to horses. She was very supportive of me doing this, and really encouraged me to go for it. I’d love to inspire others to do this. In the past few years it’s become increasingly popular, especially for girls, and it truly is an amazing adventure.”

One of the deciding factors in Tara choosing Yarrie Station was that the station still uses horses for mustering. These days many places rely on motorbikes, trucks and helicopters.

Yarrie, of course, uses all these but they’ve kept the horses on for mustering believing

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

they cause the cattle less stress. Initially Tara rang a lot of cattle stations in the PilbaraKimberley region. “Eventually I got on to Annabelle,” she says. “I liked the way she advised me what to ask and look for.”

The days were long, with the crew getting up before sunrise, at around five o’clock. “Our work consisted of anything from mustering cattle to cleaning troughs, feeding hay, caring for calves, and so much in between,” she says.

If they were mustering, Tara and her new friends could be out for eight to 12 hours.

“Before seven in the morning you might have a helicopter land next to your camp, have to shower from a bucket to wash off dirt, grease and cow poo, and cook breakfast on a camp fire. That was normal.” Talking to her right at the end of her stint on the station, she sounds almost nostalgic already!

The crew could camp out for up to a month at a time. “We spent less time in our beds than we did in our swags,” she says. “We set up camp with a marquee for a bit of shade and had a caravan for our dry stores and a small fridge.”

And then there were the horses. Tara talked about how impressive they were. “They’re all very strong and athletic, able to go for 40 kilometres a day. They’re the hardiest horses

FEATURE

Top: Tara on her ‘mate’ for seven months, Sinco. Bottom: A muster through an amazing landscape.

DECEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

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FEATURE

If you are thinking of applying to work on a cattle station, Steph Coombes, the editor of a blog called Central Station where people working on cattle stations write about their lives, has some advice. She warns that the number of stations using horses is dwindling, so don’t assume you’ll be on horseback – always check.

She also recommends seriously thinking about the location you want, including the distance from the nearest town. “In WA you’ve got the Pilbara, Kimberley and southern rangelands. The Territory has the Top End, Victoria River District, Katherine, Barkly, and Central regions. Queensland – there’s the Gulf, Channel Country, and western Queensland etc. Each region is

Tara (left) and Lauren were keen to get mustering.

unique and differs from the next. You’ll be hard pressed to find big crews mustering on horseback in the West Australian southern rangelands, so if that’s what you’re after you might be better off on the Barkly,” she says.

Also the time spent mustering is variable, she explains. “Some places spread out mustering over nine months; others smash it out in six weeks,” she says. “Some places camp out, and others are always based at the homestead.

Make sure you ask the questions and end up in a place that delivers the experiences you’re looking for.”

Steph advises: “If you’re on a gap year, your wage can be an issue. Working on a station means saving money on things like rent,

After a long day’s mustering! From left to right: Rachael, Martha, Lauren and Tara.

groceries, and utilities, but you will still have expenses. No one wants to get half way

I’ve ever seen. They keep going until the job’s

every muster, riding the whole day, by far the

through a season and realise they have to

done and they’re long days for the horses

best horseperson out there.”

leave because they just can’t afford it. It really

and riders.”

Among the images she’ll never forget are the

Tara’s ‘mate’ was a little mixed breed horse

sunrises and sunsets illuminating the tips of

called Sinco. “You get attached to your

spinifex in the East Pilbara.

mustering horse,” she says. “I spent a lot

is horses for courses. There’s a station out there for everyone, it’s just about matching your expectations with what the station has to offer – do your research, find someone who is familiar with the area you wish to

of time with Sinco. He’s a little champion,

“It’s a lifestyle. Once you’re there you live

around 10 years old and only about 14.2

and breathe the work. You have to love

hands. He knew what he was doing. He’s

it, because there’s nowhere to hide if you

often used to teach people how to muster. I

don’t,” Tara says. “Luckily for me I couldn’t

rode other horses, but you form a bond with

have ended up in a better place to learn.

To find a position that could be suitable, here

your little mate. I’ll miss him for sure.”

It’s amazing how far teamwork and a little

is a place to start looking:

Tara was impressed also by Anne Coppin,

compassion for each other can go. It was a

• www.agworkforce.com.au

Annabelle’s remarkable mother. “She’s an

big adjustment but I loved learning. It was

• email: jobs@agworkforce.com.au

amazing horsewoman,” she tells me. “She’s

exactly what I hoped it would be. I’d do it

what everyone aspires to be. She was on

again in heartbeat.”

26

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

go to, read some Central Station blogs, and prepare yourself for the experience of a lifetime.”

• Facebook: agworkforce

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Large queen sized rooms with couch, wardrobe and beautifully appointed bathrooms. Air-conditioned with WiFi, stunning outdoor kitchen leading to large swimming pool and cabana, near to great surfing beaches and cafes, surfboards/ paddleboards etc available

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SCHOLARSHIP

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FEATURE

Digestion does best when it’s as nature intended The domestication of horses poses unique challenges for digestive health, writes DAWN BLACKWELL, who gives us an explanation of our horses’ digestive systems.

I

f you think about the digestive process, digestion begins with chewing and the essential production of saliva.

Your horse feels with her whiskers;

grasps, bites, chews and passes a moist bolus of food down the oesophagus. Slowly. If not, choke may occur.

In a horse, it can only go one way as there is a flap preventing food coming back up and so off to the stomach it goes! In the stomach the

food is held for around 30 minutes. Horses produce more saliva when their head is low, and it is absolutely the best position for their neck and back, leading to more correct muscle development (as opposed to that which is created by pulling hay from a net).

They also breathe less dust and mould into their lungs. With the challenges posed by the drought, the feeding of hay will prevent the build up of sand, but try not to feed on sandy/dusty areas.

Feed off the ground and always have water available.

The stomach is made up of two parts; but for simplicity’s sake, all we need to know is that the PH level and its contents are crucial in order to avoid digestive upset or ulcers.

The stomach is happiest with some food in it, but definitely no more than two/thirds full, which most people don’t realize. Ideally the majority of the food should be fibre, because if not it’s possible for food to pass into the small intestine before the enzymes have finished their work. This can lead to toxins passing into the blood stream.

Feed small feeds often, ideally consisting of 70% fibre or more.

Digestion continues in the 70ft long small intestine, but we want it S.L.O.W. else we run the risk of starch being passed to the hindgut which can cause digestion of sugar issues associated with laminitic horses, and can possibly cause colic.

Adding 50-100 mls of oil to every feed can improve digestion of essential nutrients and overall health. Feed only small quantities of grain.

All the good guys live in the hindgut – the happy little microbes that digest fibre, Amino Acids (protein) produce B vitamins and keep

Dawn Blackwell’s horses enjoying a natural way of foraging.

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HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

IMAGES FOAL AND ROUND BALE: SHUTTERSTOCK

Above: A mould-free round bale is handy for times of drought.

Left: You can never start too early with healthy, natural nutrition.

your horse happy and well. And, oh how horses need them! The feeding of oil has been shown to slow down the process of digestion and therefore increase absorption of essential nutrients and fat-soluble vitamins. Oats are easily digested, but grains benefit from cooking or micronising to aid absorption. Happy gut, happy horse.

Challenging times

ADM ALLIANCE NUTRITION

In these challenging times of drought, if you can get hold of a round bale you will be doing the best thing possible for your horse.

You can then just offer a small feed to carry your supplements and salt. The hay needn’t be the best, but make sure it’s mould free.

A toxin binder can help if you’re concerned about the quality of the hay.

If your horse requires stabling, try one of the slow feeders on the market that mimic natural grazing, or spread hay rations throughout the night. It takes dedication to look after your horse’s gut. Using feeds like hemp, apple cider vinegar, acid buffers, kelp and probiotics will nourish the gut and promote good bacteria. Limit starch high feeds, feed B-Vitamins at times of illness, old age and stress and allow free access to hay/ grass particular to your horses’ needs, and your horse will be as healthy as possible, no matter the weather conditions.

Dawn Blackwell BHS II Distributor Spectrum Animal Health.

You can contact Dawn on 0411 819 968.

DECEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

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THE HORSE LISTENER

Stop the snow, I want to get off

come equipped on our holidays for a ride in the freezing cold. At least I’d bought riding boots with me, but she was wearing thin sneakers. I was losing all feeling in my fingers and toes, and Tessa was in danger of actually losing her fingers and toes all together or so it seemed.

“This is awful,” I said to her.

“Isn’t it?” she said. “I’m so cold.”

CANDIDA BAKER reminisces on some hot and cold horsey Christmas memories.

S

o there we were, two of my sisters and me, and my father. It was Christmas Eve morning, and we were out for a ride in Richmond Park, about an hour from the centre of London, at a stables that my Dad had ridden at a lot over the years, and where all of us had ridden with him from time to time, enjoying the occasional gallop through the ancient parklands, catching a glimpse of deer, and generally having a jolly good British time of it.

Christmases in Australia sweltering in the heat at the beach.

But this, my friends, was different. It was snowing, you see. It was a beautiful day, in a way, the sky was blue – in between snow-falls – and there was no wind, thank goodness, because it was actually freezing, and by freezing, I mean freezing.

My younger sister and I had fallen behind, while the youngest of us, Sarah, and our Dad, made their way slowly up a hill in the pine trees, the horses heads stretched down into the vile weather. Neither Tessa nor I had

But in two years, my blood had obviously decided to become Australian, and I was spending every single day frozen to the marrow, despite every attempt – including jogging every morning – to stay warm. But when my Dad had suggested he’d like to take the three of us riding, it had seemed like a lovely idea, and it was, and it would have been if it hadn’t been actually snowing on us.

When I was a little girl my uncle, who ran a riding school in Singapore, used to come and visit us in the winter, and I always found it mystifying that he found the weather so cold. He would sit shivering in front of our roaring fire, wearing about sixteen jumpers, and saying he could never live in the UK again. (Although, in fact, in the long run, he did but that’s another story.) Anyway, the point of this digression, is that I’d moved to Australia two years before, and I missed my family so much, that I’d decided to go back for a Christmas, fondly indulging in happy imaginings of the delicious hot food in the cold weather, carol singing at our local country church, the convivial gatherings, and the general feeling that Christmas was as it should be rather than my first two 32

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

She took a breath and called to our father.

“George,” she shouted out into the freezing air. “If you’ll just let us stop, I’ll tell you all my secrets.”

