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10 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE WELCOME WAIATA PUBLISHING LTD 111 Stan Wright Road, RD1, Papakura, Auckland 2580 EDITOR Pip editor@showcircuit.cHume o.nz DESIGN Sheryll Davies CONTRIBUTORS Ashleigh Kendall Belinda Pratt Photography Caitlin Benzie Photography Christine Cornege Photography Derek O'Leary Photography Denise Flay Photography Leigh de Clifford Libby Law Photography Han Photography Michelle Clarke Photography Play Creative - Nicola Franks Rebecca Greaves ADVERTISING Sheryll sheryll@showcircuit.co.nzDavies MAGAZINE ENQUIRIES enquiries@showcircuit.co.nz DIGITAL MAGAZINE www.issuu.com/showcircuit WEBSITE www.showcircuitmagazine.com ABOUT US Show Circuit magazine is published bi-monthly. The articles reflect the personal opinion of the author and not necessarily the view of Waiata Publishing Ltd. This publication cannot be reproduced in whole or in part in any way without the publisher’s express written permission. All contributions are submitted at the sender’s risk. Waiata Publishing Ltd accepts no responsibility for loss or damage. © SHOWCIRCUIT Magazine 2022 All rights reserved. FROM MY DESK Over the past couple of years, challenges with COVID have affected several editions of Show Circuit - but none more so than this one! It seems that there is another surge with this new variant. I hope you are all taking good care of yourselves and, if you get it, rest, then rest some more! We are thrilled to have rising star eventer Charlotte Penny on our cover. Her incredible achievement of winning the Melbourne Three-Day event made us all so proud! Check out her interview and find out what exactly makes this eventer tick. I have to say that we are very lucky to have a talent like Australian show jumping superstar Alison (Doog) Rowland basing at Takapoto. Rebecca Greaves caught up with Alison for an insight into her story and to hear about her big shift to New MatthewZealand.Grayling has been a very familiar name in eventing circles for decades. Our interview with accompanying award-worthy photos by Denise Flay is a must-read!We'reexcited about our new series Empowering Women. First up, Rebecca Greaves interviewed Angela Parkinson, who manages PGG Wrightson in Masterton. Not only is she a superstar in the business, but also, she's a massive supporter of local equestrian events. Many will know of Gretel Webber from Dunstan. We went behind the scenes at the Dunstan factory to find out precisely what is behind this brand, which is a huge sponsor of our sport and talked to Gretel about her role with the company. At this time of the year, we all start to drool over the stallions available for breeding. There's a great line-up to admire in our Stallions & Studs section, so be sure to head to that section. And for those of you planning to breed your next superstar, we have two must-read articles by Ashleigh Kendall. These deal with how to look after your mare during her pregnancy and foaling, with the second article on the foal from newborn to six months. Both of these articles highlight the importance of optimal care to maximise your foal's potential. We hope you enjoy this issue. Until next time, happy riding, everyone! COVER IMAGE: Charlotte Penny and FESTIVAL Breeder: Monica Spencer Breeding: LAX (sire) x STRIP (dam) Image - Christine Cornege Photography Sheryll Davies - Publisher STALLION SECTION COVER: TOTAL DREAM K (NZHS) Breeder: Ashleigh Kendall Breeding: T OTAL HOPE OLD x PSL PEPPER POTTS Image - Han Photography
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12 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE 14 CHARLOTTE PENNY Hard Work and Determination 24 ALISON ROWLAND In the Sport for Life 32 MATTHEW GRAYLING A Passion for Eventing 42 KATE DISLEY ORMOND Driven by Eventing Dreams 50 EMILY CAMMOCK 24 Hours in her Day 58 GRETEL DevelopingWEBBERaFormula 66 ANGELA PARKINSON Business and Passion IN THIS ISSUE 78 ANGIE CHAFFEY When Age is Not a Barrier 84 DAVID RINGWOOD Back from the Brink 90 HOLLIE FALLON Making Dreams a Reality 96 OUR SHOPPING GUIDE What's Hot! 98 HEALTH The Impact of Arena Surfaces 106 STUDS & SpecialSTALLIONSFeature AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2022 24 32 42 50 58 78 66
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Charlotte is passionate when reflecting on her journey so far with Sparky. They have enjoyed many firsts together.
Taupo teen Charlotte Penny is riding high after her epic win at the Melbourne International Three Day Event in June. She won the individual prize in the 3***L and led the New Zealand Oceania Young Rider Team to victory. Partnered with her wee mare Festival, Charlotte is one of New Zealand's brightest young stars.
WORDS - Ashleigh Kendall IMAGES - Christine Cornege Photography
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"I did my first 3*** on her when I was 18. It was quite terrifying, to be honest," she laughs. "It was at Matamata, and when I told people that I had entered my first 3*** there, they all told me the course was huge! And they were right. It really was. Even this year, when I went around, I wondered how I did it. It was really special for me to compete alongside my idols, whom I have watched for so many years."
Charlotte is an early riser. She likes to start her day at the gym or go for a run before returning home to study all morning. In her first year at Waikato University, Charlotte is studying towards a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Economics and Supply Chain Management. Initially, she had planned to attend uni a couple of days a week. Still, it has worked out well for her to do all her work online, allowing more time for her afternoons with her team of four horses. Every afternoon, you will find Charlotte at her trainer Monica Spencer's stable, where she keeps her horses and trains most days. She has a bright young team headlined by her stary mare Festival. "I first started training with Monica when I bought Festival (Sparky) from her," she explains.
"I have had Sparky for three years now, and she has been the most influential horse for me so far. She has taught me everything I know."
HARDPAYSWORKOFF DETERMINATION& ON THE COVER
SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 15 Left hand page - Charlotte and FESTIVAL, winners of their first international competition at the Melbourne International 3 Day Event 3*L for 2022. Image - Derek O'Leary WHEN I WAS ABOUT THREE QUARTERS AROUND THE COURSE, I HAD A MOMENT WHERE I THOUGHT , OH MY GOD, WE ARE DOING IT!
"The dressage day was pretty emotional for me, even just watching my teammates, particularly Charlotte Treneary, who went first. I just sat there and cried!" She laughs again. "When it was my turn, it was an absolute dream! I was just so in the zone and focused on the test, I honestly could have been anywhere in the world, and I wouldn't have known." Having her parents there to support her was the icing on the cake for Charlotte.
"Coming out of the test, I was just so happy and having
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Her week in Australia was huge for Charlotte, with once again many firsts. It was her first time representing New Zealand and competing overseas. "It was such a special week," she reflects. "I have always dreamt of representing my country and doing it with Sparky, and having Monica there was super special for me."
While she wasn't expecting to win, she does admit to having spent time daydreaming about what it might feel like if she did win a three-day, let alone an international.
"You never know how the Aussies are, how competitive they are and how they have been going, so there is a bit of an unknown. Monica has always instilled in me to aim for personal bests rather than results because results will come. Still, there are a lot of uncontrollable factors, so I was there to get a PB - I focused on that," she explains. Not only did Charlotte win, but she also got her PB, finishing on her dressage score of 30.4, proving the effectiveness of her approach to the competition.
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18 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE everyone there to watch made it even better. It was probably my favourite day out of the competition, and when I heard I was in third place, I was in shock!" She remembers."Thecross-country was so cool, I had never ridden in front of crowds before, so it was just amazing," she says. "I put on some music and took myself away from everyone to relax and focus on my plan and process. Everything went to plan, which doesn't happen often, but it just all worked out. When I was about three-quarters around the course, I had a moment where I thought, 'oh my God, we are doing it!'" When the time came for the show jumping to begin, Charlotte remembers feeling relatively calm about everything.
"I was second after cross-country, and the rider in first place couldn't afford to drop any rails to hold on to the win, so it was really tight. I was just so happy to finish on Right - Melbourne International Three-Day Event 2022 was the trip of a lifetime and FESTIVAL did not throughout the entire format. Derek O'Leary
"I didn't focus on the result. I think that is when things can go wrong - when you focus on things you can't control," she explains. She walked the course three times to cement a good plan in her mind.
disappoint
Image -
SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 19 WHEN IT WAS MY TURN, IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE DREAM! I WAS JUST SO IN THE ZONE AND FOCUSED ON THE TEST, I HONESTLY COULD HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, AND I WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN.
20 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE THEY ALWAYS TALKED TO US ABOUT TRUSTINGPROCESSTHE , AND GROWING UP PLAYING A LOT OF SPORTS TEACHES YOU TO LEARN TO DEAL WITH FAILURE AND THE ANDHIGHSLOWS.
SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 21 my dressage score, to be honest!" Then came the moment when she realised she had won. "The guy in the lead didn't have a rail in hand, and he took one at the first jump, I looked at Monica, and we both burst into tears! It was a moment I had been dreaming of, and it was better than I could have imagined," she says. "Even the prizegiving was this dreamy blur!"
Charlotte had to juggle her interests through college as she played competitive hockey. She was a member of St Cuthberts College 1st XI and also played at club premiere level and Auckland reps. "Throughout college, I would juggle the three hockey teams with the horses on the side and did some long-distance running as well." Hockey was a massive part of Charlotte's life; on reflection, she isn't quite sure how she managed it all. "I did nine hockey sessions a week, and I am not quite sure how I did it, but I ended up pretty burnt out, and I couldn't do it any more. By Year 13, it was getting tough, and people would always tell me I needed to choose horses or hockey. Then I met Sparky and Monica, and they changed my whole life." She credits her time playing hockey with her attitude to the highs and lows that come with sport. "I played in lots of national finals, and being part of those teams taught me good mental habits," she explains. "They always talked to us about trusting the process, and growing up playing a lot of sports teaches you to learn to deal with failure and the highs and lows. Taking time to figure out what works for you and that you do have to fail quite a few times to get ahead; it isn't something I am afraid of."
In the young horse department, she has Waitangi Visco, a five-year-old she has had for about a year, and Celebration Xtreme, who is new. "Monica is helping me produce them. They are both starting out, and it's nice to have the younger ones coming on alongside the older two. You learn a whole lot of new skills with them," she reflects. "My goal with all of them for the new season is just to keep consolidating my team. I'm looking forward to bringing the younger ones up through the grades, but continuing to strive to improve, to get more accurate and have a happy team of horses is what's most important."
In addition to Sparky, Charlotte also has SD Amourosi, who joined the team about 18 months ago. When she got him, he was well established at 3*** level and had completed one 4****. "He is quirky, and he brings us a lot of laughs, he has a huge personality, and he is just amazing to have around," she says of him fondly. "It has been really beneficial for me to have two horses at 3*** level to ride too." The pair began their partnership at 2** level and then consolidated last season at 3***. "He really has improved so much in the time I have had him," she says. “I am learning all his little quirks. He tries so hard and is such a joy."
Her ultimate dream is riding at the Olympics and Badminton. "Badminton has always been my dream. I remember every day after school as a little kid, I would come home and watch a recording of Badminton I had," she recalls. "I was obsessed! I knew every horse and rider, their names and details." Next winter, she would love to head overseas for a couple of months to see how it works and make some connections. "I would like to base overseas in the future and hopefully live out my dreams," she says.
think it is special that I always knew what I wanted to do from a young age."
Charlotte knows there is more to come with her team of horses. The programme and training will continue at Monica Spencer's lovely property in Taupo until she decides if overseas is an option for her.
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For Charlotte, success is knowing she has done the work. "Success is putting in the work and then going out there and doing the best you can on the day, and with horses that looks different every day and every competition," she says. "It's also acknowledging how far you have come and the people who got you there. It's so easy to get caught up in the moment and feel like you aren't getting anywhere, so looking back to see what you have achieved, even if it isn't a result, is so important. As riders, I think recognising the improvement is something we can all work on."
n
Charlotte is supported by her mum and dad, Kellie and John, and older sister, Ella. Originally, the family was from Taupo, but now they all live in Auckland. Kellie and John own Penny Homes and have Taupo and Auckland offices, so they do quite a bit of travelling between the two. "I grew up in Taupo, and then we all moved to Auckland for our education," she says. "Growing up, Mum and Dad would be away for work, so we had a nanny to look after us called Annie." Charlotte loved Annie, and she would take Charlotte to her farm on the weekends. "I used to call her partner Poppa. They had western horses they would let me ride, and that's where I fell in love with horses," she says. Charlotte then moved on to getting lessons every Wednesday. She discovered the thrill of cross-country when she was about five or six years old. "I remember thinking it was just the coolest thing and riding was the highlight of my week," she says. She got her own pony and started Pony Club, but eventing was always on her mind. "I came across an old diary the other day that I wrote when I was eight, and it said 'one day I want to be like Mark Todd and ride at the Olympics'. I
“Dad read a book by Coloman de Bolgar, and he said, ‘right, this is how your position should be.’ So, we had a good grounding, and at least our position was established early. I guess all kids want to jump at some stage, but I had a pony that didn’t like jumping, so I had to do dressage and hacking until we sold that pony.” That pony may not have liked to jump, but Doog won Supreme Champion Pony and Champion Rider at Perth Royal at the age of 15.