I started laughing so hard, my horse shied at the sudden sound, and as I leant forward to pat her neck, and reassure her, I actually BROKE one of her mane hairs, and it was then that I noticed that the hairs inside her ears were frozen!

Even still, I think my father would have kept going if it wasn’t for the fact that snow was building up inside the horse’s shoes, and despite their best attempts to keep walking in a straight line, we were all in danger of skidding off into a kind of horse ice-skating routine at any moment.

Even while we were riding though, it bought back so many memories of riding as a teenager on my pony in the snow, and watching her one day from my bedroom window while she galloped up and down in the snow, looking over her shoulder at the sprays of snow she was making with

THE HORSE LISTENER

Riding through the snow – not always what it’s cracked up to be!

as much delight as a kid making mud-pies.

Cold rides also meant chilblains, those pesky inflammations of the small blood vessels in your skin that happen after you’re exposed to cold but not freezing air for a long period of time. I can remember to this day the feeling every winter of those itchy, swollen, red patches, which would then blister, on my hands and feet. What you felt like doing was plunging your hands and feet into hot water, to stop the incredible sense of freezing cold, but the best way was to gradually thaw out in luke-warm water.

Snow and horses. Not always the best mix.

Another Christmas, when I was about 18, our neighbours up the road had asked if I would exercise their son’s pony, who had been a bit ‘fresh’ recently. Since I was riding fit, and the pony was all of about 13hh, I said I’d be delighted. We started off in fine style, and soon we were cantering along the snowcovered verge, jumping little ditches as we came to them, when suddenly, without any warning, just as we were about to launch ourselves over the next ditch, the little rotter chucked in a massive buck, so massive that the saddle ended up near his ears, and I did a less than graceful somersault over his back, landing in the snow on my chin with full force. It split open, and blood gushed out on to the white snow, while I sat there, not sure whether it was my pride or my body that was most bruised. I had to walk back to the farmhouse, naughty pony by my side.

Six stitches later, I looked like a member of the Hapsburg royal family, with a chin that almost stretched to my chest. No Christmas dinner that year. My mother (who was remarkably unsympathetic now I come to

think about it) mashed up all my food in the Kenwood and gave it to me with a straw.

Back in Richmond Park, my father finally gave in, and we were allowed to get off our horses and walk them back to the stables, which at least started our circulation again.

But later that evening, when we gathered for a Christmas meal at my Dad’s, the family sitting at the long wooden table, laden with Christmas food and drink, my fingers and toes having finally thawed out, regaling those who were lucky enough not to have been riding with us, with the stories, just for a moment I thought to myself, “I won’t forget this day,” and I never have.

I’ve also never been back to England for another Christmas.

Back in the Antipodes, I was once mad enough to ride on a Christmas Day out at Hill End, at a property I once owned. Surrounded by our very own one billion flies, we rode in 43° heat down to the river, where we tried to eat a picnic lunch, dramatically waving flies off every mouthful, while the horses dozed in the shade of a She-Oak. As we sweated our way back up the three-kilometre steep hill I thought to myself that whichever hemisphere I was in, riding at Christmas seemed a bit like an over-rated activity, and in a rare moment of good sense, I decided that I’d rather do almost anything than ride at Christmas.

But if your Christmas does include riding, I hope you don’t boil or freeze, and that Santa brings you and your horses many, welldeserved presents.

Murray Postscript In a wonderful Christmas present – with my other hat on as President of Equus Alliance, I’m so thrilled to tell all of you who followed my story ‘A little life is worth a lot’, that Murray has been adopted by his foster carer. He’s turned into a wonderful therapy pony, and he will be safe and happy in his forever home. It’s a great outcome and means that Equus will be in a position to take on another rescue.

Happy Christmas Murray!

Candida Baker runs a Facebook page, The Horse Listener. She is also the President of Equus Alliance.

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GIFT GUIDE

Have yourselves a horsey little Christmas The HorseVibes team have had all year to fine-tune their Christmas wish lists… and their combined efforts include everything from three-horse trucks (horses included) to boot polish and socks! So to help you on your gift-giving way, here are our top picks – and from all of us to all of you, a very Merry Horsey Christmas!

Weatherbeeta Prime Bling Ear Bonnet A Bombers Bit Bombers Blue bits are made from a unique non-metal material which is sweet to the taste and warm to the touch. They encourage bit acceptance and salivation, and are available in a variety of mouthpiece/cheek combos.

We chose the Bombers Ultra-Comfy Lock-Up Loose Ring because we love the way this bit design allows for quick release, and relief from tongue and bar pressure. • Comfortably priced at $125, this Bombers is a bit of a bargain!

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Just like riding gloves, ear bonnets come in a vast range of styles and colours. But if you want to add a bit of bling to your someone special’s life, this is the gift you’re looking for. The Weatherbeeta Prime is a crocheted bonnet featuring high density, naturally breathable cotton drill ears for noise reduction. Finished with stylish crystal and plait detailing, you’re looking at some seriously sparkly class.

Available in black and navy, this bonnet is priced at an affordable $34.99.

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

Hinterland’s Stable Star Comfort Halter Sleek, modern and very stylish, the Hinterland Stable Star Halter is a winner!

Featuring stainless steel buckles and clips, patent leather piping and hand stitched detailing, the halter is fully padded and ergonomically shaped around the ears and poll for added comfort. Plus, the clever noseband billet tab opening lets you groom or bridle your horse while leaving the halter safely attached around their neck.

A stellar gift for around $185

Freejump Soft’Up Pro Lite Stirrups

Noble Outfitters Overthe-calf Solid Peddies Are we loving the look? A definite ‘yes’!

These fun boot socks offer maximum comfort as well as padded ankle, heel and toe protection. With an ultra-thin calf they’re perfect for under boots, they hug the foot and don’t slip, plus they wick away moisture. And did we mention the look? Available in a variety of eye-catching colours, we think they’re fashion forward at a gallop. • At just $24.95 a pair, these are a stockingfiller must.

If you’re shopping for a lady or a younger rider, consider this latest offering from Freejump. Based on the Soft’Up Pro, the Pro Lite has been created for a smaller foot. Designed with safety, performance and reliability in mind, the flexible outer branch helps to free the foot in case of a fall. And if you’re thinking matchymatchy, you’ll be delighted to know that the Pro Lite is available in a range of colours.

You can’t put a price on safety, and at $285 the Freejump stirrup is a steal.

Dublin Pro Everyday Riding Gloves

Equetech 3 Digit Bridle Number Holder Over fiddly, clumsy card numbers that either break or get lost? This neat number holder is designed to be simple and super easy to use. Velcro attachments secure the holder to the bridle and Velcro backing on the numbers ensure they can be changed quickly and easily. Available in plain white or patent black, the holder comes with a three digit set as standard (a four digit set is available). • This great stocking filler costs only $25 for a single holder, or $46 for a pair.

Riding gloves are available in numerous colours, styles, and price points. But we thought that these soft, stretchable serino gloves with binding and a gathered wrist for a snug fit, represented pretty good value. The Dublin label began nearly 40 years ago with a small range of jodhpurs. They now sell a wide range of riding apparel, footwear, safety items, and of course, gloves.

Pay just $29.99 and choose from black and silver, or chocolate and gold.

DECEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

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GIFT GUIDE

Noble Outfitters Equus Charm Belt Classically refined and elegantly tasteful, this is the perfect addition to any equestrian look, and a sensation in the show ring! Designed by an English saddler, the belt is full grain leather and features equestrian inspired hardware, including some very snappy stirrup details. It’s a tad over 2.5cms wide and is available in black and havana, and in small, medium and large sizes.

At $59.95, it’s a perfect under-theChristmas-tree addition.

BARE Ladies Sequin Polo Shirt Let your spirit soar free in this one of a kind polo! Designed for the most chic equestrian fashionista, the shirt is crafted from top quality soft, breathable, light weight, four-way stretch sports performance fabric. Effortlessly smart with a semi-relaxed fit, the shirt sparkles with a stunning silver sequin applique star on the sleeve. It doesn’t get fancier than this! • Priced at $75, it’s the ideal gift for that someone who loves to shine.

Ride Proud Pants 2020’s the year to hop into your big-girl pants, and we reckon you can’t go better than a pair from Ride Proud Clothing. It doesn’t matter whether you’re after trail, equitation (the style pictured), trainer, picadero or Australian stock horse riding pants, Ride Proud have you covered. An Australian company, they also offer free shipping, easy returns and a money back guarantee. • Pant prices range from $227 to $237.

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HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

Kentaur Grackle Bridle ‘Wow’ the one you love with this sensational Kentaur Grackle Bridle. Add a chain link browband for that added touch of class, and you’re on your way!

Designed to discourage horses from evading the bit, the grackle noseband features a sheepskin pad, and for extra comfort the poll is also padded. This beautiful bridle is available in black with nickel fittings, or dark brown with brass fittings. • Priced at $299, it’s not the cheapest item on our list, but the quality says it all.

Gidgee Equestrian Eyewear We love our Gidgee sunnies. And with more than 100 styles and colours to choose from, you’re just about guaranteed to find the perfect gift.

But if you’re really stuck, there’s always the option of a Gidgee gift voucher.

Our pick of the litter? We went for gold and chose the Equator. We loved the polarised gold REVO coated lenses, rose gold wire frames and adjustable nose grips – and at $140, you can’t go wrong.

With the Gidgee sunglass range starting at just $99, the eyes definitely have it.

Horze Rover Dressage Tall Boot Love the look of real leather boots but not so enchanted by the price?

These synthetic leather boots have the feel of genuine leather, but unlike other non-leather boots, will break in quickly and easily. They offer plenty of stretch, plus a suede-like inner leg and a soft rubber sole that provide comfort without missing out on any of that very necessary support. • Representing great tall boot value, this pair retails for around $159.

Effax Boot Miracle Spray Now here’s a useful stocking filler! Manufactured in Germany, this spray combines cleaning with care. Great for synthetic, patent leather and rubber, it removes stubborn dirt and creates a dirt-repellent surface, restoring the full depth of the boot’s colour in the process. Just remove any general dirt, spray on Effax Boot Miracle and rub dry with a soft cloth. And yes, it’s great for equine boots too!

For just $21.95, this one’s a sure-fire winner.

Kentucky Equine Research Drink-Up Adequate water is a must for maintaining a horse’s health and well-being. When horses refuse to drink sufficient water, they are at risk of dehydration, particularly if exercising or travelling.

Drink-Up is scientifically formulated to increase a horse’s willingness to drink. Just empty one 80g sachet into five litres of water, stir, and for a full flavour wait 30 minutes before offering it to the horse. • You’ll pay $4.95 for an 80gm sachet, or $99 for a box of 20.

Back on Track Therapeutic Exercise Boots With extra shock absorbent padding, these boots are a must when dealing with any leg issue, including swelling, strains and injuries. The Welltex ceramic infused material allows for increased blood circulation, they’re easily secured, and are ideal for training, lunging, while on the walker, and in competition. An added bonus? The boots can be used on both front and hind legs. • At $145, a great gift that will be appreciated for a long time to come.

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ON MY TACKBOX

The download on equine dentistry How do you know if you’re getting value from your equine dental service provider? DR OLIVER LIYOU, from EVDS in Grafton, runs his professional eye over what’s involved.

V

alue for money is one of the key parts of choosing any product or service, and this article is done to help you, the horse owner or

trainer, decide whether you are getting value or not from your service provider.

Let’s break down every step of what is involved in having your horse’s ‘teeth done’ by a professional person.

1 • They turn up to do your horse, and they inform you if they’re running late etc.

This is part of any professional service, and the cost to any business of running a schedule requires significant time and investment, so let’s give this $10 value. Total so far = $10.

2 • They have clean, well-organised, modern equipment that will allow them to do the job properly (PIC 1). The equipment will allow them to show you what is going

Pic 1: Clean, well organised equipment.

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on in your horse’s mouth. Failure to have good quality and clean equipment may result in them spreading viruses and bacteria between horses, and could also result in injury to your horse, you or the dentist.

Investment in good equipment is an essential part of the science of equine dentistry, so this value could vary from $2 – $50/horse – depending on the number of horses they do and the level of equipment they will use for the range of conditions they encounter. So let’s give this an average of $10 value. Total so far = $20.

3 • They examine the horse holistically for you prior to looking at the teeth. This could involve them asking how the horse has been going, has it had any problems, do you have any queries that need specifically investigating. It could even involve a brief clinical examination if the practitioner is also a veterinarian, perhaps looking at the eyes, nose, skin, listening to the heart and lungs, assessing hydration and more if desired.

Maybe they check out a problem with the horse that has been worrying you for a while.

Obviously there is a large range in skill and qualification levels here, ranging from no examination before putting the gag on (zero value), to a proper clinical examination by a skilled and University Degree qualified equine veterinarian (value of $99). So on average, let’s give this an average of $30.

Total so far = $50.

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

4 • They sedate the horse so that they can thoroughly and safely examine ALL of the teeth and mouth structures (gums, cheeks, palate & tongue). With sedation, the horse will be less stressed about it, have little or no memory of any painful experience encountered during the procedure, and most importantly will co-operate with a thorough examination process. Most mouth pathologies are painful, and need to be addressed to investigate them and treat them, so pain is an inevitable part of dentistry in humans and horses. Allowing the patient to experience and remember the painful experience is the choice of the owner/trainer, so choose wisely!

5 • Remember that it is a criminal act for a non-vet to be providing and sedating your horse, and if you choose to ignore this law, any adverse effects or accidents/injuries incurred in this illegal dental service will not be covered by insurance, and veterinary treatment (essential in an insurance and public liability claim) may not be available.

The value of a qualified, insured and licensed veterinarian sedating and doing nerve blocks if necessary to your horse, so all of the mouth can be properly examined, demonstrated and treatments offered is in the range of $30-90, so let’s give it an average of $40. wwwTotal so far = $90.

6 • Some veterinarians use mobile crushes, and some of these have scales on them. Accurate weighing of your horse carries various benefits, including allowing for accurate deworming, monitoring and comparing weights from year to year, monitoring growth of young stock etc.

Maybe a height stick is available as well.

Value of horse being weighed on digital scales – $5-15, so let’s average it at $10.

Total so far = $100.

7 • The mouth is properly examined through both feeling and looking, after the dentist has flushed the mouth out with clean water. Some problems like sharp teeth are best detected by feel. But others, like a diseased and discoloured tooth, or an exposed pulp/nerve chamber, cannot be felt by fingers, so the horse’s head must be very still, and a bright light and angled mirrors should be placed right to the back of the mouth, so that every surface of every tooth can be examined (PIC 2). If a problem

ON MY TACKBOX

all of what you pay them to help finance their next holiday or home improvements etc.

Value of income tax ranges from 20-45 %, so let’s give it an average value here of $20. Total so far = $230.

13 • Your service provider has shown

Pic 2: All aspects of the mouth need to be examined and palpated. Here the probe is showing an open pulp or nerve chamber, which could be painful and possibly cause root infection.

is sighted, it may be necessary to use very sharp pulp explorers or periodontal pocket probes to further investigate the problem.

This problem should be shown to owners to help educate them so they can understand the magnitude of the problem and best decide which treatment option to go for.

Value of a thorough oral exam – using a full mouth speculum, a well washed-out mouth, a sedated head that stays still and not tossing and moving about, use of a very bright light, mirrors, probes. Range of $20-80, so let’s give an average of $30. Total so far = $130.

8 • Odontoplasty is performed, so that the sharp points are filed back, and bevelled in order that they will not return for 6-12 months, and any elongations (hooks, waves, ramps, excessive ridges) are addressed. Knowing how much to take off is essential for both not harming the horse, (by taking too much off ), and ensuring that the sharpness doesn’t return too soon (by not taking enough off ). Being able to remove all of the sharp points, and not just those on the teeth in the front half of the mouth is essential for the comfort of the horse.

9 • Evaluating and safely modifying the height and angles of the teeth to bring them closer to a normal mouth is another essential skill in proper equine dentistry.

It must be remembered that horses teeth are living organs, have nerves, and so if too much tooth is removed, it can be very painful, which can eventually lead to painful tooth root infections etc. When reducing a tall tooth (e.g. hook, ramp, waves etc), it is very important that your dentist files some tooth, then rinses with water, then examines the tooth surface again, so they can see how close they are getting to the nerve (PIC 3). To reduce a tall tooth blindly, with no looking or

Pic 3: When filing down a tall tooth, it is important to intermittently stop, flush the surface and examine to see how close you are getting to the nerve. As your dentist files down a tall tooth they need to be watching the colour of the dentine (as illustrated by arrows) to avoid exposing the nerve.

intermittent cooling with water, is not only lazy, but is also dangerous to the tooth and the horse.

you the mouth BEFORE and AFTER the work they have done, so that you, as a responsible owner, can understand what your horse is going through, pain and functionality wise in their mouth (PIC 4). It is also proof that your service provider is trustworthy and transparent. Value of this 3-5 mins of showing and explaining to you range of $3-30 – average of $10. Total so far = $240.

Value of odontoplasty – varies from $10 if done poorly (sharp points left untreated) to $150 if done very well in a bad mouth. So for an average value say $50. Total so far = $180.

10 • Assessment of the soft tissue of the mouth including gum lines, cheeks, tongue and palate. These can only be done if the horse is sedated and bright lights, mirror and probes are used. Gum disease is very common in horses and causes short-term pain and long-term premature loss of teeth.

Rigid endoscopes are now being used by some veterinarians in more complex cases, to help visualise and demonstrate the dental and soft tissue problems to the owner, and also to be able to ask opinions from other equine dental vet experts around the world.

Value of assessment of soft tissue, including endoscopic exam – range of $11-144, so an average of $20. Total so far is $200.

Pic 4: By inviting you to look and feel inside your horse’s mouth, before and after the work is done, you will understand better what dentistry means to your horse.

11 • Sometimes x-rays will be needed to further investigate a problem, as is common in human dentistry. If your vet has their x-ray machine ready to go, you can save additional call out fees and extra travel fees by simply having this service whilst the dental must be worth, on average over all of your horses at least $10? Total so far = $210.

12 • Your service provider gives you a tax invoice, which means they will be paying income tax from their earnings, so contributing to the ambulance, hospital equipment, staff, medication etc needed to save your life when you or your family and friends next need medical attention. Without a tax invoice, you can assume they are using

Pic 5: Sheath clean is an additional benefit of having your horse sedated for a dental.

14 • If your horse is a gelding, it gets its sheath and penis cleaned and checked for beans and tumours (PIC 5). It is difficult to do this without sedation, and some vets will do it as a complimentary service with a dental.

To have it done separately, it would cost between $25-50, so let’s give it a value here, across all horses of $20 per horse. Total so far = $260.

15 • You receive a dental chart for your own records, and as a statement to your

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ON MY TACKBOX

friends and potential purchasers of your horse in the future that you are a good caring owner, prepared to invest in the long and short term health of your horse. Value of a dental chart – range $2-20 – average of $10.

Total so far = $270.

Your service provider will send you a reminder via mail or email or text, that your horse’s teeth are due to be checked again.

Value of reminders – $5. Total so far = $275.

16 • Your service provider is registered for GST, which goes towards improving the national economy, building of new roads, schools, hospitals etc, and is approximately 10 % of each service, so you can add on $27 here. Total so far = $302.

17 • Are they insured with public liability and professional indemnity in the case of injury/accident/death to your horse, yourself or them whilst working on your property? Average range of value – depending on what type of insurance, how much work they do etc $2-20 – average of $10. Total so far = $312.

18 • Travel to your horse. In order to save you the time to float your horse to them, they have invested in a vehicle, continue to register and maintain it, paid for fuel, and have given up their time to drive to you. What does that cost them in time and money, and what does it save you? Be honest now! If it is not an acceptable travel fee for you, ask if you can float your horse to their property or somewhere to meet them, e.g. at another property where they are already working so you can share the costs of travels, setting up, cleaning up after etc.

On the right is a table to help you decide if your equine dental service provider is giving you value for money.

PROCEDURE:

AVERAGE VALUE Y N

1. Easy to make an appointment and they show up when they say they will or let you know if running late.

$10

2. Clean, well maintained, modern equipment.

$10

3. Holistic clinical examination of the horse prior to looking at the teeth, and opportunity for you to ask questions about dental and non dental issues etc.

$30

4. Legal use of sedation and nerve blocks (must be a vet) with a range of sedatives available to be able to tailor the anaesthetic to the health of your horse and type of dental work to be done.