WORDS - Rebecca Greaves for life
With a resume that includes contesting a World Cup final and riding on Nation’s Cup teams for her native Australia, Alison (Doog) Rowland’s move to New Zealand shores is a boon for Takapoto Equestrian, where she is based as the resident rider, and for the local equestrian scene.
Top Australian show jumper Doog Rowland has recently joined the team at Takapoto Equestrian, bringing with her a wealth of experience in both riding andAlisoncoaching.hasbeen known as Doog since she was three, and that’s the name everyone knows her by. “Even my teachers called me that. My sister reckoned I was a little brat when I was a kid, and Doog is good spelt backwards!”Butwhenit comes to her achievements in the show jumping arena, Doog is more than just good. She has competed in over 90 World Cup qualifiers, the majority on self-produced horses. Alison grew up on the family farm on the coast at Northampton, north of Perth. Her parents owned Millstream Station in the Pilbara, inland from PortHeadland, running predominantly cattle until she was three, when they moved to Northampton, taking the horses with them.
Doog went to see the horse and had a ride, he jumped everything they put in front of him, and she paid $250 to make him hers.
“He turned out to be an absolute freak. He was 14.3hh and jumped in his last World Cup at 21, placing fourth.” Brown Jack, or Heinz as they called him, jumped out
IMAGES - Christine Cornege Photography IN THE SPORT
Moving on to horses, she had a couple off the track that were okay but nothing to write home about. That all changed with the introduction of a pint-sized 14.3hh horse that constantly jumped out of his paddock –Brown Jack – who was to become her first World Cup horse.“Some Perth friends lived next door to Nadine Merryweather, who was a wonderful dressage rider and used to event a bit - I trained with her a lot. Our friends told me she had a little horse that kept jumping out and wanted to sell it.”
24 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE SHOW JUMPING spotlight
“Dad liked riding, Mum rode, my sister rode – she does dressage – we always had horses. My sister and I went to Pony Club, which was handy across the road from us.
I THINK ONCE YOU HAVE HORSES IN YOUR BLOOD, THAT’S IT. YOU DON’T HAVE A LIFE WITHOUT HORSES; THAT’S MY LIFE. THEY ARE INCREDIBLE ANIMALS, FORGIVING, GIVING, AND I JUST LOVEREALLY THEM. Alison pictured with TAKAPOTO YIRRKALA SMOKEY (STOLZENBERG x EN VOGUE).
DEVELOPMENTTHAT
LEARN.
26 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE of anything. “He used to go wherever he liked. You couldn’t catch him; it used to take me a whole loaf of bread each time I tried to catch him. It was a nightmare. God, I loved that horse; he was just amazing. You never went onto a course and thought it was too big. He had so much power.”
Heinz was the horse who really started it all for Doog. “I just got lucky. It did take me quite a long time to learn how to ride him. I didn’t know he was as good as he was.” She went on to ride for Noelene Yeo, another wonderful trainer who had been to America and worked with Barney Ward, father of American superstar McLain Ward. “She was an amazing horsewoman and gave me such sound basics. While there, we acquired a Thoroughbred off the track, Stolen Thunder. He was a very good racehorse in Western Australia and raced until he was seven.” With Stolen Thunder, Doog contested the 1994 World Cup Final, held in ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands, one of the highlights of her riding career.
“He was a wonderful horse, second in the Australian Champs, he won four World Cups and was second in I don’t know how many. He jumped fantastic in the final - he just had one down each time. It was more rider error at the beginning of a line sort of thing; rider inexperience.”
I LOVE TEACHING AND ENJOY TEACHING PEOPLE
ALSO
It was the year of the World Equestrian Games, and though Doog would have loved to go, reality kicked in. “I just couldn’t afford to stay there. We ended up selling him to Rob Ehrens (the Dutch Olympian), and he was third in the Aachen Grand Prix.”
The horse then went to Eric van der Vleuten, who enjoyed plenty WHO WANT TO I STILL WANT TO RIDE, BUT I WANT TO BE PART OF OF THE RIDERS.
Doog packed up and headed for Hong Kong, where she spent 18 months before trying to get home to Australia to see her 99-yearold mum. After two months of cancelled flights, she was desperate to get back. She finally said she would take any flight to Australia and figure out the rest later. Heart-breakingly, it was too late, and she landed in Sydney only to discover her mum had passed away thatHeadingmorning.back to Hong Kong, she was required to do a twoweek ‘wash out’ in Thailand, and while there, she got Covid. “I was sitting in the hotel, and it was just one thing after another. I thought, ‘I can’t keep doing this.’ I heard Sam (McIntosh) was leaving Takapoto, so I enquired. They said, ‘you should come here,’ and it went from there.
Doog then spent four years at Oaks Sport Horses. She says they have bred some amazing horses. Recently, their third Oaks horse (Oaks Milky Way) was selected to represent Australia at the upcoming WEG.
While she loved teaching and her students in Hong Kong, Doog hasn’t shaken the desire to compete and produce horses. “I know I probably should say I’m too old, but I’m not finished with that!”
Above - Alison is excited about the line-up of horses she is riding. Pictured here with TAKAPOTO ALAID DE CHEZ NOUS (OGANO SITTE X ONDINE DE GROZIEUX).
“Kevin Hansen put on some big shows. There was one in Dunedin, with lots of prize money. She was third in the Olympic Cup that year.”
“I figured Sam had been with the Plaw family for a long time, so they were obviously nice people. I like producing horses, and New Zealand is a beautiful place, much like Australia. I met incredible people in Hong Kong, but it wasn’t my kind of lifestyle. It was an experience, and I made some beautiful friends over there; I will go back to visit.”
Top left image - Alison riding TAKAPOTO FORMAGGIO (CHECK IN x ARGENTO) in the 1.05m class at Takapoto Show Jumping Winter Series.
The best one, Bickleybrook Bella (Bella), went on to win four World Cups in one season, winning the Australian World Cup League in 2012. Doog brought her to New Zealand in 2013 to contest three shows, including Horse of the Year.
“He won three cars or something like that!” Doog then had a lovely Thoroughbred mare who unfortunately injured herself in the paddock and was put in foal to Premier des Hayettes, ridden by Australian Olympian Vicki Roycroft.
“It was a lot of fun. I enjoyed it there, but with Covid, everything shut down. I had two horses, which I sold. I was offered a good job in Hong Kong with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, mainly teaching.”
Although she tried a few office jobs and other things in her youth, the pull of horses proved too much. Doog knew she wanted to make a life around horses, so she did.
Bella was a talented mare, but they battled with soundness issues which ultimately got the better of her. “We took her to Europe, again trying to get to WEG in Normandy, France, but unfortunately, she broke down. She did win a 3* Grand Prix in France and jumped in three Nation’s Cups, which she jumped super in. She was very, very good and probably the easiest horse I’ve ever had to ride.”
STRAIGHTNESS, SELF-CARRIAGE AND TEACHING THEM TO BE IN BALANCE. TEACHING THE HORSE TO READ THE FENCE AND JUMP THE FENCE THEMSELVES BUT IN A GOOD BALANCE. I'M VERY PEDANTIC ABOUT MY FLATWORK BECAUSE THEY JUST HAVE TO BE IN A GOOD BALANCE TO JUMP, THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR ME.
“I loved him as a stallion, so careful and cute, great jump. We bred two nice mares.”
SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 27 of success with him.
“I like seeing them improve and enjoy producing them, which I’ve always had to do because I couldn’t afford to go out and buy them. But I really like that part of it. It’s a challenge to see how far you can take them. I just love it.
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The aim is to have rideable horses, able to speed up, slow down
“I think once you have horses in your blood, that’s it. You don’t have a life without horses; that’s my life. They are incredible animals, forgiving, giving, and I just really love them. Getting to know their characters, they are like your babies. It’s part of your DNA, I think, and you can’t change it.”
“Straightness, self-carriage and teaching them to be in balance. Teaching the horse to read the fence and jump the fence themselves but in a good balance. I’m very pedantic about my flatwork because they just have to be in a good balance to jump; that’s my number one priority.”
Show jumping has always been Doog’s preferred discipline; she loves the competition and producing horses to the top level.
Her approach to riding, and teaching, is quite simple – it’s all about the basics, and they’re always the same.
“Horses have taken me all around the world. I’ve met incredible people and made some amazing friends. Horses have been very good to me.”
Right hand page - TAKAPOTO ALAID DE CHEZ NOUS (OGANO SITTE x ONDINE DE GROZIEUX) in the 1.35 class at Takapoto Show Jumping Winter Series. and jump, all while staying in balance, on the line, and with the same rhythm and canter the whole time. Her role at Takapoto Equestrian involves producing their horses and striving to build a competitive team on the show jumping circuit this season. Since arriving on May 18, she’s been settling in and getting to know the horses. So far, she is loving the change of scene and enjoying the worldclass venue and facilities the Plaw family has built near Cambridge. They currently have 10 horses in work, with a few more to come
Right - Alision riding TAKAPOTO CARTIER (CARTELL GNZ X CLAIRE) in the 1.15m at Takapoto Show Jumping Winter Series.
THE FACILITY IS WORLD-CLASS; THE FOOTING IS INCREDIBLE. TWO SHOWS AGO IT RAINED AND RAINED AND NOT ONCE DID YOU SEE WATER LYING ON TOP OF THE SURFACE. IT IS AN INCREDIBLE SURFACE, AND ALL THE EQUIPMENT IS THE BEST YOU CAN BUY. EVERYTHING IS AS GOOD AS YOU WILL GET ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
“It’s been really good. I know nothing about the New Zealand scene - all I know is Hastings and here. I just got the card for the new season, so it will be about figuring out where the shows are and where we will go. Most of the horses are young ones, so it’s just ticking along to see where they will get to. I’m still getting a handle on the horses, so I haven’t made too many plans yet. Hopefully, they will all be very competitive by the time Takapoto comes around in February!
“In the long run, I think they also want to improve show jumping in New Zealand. On the highperformance side, hopefully, I will run some clinics and try to help improve the riding here. That’s a big goal, so when the riders leave New Zealand and go overseas, it’s not such a huge stepping stone. They will have sound basics.
The world-class facilities at Takapoto Equestrian and Takapoto Show Jumping.
“I love teaching and enjoy teaching people who want to learn. I still want to ride, but I also want to be part of that development of the riders. Obviously, I’m getting older, and I can’t ride forever. Developing riders is appealing to me.”
30 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE in and join the competition team, as well as youngsters.
For now, she’s grateful to the Plaw family for inviting her to New Zealand and for taking care of her since she arrived. “They are lovely. Callum, one of the brothers, came and filled my wood box. Josh, the other son, is a personal trainer, so I’m going to train with him – he’ll get me fit. Callum’s partner has a Pilates studio under my house, which has been awesome too.” n I WAS SITTING IN THE HOTEL AND IT WAS JUST ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER. I THOUGHT I CAN’T KEEP DOING THIS. I HEARD THAT SAM (MCINTOSH) WAS LEAVING TAKAPOTO, SO I ENQUIRED.
“The facility is world-class; the footing is incredible. Two shows ago, it rained and rained and not once did you see water lying on top of the surface. It is an incredible surface, and all the equipment is the best you can buy. Everything is as good as you will get anywhere in the world.”
As well as riding and producing the Takapoto Equestrian horses, she hopes to continue her love for teaching and coaching riders.
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EVENTING spotlight
Unlike most of his peers, horses have never been a full-time career for this dairy farmer, but he has still managed to achieve at the highest level of the sport. Matthew and his wife Susan farm at Okato in Taranaki and have raised four children on the farm, although they’ve all left home now. He jokes that his cows have always been his biggest sponsors. “I’ve been a dairy farmer 95% of the time since I left school; my parents were dairy farmers.”
A PASSION
WORDS - Rebecca Greaves IMAGES Denise Flay Photography
One of the most experienced eventers in the country, Matthew is not one to state his achievements. Still, the list is long and quite remarkable, especially considering that he has done it all while maintaining his full-time role as a farmer and basing himself in New Zealand. He won the Adelaide 4* (now 5*) and attended the Athens Olympics with Revo, has ridden on numerous Trans-Tasman and Oceania Senior teams, has won countless New Zealand titles, and was on the reserve list for the World Equestrian Games with Gordon.Hebelieves his current top horse, Trudeau, has the goods and isn’t ruling out another overseas campaign – he just needs to find someone to milk the cows in his absence. He has never been to America, and Kentucky 5* is one he wouldn’t mind having a crack at. Horses have taken Taranaki eventer Matthew Grayling around the world and to the Olympics. With plans in the pipeline for an overseas tilt with top mount Trudeau, he’s not yet finished on the world stage. for eventing
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Matthew inherited his love of horses from his father, who, although he never competed, used to have stock horses and was a drover while at school. His father also significantly contributed to the Pony Club movement in Taranaki.