$40

5. Weighing of your horse on digital scales +/- height stick.

$10

6. Thorough examination of all structures of the mouth, using water flush, bright light, mirror, probes. Feeling AND looking for problems.

$30

7. Proper and safe filing of ALL sharp points, especially right up the back of the mouth, and safely correcting overgrown teeth etc if necessary. Safe reduction of tall teeth required periodic flushing of the filed surface, and then looking at that surface, using light and mirror to check how close you are getting to the nerve.

$50

8. Proper looking and using probes to assess the health and diseases of the gums, tongue, palate and cheeks.

Possibly using a scope as well.

$20

9. Having X-ray machine on hand in case x-rays are needed

$10

10. They give you a proper tax invoice as proof that they pay their taxes to contribute to your medicare hospital and doctor costs.

$20

11. They show you and maybe invite you to feel inside the mouth before AND after the work being done, so you become more educated.

$10

12. Sheath/penis clean done on geldings and stallions after each dental.

$20

13. They give you a dental chart for each horse.

$10

14.They send you a reminder for when your horse is due again.

$5

15. They are registered for GST which goes towards improving your public services.

$25

16. They will readily email you a copy of their public liability and professional indemnity insurance policy to ensure both you, your horse and they are covered in case of any accident/injury or death on your property.

$10

17.They will travel to your horse, using the vehicle they bought and maintained, the fuel they used, the time they gave up to come to you, and the time it saved you having to float your horse to their business place.

As decided by your Equine dentist

TOTAL VALUE OF YOUR HORSE’S DENTAL FROM YOUR SERVICE PROVIDER: 40

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

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FEATURE

A horse walked into a bar…

JANE CAMENS explores the cheery world of pub rides – with a bit of a caution on drunk riding.

a bunch of other people who wanted to do something similar. Thus was born the famous annual 20-kilometer Morpeth Medicine Ride, which ran from 1993 until 2003.

At its zenith, the Morpeth Medicine Ride attracted about 750 riders. Literally every sort of horse and pony would be dragged out of their paddocks to join in. Some came with horse and cart. It was a big charity fundraising event with the proceeds going to help kids with cancer. Kids from the hospital were brought along in carts and Riding for the Disabled at Raymond Terrace was involved, as were the mounted police.

Gibbo, who was an instructor for ATHRA coorganised the first events with ATHRA’s then national secretary Jackie Mann. Safety was a priority. “We probably had 30 or 40 stewards on that big ride,” Gibbo recalls. “There was definitely no drinking allowed. There were too many people. Some would turn up with their sulkies hiding bottles under a blanket, but they were confiscated.”

The ride finished with a parade down the main street of Morpeth, with horses numbering in the hundreds. Huge crowds cheered on the riders. Then everyone could retire back to Gary’s place for a shot of medicine or cleansing ale.

Wine and Horses in Perth Hills (WA) Maryanne Phillips of Wine and Horses in Perth Hills, Western Australia, organises winery and pub trail rides along the beautiful Kep trails that follow the pipeline from Mundaring Weir 75km to Northam. These are BYO horse rides.

Image supplied by Nash Horse Trekking.

B

efore you raise your glass this holiday season, drink in this cautionary note, it’s both unsafe and illegal to ride a horse if your

blood alcohol level is over the legal limit for driving a motor vehicle. The most recent arrest was of a woman above the limit who rode her horse into a drive-in bottle shop in the city of Logan, near Brisbane.

Once you’ve digested that sobering information, it is my happy duty, with the holiday season upon us, to investigate ways to mix a few sensible drinks with horse riding. This is but a little tipple of the pub and vineyard rides offered around Australia.

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The Morpeth Medicine Ride The idea for this exhausting research arose out of a tale told to me by my friend Gary Poole, later extrapolated upon by his mate ‘Gibbo’ (Terry Gibson).

Back in the 1990s, Gary owned the River Royal Inn in Morpeth, a pub near the town of Maitland in the Hunter Region of New South Wales. In Gibbo’s memory, on the bar, Gary kept a nine-gallon barrel of “fairly ordinary” wine, known as ‘The Medicine’. A band of horse-riding drinkers got the idea of doing a few rides from the Royal to a pub in the town of Gresford, a two-day ride away. It went ahead with no dramas and attracted

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

She has been running the rides for almost nine years. “I host rides about every six weeks, but also I’ll host others if people request one in particular. I kept hearing about horses going to waste in paddocks and women not riding due to losing their confidence, or having nowhere good to ride nearby, or just not having anyone to ride with,” she said. “I thought I’d start a few clinics and trail rides and try to put some fun back into it.”

There are a lot of pubs and wineries nearby, including the Mount Helena Tavern, Chidlow tavern, Lion Mill Winery, as well as Avonbrook Winery in Clackline. Plus, there’s the Bakers Hill Pie Shop, which is a favourite.

FEATURE

Above: Wine and Horses trail ride in the Perth Hills. Below: Riders enjoying a Christmas feast.

“It made sense to promote these places and it gave us somewhere to ride to,” she says.

“Some of our riders tell stories about how even just floating them to the start of our ride was a challenge and something they had stressed about. I love seeing everyone’s faces after a day when they’ve stepped out of their comfort zone and challenged themselves, ridden in a group to pubs, had fun and made new friends.”

So far, they have had no incidents. “Obviously we have a duty of care with regards to alcohol and riding horses,” she says. “Most of the riders have to drive home, so that’s a factor they also consider.”

Maryanne says groups are generally small, with approximately 10 horses and riders. The rides include about an hour and a half of trail riding followed by a stop at a local hotel or winery, then about another hour’s ride back.

As well as covering the cost of wine tastings she supplies hay for all the horses at each stop.

“We often host themed rides, such as scavenger hunts, Christmas trail rides, and our Horses’ Birthday ride,” she says. She encourages people to dress themselves and their horses in colour themes, because, she says: “It adds to the fun.”

Every year in October for the past seven years, Wine and Horses Perth Hills has organised a DECEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

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FEATURE

Saddling up for for a pub ride in the beautiful Lockyer Valley with Nash Horse Trekking.

charity ride to raise money for Australian Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, in Nedlands WA. The next ride is on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October, 2020. Maryanne expects that again about 60 horses and riders will ride the CY O’Connor Pipeline trail and Kep Track return to Northam. “So far we’ve raised more than $150,000 for the cause,” she says.

the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail in the beautiful

The ride, if started from Wooroloo, is 50 km each day. Those who choose to start from Clackline ride 25 km each of the two days, camp overnight then ride back.

Shane and Carolyn take their customers

“We have riders of all ages taking part,” Maryanne says. “It’s great to see different generations and families riding together.”

out. Most of their horses are quarter horses

As the riders travel the last leg of the journey, members of the public come and cheer them on as they ride along Broome Terrace in Northam.

To find out more about this crowd, contact Maryanne at wineandhorses@bigpond.com or phone 0439 957 237.

Nash Horse Trekking pub rides Shane Nash and his partner Carolyn Frost run Nash Horse Trekking pub rides along parts of

Lockyer Valley in South East Queensland.

They’ve been doing the rides for five years and can provide the horses or escort you on your own.

“We’ve never had any problem with over drinking,” Carolyn says.

to one of the local country pubs, either in Coominya or Esk. They let riders get familiar with the horses before they set and stockhorses, or crosses. The ride to the Coominya pub is about two hours. There, they have lunch before mounting up again ride for about another two hours back to their property. The Esk pub ride is four-and-a half hours one way so after lunch you can take a courtesy bus back to the property.

The Coominya pub ride, with lunch, costs $150 per person. The Esk pub ride, which includes lunch and morning tea, costs $170.

Drinks are not included. They do a reduced fee if you bring your own horse.

‘It’s been tough recently because of the drought,’ said Carolyn.

This is but a little tipple of the pub and vineyard rides offered around Australia.

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HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

I can’t leave Nash Horse Trekking without mentioning that they also do Full Moon Rides from December through until March. That’s definitely an option if you want to avoid the scorching heat.

You can Nash Horse Trekking on Facebook, or call Carolyn on 0413 248 898.

Hunter Valley Horses (NSW) Finally for this brief roundup of organised opportunities mixing horses and wine, Hunter Valley Horses not only organises riding tours though some of New South Wales famous vineyards, it also, sensibly, offers carriage tours. Hence, you can mix horses and the wine experience and drink until you’re wobbly (if you must).

From a 40-minute horse-and-carriage ride with a team of heavy horses, to a full day clipclopping from one wine tasting experience to another, to a let-your-hair-down ‘Girls’ Day Out’ that includes accommodation, three or four cellar door visits, lunch at Blaxland Inn, as well as olive, olive product, cheese and chocolate tastings. Finally they offer a ‘romantic private Cinderella carriage experience’, which might rock your boat.

If, like me, you’re a get-on and ride kinda girl, the company’s trail rides meander through bushland and vineyards with views to the Broken Back Ranges.

Whatever you choose, be safe and sensible around horses this Christmas and New Year.

I’m going to try a Boxing Day hunt (with chocolates not foxes) with my dear ponies and the-always-sober editor of HorseVibes.

Cheers.

FEATURE

Taking a horse and carriage ride is a safe way to clip-clop from one tasting experience to another with Hunter Valley Horses.

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AROUNDTHE THETRAPS TRAPS AROUND

10-year-old Bria Hastings and Cosmo competing in the 60cm Round at Yankalilla Agricultural Show (Image by Roger Foster, Fostapic).

AROUND THE TRAPS

Jorja Clarke and Buzz competing in the EA Spring HT at Werribee Park CCN1* (Image by Capture Dat Photography).

Tabitha Huggins and It Takes Two to Tango at the Alcoa International Horse Trials (Image by Silverfern Photography).

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AROUND THE TRAPS

Mel Adamson and Apache Sunrise finished 3rd in the Adult Grade 5 at the Williamstown Horse & Pony Club Spring ODE (Image by Martin Waddingham, Horse Trials SA).

Kirsten Kerry and Barrister at the JurAvon Park Equestrian Centre (Image by Equine Images).

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HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

Rebecca Humphries with Super Docs Gold Rush competing in the Equestrian Gold Coast Club Spring Showjumping, Oxenford Pony Club (Image by This Little Studio).

AROUND THE TRAPS

Talisha Donnelly and Cherokee Lodge Tsunami at the Interschools Gymkhana (Image by Denise Flay Photography).

Kelly Wall and R U Simplee Awesome competing at Burpengary Western Club dressage competition (Image by Becky Fraser of Soul Imagery Equine & Pet Photography).

Emily Slater and Oaks Sambuca competing at the Berry Interschools (Image by Amanda Slater).

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AROUND THE TRAPS

Stacey Rusic and Spring Dancer winning the Side Saddle Class at the Wangaratta Agricultural Show (Image by Rosa Lea Cleve).

Mindy Zammit on JT Just a Dream, Kobie Cook on Elly Oak, Mikayla English on Caddy, and Caitlyn English on Pippa were the Mindy Mouses at the Mackay North Pony Clubs Annual Teams Challenge (Image by Kristy Cook).

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HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

Molly Gander and Mimmie Louise at the Liverpool Plains Equestrian Interschools (Image by Celia Gander).

AROUND THE TRAPS

Amy Wheeler and Sam took out the WA Rodeo Queen 2020 in York (Image by Jess McDonnell).

AROUND THE TRAPS

Caitlyn Duncan and Soap Opera at the Ballarat PC Grade 4 Horse Trials (Image by Felicity Clay Photography).

Louisa Livingstone and Clayton Jezabell in the barrel race at the 2019 QLD Waler State Championships (Image by Downunder Photography).

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HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

Emily Gander and Rustic Fox competing at Tamworth International Eventing (Image

by OzShots Photography).

AROUND THE TRAPS

Mikaela Maisano and Cheval De Dieu competing at the Berrima Horse Trials (Image by Brittany Bates).

Above: Angus Baker riding Bamborough Summer Honeymoon during the Jim Gaynor Horse Archery Clinic at Kuranda (Image be Heidi Baker).

At right: Danielle Cleland and Buchanan at the Avenel Horse Trials (Image by Samantha Cleland).

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AROUND THE TRAPS

Megan Warwick and Khan Touch This during the Berrima Horse Trials Spring One Day Event (Image by Jessica Kennedy Equine Photography).

Lois Fleming and Balboa riding at the Waratah World Cup (Image by GeoSnapShot).

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HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

AROUND THE TRAPS

Kiera Henderson and Sierra Raider placed 3rd at the Cobram Agriculture Show (Image by Tony Johnstone).

Maxistar and Celia Gander at NEGS ODE (Image by Alina Cooper).

Courtney O’Leary riding Neesa Mueller’s Acres Desire at the Southern Flinders Dressage Day (Image by N Mueller Images).

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AROUND THE TRAPS

Nikita Mclean and Chase Me at the Caboolture Sporting Gymkhana (Image by Ajay Photography).

Opposite: Emily Collits and Cameo Pluto took part in the Oz Endurance Fernvale 40km Ride (Image by Sarah Sullivan Photography).

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HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

AROUND THE TRAPS

If you would like you and your horse to be featured in next month’s HorseVibes, please send a high-resolution photo with the name of the event, rider and horse, as well as the photographer’s credit, to info@horsevibes.com.au DECEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

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YOUNG RIDER

From strength to strength Our December Young Rider is 18-year-old Madeline Sinderberry, better known as Madi, whose jumping career is most definitely on the rise, writes AMANDA MAC.

M

adi Sinderberry, from Condobolin NSW, can’t remember when she first started riding, but knows she

was riding by herself by the time she was four years old.

“I rode on the family farm, and later went to Pony Club and competed at the Interschools.

I tried out eventing and campdrafting, but by the time I was about 10, I realised that I really liked show jumping. At that time I had a palomino Quarter Horse who also loved jumping and was very fast.”

After her Quarter Horse, Madi got an OTT Thoroughbred. “He was a great jumper,” she says. “When I was 12 I went to my first jumping show and did well in the Juniors, so I just went on from there.”

So does the love of riding run in the family?

It does: “My older sister used to ride at Pony Club and Interschools, but eventually she gave it up because of her studies. When she was young, Mum rode up until she went to boarding school, and more recently she’s competed in campdrafting events.”

After completing Year 12 last year, Madi began working at Yandoo Equestrian, located on the outskirts of Sydney. “I do everything from feeding and mucking out to riding their horses. I love it! It’s really good and there’s always plenty to learn,” she says.

And when Madi’s not working, she’s competing – either on Bamboo, her own six-year-old warmblood who has been with her since he was a weanling, or on Ciel, the seven-year-old warmblood mare owned

I knew she (Ciel) had the talent but I thought she might be too inexperienced...

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HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

Madi and Ciel demonstrate the style that won them Australian Young Rider at last month’s Australaian Show Jumping Championships (Image by Geoff McLean, Gone Riding Media).

DECEMBER 2019 - HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE

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YOUNG RIDER

Above: Madi and Bamboo well clear at Jump Club (Image by Mike Lee Photography). Opposite page: A delighted Madi after her Australian Young Rider win (Image by Geoff McLean, Gone Riding Media).

by Yandoo Equestrian and Pip and Sue Middleton. “I’ve been competing on her for five months. She’s very cool,” Madi says.

Her recent successes in the arena include Overall five-year-old Champion with Bamboo at the AQUIS Champions Tour; Leading Young Rider with Ciel at the Melbourne Royal, and then of course, Australian Young Rider at last month’s Australian Show Jumping Championships, again with Ciel.

“It was very exciting because I didn’t know whether she was up to it. Ciel’s still very young and hadn’t jumped that high before.

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I knew she had the talent but I thought she might be too inexperienced,” Madi explains.

And in the future? “I’d like to work in Europe to experience the sport there and soak up as much knowledge as possible on how to manage and train horses.”

Madi is more than appreciative of the help she’s received along the way: “There’re a lot of people I’m grateful to, but I’d particularly like to thank Mum for putting me on all those different horses; Mum and Dad for travelling with me; David Cameron, whose jumping clinics I went to from the time I was five, and

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

who later trained me when I first started riding in major comps; and Jamie WinningKermond and Jamie Kermond from Yandoo Equestrian for all their guidance and training, as well as putting me on lots of different horses throughout the year. I’d also like to thank Trailrace for sponsoring me for the last six years and Interpath 4Cyte for keeping my horses feeling so great.”

Congratulations to Madi from all of us here at HorseVibes. We wish you a very bright future and look forward to hearing more of your success stories soon.

SADDLE REVIEW

Albion Fabrento What do you do when you haven’t ridden for years, you’re out of touch with modern saddle design, and you want to find a saddle that you’ll love?

A

my Carson, who lives in Blackheath NSW, has an interesting story to tell.

She started riding when she was 12 and attended her local Pony Club where she had the opportunity to try out a variety of disciplines.

However, family finances were tight and so where riding opportunities – until fate stepped in.

“An experienced instructor, a retired Austrian man, took me under his wing. It was through him that I fell in love with dressage. He gave me so many free lessons – I was very lucky,” Amy says.

She later completed a Diploma of Equine Studies at the University of Queensland, before life took over with marriage, two beautiful children, and a 13 year riding hiatus.

But 18 months ago, the Carsons bought their children a pony, and a few months after, Amy bought a horse of her own, Oxlea Coco, a warmblood Thoroughbred cross. Next item on the list, a saddle!

Amy initially purchased one: “which was quite nice, but I wanted one that I loved.

Although I knew exactly the size and fit of saddle that I needed for my horse, plus the type of saddle that I wanted to ride in, it was very challenging to find the right mix. Then I discovered the Saddle Hub,” she explains.

“First the Hub sent me a different Albion, which was great for my horse but not for me.

Next was a Prestige, then a Peter Horoben, then lastly an Equipe and an Albion Fabrento.

Both were wonderful, but the Albion 62

Amy and Oxlea Coco enjoying their new Albion Fabrento saddle (Image by Helen Chugg) .

Fabrento won the day!” she laughs.

Amy, who still loves dressage, is about to enter the world of Working Equitation with her daughter. She has also launched her own business as a hoof care professional specialising in barefoot, an approach she’s passionate about.

And when it comes to the Saddle Hub, she’s delighted: “It was such a process to go through, but they made it so easy and enjoyable. Nothing was too much trouble

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

and the outcome was sensational. I’m extremely grateful,” she says.

The Equestrian Hub has a wide variety of second hand saddles, so be sure to visit www.equestrianhub.com.au and browse through their fantastic range.

All saddles come with a two-week trial, finance options, and a courier right to your door.

Brook and Silvo competing at the 2017 Sydney Royal Show (Image

by Julie Wilson Photography).

TRAINING TIPS

Be prepared

The three rules of showjumping

In Brook’s book, everyone from beginners to advanced riders should be using poles as part of their flat work preparation.

“Lay your poles on the ground set at the regulated show jump distances. This is a great way to get a better understanding of distance so that you learn to set the jump up and correctly position for take-off,” he says. “If your poles are set for cantering eight strides in between, and you find that you’re doing the distance in ten strides, you know that the length of your canter is off and that you need to train for the correct number of strides.”

If you want to up your jumping game, then you’re going to love the invaluable training tips top showjumper Brook Dobbin recently shared with AMANDA MAC.

And no, the size of your horse doesn’t matter.

“You have to train it to conform to the course with a controlled stride between fences. The course won’t adapt to the horse, it’s has to be the other way around,” Brook explains.

According to Brook the benefits of pole work go way beyond the vital practice of correcting your horse’s stride.

‘I

t’s all in the preparation’ – a trueism applicable to any number of endeavours, and most definitely to that of becoming a successful

show jumper.

And they don’t come much more successful than Brook Dobbin. Brook has competed both as an individual and for the Australian team both here and overseas, achieving multiple World Cup and Grand Prix wins over the years. More recently, he was named Victorian Showjumping Rider of the Year (an award he’s received on many previous occasions), not to mention taking out four of the top six placings in the 2019 Flexible Fit Future Stars event at Boneo Park. He also has a Sam Williams Equestrian Grand Prix win under his belt, and let’s not forget that first place at the 2019 CSI1* Boneo Classic.

Along with partner Angela Dobbin – a successful showjumper in her own right – he owns and runs Glenwood Park. Located in the beautiful Yarra Valley, it’s become one of the most successful producers of show jumping horses in Australia. Additionally, because Brook rides for Mount View Sport Horses, the highly acclaimed New Zealand stud, he is able to source their horses from foals to World Cup level.

The couple also specialise, among other things, in jumping training and education, and for the past two years have coached Victorian State Junior and Young Riders.