“I suppose we got a lucky break with Lochinora, given to us by Nike Pike from the South Island. My parents were at the World Games with his parents, and that’s how it happened. He had done Advanced eventing
“Dad did a lot for the Pony Club, and I guess we just took it up from there. We didn’t compete outside of Taranaki, and back then, I did a bit of everything, but I never had the horses to go eventing at the top level. I think I only ever got on one Champs team.”
Above - Matthew and TRUDEAU during the 4*L trot-up at Melbourne Three-Day Event. Image - Derek O’Leary.
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Two horses bred by his parents, Rhinesdale and Rhinegold (Warmblood x Thoroughbred), gave him the start to a more serious eventing career. Rhinesdale made it to Advanced before developing a heart problem and going on to become a Grand Prix-level dressage horse. Then Lochinora came along, and Matthew was able to consolidate at Advanced level.
On leaving school, Matthew moved to Waihi to work on a dairy farm with his brother, returning home after three years to go share milking.
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THE CROSS COUNTRY, WHEN IT GOES WELL, IT'S A NICE FEELING. THE THRILL OF JUMPING THOSE FENCES AND THE PRESSURE IS ON TO GET IT RIGHT. WHEN IT GOES WELL IT'S REWARDING.QUITE
“I think you do create a bond with a horse. We find you get a bond with the good ones, and they hopefully help you out when needed.”
36 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE with Nick, and it all went from there, really. He was a reasonably good galloping cross-country horse and got better and better in the dressage. I won the Australian One-Day Championship on him in 1991 on my first trip to Australia.”
Matthew struck up a good rapport with this horse, winning two national titles at Taupo Three-Day. The combination also made the reserve list to go to WEG in America.
Matthew likens eventing to the triathlon of horse riding; you need to be reasonably good across all three phases. “When the cross-country goes well, it’s a nice feeling. The thrill of jumping those fences with the pressure on to get it right - when it goes well, it’s quite rewarding.
“You do have a bond with the good ones, and with a horse like that, it can be gut-wrenching to make that decision to sell, but at the end of the day, we were being practical. It was high-risk, thinking, ‘are we going to get picked?’ We were asked to travel to Europe but felt we were perhaps not quite in the loop to spend that money. At that particular time, we were setting up for our future in dairy
Then there was Gordon, owned by Stephen and Alice Montgomery.
In between intense farming commitments, there is nothing like blowing the cobwebs out with a beach ride.
Matthew has had a string of notable horses, including Eton, a young horse who won at Puhinui and was long-listed for the Atlanta Olympics.
“Youfarming.haveto put a lot on the line. It is harder competing here and having to travel, but once you’ve done a bit and have experience handling the travelling, it becomes easier. Knowing your horse is certainly a big part of that.”
Rather than chance their selection, the Graylings sold the horse to Dutch rider Eddie Stibbe and secured their farming future, using the money to purchase the cows to go share-milking.
SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 37 THE COWS, THEY ARE OUR MAIN SPONSORS. YOU DO HAVE A BOND WITH THE GOOD ONES AND A HORSE LIKE THAT, IT CAN BE GUT-WRENCHING TO MAKE THAT DECISION TO SELL BUT WE WERE BEING PRACTICAL AT THE END OF THE DAY.
“He was a pretty genuine horse. He never liked the palisade at Puhinui; that was his bogey jump in his career. Apart from that, he was a very good animal.” Eventing enthusiasts will be familiar with the name Parklane Hawk. The Graylings owned a half-share in this horse, along with Carolyn Jolley, and when the decision was made to sell, he went to British eventer William Fox-Pitt. Within 12 months of leaving the Graylings, Parklane Hawk went on to win Burghley and Kentucky with William and become the world’s number one ranked event horse. “He was an exceptionally good horse - he would be right up there, I think.”
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Right-hand image - Matthew and TRUDEAU during the 4*L show jumping phase at Melbourne Three-Day Event. Image - Derek O’Leary
Matthew says he has never had a particular type himself. His top mount currently, Trudeau, is a cross-bred and is what he describes as a ‘non-eventing’ type.
And who can forget Matthew’s number one, the chestnut Revo, who gave Matthew the win at Adelaide and took him to his first Olympics, where they were members of the New Zealand team that finished fifth and placed 15th individually.
Matthew has witnessed plenty of changes to the sport in his time, notably in the type of horse sought after for eventing and a move towards better moving animals.
“It’s always a goal and a privilege to have a horse of that calibre ready at the right time. A horse like him probably didn’t look like a world beater; he just had a huge heart and was very trainable. He was a good Thoroughbred.”
“He’s shorter and chunkier. When you sit on them, you get a feel - if they have a good jump and are trainable, if you click with them, that’s the big thing. When you ride them and feel like you trust them, and they trust you.”
“But I do think they’ve gone back to horses that need to be reasonably good gallopers. They have to run 6.5km and still front up the next day to show jump.”
SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 39 THIS IS A PARADISE FOR TRAINING EVENTERS. THE HORSES GET A GOOD MIX OF TRAINING AND THAT'S BEEN A BIG PLUS, I THINK, FOR GETTING THE BEST OUT OF SOME OF THESE HORSES.
With his farming commitments , running a big team isn’t a priority for the Graylings, and Matthew has just two competition mounts. His top horse is rising 16-year-old gelding Trudeau (Tru), who has twice won the Taupo Thee-Day 4* this year and last year. The combination was part of the recent Senior New Zealand team to contest the Oceania competition in Melbourne, where they finished 10th individually.
40 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE Parklane Hawk probably represented the classic eventer, a 600kg Thoroughbred who moved well and could stay all day.
Matthew would love to take Tru overseas, but they’re still on the fence. There is the potential that the combination will be long-listed for WEG, and a lot of their plans hinge on that. Tru had a 10-day break after Australia but is back in work now in the hope they will be named.
Having never competed at WEG, it’s a competition Matthew would love to tick off the list. “We’ve had horses ready to go and have almost gone but haven’t quite got there. These horses don’t come round all the time, and you’ve got to make the most of the opportunity. We feel Tru can do that.
YOU DO A LOT OF HOMEWORK AN D TRAIN THEM TO PERFORM. SOMETIMES THE HORSES ARE NOT SUPER TALENTED, BUT THEY ARE TRAINABLE, AND THEY CAN TURN OUT TO BE THE BETTER ONES. THAT WILLINGNESS TO BE TRAINED IS HUGE, AS LONG AS THE JOCKEY DOES THE RIGHT THINGS CONSISTENTLY, THAT'S A BIG ONE I FEEL. THAT'S WHEN TRUST AND CONFIDENCE COME.
“You do a lot of homework and train them to perform. Sometimes the horses are not super-talented, but they are trainable, and those can turn out to be the better ones. That willingness to be trained is huge. As long as the jockey does the right things consistently - that’s a big one, I feel. That’s when trust and confidence come.”
It took a few years for Matthew to work Tru out and for the horse to trust him, and there was work to be done on his technique which wasn’t perfect by any means. But the horse just got better and better over the years, and Matthew now has complete confidence galloping him down to a cross-country fence.
“I think he has achieved over here; the next thing is to do more internationally. Melbourne was a good learning trip to see how he would travel, and I think he could handle going further afield – while the rider still can!”
“It’s amazing how a horse like that can turn around over the years to become the horse he is. He’s got a bit of Arab and has a reasonably good ticker - the motor keeps running. It’s a good feeling when you finish cross-country thinking they still have something left.”
Matthew’s drive to compete at the top level remains alive and well, so long as he has a horse capable of getting him there. “I think if you have a horse that’s going well, it gives you the enthusiasm to get out there and ride. We’ve always been competitive. If you front up, it’s nice to win a ribbon now and again; it keeps you motivated – you’ve got to give the kids something to talk about.”
“We haven’t been to America; Kentucky would be quite a nice place to go.”
Tru is an Arab/Warmblood/Thoroughbred cross by Magistrate out of a Thoroughbred mare, bred and owned by Wink Foley and Peter Smith. “When he first turned up, he was quite a challenge; he was a little temperamental, very electric, very sensitive. But from day one, he showed he was brave. At his first little 80cm one-day event, he cantered and jumped everything in front of him; ditches and water were no problem. I think if they can do that with confidence, the rest seems to fall into place.”
All of this without having to drive out the gate. Matthew says he has always had good family backing from his wife Susan, his family, and his parents. “Being out there doing it with everyone makes it a bit more fun.”
Finally, there’s a nice three-year-old Thoroughbred in the paddock, although Matthew has yet to ride it. Keeping Tru ready to rumble and the impending calving season with 600-odd cows to calve means his time is somewhat stretched at the moment.
The other horse in Matthew’s team is 10-year-old Anamour Warmblood cross, Henton Ambassador, who he rides for the Nicholson and Sutton families. He is coming through the ranks and is at the 3* level.“He’s a work in progress. He has struggled a little bit with stepping up, but he is getting better, and we will keep plugging away. Even if his record might not look like it in the past six months, he is improving. It’s just getting all the ducks lined up.”
“We’re exceptionally lucky. We have the best of everything - the ground is good, we don’t get too hard. We have 250 hectares to ride over with nice big hills, canter areas, flat ground, and the beach is 4km away. This is a paradise for training eventers. The horses get a good mix of training, and that’s been a big plus for getting the best out of some of these horses.”
He makes mention of Errol O’Brien, whom he first met up with many years ago in Waihi, for dressage. “He trained us for 30 years or close to; he was a big one for dressage. He had a good eye for training; results-wise, it hasn’t been too bad.”
Matthew’s love for training young horses and bringing them up through the grades is undiminished. “I get satisfaction from producing a horse and perhaps taking on a ride and making it go better. Just working out how some horses tick and trying to get the best out of them is very rewarding.”
Being tied to the farm does present challenges when it comes to horses, but equally, the Graylings’ location has proved the perfect place to produceThere’seventers.asix-minute hill canter, it’s a 1-hour 45-minute return ride to the beach which is good for hardening and conditioning the horses, and a hunt is held on the property, which is well sparred.
Horses have been good to the Graylings, and Matthew says they’ve had a good life with horses and farming. Horses have taken them around the world and introduced them to people who have become lifelong friends. “I think we probably are a little bit different from the average top-level eventer in that we have an interest outside of horses with the farm, and that can keep you reasonably level-headed and grounded. You do think back on the ‘what-ifs’, but we’re happy with what we’ve done.” n
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EVENTING spotlight 42 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE
After a season of show jumping on the Australian circuit as a teenager, Kate moved back to New Zealand and began her eventing career. To date, her most wellknown eventer is Arctic Cielo (Luke), a gorgeous grey who has since gone on to be a competitive Young Rider horse.
While her extended family was horsey, Kate’s parents weren’t particularly involved, meaning that once they moved from their home in Australia to Waiheke, Kate was more or less on her own.
A talented producer of young horses, Kate Disley Ormond learnt her trade in her early days by training up naughty ponies to sell. -
Living on Waiheke made competing very difficult, but we used to get over to the mainland a few times a year. We also had the wonderful Jacque Williams come over to coach us; she has been one of my biggest role models and supporters since then.”
WORDS & IMAGES
“I was born in Australia, and my family there started the obsession with horses. My cousin show jumped for Australia at the Olympics, so that was a pretty big inspiration. I used to ride the dairy cows into the sheds at the family farm; I was just so desperate to have a pony of my own. So when we moved to New Zealand, my parents bought me a 9hh Shetland and told my older brother to teach me how to ride. However, there was a slight issue - he didn’t actually know how to ride either,” she laughs. “Growing up with non-horsey parents meant I rode a lot of very naughty ponies that I had to produce myself; I have never owned a schoolmaster. We had a really cool culture at our club on Waiheke, and everyone was always very supportive.
“I’ve always enjoyed bringing young horses through rather than jumping the big heights, but when I started Luke as a slightly awkward three-year-old, I just knew there was something special about him. Together we competed up to (old) 3* level and managed to be quite successful along the way, including winning the 1* (now 2*) at Puhinui dreams
Caitlin Benzie COMPETITION IMAGES - Libby Law Photography DRIVEN BY eventing SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 43
and also placing there a year later in the 2*. One of my absolute favourite moments in my riding career would be riding him around the 3* at Horse of the Year. He was the best cross-country horse; I think I could count on one hand the number of faults we got on cross-country, including time faults. “Unfortunately, though, all good things come to an end, and I had to make the heart-breaking decision to sell Luke. After leaving my first husband, I knew some things had to change. Still, I’m so happy and grateful that he went to an amazing family and went on to bring through a great young rider. I’m also very lucky that I now have a new and improved husband who supports me through it all! Having a family is hard enough; throw in an obsession with horses and love for the sport, and life can get a little crazy!”