And with a heart to give back to their sport, they regularly offer their pupils, no matter what their age or level, the opportunity to travel with them to shows in order to help them gain experience and move closer to achieving their goals.

Flat work with poles takes the pressure of both horse and rider...

“In many ways, flat work with poles takes the pressure off both horse and rider. You don’t wear your horse out and there’s no danger of crashing, with its associated danger of loss of confidence. Pole work also allows the rider to concentrate on riding a correct line and practising their body position so that they can maintain it at the point where it needs to be,” he says.

Moving on Once you’ve trained over poles on the ground and you’re confident with your progress, it’s time to start introducing poles before fences.

“Again, you’re looking for a regulated stride.

So set the pole up for a specific number of strides before the fence. As you canter over the pole, keeping to a regulated stride, you already know how many strides you need,” Brook explains. “This takes the pressure off placing the horse for take-off, plus the rider gets used to the feeling of the correct stride, and to achieving the correct distance for take-off at the fence.”

Brook’s three golden rules No matter whether you’re training at home or you’re in the arena, Brook suggests that you keep the three main rules he coaches his pupils to remember, and that he himself rides by and loves, firmly in mind.

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TRAINING TIPS

“Rule number one is to choose the canter that’s suitable for what you’re doing and where you are – and that can change depending upon factors such as whether it’s day one or four of a show, or whether the surface you’re riding on is sand or grass,” he says. “It’s up to the rider to choose a canter with the impulsion and rhythm that’s appropriate for that day, and to stay with it for the whole course. Inconsistency makes it difficult for the horse to settle and difficult for the rider to judge distances. In a perfect world, the canter though the start flags should be at the same stride as the canter at the finish flags. Although probably not possible, it’s what you should aim for.”

Top: Angela and Jelly Bean doing that all important flat work.

Bottom: Brook on Gina MVNZ, this time competing at the Boneo Cup (Image by Gone Riding Media).

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His second rule relates to the all-important body position: “Your upper body position at take-off is critical for protecting the front rail of your fence,” he says. “You should be positioned so that you allow the horse to jump up. If you jump ahead and throw yourself at the jump, you teach the horse to jump quick and flat rather than up. By staying

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

taller and stronger, you allow the horse to use their wither and shoulder in a better way, at the same time teaching them to gain more height and to respect the front rail more.”

And rule three? “Rule number three is to use your eyes. Even before you land, you should already be looking to the centre of the front rail of your next fence, so that you ride the correct line and position yourself properly for take-off,” he says.

Take on board this great advice from a show jumping legend, and you too can improve your performance in the arena – and remember, all it takes is preparation, preparation, and yet more preparation.

Contact Glenwood Park on 0418 682 435, email glenwoodpark@bigpond.com, or visit glenwoodpark.com.au. Brook and Angela also specialise re-educating horses off the track for all disciplines, and general education for pony club and adult riding club horses. Brook is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research, CWD Saddles, Freejump, Samshield Clothing, Equissage, and Martin Collins Arenas.

TRAINING TIPS

Brook on Advisor at the 2012 Melbourne Royal (Image by Jessie Smith Photography).

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Dublin Supra Flex Body Protector (BETA 2009 Level 3) available from Horseland

Dublin Supra Flex Zip Body Protector (BETA 2009 Level 3) available from Horseland

Getting the right fit As you may have guessed, depending upon manufacturer, size and style, there are differences in the way body protectors fit.

However, it’s important to find one that is not only comfortable, but also sits snugly because its effectiveness depends on it – so be prepared to try different brands until you find the one that suits you.

Following are some tips on what you should take into consideration when you’re shopping for a body protector:

• A body protector is meant to sit close to your torso, and should be fitted over the clothing you’ll be riding in. A lightweight riding shirt or jersey is probably the best option for underneath the protector, while additional warmer clothing can be added over the top if the weather calls for it.

• Before trying the body protector on, loosen all the fasteners.

Once it’s in place, tighten the chest and waist closures to make sure you can achieve a snug fit. At this point, check to make sure that there is still enough room to adjust the fasteners, so that they can be both tightened and loosened if necessary. If there isn’t, you

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HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

probably need to try on a different size or type. Also, be aware that some protectors conform to your body shape as they warm up. If that’s the case, you’ll probably need to readjust the fasteners after 10 or so minutes.

• Once you’re happy that the body protector fits securely, check that the front is long enough to cover you from your breastbone down to your bottom rib. If the protector is too long, it will pull away from your body and you’ll need to try a shorter length. Also check to ensure that the shoulders and the neck lie flat against your body – if not, try a different size, length or style.

• The length of the back of the protector is also important.

Sit on a saddle if possible (if not, sit on a chair) and adopt all the positions you are likely to ride in. There should be between five to 10 centimetres clearance between the saddle or chair and the bottom edge of the body protector in all of those positions. If there isn’t that clearance, the body protector could be pushed up by your saddle as you ride, which would be both uncomfortable and unsafe.

FEATURE

Safety first each and every time If you’re an eventer, you need to be aware of important changes to the Equestrian Australia National Eventing Rules, or you may find yourself ineligible to compete as of 1 January 2020, writes AMANDA MAC.

W

e’ve all heard the horror stories of riders and horses coming to grief in the cross-country component of events both here at home in Australia and overseas. Tragically, on occasion these accidents have resulted in fatalities.

In an effort to reduce the likelihood of serious injury resulting from a fall, Equestrian Australia (EA) keeps up to date with all the new developments in personal protection equipment (PPE), with a view to updating its own rules regarding the standard of safety equipment it deems mandatory for competition.

The latest and most recent revision is to EA Eventing Rule EA 538.3.1 Cross-Country Body Protector, which now states that body protectors must be to the EN13158 Level 3 or BETA Level 3 standard. The new rule will be enforced as of 1 January 2020. And for those of you who are curious, BETA is the acronym for the British Equestrian Trade Association.

Understanding what’s required In order to understand the situation – and it’s essential that you are very clear on exactly what standard of body protector you need in order to be allowed to compete – let’s break this down.

For some time now, EA Eventing rules have required the use of a body protector during the cross-country phase. On 1 January

2018, the rule was made more specific with EN13158:2009 becoming the recommended (but not mandatory) standard for body protectors. In other words, if your body protector did not comply with that standard, you were still able to compete as long as you were wearing a body protector of some description.

With rider safety being of paramount importance to EA, a decision was subsequently taken to revise the existing EA Eventing rule so that as of 1 July 2019, a body protector manufactured after 2009 to the EN13158:2009 standard became mandatory.

Note the change from ‘recommended’ to ‘mandatory’. In order to give time for riders to comply with the rules, EA decided on a six month period of grace, which expires on 31 December 2019.

However, there has since been an important update to this body protector standard, which is set out in EA Eventing Rule 538.3.1.

The revised rule now states that body protectors must be to the EN13158 Level 3 or BETA Level 3 standard, the standard that offers the highest level of body protection.

So, long story short, with the period of grace nearly at an end, as of the 1 January 2020, it will be mandatory for riders to wear body protectors to the EN13158 Level 3 or BETA Level 3 standard in order to be eligible to compete in the crosscountry phase of an EA event.

So that there is no doubt as to what type of body protector you require, it must comply

with one of the following standards and be labelled accordingly: • EN13158:2009 Level 3 • BETA 2009 Level 3 • EN13158:2018 Level 3, or • BETA 2018 Level 3

An international shift to greater safety Equestrian Australia is not the only peak body to have upgraded its PPE rules. For example, in the UK, equestrians participating in cross-country riding conducted under the auspices of the Pony Club, British Eventing, British Riding Clubs and the British Horse Society (both in their registered riding schools and during British Horse Society exams) must wear body protectors that comply with the standard specified by those organisations.

Your safety is paramount While alterations to rulings can sometimes be confusing, remember that they are made with your safety and well-being in mind. So continue to enjoy your cross-country riding, knowing that you’re protected up to the best currently available standards.

To access the EA’s news update on the revised Eventing Rule 538.3.1 body protector standards, please go to: https://bit.ly/2q1GSZJ. A link to information on the original 1 July 2019 rule changes is available at the bottom of the page.

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HORSE BREED

The lovely luxury of the Lusitanos One of the stars of the dressage arena the Lusitano has a presence that can only be described as absolutely mesmerising, writes AMANDA MAC.

T

here’s something about the Lusitano that holds your gaze.

Whether that’s down to their superb conformation, the intelligence in their eyes, or the exotic history that flows through their aristocratic veins (the Lusitano is one of the world’s most ancient breeds), is hard to tell – but it’s almost impossible to look away once you’re under their considerable spell!

The Lusitano history The Lusitano is a Portuguese breed. A close relative of the Spanish Andalusian, both bloodlines were originally developed in the southwest corner of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula (territory which is essentially split between Portugal and Spain) and were, at that time, generally referred to as Iberian.

Thanks to cave paintings in the area, we know that horses were roaming the peninsula as far back as 25,000 to 20,000 BCE – and DNA compar- isons show that the modern Lusitano C group contains

maternal lineages also present in wild Iberian horses from the Early Neolithic period (the last stage of the Stone Age).

These horses were famously used for war by the invading armies of the Phoenicians of western Asia around 1100 BCE, and by the Celts of central Europe around 600 BCE. Historians think that the invaders brought their own horses with them, adding new blood to the existing Iberian breed, which was also expanded when Muslim invaders imported Barb horses into the peninsula in 711 CE. The result? In short, a horse that was strong, agile and swift – all

the hallmarks of an outstanding war horse.

Around 370 BCE, the Greek philosopher and historian Xenophon wrote admiringly of the riding techniques displayed by Iberian horsemen – techniques that were largely only possible due to the agility of their horses.

Later, when the Carthaginians and Romans invaded the peninsula, they brought a degree of formality to the local bloodlines by establishing stud farms to breed cavalry horses for the Roman army.

Moving on Take a quantum leap forward to the 16th century, and horses were regularly moved between Spain and Portugal, with stock from the Spanish Andalusian studs being used to improve the Portuguese cavalry horses.

However, when Portugal went to war against Spain with their mounted troops riding war horses of Spanish blood, the Spanish were understandably miffed. So much so, that during the reign of Philip III of Portugal (who was also Philip IV of Spain), Spain outlawed Portugal’s production of cavalry horses.

Although their breeding program was now at a virtual standstill, some Portuguese stud farms continued to operate in secrecy with horses smuggled in, or stolen from Spain.