“Firstly, I’m a mum and a wife. I have two wonderful children;
Now based in Clevedon on a gorgeous lifestyle property next to the river with husband Ollie, daughter Tayla and son Dan, Kate works as a full-time rider, focusing on fine-tuning schooling, competing young horses and sales on behalf. She and Ollie also own Kauri Bay Boomrock, a stunning function venue set on a 500-acre property. Situated in the gorgeous Clevedon countryside and with expansive coastal views over the Hauraki Gulf, the venue is run by Ollie, who has run operations in luxury hotels around the world, including The Savoy London, The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui and Raffles Praslin Seychelles.
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SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 45 GROWING UP WITH NON-HORSEY PARENTS MEANT I RODE A LOT OF VERY NAUGHTY PONIES THAT I HAD TO PRODUCE MYSELF; I HAVE NEVER OWNED A SCHOOLMASTER.
While Kate spends plenty of time galloping around the cross-country herself, she has also recently taken on an organisational role behind the scenes. She has a big hand in the successful running of the Brookby Horse Trial, held at Papatoetoe Pony Club in Auckland.
“I took on the running of all of Papatoetoe Pony Club’s Equestrian Sports New Zealand events last season. Unfortunately, we’re losing more and more events every year because of the lack of volunteer help. There are always complaints about the costs of entering events, but the costs of running them keep going up, especially when so many people are unwilling or unable to Tayla, who’s 14 and Dan, who has just turned four – they certainly keep me busy! I ride full-time during school hours, which I started about 15 years ago. Having grown up riding difficult ponies, I found that as I got older, I still had a real passion for getting through to the tricky and complicated horses, which made up much of my business for the first ten years or so. “However, after a few nasty falls and a back fusion, I’ve toned down my ways, and I’m more careful about what I’ll ride now. I love riding young horses, so I always have a great time with them when they arrive for a couple of weeks of schooling.
While her primary focus has always been eventing, Kate has also competed in showing, show hunter and show Kate and MELLOW YELLOW at Brookby Horse Trial in the Highcreek Farm Rockin Horse CCN95-S.
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jumping at Horse of the Year. She currently has two horses on her ridden team. Clove is a six-year-old by Rockafella, a homozygous tobiano pinto, and out of TnT Just’N’Illusion. Ngahiwi Gruffalo is a fiveyear-old by Ngahiwi Cardento.
“I’m a bit odd as an eventer because I actually really like the dressage phase - I bet you’ve never heard an eventer say that before! I’m a big fan of the technical side of riding, whether that’s finding the perfect way to school a horse to get the best of it in the dressage or jumping around a really tough and thinking cross-country track.”
“First on the team is my wonderful Clove, who I purchased as a three-year-old sight unseen. She was originally just supposed to be a bit of a turnover, with the aim to produce her through the levels a little and then sell. However, I absolutely fell in love with her, so she has stuck around, and I haven’t quite made it to the selling part yet,” Kate“Mylaughs.other teammate is Toby, a recent purchase I plan on producing to event.
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As an event organiser, I would love people to put their hands up to help. There are always jobs to be done, and the more help we can get, the easier an event is to run. Even if you have never helped before, we can always find things for you to do!”
Kate has big plans for the future, and it looks like it will be incredibly busy with kids, horses, running events and everything in between. However, for someone with as much vibrant energy and determination as Kate, it’s easy to believe that everything will be achieved to the highest standard.
“As much as I don’t necessarily like selling horses, I believe there are way too many people out there being untruthful about the horses they have for sale. I pride myself on being a total ‘open book’ and giving my honest opinion on anything and everything I sell.
Above - Kate riding WAITANGI SPOTLIGHT during the Rockin Horse CCN95-S at Brookby Horse Trial 2022 Left - It will break Kate’s heart when she has to sell CLOVE. Pictured here in the TWC CCN105-S at Brookby Horse Trail.
48 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE help. When I started the role, I didn’t really have any experience and had never run events before, but I wanted to be able to ride at Papatoetoe, so I put my hand up to help. I’ve learned a lot through the process, but I know there’s still so much more.
“I have no plans to take on the world on the horse front. I absolutely love producing young horses through the grades, but I really don’t love jumping the big stuff any more. Unfortunately, this means I will have to break my heart again and sell Clove one day, as she’ll be wasted just pottering around at the lower heights. However, with that comes the excitement of bringing another young horse on, which I’m looking forward to. Having two of my own is plenty, as I have many clients’ horses coming through for sales on behalf.
“My biggest goal for the next few years is to grow Brookby Horse Trial. I would love for it to one day be nominated as the riders’ or sponsors’ favourite event for the season. I would also love to potentially start looking into a 4* track once the 3* is fully built and up and running. It would be so great to have another 4* track in New Zealand for people to jump around!” n
SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 49 Kate leading the beautiful greysCLOVE (R) and TOBY (L)
CAMMOCKEMILY 24 HOURS WITH EVENTING spotlight WORDS - Caitlin Benzie IMAGES Michelle Clarke Photography
From her Canterbury base, local legend Emily Cammock has achieved success on the international eventing stage and rubbed shoulders with the sport’s elite. These days, her focus is shared between her equestrian business, her own riding interests, and her family. Her typical day is a busy one, as we found out!
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RIDING DAMBALA BY THE 40
EMILY
CAREER HIGHLIGHT WAS 1
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WONNUMBERANTARANATIONALTITLESWON 12 ROLEX KENTUCKY THREE-DAY EVENT Is very proud of her two children
The kids get on the school bus at 8.20am. We have a long driveway, so depending on the weather, we either all bike down so the kids have their bikes at the gate to ride home in the afternoon, or if the weather is nasty, I take them down in the car. 8.30AM
The horse part of my day starts after the kids are off to school. Until the Taupo Three-Day, I have always had a full-time groom, but with winter looming and therefore a bit of quiet time, I decided to go solo for a while. My parents live on the property next door, and at the end of last year, my Mum, who has been a primary school horses in training currently BIGGEST (AND THE SADDEST)
Above - Emily and DUKE ECPH
7.30MORNINGAM
Above - Emily and ANTARA during the 3* cross-country at McLeans Island South Island One-Day Champs 2022
NUMBERSYEARSOLD
I am not a morning person and can’t function at all on less than a solid eight or nine hours of sleep every night. Even though I’m totally capable of getting out of bed at ridiculous o’clock for a show, at home, I seem to find myself in front of the computer until quite late, meaning that my morning alarm is typically the kids jumping into bed for a cuddle. It’s then up and getting them ready for school. Breakfast is two pieces of toast and milo – I’m not a tea or coffee drinker.
• Family! I could not do what I do without my supportive family. My mum has even groomed for me and and my husband is my rock.
• Living in the country. The space soothes my soul.
principal for as long as I can remember, decided it was time for a change of pace. She is still working, but her new job is far fewer hours and stress, so between her and my Dad, who works three days a week, they usually have the morning feed-up routine completed for me before I get the kids on the bus. Best parents ever, right! I also have some fantastic help from Katie Swire. She comes out around her university schedules and can help at shows and during holidays, which has worked really well. Currently, I only have one upper-level horse in Antara, and he is having a winter break. So, that means this time of year is an opportunity for me to get my young ones going, break in the babies that we have bred and do any schoolers that come and go over that Canterburyperiod.isweird in that we don’t shut down over winter; it’s almost the opposite, with Pony Club eventing in full swing from June to August. Most of the Pony Club competitions go up to pre-novice, so it’s an excellent opportunity to get the young ones out and about while the more experienced horses are having some downtime.
• Horses! They are just in my DNA, and I could never see myself without owning a few horses.
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• Chocolate! It’s my naughty quick fix, and it sometimes gets me through the hectic day.
• My E-bike. It makes riding multiple horses at events possible, and I get to where I need to be on time!
Above right - Katie’s pony is
WITHOUT:LIVETHINGSEMILY
Right - Daily duties with the horses never end in winter. Trying to keep everything ticking over and clean seems like a thankless task but Emily would not have it any other way.
CANNOT
TALLYHO ORCHID. While she is only seven, she will have a pony for the future.
On the days I’m not teaching, I like to be done with the horses when the kids get home from school at 3.20pm. Once the kids are home, it’s back to putting my Mum hat on. They can be pretty challenging to get inside as they love being out and enjoying the fresh (freezing) air. They definitely haven’t inherited my distaste for the cold! Over winter, I try to do the majority of lessons on a Wednesday and book the Selwyn Equestrian Centre so we can turn the lights on and go well into the hours of darkness. I usually start at around 2pm and go through to 9-9.30pm, depending on how many lessons I
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SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 53 I have the tack shed, cross ties, and three yards set up right next to the arena. Originally, these were all positioned next to the house so that when the kids were young, I could ride with the baby monitor on while they were sleeping! These facilities mean I can bring in two or three horses at a time, and if I have the luxury of having Katie here, she has them lined up for me so that I can jump on them one after another. The priority is always the schoolers, and then my own horses are triaged depending on who is competing next and who is most likely to try to buck me off if they get too much time off! This is also all juggled around attempting to turn furry, muddy creatures into presentable, respectable animals to take to a show, the farrier (who is here most weeks), and any lessons or goings on at school that I have scheduled for that day. The kids love to have fruit loaf in their lunchboxes, so I would generally swing in and grab a chunk of that at some stage during the morning, or an apricot and chocolate Mother Earth bar if I haven’t had time for baking.
TOP RELAXRETAILERS,EQUINE&PLAYINNZ’STOPHOLIDAYDESTINATION-TAUPO FREESHOPPINGVILLAGEENTRY EQUINE MARKETTaupo.
54 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE need to fit in. I hate the cold, and it is no fun sitting outside on a cold frosty evening trying to teach when I know the fire is going and the underfloor heating is on inside! When I’m teaching, the kids have dinner with my parents, and my husband, Matt, takes over when he gets home from work. Due to having such a short window to work the horses in while the kids are at school, I often skip lunch entirely. When the kids get home from school, I usually grab a sandwich (which sometimes needs to be toasted at this time of year!) while they have their afternoon tea. I’m always trying to drink more water, but I think I must be part camel as I love the heat and can go all day without feeling thirsty. 3.30 PM My daughter Katie also rides and has been doing the winter Pony Club events with me, so I like to be able to help her after school. The kids play winter sports, so we also have training to attend most weeknights. I am very fortunate that I can generally rely on DUE TO HAVING SUCH A SHORT WINDOW TO WORK THE HORSES IN WHILE THE KIDS ARE AT SCHOOL, I OFTEN SKIP LUNCH ENTIRELY. WHEN THE KIDS GET HOME FROM SCHOOL, I USUALLY GRAB A SANDWICH (WHICH SOMETIMES NEEDS TO BE TOASTED AT THIS TIME OF YEAR!)
Left - Emily spends as much time as possible with her two children. Katie enjoys her ponies while Thomas prefers motorbikes, so the horses all get used to the noise of his bike as he follows the farm rides.
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Katie (groom) or Mum to feed up in the evening. We have a giant whiteboard with a feed list and a paddock map on it, so anyone who knows the routine can do the feeding pretty safely without the risk of getting too much wrong.
All of my horses live outside unless they are going to a show, so that gives us much more freedom in terms of a time schedule. We also have a Tow’ n Collect, which Dad is in charge of, so only a handful of paddocks get mucked out every day.
5 PM Once wrangled inside, it’s homework, dinner, wash the grime of the day off them and get them into bed. Matt is often not home until late, so it’s a real novelty when we get to eat as a family. I enjoy cooking and baking, and I much prefer putting yummy food on the table and in cake tins to tidying the house, which is a constant mess with two young kids! Matt is far more likely to be found on the end of the vacuum cleaner than I am and is also pretty handy in IT WAS BITTERSWEET COMPETING AT ROLEX KENTUCKY THREE -DAY ON DAMBALA AND HAVING THE MOST AMAZING BUT DEVASTATING CROSS-COUNTRY OF MY LIFE. I WAS CRUSHED WHEN HE SUSTAINED A THREATENINGLIFE-INJURY AND WAS EUTHANISED. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE FANTASTIC SUPPORT FROM NEW ZEALAND BEHIND ME THAT DAY.
Above - Emily and DAMBALA during the 2015 Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event in the CCI4*. Image - Libby Law Photography
Right hand page - top left - Emily and SHAW LEE after winning the 4* at the National Three-Day Champs in 2021.
Bottom left image - Emily and ANTARA after winning the 3* at McLeans Island South Island One-Day Champs 2022.