And it is these clandestine farms that we have to thank for establishing the bloodlines of the modern Lusitano.

HORSE BREED

It was centuries later in 1966 that a decision was made to split the Iberian stud books: the Spanish strain continued to be known as Andalusian, while the Portuguese side of the family was named after Lusitania, the ancient Roman word for the region now known as Portugal. Although mainly bred in Portugal and Brazil, Lusitanos are also represented in many other countries around the world, including the United States, the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, South Africa, and Australia. Crossbreeds with Thoroughbred, Andalusian and Arabians are particularly popular.

More than pure good looks The modern-day Lusitano has become, among other things, a world-renowned dressage horse. In 2002, a Lusitano was included in Spain’s World Equestrian Games bronze-winning dressage team, which later collected a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. In 2006, a Spanish dressage competitor, plus the entire Portuguese dressage team all rode Lusitanos at the World Equestrian Games.

But Lusitanos also excel in high-level combined driving competitions. In 1995, a four-in-hand team driven by Belgian Felix Brasseur won the FEI Driving World Cup, and also took first place in the World Championships in 1996. And at the 2006 World Equestrian Games, Brasseur won the gold medal in four-in-hand driving, again with an all-Lusitano team.

In modern-day Portugal, the breed is also used for working equitation, mounted bullfighting, hunting and farm work

you have a horse that truly is a delight to behold.

A compact conformation The Lusitano owe much of their stunning conformation to their long-distant ancestors.

Their compact bodies – marked by a short back, long legs and a round rather than angular overall outline – should be of a shape to ‘fit’ within a square. And it’s their conformation that plays a key role in their amazing ability to collect, a distinct advantage when carrying out the complex movements required in high level dressage tests.

Generally grey, any solid colour - including bay, chestnut, black, palomino, pewter and dun – is acceptable, although only the Alter Real Stud breeds bays. Renowned for their great intelligence, they have a sweet and willing temperament (they enjoy having a strong bond with their riders and handlers) that seems almost at odds with their raw muscular power.

Although some Lusitanos reach over 16 hands, generally speaking they are usually around 15.2 to 15.3hh. They move with an agile, elevated gait, and have narrow, well-proportioned heads and a profile that is slightly convex. Their necks are thick and beautifully arched. Add to the picture muscular, sloping shoulders, well defined withers, a broad chest, strong backs, sturdy legs, and thick flowing manes and tails, and

If a foal is to be considered for registration in the Associação Portuguesa de Criadores do Cavalo Puro Sangue Lusitano (APSL) Stud Book, its sire and mare must both be registered - no outside blood is allowed into this closed studbook. Additionally, no horse can be recognised internationally as a purebred Lusitano unless it has registration papers from either the APSL itself, or from its affiliated Brazilian Association.

Caring for a Lusitano As you might have guessed, with all that muscular power, Lusitanos are high energy horses that require regular exercise, as well as being turned out into a paddock daily so they can further stretch their legs. To keep their luxuriant manes and tails healthy and in good condition, regular grooming is essential.

Unfortunately, due to the lack of pigmentation in their skin, grey and other light coloured horses tend to be prone to melanomas – and Lusitanos are no exception.

Melanomas generally form in areas where the coat is sparser, around the muzzle and tail for example. They initially appear as small lumps and bumps, so make sure you regularly check your horse for any such irregularities.

For more information on this exceptional breed, visit www.lusitanohorse.com.au

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71

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HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

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GIVING BACK

It’s not an event without Janet Janet Houghton is synonymous with eventing in Victoria and for decades has played a huge part in the development of the sport in the state writes JO MCKINNON.

S

ixty-four-year-old Janet Houghton is currently the Chair of Eventing Victoria and Director of the Melbourne International 3 Day Event held on the June long weekend each year at Werribee Park.

Watch Janet in action there and you’ll observe one of the hardest working and most passionate people in the Australian equestrian industry. She’s one of those dedicated volunteers that never stops, working the equivalent hours of a full-time job across the course of the year.

“I think my husband would like it to be a paid role but I just tell him don’t worry, it’s all right dear,” she jokes.

Janet’s passion for horses and competition began when she was a young girl growing up in Park Orchards.

She fondly remembers her first pony, ‘Stormy’, bought for her by her parents for £45 – which included his saddle, bridle and grooming brushes.

“I used to ride to Ringwood Pony Club. He was a super pony we did everything from games, to jumping and eventing and drill rides,” Janet recalls fondly.

When she outgrew Stormy she graduated to an Off The Track Thoroughbred and that’s when the eventing bug really bit. “He was an awesome horse. I went through with him and did State Championships,” she says.

In the 1980s she rode in point-to-point races on a New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred and enjoyed some success winning races in country Victoria.

Then along came marriage and children, and the commitment that goes with family life meant she had to give up her eventing career.

Of her four children, it was always the youngest two who showed the biggest interest in riding, and the youngest, Isabel, has since gone on to make eventing and the rehabilitation of performance horses for outside clients her life. She’s also one of the country’s most exciting young riders and recently won the 3* class at the Adelaide International 3 Day Event.

“I’ve had a hip replacement and will have to have another one in January and so I can’t ride anymore,” says Janet, with a tinge

of sadness, “but it’s ok – I live vicariously through Isabel.”

Since 2009 Janet has devoted much of her life to not only supporting her daughter’s riding career but also to her role with Eventing Victoria, and as Director of Victoria’s premier eventing competition, the Melbourne International 3 Day Event.

The former teacher is particularly focussed on ensuring the healthy growth of the sport and of Victoria’s premier eventing competition.

Janet has been the Director of the Melbourne 3DE for the past five years and has overseen a raft of improvements and initiatives to ensure it becomes a world-class event.

“Any of these things I’ve done because I’ve surrounded myself with can-do people,” she says. “Good people are the key to anything in life. You need to surround yourself with

She fondly remembers her first pony, Stormy, bought for her by her parents for £45...

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GIVING BACK

people that are supportive and capable and

operate,” she says. “The Japanese take a great

have the same pride and vision as you do.”

deal of pride in their organisation and how

Janet invests a lot of time building her

they do things. The facilities will be fantastic.”

knowledge and inspiration at major inter-

Janet will return to Tokyo for the Olympic

onzcommittees at the moment,” she says

national events and brings a lot of the ideas

Games next July and will contribute her time

with pride. There’s little doubt that those

she’s gathered back to Australia. This year

as a cross-country judge, which is a huge

people coming through the ranks will be able

she was one of 28 Australian volunteers

feather in her cap. After that she might start

to learn a lot from Janet, which will not only

who travelled to Tokyo for a test event for eventing at the 2020 Olympics.

“It’s great to see how other countries

to slow down some of her volunteer work to not only spend more time with her family and first grandchild but also to give others a

Right: Janet with other volunteers at the Tokyo Test Event.

Below left: Janet Houghton with her daughter Isabel Houghton’s horse, Bloomfield Roderick.

Below right: Janet with her dog Florence and her daughter Isabel, who recently won the 3* at Adelaide 3DE.

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HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

chance to step up into her roles.

“We need other people to come through and we have some fabulous young people

be good for them but will also be of huge benefit to the entire sport.

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HORSES IN HISTORY

Sophie – Colonel Potter’s famous mare Sophie may have been played by mares and geldings, changed from chestnut to bay, but wshe occupies a special place in the hearts of M*A*S*H lovers writes N. G. Quinlan

I

n this month’s Horse History, we’re taking a look at the only equine character to appear in one of the best-loved television series of all time… M*A*S*H. The show began its run in 1972 and ended eleven years and two hundred and fifty-six episodes later in 1983 with a record-breaking movie-length finale that was seen by over one hundred and twenty million viewers in the U.S. alone, making it the most watched television broadcast in American history.

he discovers that army regulations prevent this, he decides to give the horse to Colonel Potter as an anniversary present, saying, “At least I’ll get to take care of him.”

The colonel is overwhelmed by Radar’s gift.

As he walks behind the horse, he slips in some manure, prompting Major Frank Burns to say, “That’s disgusting!” Colonel Potter, a

“The Colonel’s Horse” (Season 5, Episode 13), we hear her called ‘Sophie’ for the first time. Stallion to gelding is one thing… but gelding to mare? Either the scriptwriters changed their minds, or else Sophie was one of Hollywood’s first transgender stars. In fact, Sophie was played by several horses, with different markings and of different genders, sometimes she even swapped from chestnut to bay during an episode.

Sophie was prominently featured in at least ten episodes of “M*A*S*H”, quickly becoming an audience favourite. Once when the colonel was on leave in Tokyo, Sophie became colicky and had to be given a warm water enema… a delicate process in which the entire camp participated. On another occasion, a drunken Texan cowboy took her on a midnight ride, much to the colonel’s disapproval. Corporal Klinger – who was forever attempting to get out of the Army by wearing dresses – even rode her once, while dressed (or ‘undressed’) as Lady Godiva.

In one unforgettable episode, called ‘The Price’ (Season 7, Episode 18), Sophie goes missing from her stable, leaving Colonel Potter distraught. It turns out that she has merely been ‘borrowed’ by an elderly Korean man named Cho Pak, who soon returns her. The man’s daughter explains that in his youth her father was a proud cavalryman in the Korean army. Colonel Potter, sensing

While M*A*S*H gave us many memorable characters, there are few who were more beloved than Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter, played by Harry Morgan (1915-2011).

The veteran character actor joined the cast at the beginning of Season Four, playing a Regular Army officer who assumes command of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital after the death of the previous commander, Colonel Henry Blake.

In the eighth episode of that season, “Dear Mildred”, the company clerk Walter ‘Radar’ O’Reilly hears of a wounded horse not far from the camp. When it becomes apparent that the animal will be euthanased by a sharpshooter, Radar begs two of the outfit’s surgeons, ‘Hawkeye’ Pierce and B. J. Hunnicutt, to help him rescue the horse.

After being operated on, the horse recovers and Radar plans to keep it as a pet; but when 76

lifelong horseman who served in the cavalry during World War One, responds, “Son, to me that’s a tiptoe through the tulips.”

It is interesting to note that during this introductory episode, the horse is referred to as being male. In a later episode, called

HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

a kindred spirit, says: “This horse means as much to me as any animal I’ve ever owned, but she means more to your father.” He gives Mr. Pak his horse and thereby restores some dignity to the old man.