56 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE the kitchen if I am tied up with horse stuff. I don’t drink a lot, so my substitute for a glass of wine in the evening is a can of coke. Sometimes I need a sugar hit to keep me going if I am teaching into the evening; I am currently trying to train myself to enjoy coke no sugar, but I’m not sure how well that will go. I’m not a meat and three veg kind of chef, so I prefer things I can cook with minimal dishes. A stir-fry with loads of fresh veggies would be my go-to favourite. We also have a fantastic Thai restaurant with great takeaways that I very conveniently have to drive past on the way home from Katie’s netball on a Tuesday evening, so that can be a real temptation after a big day. I have a real sweet tooth, so love making and eating yummy desserts. Basically, in the evening, I make up for the fact that I eat very little during the day! 8 PM Once the kids are in bed, there always seem to be a million more things that need to be done before I can head in that direction. School lunches for the following day (so I don’t have to get up as early), dinner for Matt and me; then there always seems to be an I’M NOT A MEAT AND THREE VEG KIND OF CHEF, SO I PREFER THINGS I CAN COOK WITH MINIMAL DISHES. A STIRFRY WITH LOADS OF FRESH VEGGIES WOULD BE MY GO-TO FAVOURITE.
excessive amount of time on the computer when I would rather be watching some TV and winding down, or going straight to bed!
Checking emails, scheduling lessons, doing entries, invoices, or GST; it’s very rare not to spend at least an hour in front of the computer before bed.
We have a massage chair that is a great way to relax and loosen up after a big day. I also like to remind my stomach muscles that they exist with a couple of minutes of planking before bed which will hopefully help me with my sitting trot when Antara comes back into work shortly.
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The weekends are getting easier as the kids get older. Matt and Thomas are both right into their rugby, dirt bikes and shooting, which leaves Katie and me to immerse ourselves in the horses without any hard feelings.
It is pretty cool to get the three generations out riding at a show together. My mum is still competing and enjoys eventing, show hunter and the occasional bit of dressage on her lovely home-bred mare Y-Puna Fergie, so with Katie getting pretty keen, there’s less and less space on the truck for my horses. To be completely honest, this suits me just fine!
I must say, though, that I find it easier to ride five or six horses at a show than to do three of my own when Katie is also riding. However, it is great to be able to enjoy the sport together. She has just started to ride a lovely wee pony that I have produced, and she’s already creating her list of horses that she plans to steal off me when she gets a bit older! n
She started at Dunstan, combining the marketing and the formula
“Anything with horses - you name it, I did it. One day while I was mucking out yards, it dawned on me that this wasn’t what I want to be doing when I’m 40.” She returned to New Zealand and began a Bachelor of Business Marketing degree. During her studies, she applied for a job with a feed company, and they allowed her to finish her studies while working. Getting into equine nutrition happened by default initially, she says. “I was on the marketing side, and people would ring wanting advice. There was no one else in the business to help them, so the calls would come through to me in the marketing department. I really enjoy working with people and helping horses; it grew from there.”
At that time, Gretel didn’t feel comfortable with the title of Equine Nutritionist. Although she had a marketing degree and an Associate Diploma in Applied Science which involved various equine nutrition papers, she still felt the need to pursue a higher qualification.
“Dunstan then made a role available to me, which was awesome. They were looking at their succession plan as their nutritionist was part-time and wanted to retire. They’re a very smart company in that they’re proactive likeDunstanthat.” was extremely appealing because they operate only horse-safe mills, with no ingredients used at the mills that could pose a risk to equines. “I have had concerns about mixed mill facilities and wanted to be in a very horse-safe environment. I’d had a little bit to do with Dunstan when I was independent, and Martin Blampied, the Managing Director, is just the most amazing person to work with. It’s a great team; everyone is straight up – there’s no corporate attitude.”
Correct nutrition is a crucial component of horse care and something Gretel Webber loves to help her customers nail, but that’s just one facet of her varied role with Dunstan Horsefeeds. Gretel was a horse-mad kid, and her mum didn’t know what to do with her. “When I left school, she sent me to Roseworthy Agricultural College (now Adelaide University) in Australia, which was best known for winemaking. I did two years there to gain an Associate Diploma in Horse Husbandry and Management,” Gretel recalls. When she finished, Gretel stayed in Australia for five years, running a hunting stable, riding pre-trainers for Peter Hayes, and working as a show jumping groom with the sole care of a team of 12 show jumpers.
WORDS -Rebecca Greaves IMAGES - Play Creative - Nicola Franks
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Starting as a marketing assistant and then moving into different roles, Gretel eventually became category manager for the equine side of the business. She was with the company for 16 years before leaving and undertaking independent work.
Dunstan’s Gretel Webber counts herself lucky to have one of very few full-time Equine Nutritionist roles in the country. She says there’s a great culture at the equine feed company, primarily due to the incredible team of people who work there.
SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 59 DUNSTAN THEN MADE A ROLE AVAILABLE TO ME, WHICH WAS AWESOME. THEY WERE LOOKING AT THEIR SUCCESSION PLAN AS VERYPART-TIMENUTRITIONISTTHEIRWASANDWANTEDTORETIRE.THEY'REA SMART COMPANY IN THAT THEY'RE PROACTIVE LIKE THAT.
Right - Gretel still checks the quality of the feed weekly to ensure the product is to her satisfaction.
“Obviously, I recommend Dunstan products; however, we work with the options the client has. Sometimes people don’t have as much choice around what they can feed due to locality or supply. The whole company is very focused on what’s best for the horse’s health - sometimes it’s as much about feed management and intake as what’s being fed – it’s looking at the whole picture.”
Gretel says it’s not just what you feed but how you feed it. Talking directly with customers and providing advice is a large part of her job, and she fields multiple customer questions daily via email, phone, and Facebook.
She says the horse breeding side is most interesting. “Feed can have so much impact on a young, growing horse from the time of conception, and there’s a real opportunity to make a difference with the subsequent equine athlete.”
Above - The Dunstan dream team! Director/Founder, Dave Smith, Gretel and Marketing Manager Paxton Conder.
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She moved into the Equine Nutritionist role full-time about five years ago, and that role has evolved and grown over time as the business has grown.
Gretel completed her dissertation on the impact of high-starch diets on equine behaviour and physiology, a topic that has proved extremely valuable in her current role. “We hear it all the time; behavioural issues that in many instances can stem from what horses consume. That’s been able to come forward in what we do now and
The secret to good nutrition is quite simple, she says. “Start by looking at the horse’s body condition to determine whether it needs more or less feed, then feed it appropriately. If it has no ailments or underlying health issues and is underweight, it’s normally just not getting enough feed - not enough calories.
is realised in a lot of the feeds we have.”
SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 61 THERE'S SO MUCH THAT FEED CAN IMPACT ON A YOUNG,HORSEGROWINGFROMTHETIMEOF CONCEPTION, AND THERE'S A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A SUBSEQUENTWITHDIFFERENCETHEEQUINEATHLETE.
Some products stay but might be tweaked or moved forward as the latest research is applied, for example, Race Ease, which was recently relaunched as Move Free. It now has the addition of Melofeed®, a new-age antioxidant, and reduced starch content by including other low-starch calorie sources.
Feed formulation is another key part of Gretel’s role , with products like Resolve®, a low-starch semi-concentrate performance muesli, the result of her hand. “Resolve® was pretty much my baby. I love it; it’s a great product.”
ONCE I’VE HAD A BRIEF FROM THE TEAM, THEY GIVE ME FREE LICENSE TO DO AS I PLEASE, WHICH IS NICE. AT THE SAME TIME, THE GIRLS HAVE TO GO OUT INTO THE FIELD, AND THEY NEED TO BE CONFIDENT ABOUT WHAT THE PRODUCT CAN DO FOR OUR CLIENTS.
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“Once I’ve had a brief from the team, they give me free license to do as I please, which is nice. At the same time, the girls have to go out into the field, and they need to be confident about what the product can do for our clients.”
Provide plenty of fibre and increase the calorie contribution. It’s not that complicated at the most basic level.”
Gretel feels fortunate to have her role and doesn’t plan on giving it up any time soon.
“It’s a pretty rare role - probably one of very few equine nutrition full-time roles in New Zealand. You wouldn’t give it up! It’s just such a great company to work for and a great team.” She doesn’t know what the next 12 months will hold with the uncertain economic climate globally. Still, She says they’ll continue to provide excellent products and service, and listen to
Other products are developed from scratch, like Recovery Mash, born from team feedback. “The team will come and say, we want a product that will do this. I say, ‘leave it with me’, then look at the ingredients and options we might use, formulate it, trial it, and it evolves from there. We have a lot of feeds that are historical and proven, and they’ve stayed in the stable.
Gretel doesn’t have an area she covers as such, but she has her own clients too and takes care of some studs.
“I’m called the Godmother; they take the mickey out of me.
The culture at Dunstan is to nurture and empower to create a winning team, and being part of this team is something Gretel takes great pride in.
I’m certainly not their superior but do have a few years on them. We talk a lot. They are all horsey like me, we get on well, and everyone is treated as an equal. No one is too scared to pipe up and say something. I always ask the girls for their feedback – they know the customers, and they have horses. It’s a great environment. It’s not me; it’s everybody.”
IT’S A GREAT CULTURE HERE. SOMETIMES YOU CAN’T PUT YOUR FINGER ON SUCCESS. IT’S A TEAM AND A CULTURE IN A BUSINESS. FORTUNATELY, AT THE MOMENT, THAT’S WHAT DUNSTAN HAS WITH ITS PEOPLE. EVERYONE BRINGS SOMETHING TO THE TABLE THAT’S BENEFICIAL TO THE COMPANY.
Gretel says she has two very nice Anamours that probably should go out more, and she intends to make that happen when she can find the time. “They’re probably the nicest horses I’ve ever had, and I wish I’d had them 20 years ago!
“I had a lot of horses - you collect them - it’s terrible! My husband had decided to agist horses here when we bought the property, and he set it up beautifully for that purpose, all post and rail, but I filled it up with sportHavinghorses!”downsized her collection, Gretel is content to spend time enjoying those she still has. “I’m older; I just enjoy them (horses). I’m not very competitive, but that’s all right. It’s nice to take the pressure off and enjoy them for what they are. If we get to a competition, that’s good, but I think with age, having kids and work, there comes a bit of a change in mentality.”
The couple now enjoys following the fortunes of the Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds they agist. “It’s a nice change because they don’t cost us money – they make us money. The aim is to get them looking as good as they can and in good health before they go back. We’re quite proud of that.”
n Gretel was happy to hand the marketing role to Paxton Conder, who has taken it to the next level.
The kids and their activities keep the family plenty busy. Zach is a talented karter and was recently second at Nationals. “He’s a natural at it. We have a wealth of horse experience but were total ‘green horns’ about karting.”
Addison has a pony and, although not into competition, enjoys hacking out with Mum. She thoroughly enjoys racing Kids Karts in sulkies and has raced and won at Alexandra Park, though the sport has been out of action since Covid hit. As well, she’s a keen netballer and competes in athletics.
their“Sometimes,customers.you can’t put your finger on success. It’s a team and a culture in a business. Fortunately, at the moment, that’s what Dunstan has with its people. Everyone brings something to the table that’s beneficial to the company.”
“I was a bit late having kids. I bred all these horses and then had kids,” she laughs. “The youngest (horse) is now nine and still hasn’t been out. The first one I bred is rising 16, and we’re about to start jumping 90cm – I haven’t jumped for 20 years, but I’ve got the right horse, and it’s fun again. I fit it in where I can.”
Gretel’s own riding aspirations have taken a back seat with life, children, and work to juggle, and she’s fine with that. There are plenty of horses in the paddock if she does want to ride, including some lovely ones she bred herself.
Gretel, her husband, and their two children Addison, 13, and Zach, 9, live at Pukeoware, near Waiuku. They have 22 acres and also run an agistment business, mainly catering for Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds. She predominantly works from home, although she does travel to Head Office in Te Rapa, Waikato weekly, and is often away supporting the Dunstan sales team at events or visiting clients throughout the country.
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WORDS - Rebecca Greaves IMAGES - Belinda Pratt Photography based on A BUSINESSLIFEPASSION
“We basically said, ‘if you come and shop with us, we’ll look after you.’ Each store can dictate its prices to a certain extent, and it wasn’t a big deal at the start. It started small, but it grew to be massive! It’s quite &
When a friend created the Facebook group Happy Rapa Hackers (HRH), Ange came up with the idea of offering consistent membership pricing on their feed and supplements. It started off in a small way, but now HRH has about 1800 members, and that group putting their feed purchases through PGW Masterton grew to be one of the largest PGW cash accounts. Ange then decided to extend the discount to other equine groups – targeting the racecourse, Pony Clubs, and the local Hunt.
A successful career built alongside her hobby and passion for all things equine has proved a happy combination for PGG Wrightson Masterton Store manager Angela (Ange) Parkinson.
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Undeterred, Ange approached PGW to see if there was a job for her there. As luck would have it, someone was due to retire. “I think missing that other role really did put the fire in my belly; I wanted this store to have the best equine feed offering and was determined to make sure there was a huge range of feedAngeoptions.”hasspent countless weekends attending local horse shows, whether as a competitor, with a PGW stand, or running a BBQ. “I guess because it was my passion and I loved it, I was happy to spend my weekends doing that.”
A warm smile and friendly word greets every customer who walks through the door of PGG Wrightson (PGW) Masterton, and it’s easy to see how Ange Parkinson has helped build a loyal customer base, particularly on the equine side. The equine facet of the business has grown exponentially since Ange joined the branch in 2015 as a customer service representative. Three years ago, she applied for and got the branch manager role. After previously being overlooked for a position at another rural retailer, Ange was determined to turn the store into the go-to for Wairarapa equestrian enthusiasts. When she arrived, the store was doing two tonnes of horse feed per month. Now, they send 25-30 tonnes of horse feed a month out the door and stock over 90 lines of feed. Before joining PGW, Ange worked as a vet nurse and then in a motorcycle shop for nine years. “It wasn’t my thing, but I loved working for them. I knew I wanted to go back to something that was my passion, which is horses. I went for a role with another rural retailer and remember being devastated when I didn’t get it.”
68 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE I wanted this store to have the best equine feed offering and was determined to make sure there was a huge range of feed options.
Not only has An]e supported the local equine community through her role in the store and by cooking plenty of sausages at shows, but she has also put her money where her mouth is. PGW and Eastwood Motor Group (which she and her husband Allan own in conjunction with their business partners Gary and Tiana Allan) have been extremely generous in their sponsorship of local events for many years.
“Allan and I, alongside our business partners, bought Eastwoods in December 2020. It’s a car dealership with Kia, Isuzu, and Suzuki. With Dressage Champs, I have two hats on as a sponsor, plus I compete. Eastwoods has a big display of vehicles and puts on a happy hour event with drinks and nibbles, which is always a hit with the dressage riders.”
“I love competing, and whether I’m going to a show to compete myself or representing PGW or Eastwoods, I’ve loved growing the relationships and friendships with people.”
Eastwoods has been the major sponsor of the Wairarapa Dressage Championships, held at Solway, for several years. It is also a major sponsor of Wairarapa Bush rugby and many more community events.
Whether behind the desk at PGG Wrightson or Eastwood Motor Group or competing in the dressage arena, Ange is invested in the equestrian sport she loves. Below - Ange riding HENNESSEY at the Kiwi Arena Rakes Premier League Dressage Wairarapa Championships.
overwhelming to have had so much support.”
PGW sponsors most local horse sports, the Wairarapa Dressage Championships and Glistening Waters Series Finals Show, where they provided all the championship class rugs.
Since taking on the store manager role three years ago, it has proved difficult for Ange to keep her focus on the equine offering due to the complexity of this particular rural supply business. She has since employed someone to look after the equine arm alongside her. “It has grown so much; we have well over 90 lines of horse feed plus supplements and gear – there’s so much room for it to grow, even more. I just need a bigger store!”
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I love competing, and whether I’m going to a show to compete myself, or representing PGW or Eastwoods, I’ve loved growing the relationships and friendships with people.
“There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff, ordering big-ticket items and canvassing at key times of the year like weaning or docking. We try to meet the needs of our customers and make everything as easy for them as possible, so for example, pre-lambing, we’ll be checking how much vaccine or capsules they need. I do a lot of liaising directly with farmers.”Angelikes
“It feels easy to me because horses are my passion, and from the start, I was so driven by it that it didn’t feel like work. Going to a horse show and chatting with people while cooking them a sausage and bread didn’t seem like work to me.
Dressage is Ange’s chosen discipline, and she’s had a love for the code since she was a little girl.
“I spent so much time dealing with farmers and equine customers. I do miss that part; I like to still be involved, not just stuck in a box.”
The draw of the job has been the customers and relationships she’s built over the years, purely through a shared love of horses.
“I also love the challenge of growing the business to do better year-on-year and coming up with ideas to get new business or improve our business.
to spend time on the shop floor, too, and the door to her office is never closed to staff or customers.
“Frankie Webb used to live in the Wairarapa. I remember going to her saddlery shop, and she would be schooling the most beautiful dressage horses in the arena - I was so in love
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“The equine world can be tough, and there’s a lot of judgement out there, so if our business, or me as a person, can make it a bit better through sponsoring or being there with a BBQ or helping people in some way, that’s a nice feeling.”
“People think dressage is easy, you just go around in circles, but it’s honestly the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It’s so rewarding when you have your horse soft, supple, and obedient. Having that obedience and getting to dance with them, that feeling is insane with a Warmblood; there’s so much power. The feeling is hard to explain when they lift up and take you, but who wouldn’t want to dance with a horse?” She and Allan have 10 acres on the outskirts of Masterton and put in an arena a few years ago. “It’s been the most amazing thing ever, as I can ride all year round.”
Her current job as store manager is varied. She has five staff and takes care of the day-to-day running of the store.
withAngethem!”ended up buying a horse off Frankie that she competed in dressage, and that was where it all started.
It felt easy to me because horses are my passion and I was so driven by it that it didn’t feel like work. Going to a horse show and chatting with people while cooking them a sausage and bread didn’t seem like work to me.
“As a kid, I jumped, but I had a bad accident where I broke my collarbone and was knocked out. My heart wasn’t with jumping, and, as I’ve got older, especially over the past ten years, I’ve concentrated on dressage.
Ange says the Wairarapa equestrian community often feels a bit like a family, with most people supporting each other and wanting the best for their fellow competitors.
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Left-hand page and right image - Ange believes in giving back to the community; hence the PGG Wrightson store is an avid sponsor of local events. Above- Ange with her husband Allan bought Eastwood Motor Group in December 2020 with their business partners.
The couple has a son and daughter, twins Olivia and Marshal, who are nearly 21, and since they are now older, Ange has more time to spend with her horses. Her horsey journey has been rocky in recent years, with the search for the perfect horse to replace her lovely off-the-track Thoroughbred, Jack, who she sadly lost to colic. “I got Jack off one of my racing customers, and we competed in Level 1 dressage until that was unfortunately cut short.”Since putting the arena in, Ange has been hosting clinics at the property with her dressage trainer, Cooper Oborn. It was through Cooper that she found her new horse, Brandy.
Ange is the first to admit that dressage is the hardest thing she has ever done.
Ange is grateful for the unwavering support of her mum Annette, who lives in the cottage on their property and is a huge help with the horses. She often helps with feeding and rugging horses and acts as a groom at competitions.
Above - Ange loves her time in the arena riding HENNESSEY.
She also has a little pinto by Mustang Sammy, who she has had since he was a weanling. He’s now five, and Ange is just getting him into work. “He’s quite little, but he moves beautifully for a station-bred cross, which is quite exciting. Hopefully, he will do dressage. He has the best nature but needs mileage. I just need him to grow a bit!”
“She has lived and breathed horses her whole life and is 100% my biggest supporter and fan. I couldn’t do it without her, especially juggling the kids when they were younger and work. She has been great in enabling me to compete and work 40-plus hours a week.
“Training with him, he breaks things down and makes it easy. You always feel like he’s on your team 100%; he wants you to succeed. I get so much feedback from clients that everyone feels like that with him. We are unbelievably lucky to have someone like
Right - The correct feed availability at the PGG Wrightson store was a priority; they now stock over 90 lines.
Hennesseyhim!”
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“My husband Allan deserves a mention too as he is supportive and has definitely realised that a happy wife equals a happy life, for sure! He knows riding makes me a better person.” n
I was looking for a horse that I could take up through the grades, but something that hadn’t been there and done that. I wanted to do it myself, a horse I could build a partnership with.
“Every month, or sometimes twice a month, Cooper comes to my house and does clinics at my arena. It has gone absolutely mad. He could probably do twice as many lessons here. Cooper is very humble and down-to-earth, and we have become good friends. He’s my idol, and I have no doubt he will go to the top and we will see him on the Olympic stage one day!
(Brandy) is an eight-year-old Warmblood by Awakino Stuyvesant out of a Falkensee mare. He has been with her for a year, and she hopes the combination will step up to Level 2 this coming season.
“I was looking for a horse I could take up through the gradessomething that hadn’t been there and done that. I wanted to do it myself on a horse I could build a partnership with.”
Ange doesn’t have lofty goals of getting to the top of the sport; she simply aims to get better. “I don’t really have a goal levelwise; I just want to be better than I was yesterday and grow that partnership with Brandy. Having a happy horse that I can go out, compete and have fun on is all I care about. But I would love to get to Level Five or Six with him one day.”
Right-hand page - The bond formed with HENNESSEY has been extremely rewarding.
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WORDS - Rebecca Greaves IMAGES - Michelle Clarke Photography is not a
Horses were part of the fabric of life growing up, and when she was four years old, Angie got her first pony, an 11.2hh half-Shetland a year younger than she was.
From point-to-pointing as a teenager to trekking in Mongolia to taking up dressage at age 70, Angie likes a challenge.Shegrewup on a farm at Banks Peninsula and now lives on the family farm between Hororata and Rakaia.
“As far back as I can remember, I was keen (on horses).
Finding the perfect new four-legged partner in Samson (he’s a spring chicken at just five) she plans to have many more years galloping around the countryside, appreciating the thrill of the chase.
I’ve always looked at them as good mates. I’ve tried most disciplines over the years. It’s just nice working with them. They give so much - I think they probably give to you more than you give to them.”
Canterbury horsewoman Angie Chaffey has enjoyed an intrepid life of adventures and memories made on horseback. Finishing her 70th year on the hunt field recently, she has no plans to slow down.
“We had to put him in the gig first because he had too much energy!”she recalls. She and her younger sister rode everywhere together, mostly on the farm, and they dabbled in a bit of showing. The absence of a float meant they rode to any hunt or competition.
The family moved to Dunsandel in the late 1940s, and Angie started hunting in 1950 at the age of nine. She and her younger sister would ride to the hunts, just the two of them, hunt all day, and then ride home again. “We would ride up to 15 miles, leave in the dark, and get home in the dark. We used to cross the Selwyn River. In those days, the Hunt provided the lunch –Rapley’s pies and Ernest Adams fruit cake.
Age is just a number, according to Angie Chaffey. At 81 years old, she is still an active member of Christchurch Hunt and clocked up her 70th year following the hounds this season.
“I’ve always lived on a farm, and it has changed a lot. About 30 years ago, it was dry here with no irrigation, and during the droughts, we used to drive the sheep to the hills. We’d walk up to three days to get to the grazing in the foothills. I’d be in front with my horse and a dog.” These days, with the rise of irrigation, the area has mainly converted to dairy and dairy support. Angie’s son runs the farm now, and they are predominantly dairy support.
HUNTING spotlight
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WHENBARRIERAGE
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Years later, I asked her about it, and she said, ‘Oh my dear, I obviously knew that you were totally out of control,’ and I said, ‘well, I was!”
“One time, for some reason, my pony bolted through the field, past the Master, past the Whips - it bolted all the way back to the floats, about 2km. The Master was Mrs Montgomery, and I was waiting to get a blast!
“The only time I was ever beaten, we were pushed outside the flags, but we still came second by a head. That particular horse did everything, eventing, Round the Ring, the whole lot. This was before I wasOnemarried.”particularly memorable event was contesting the Forest Gate Trophy when it was held at Racecourse Hill, near Darfield. The competition was open to all in those days.
Over the years, she has tried most disciplines, from show jumping and Show Hunter to eventing, but the biggest adrenaline rush by far was point-to-pointing. Sometimes they would race twice in a day, a mile and a half in the Ladies’ race and then, after lunch, two miles against the men.
“Highwayman (a Thoroughbred) was the mount then. We were the only ones who went clear on the cross-country within the time. The fences were all-natural, like over a new battened wire with a barb on the top, and included a water race and through sheep yards. Another obstacle was gorse - three foot on the take-off with a nine-foot drop! One was certainly on a high after going through the flags!”
Angie believes she has only missed three seasons since then, and apart from two seasons spent hunting with Starborough in the mid-60s, she has always been a member of Christchurch Hunt. On leaving school, she got a float, which allowed her to try her hand at other things. Angie worked as a land girl and was also a doctor’s receptionist in Christchurch.
At the age of 70 and with no prior experience, Angie took up
That horse was a station-bred called Mangatarata (named after the Gisborne station he came from) who unfortunately came to an untimely end in his prime with a bad case of navicular.
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“I bought a horse from the North Island to hunt, and that didn’t work out, so I took it dressage. He was too big a handful to hunt, and he was becoming a bit too valuable to hunt.”