Radar commends him on his generosity and

HORSES IN HISTORY

In fact, Sophie was played by several horses, with different markings and of different genders... the colonel tells him, “I’m going to miss that girl. Every once in a while a horseman comes across an animal that’s something special, one that knows you better than you know yourself. Sophie gave me a lot of pleasure and I do believe she liked me.” The next morning, Mr. Pak’s daughter returns Sophie to Colonel Potter, telling him that her father died during the night and that his last hours were among his happiest because of the colonel’s gracious gesture.

Perhaps her most poignant moment was

in the series finale “Goodbye, Farewell And Amen”, in which she is played by one of Harry Morgan’s own horses, raised on his ranch in Santa Rosa. The war is over and everyone is preparing to go home to the States. Colonel Potter knows that he cannot take Sophie home with him, and the camp’s chaplain, Father Francis Mulcahy, suggests that she be donated to the local orphanage. The colonel agrees to this plan. The sight of the old cavalryman taking his favourite mount for one last ride is enough to bring a tear to a glass eye.

The last word about Sophie must go to Colonel Potter himself. After a sunny afternoon spent riding his mare, the colonel returns to camp and is met by Corporal O’Reilly. “Radar,” he says, “there’s a special feeling you get when you’re alone with your horse. Just the two of you, cut off from the world, with nobody to bother you.”

There isn’t a horseman or horsewoman alive who doesn’t understand that.

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SALTY OF SLEEPY CREEK STABLES

Christmas time & mango mischief Meet Salty, the cheeky pony from Sleepy Creek Stables. His adventures will adorn the pages of HorseVibes, and remind all of us why we love our little ponies – even when they’re naughty.

I

’m not sure that Santa is likely to visit me this year. Some of the locals around here might argue that my name won’t make it on to his ‘nice’ list.

I don’t think that it’s really a fair thing though, because after all, what happened last Christmas Eve was NOT my fault. Well, not entirely anyway. And the lessons I MAY have taught the rest of the crew weren’t really my fault either. I didn’t expect them to be used again. And again. And again. Throughout the year. In fact, pretty much on a weekly basis ever since, especially by Blackie and Prince who (and I have to say, it was rather surprising, even to me) were remarkably quick to pick up the knack of unlatching the paddock gates and leading each other, together with the rest of the Sleepy Creek Riding School crew, down the garden path.

Quite literally.

Having careened down the driveway, catching the scent of freedom in the night air, our happy little herd (consisting of seven riding school ponies of various ages and sizes) galloped merrily down the bitumen road. Even my older friends took time out to have a bit of a kick and play, their arthritic joints, wisdom and experience, that ordinarily would have made them too staid and sensible to embark on such an adventure, forgotten and left behind in the paddock.

But as we were making our way down the road, something caught my attention. I could smell them before I could see them.

My favourite fruit tree of all at this time you humans call Christmas – the mango! There, stretching out before me, beckoning me to come closer, was a sea of the sweet fruits, lying so temptingly on the ground (okay, a little too mushy, looking back, I can see that now). I thought I’d found heaven. Or, at the

very least, I thought, all my Christmases had come at once! I couldn’t resist stopping for a mouthful. Or a few mouthfuls. Actually, I’ll confess, I ate quite a few of them.

The thought that I would end up paying for it with a massive pain in the belly never entered my head, I have to say. I took my time, wanting to savour the full experience of consuming 19 overripe mangos until (the aptly named) Mischief, decided I needed a hurry up and reminded me that I needed to catch up to the rest of the gang by taking a rather large chunk out of my rump with his teeth. But oh, it was so worth it.

And so we continued on, through another gate and down another driveway. We were entering the neighbour’s yard that they maintained with careful precision. Not a blade of grass was out of place, not a leaf permitted to remain on the ground for long

enough to mark the immaculate carpet of manicured lawn. I know this because they were yelling things along these lines at my Vertical Food Suppliers a few hours later, on Christmas morning.

Biscuit, Snowflake and Taffy needed a toilet stop and some grass to restock their energy before going any further. The meticulous lawn of the neighbouring front yard seemed the perfect place for a pitstop. The short, soft grass was lovely on our backs, some of us choosing to lie down for a good roll, while others took the opportunity to have a munch on the fresh, moist and tender green stems.

It was about then, that we heard the sounds of quick footsteps and voices approaching, the jingling of halters and lead ropes and most importantly, the unmistakable rattle of the feed bucket, which, to our experienced ears, sounded like it might be of interest to us.

The Food Suppliers were quite upset with us for embarking on our little adventure. I truly don’t understand why. Or why they felt the need to continually remind us, after the event that, as a horse owner there is nothing quite like the terror that follows being woken in the middle of the night by the sound of galloping hooves clattering on bitumen.

Nothing. Or so they said, anyway. To my mind, at least being out in the moonlight at midnight on Christmas Eve, they had a possible chance to spot Santa and his sleigh!

Funnily enough though, I’m told that the fact that we decided to make our break for freedom on Christmas Eve, probably saved us from meeting a nasty fate in the neighbours mulching machine. Despite the substantial damage (which I gather The Food Suppliers are still paying for) it did give the neighbours a lovely story to tell their small children when they arose at the crack of dawn on Christmas

morning to find hoofprints, dug up turf and manure all over their yard. Santa’s reindeer had visited! Oh, the joy! The excitement! This Santa evidence, of course, was found only hours after we’d been captured, escorted and padlocked into our respective paddocks and yards.

I must admit though, I somewhat regret indulging in my midnight snack. It wasn’t fun having the vet stick a tube down my throat to give me the medicine I needed to make the pain go away. It’s not the best way to spend Christmas morning and, the rumour is going around, I’m going to be doing have to give a few kids some extra riding lessons to work off the bill!

But stick a few mangos in front of me, and you never know, I might just forget the pain.

Here’s hoping you all have a very mango Christmas and no nasty tummy-aches.

STARS WITH EPONA

Aries Whatever important engagements you have on the docket this month, they won’t stay hidden even if you want them to. Everything is out in the open, so plan for full disclosure as you receive acknowledgment and critical review. It can help your career, so think big!

Us equines have a jittery month ahead so please remember; we are a prey species by instinct. Our first line of defence is always going to be RUN!

Taurus

D

ecember brings a bevy of practical concerns, the silly season being only one of them. Think ‘all systems go’ for shopping, a relief after the last month’s retrograde which may have ground things to a halt. The eclipse on December 26th will coincide with big news so meanwhile, apply due diligence in finances and curb any indulgent cravings. Just for now... happy month of the mid-winter/midsummer solstice!

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HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

The solar eclipse in your house of new horizons coincides with an intense desire to explore the unknown. It’s an awkward time of year to go solo, but it might be the best plan, at least on some level. You’ll be more willing to take risks, engage your power, and try new things. Us four-legged Bulls are set in our ways. Memory is long, and comforting, so if you go on a happy holiday, make sure our schedule stands firm.

Gemini The free-spirited side of two-legged Gems may squirm, but the eclipse is itching for deeper commitment, not the metaphorical ‘one-night stand’. This applies to work, creativity, relationship, play – you name it! If you find yourself irritable, rethink your intimate life. Are you in resistance?

Us equines need more practical care as summer’s coming! For example, what’s your plan for sunburn and flies?

STARS WITH EPONA

Cancer The eclipse places the emphasis bang-on personal, one-to-one, socially significant relationships this month. Also, you may find open enemies, so be ready. This is about time spent with your community connections, friends and partners. The question is - are you living the relationships of your dreams? Us equine Crabs are focused on something else entirely – the importance of the option to free graze, be it grass or hay. Please provide!

Leo Projects and workload are all-consuming, relegating the body to a vehicle only, possibly a neglected one. Counteract problems by using the powerful eclipse energy to connect with your physicality. Start a new health/fitness routine and discover the meaning of holistic care. Us four-legged Lions are stoic beyond belief, so make sure that slight quirk or hitch doesn’t escalate into a bigger veterinary issue!

Virgo You might have fallen into the habit of pleasing others, filling their expectations to such a degree that your own personal creative self-expression suffers, or at least, takes a back seat. If so, you’ll want to make an artistic date with yourself this month. Set intentions around honouring your Muse, engaging in recreation and having fun! This goes for us equines as well. Think social turnouts, water play, scratching post, treats!

Libra

Capricorn

Much of your energy wants to be expressed out in the wide world, perhaps in the public performance domain, be the stage large or small. Conversely, the eclipse is pulling you into the depths of your ‘Self’. Support it by finding intensity in being private, domestic and introspective. For us four-legged Librans, we need some extra care such as deeper bedding for sore legs, longer warm-ups and cool-downs. Thanks!

Scorpio

This is your personal new moon month, complete with a solar eclipse. It brings any power issues home to roost, so be ready for them. You can best meet contrast face on, warrior stance, ready to engage. Remember, it’s the intense connection you want. Check in to how you’re attracting it. Creatively or destructively? Us four-legged Sea-goats prefer safety and sanctuary, so please leave the ruckus at the gate.

Aquarius

After a month of Mercury retrograde, conversations carry an edge, turning passion to volatility. Power struggles demand resolution and this is the perfect time to remind yourself, and others, where you stand: on your own two feet, of course! Temper your voice into a creative force to be reckoned with. Us four-legged Scorpios are itching to blow off steam. Think lunging for a warm-up, mount up and go!

Sagitarius

As much as you like a room full of friends plotting the next edge move, this eclipse is about retreat into the realms of the unconscious, a journey of dreams and inner horizons. Set intentions around selfreflection via meditation, service to others and connection with all life. Risk something to make a difference, by yourself. Us equines are the opposite. We need more attention this month and more company please!

Pisces

Solar eclipse intentions set around the authentic expression of your core values and sense of self-worth serve you well all month.

Transformation is afoot and it’s reflected in the ebb and flow of energy – money, emotions, projects, support. Notice what lights your fire! Are you getting enough of that? Fill the tanks! Us equines are soothed by putting us to a task. Remember, we’ve been domestic, and helping you, for many thousands of years.

Time to push through your comfort zone and amp up leadership qualities because this eclipse is going to test your metal. Tune in to see if you are utilising your talents to the max by engaging with a ‘group’ of likeminded others. The realm of one-too-many connections calls. Own your power and set your intentions for strong results there. Us four-legged Fish are rearing to go and will carry you all the way.

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