Angie and new horse, SAMSON, who she teamed up with just before this hunt Angieseason.saysthe camaraderie is what appeals most about hunting, plus she likes to jump. dressage. With the help of Mandy Blockland, she went all the way to Prix St George.
“I never liked dressage when I was young, but I just thought I would give it a go. It fascinated me, and the horse had the movement; one thing led to another,” she explains. “Dressage - that’s a disciplined discipline. There’s a lot more to it than I ever thought. When you’ve done it, your horse is so much nicer to ride. In some ways, you probably create a closer bond. You have to work together as a unit. I took it up as a challenge, then I got hooked.”
Since then, there have been a few other hunters, but not the right one for Angie. “They weren’t the right horse at the right
“Alex from Hangaroa rang, and we had a long chat. A friend and I flew up and spent a few days up there. We just clicked. I was a bit rusty over the fences but soon came right. There was just something about him; it was a gut feeling. He’s only five - he will see me out.”
“Hunting is not what it used to be. It used to be so open and, in those days, you took your own line – nothing was prepared. In the early days, you taught your horse to jump on the hunt field. There was a lot of gorse then. Christchurch was renowned for its gorse; we don’t get much now. There’s a lot of high tensile wire and outriggers; that’s why we have a lot of spars, with irrigation hose used for most.
As well as hunting, in the spring, Angie plans to do a bit of dressage and possibly Show Hunter with Samson.
Bred by Gisborne’s Hangaroa Landcruisers station-bred sport horses, he is quarter Cleveland Bay by Forest and out of a Paul Johnson mare.
In the horse department, Angie is now down to two - one very good retired hunter and her new horse, Samson, who she teamed up with just before this hunting season.
Over the years, Angie has witnessed plenty of changes to hunting, notably down to changing land use and intensification of farming, especially with irrigation coming in.
There’s a bit of a trend emerging, Angie’s last three horses have been out of Paul Johnson mares, and one had a bit of Ngahiwi blood.
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Enter Samson. A friend spotted him advertised on Aria Ross’s site.
Angie says the camaraderie is what appeals most about hunting, plus she likes to jump.
“I look for temperament, how they move. It’s just a gut feeling. I have looked at many horses and haven’t even bothered to get on them.”
“It used to seem that every ten years the land use changed, then it was every five, now it’s every year. I do enjoy going to Central Otago for a weekend hunting and their wide-open spaces – in my book, I think they have the best hunting country.”
“Rangi, the retired one, did 16 seasons and had one trip up north. I’ve had four trips to the North Island hunting. He would have done 250 hunts and only one broken wire. He was a Paul Johnson horse; I picked him up from the Kaipara Harbour area as a four-year-old, and he just went straight to the front.”
Samson’s grandfather was reportedly imported from the Queen’s stable and was a full Cleveland Bay.
“It can be a bit frustrating having to go to spars and queue. It takes a special horse to do that. We used to just go, and cover a much bigger area, up to 20,000 acres. The runs were much longer; there wasn’t the greenfeed there is now. In all that time, I have only had three Huntsmen.
Angie’s walls and tables are adorned with frames filled with wonderful memories. time. I was getting to the stage where if I couldn’t find something suitable, I would give up – and I didn’t want to.”
As well as hunting, Angie has trekked in Mongolia, Peru (she got to Machu Picchu), Ecuador, and Botswana, mainly through the British company Ride Worldwide.
IT'S JUST
Our present Huntsman, Dave Ferriman, just finished his 49th year.” She enjoys watching the hounds work and has previously walked a hound. She was also a Hunt committee member for many years, as well as filling the roles of Field Master and Deputy Master. She is currently President of the Christchurch Hunt.
WORKING
PROBABLY GIVE TO YOU MORE THAN YOU GIVE
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“I tried drag hunting once. That was the most suicidal thing I’ve ever done in my life, lethal! Once was enough! There’s no drag hunting left in the South Island now.”
THINK.
MOST DISCIPLINES
“One time, we rode 900km in 20 days across Patagonia, from the west coast of Chile through to the east coast of Argentina, finishing where the cruise ships leave for Antarctica. We had two horses, and they alternated them every two days. We slept in tents.”
AS FAR BACK AS I CAN WAS KEEN (ON HORSES). I'VE LOOKED AT THEM AS GOOD MATES. I'VE TRIED OVER THE YEARS. NICE WITH THEM, THEY SO MUCH. THEY TO THEM, I
As long as I’m fit and healthy, why not? I’ve got the horse now.” n
Angie plans to keep riding for as long as she can and says horses have kept her fit.
REMEMBER I
“To be honest, hunting is one way to get through the winter. I always say age is just a number; why take notice of numbers? If you are up to it, go for it. If I looked at my age, it would frighten me. Bessie Fullerton-Smith hunted until she was 86; she was always my idol.
ALWAYS
GIVE
“Our first house was in Torbay before we moved to Devonport; eventually, we moved out to the countryside in Kumeu and Taupaki before settling in Waitakere. I didn’t come from a horsey background, but after lessons at the riding school, I rode my neighbours’ ponies and horses because their daughters weren’t interested - and so it began!
Every fortnight, David’s mum would drive him and his two sisters to a riding school in Huapai as an extra activity to fill time. That was where David found his passion.
“I started Pony Club in the late 1980s at Redhills Pony Club but also attended a couple of bigger, more competitive pony clubs on my riding journey. Recently, over dinner and cocktails with old Pony Club friends, we talked about the good old days of riding our horses from our homes to Riverhead Forest. Back then, there were sweeping grass verges to ride along, road traffic was just your neighbours, and the country was still the country. The only traffic concern we had was getting across State Highway 16,” he laughs. “We would be gone from dawn to dusk with backpacks carrying a water bottle, snacks and a jacket. Cell phones weren’t a thing back then. We were vintage! It was the best of times.”
BACK from the brink
In his early years, dressage was definitely not on David’s horizon. Like most young boys, his idea of fun was jumping everything in sight and doing everything in between as fast as possible. “I hated dressage as a kid; if you’d told me then that I would be going down this pathway now, I would have laughed in your face! It probably didn’t help that I wasn’t very good at it, and my first pony, Chokko, wasn’t a fan either. He accidentally found his way to me from a family friend whose daughter wasn’t well suited to him. “I loved eventing but found that show jumping suited us both, and we encountered lots of success together. Eventually, with the help and contacts of my show jumping coach, we sold Chokko overseas to Japan.”
WORDS & IMAGES - Caitlin Benzie
While David Ringwood didn’t come from a horsey background and spent his childhood in the suburbs of Auckland’s North Shore, that couldn’t stop him from finding his love for horses.
DRESSAGE spotlight
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Now, based back on the North Shore, David spent many years as a self-confessed professional student with a background in science. However, on a whim and a dare by a good friend, he
SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 85 I HATED DRESSAGE AS A KID; IF YOU’D TOLD ME THEN THAT I WOULD BE GOING DOWN THIS PATHWAY NOW, I WOULD HAVE LAUGHED IN YOUR FACE!
applied to be a flight attendant with Air New Zealand. After taking a break from riding to focus on his career, David has spent the past seven years being mentored by some of the best in the business. He decided to leave his job as an international flight attendant in 2019 to become a full-time rider.
SAATCHI PSH (Zak) is by STOLZENBERG and out of an DISTELFINKANAMOUR/DYNAMIT/mareandwaspurchasedby David as a rising five-year-old. Below - When David broke his tibia and fibula in a paddock accident, he soon learned that not only would the recovery be long, bug also that the biggest challenge would be the infection.
David’s current competition horse is an 11-year-old chestnut Hanoverian gelding called Saatchi PSH. Zak is by Stolzenberg and out of an Anamour/Dynamit/Distelfink mare and was purchased by David as a rising five-year-old.
“Zak was an out-of-work show jumper when I bought him. I have produced all of his dressage work myself, which has been a pretty big journey. He’s extremely quirky and sensitive but also a real Daddy’s boy; he’s always looking to me to be the brave one in our relationship and tell him everything is okay. He has taught me much more than the ability to ride, the biggest being that patience is a virtue!”
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“In my early days, I was fortunate enough to be influenced in my riding by the late Angela Learmonth, along with Brent Goodin and Sue Abrams. Now, 30-something years later, my love of dressage has grown, probably helped along by not being so utterly terrible at it anymore,” laughs David. “My fascination for dressage drives me, and it’s something I’m now completely passionate about. When I began getting back into riding as an adult rider, I was lucky enough to be taught, mentored and befriended by some of the most incredible people on the New Zealand riding scene, including the likes of Phillip Oxenius, Greg Smith, Julie Malcolm and Vanessa Way. Zak and I are currently under the watchful eye and training of the amazing Kallista Field.”
In 2020, David faced his biggest challenge yet. A fall from his young horse, Simon, left him with a broken tibia and fibula.
“In 2015, I lost an incredible young horse called MCL Foreign Official to a freak paddock accident. Flint didn’t just break my heart when he left; he made me question if I wanted to even continue in the sport. He was amazing, and I often think about where we would be now. However, from the tragedy of losing Flint, two more love stories came into my life when I found Simon, a young colt, and Zak, my current number one ride.
SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 87 MY FIRST CONSULTATION WITH MY NEW SURGEON DR OREC WASN’T PLEASANT. HE TOLD ME THE INFECTION WAS SEVERE AND THAT IT WAS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT HE MIGHT HAVE TO AMPUTATE MY LEG WHEN HE OPERATED THAT DAY.
What initially appeared to be a simple break was soon revealed to be limb-threatening, taking David on a recovery journey that is still ongoing today.
At that point, David thought he was well on his way to recovery, and after a two-week stay in the hospital during the beginning of New Zealand’s Covid outbreak, it was time for the unveiling of his leg. All was not well, however, and the dirt that had found its way into his wounds had created an infection that was spreading rapidly. He was transferred from North Shore to the specialist at Middlemore Hospital.
Eventually, we began to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and things started to improve. Now, I’m two years down the track, and after 19 surgeries and seven blood transfusions, my leg has lots of expensive metal bits in it and some pretty ugly scarring. Occasionally, my foot randomly goes completely numb, and I get intermittent nerve pain shooting through my leg; it also often becomes fatigued quickly. However, it’s still attached and functions to the best of its ability, so I couldn’t be more grateful for the outcome and to Dr Orec and his team.”
“My friends know me as a bit of a selfie taker, so one piece of fortune was having my phone on me, not only to be able to make an emergency call but, once I had had the green whistle, to be able to document the journey into the ambulance,” he laughs. “The last thing I remember was a very rough, bumpy ambulance ride up the farm gravel driveway. I woke up the next day in the afternoon with my leg heavily wrapped and in a cast after having had the first of what would be many surgeries. They had put in a metal rod down the Below - David competing SAATCHI PS (Zak) Medium Musical Freestyle at Land Rover Horse of the Year 2020. length of my shin and a plate, plus they had also done a muscle flap and a skin graft.”
“The next three months saw me having two surgeries almost every week, half of my body being nerve blocked, bedridden in the hospital during Covid conditions and fighting off threats of amputation.
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“On the 18th May 2020, I broke my tibia and fibula. Unfortunately for me, it was a compound fracture in two places, and the bone had made its way through my jodhpurs and riding boots. I had been riding in the paddock at the time, which only made it worse as a lot of dirt had managed to make its way onto the bone.
“After breaking my leg and dealing with the infection, I thought about what I could do to stay in touch with the dressage world and keep one foot in the door. My good friend Kaye AhSam said I should become a judge as she thought I’d be good at it. I thought it over and decided judging was a good opportunity to learn something, so, with some help and guidance, I got the ball rolling and started my judging journey. I’d love to take Zak all the way and get him to Grand Prix, but until then, I’ll keep riding and training, judging and coaching and see where the journey takes me!” n
David knew his leg would take time to heal, but his passion for riding and dressage never wavered. He wanted to keep a finger on the pulse so that when he returned to the sport, he would be ready to come out firing. Luckily for him, a close friend had an idea up her sleeve that he plans to stick with in the future while he trains Zak through to Grand Prix.
“My first consultation with my new surgeon, Dr Orec, wasn’t pleasant. He told me the infection was severe and that it was highly likely that he might have to amputate my leg when he operated that day. When I woke up from surgery, I had tubes and machines attached to every part of me, and the right-hand side of my body had been nerve blocked, but thanks to the amazing Dr Orec, I still had my leg!
SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 89 P r i o r i t i z i n g y o u r h o r s e ' s c o m f o r t @ A N A T O M E q | A N A T O M E q . c o m e: southridgeequine@gmail.com I www.southridgeequine.co.nz SOUTHRIDGE EQUINE It’s time to enjoy the ride! C Eqclusive C Hairy Pony C Premier Equine C Lumiere Equestrian C Tocsen Helmet Sensor C EquineNZ C Equine Eats and Treats C Fager Bits C MP Gloss C HSE / NTR C Paetai Cottage C BetaVet and more! STOCKISTS OF SHOP NATIONWIDEONLINEDELIVERY
JUMPING spotlight 90 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE
After Penny came freshly broken 13.2hh Spike, who she competed in 95cm eventing and Show Hunter. The pair went to eventing champs and placed 6th overall.
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Hollie’s mum, Sonia, rode on New Zealand teams, eventing and show jumping to a high level. Together, Sonia and Hollie make a formidable team. Sonia’s excellent eye for a horse has resulted in a string of lovely ponies and horses, which Hollie has capably helped to produce. Her dad, Henry, grew up playing polo and hunting.
A REALITY
Hollie and Jasper also won the Category B Show Hunter
“I don’t do so much showing now, but I love showing and Show Hunter. It’s like a bug, trying to get that perfect round.”
The Falloon family property is on the outskirts of Masterton, and Hollie, 18, is in her final year at Wairarapa College.
It was almost written in the stars that Hollie Falloon would grow up with a love of horses – there was a pony in the paddock before she was even born.
The pony who really started everything was Fortification Penhaligon (Penny), a pony they initially bought for Hollie’s brother Max. Sonia spotted him in the distance at Tinui Sports and loved him. It turned out that the pony was for sale, so they put him on the truck and took him home that veryHollieday.attended her first Horse of the Year Show at the age of 11 on Penny, winning the Rising Star and Supreme Saddle Hunter Pony. They also competed in Show Hunter and Working Hunter that year.
Wairarapa teenager Hollie Falloon is a quiet achiever. Over the years, she has demonstrated her talent across a range of disciplines, with an understated knack for producing horses and ponies, largely through hard work and determination.
The next superstar pony was Farleigh Catterick (Jasper), an Australian Riding Pony imported to New Zealand as a family pet. “He was a bit of a ratbag when doing dressage, but he was amazing at games. He went on to event to 95cm and was second and third overall at champs. We didn’t get to have a third crack because of Covid.”
WORDS - Rebecca Greaves IMAGES - Belinda Pratt Photography
Left-hand page - Hollie pictured with WEITI ONTARIO (owned by Craig Sullivan) and her dog, Toad.
“After that HOY I got the bug. I’m very competitive, but quietly, it’s not just about winning; it’s about making them. I love to win, but not at the cost of my pony. I just enjoy producing them up the grades.
“Mum obviously started it. She evented and show jumped, did Grand Prix and Lady Rider of the Year. She got a pony, an amazing little Welshy called Goldie, before I was born.
“It was pre-destined; I was going to ride that poor pony. We got a few more ponies along the way, and one we were given was Peeping Tom. I did my first real competition on him when I was six. Tom was 13hh, and Mum sent me out eventing on him. I’ve always been keen, and Mum has given me the right ponies.”
dreams MAKING
Multi-talented Jasper was also second in the Working Hunter Pony of the Year title at HOY with both Hollie and her brother Max. Ticking along in the background was Boy Wizard (Potter), bred by Sonia’s mum. Hollie then also got the ride on Buzzie Bees Max (Max) in her second-to-last season on ponies.
“I love Show Hunter because you can never get that perfect round. There’s always something to critique. You get stuck in it, trying to get that perfect round, perfect stride, perfect distances. Eventing can sometimes hot them up a bit, so I would go back to Show Hunter and re-teach.”
Hollie’s ability to ride multiple disciplines well has given her a solid grounding in producing a polished round.
What’s even more remarkable about Hollie’s success is that she can only see out of one eye. She doesn’t like to dwell on the fact too much but says turning, particularly sharp rollbacks on
“From the beginning, in showing, you learn to show and condition them and do everything accurately with ringcraft. Show Hunter is ringcraft, distances and strides, and eventing combines them all. Show Jumping is just the bigger, gruntier version of Show Hunter. Producing ponies and horses through the grades makes the success far more satisfying, Hollie“Mumsays.has a great eye, and I enjoy producing them. They are all different, and sometimes I dislike them to start with, but you work through it and eventually get them going, and you learn to love them. I’ve always trusted Mum.”
92 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE title at HOY.
“Everyone fell off Max, but I got Potter and Max up the grades. I was lucky to get Max and get him to Pony Grand Prix. After winning the Show Hunter title, my goal was to do a Grand Prix. Max was phenomenally scopey, and we got there in the end, placing second in one. Potter got to Mini Prix 1.20m. I was lucky to be able to get him up the grades so quickly, but we did a lot of work behind the scenes over winter.”
Above - Hollie with Toad and Willow FROM THE IN SHOWING, YOU LEARN TO SHOW AND CONDITION THEM AND DO EVERYTHING ACCURATELY WITH RINGCRAFT. SHOW HUNTER IS RINGCRAFT, DISTANCES AND STRIDES, AND EVENTING COMBINES THEM ALL. SHOW JUMPING IS JUST THE BIGGER, GRUNTIER VERSION OF SHOW HUNTER.
“It was good because she’d come back and say to me, ‘they’re telling me the same things as you, Mum’, which was reassuring for her,” Sonia says. Typically, like most mother-and-daughter teams, there’s the odd bit of bickering. Still, Hollie is grateful for her mum’s input. “She has helped me heaps. I wouldn’t be where I am without Mum. We walk the courses and jump-offs together and have a good understanding. Maybe I’m a bit reliant on Mum! But I’m very lucky that both Mum and Dad support me. When I’m in the ring going around, I hear Mum’s voice in my head, like ‘hold, hold, hold down to this line.”
BEGINNING,
Left-hand image - RIMU is one of the last horses bred by Gay Meyer of Mamaku Stud. She has outstanding eventing bloodlines and is by CHILLI MORNING.
Above - Hollie and JESS at the Wairarapa Labour Weekend Showjumping & Hunter Champs in the Junior Rider and 1.20 class. SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 93
her left side, and sometimes seeing a distance, have been challenging. “I have no peripheral vision, but I just turn my head.”
Middle image - Hollie pictured with WEITI ONTARIO. The pair completed at Young Rider level last season and Hollie is looking forward to what they can achieve in the future.
During the season, the focus is on working and training the competition team. Over winter, they break in young ones together, with Sonia teaching Hollie the breaking-in process too. “Having them from the beginning means you know them and what they’re like the whole way through. In the background, we’ve always had little projects along the way to offset costs and help fund the horses.”
Hollie and Sonia make a great team, and Sonia has always been her daughter’s main trainer. She has had the odd lesson along the way, but they only served to reinforce what Sonia was teaching her.
“It’s hard. There were times when I didn’t have a lot,” she says. “Hollie is pretty dedicated, and she’s positive. She will battle on through and they don’t often stop.” Hollie interrupts at this point to say that she doesn’t let them stop – they don’t know what it is.
Sonia, who has done horses full-time herself and understands what a tough road it can be, says it’s important to have balance.
“Unrealistically, you know - World Champion,” she laughs.
Hollie’s main goals are, realistically, to produce Rimu to 3* or 4* eventing, if she’s good enough, and get to Grand Prix level show jumping.
“Rimu has been in the background, but I have been eventing and show jumping her. She just did the Taupo Three-Day 105cm and won at the Secondary School North Island Eventing Champs. I’d like to slowly produce her up the eventing levels. She’s got the gallop and is very bold - I’ve never sat on anything Above - RIMU has been in the background. Still, Hollie is working on eventing and show jumping with her after completing the Taupo ThreeDay 105cm and winning the Secondary School North Island Eventing Champs; RIMU looks to have a bright future.
Bottom right - Hollie is fortunate to have the support of Craig Sullivan, who owns WEITI ONTARIO; lessons are also part of the arrangement.
It’s slightly unfortunate that Hollie’s birthday is in July, and the cut-off date for competing ponies and Junior Rider is August, which means she just missed another full season at both Pony Grand Prix and Junior Rider levels. The goal for the coming season is to attain Young Rider level and do it well. She did one Young Rider class with Weiti Ontario last season and has the ride again thisTheseason.finalhorse in the current team is seven-year-old Ben, by Cartel GNZ and out of a Distelfink/Voltaire mare.
Ben belongs to Hollie’s dad’s cousin and did the Five-Year-Old series with Jesse Linton, but hasn’t done a lot since. Hollie says Ben has a great nature, and the plan is to sell him on behalf.
While she doesn’t have any ‘official’ sponsors, Hollie is grateful for the constant support from her parents and owners. “Gay is amazing and contributes to the running of the horse. Craig gives me lessons on Weiti Ontario too. It’s nice to have the support from people because you have ups and downs with horses.” n
94 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE quite so bold!”
“I think because she has ridden a lot of different horses and done a lot, she’s well-rounded,” Sonia finishes.
Rimu is one of the last horses Gay bred, and the Falloons were lucky to get a 50% share in the mare, who has outstanding eventing bloodlines.
Hollie’s top show jumper currently is Just Jessie (Jess), a 12-yearold mare by Repicharge out of a Silent Hunter mare. While Hollie was still on ponies, Sonia put one of her old mares in foal to Repicharge (before he went to Double J Stud) - the result was Jess. “She was a little mare with bent legs. Mum broke her in and took her to a few sports days and competitions, show jumping up to 1.10m. She was the only thing in the paddock, and I thought I’d try to do Junior Riders on her. “That goal was achieved in the 20/21 season. Hollie was also lucky to gain the ride on a more seasoned campaigner, Weiti Ontario, who belongs to Sonia’s good friend, Craig Sullivan. Then there is six-year-old Rimu, who came to them from Gay Meyer of Mamaku Stud. Gay’s son, Joe, well-known in eventing circles, and Sonia grew up together riding ponies in the Wairarapa. Sonia used to go to Mamaku over winter to make money for the next season, doing yearlings and breakers and riding the odd horse, and Gay became a good friend.
“We don’t have the money to buy a horse at that level, so it would need to be on something I bring on myself. I just want to continue enjoying the process of bringing them on through the grades.
Rimu is by Chilli Morning, one of the great eventing stallions in the history of the sport. Probably best known for his partnership with British rider William Fox-Pitt, and winning at Badminton, Chilli Morning was out of a mare whose full brother went to the Olympics for eventing.
While she’d love to make horses a full-time career, Hollie is pragmatic about the reality. She plans to finish the school year and take an online business management course. “I might go to uni the following year and do human resource management. Ultimately, I’d love to fund my horses with horses, but that’s a bit unrealistic. I need a job to fund my hobby.”
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SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 97 LAMI-CELL V22TENDON BOOTS are now available with Velcro. Very breathable & comfortable V22 neoprene, carbon look with Velcro tightening system. FEI approved, available in black. Sizes medium or large. RRP $169.90. www.zilco.co.nz
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ORIGIN FIGURE 8 NOSEBAND BRIDLE made of French grained leather, offering both a unique look and comfort for the horse with a calf lined, padded figure 8 noseband and anatomical headpiece with only two pieces (one cheek piece for the snaffle and one for the noseband) and a special throat-lash fastener. The bridle is available with or without rubber reins. Available in brown and sizes; cob and full. www.maddoxequestrian.co.nz STANCE EQUITEC TURMERICLE Natural anti-inflammatory that may assist joint health, skin health & coat shine and recovery from work. Easy – simply add straight to feed! Visit www.stanceequitec.co.nz & ask your local feed store for Turmericle today! EQUI-JEWEL is ascientifically formulated, buffered, high-fat, low-starch, cool-energy conditioner with added natural vitamin E, selenium and bioavailable calcium. Equi-Jewel is the original, research-proven stabilised rice bran conditioning supplement and the only conditioning supplement
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SAXON DEFIANT 600D COMBO MEDIUM
• There are two phases, the support phase and the swing phase, with the support phase subdivided into three categories; hoof landing and braking, full contact and load, and rollover.
On initial contact of the hoof with the ground, no bodyweight is projected through the limb.
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Each force acting on the leg has different directions and magnitudes.
Rollover phase
Injuries sustained during this phase commonly occur to the hoof and lower limb.
Factors that influence the force and load on the leg are surface properties, shoeing, the horse's conformation, gait, speed and direction. The hoof is only on the ground for a fraction of time, but during this period, three phases occur, all affecting the horse differently.
• In this phase, the hoof is braced against the surface, which propels the leg forward.
The harder and more grip a surface has, the more forces are placed through the leg.
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• The less grip on the surface will cause the foot to slide more and absorb less force. Therefore a surface should allow for some sliding of the foot on impact.
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The forces placed upon the limb during this phase send vibrations and shockwaves through the lower limb's hoof, joints and bones.
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•
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INTERACTION BETWEEN & SURFACE
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After the initial contact, the body sinks closer to the ground as each limb segment collides with each other, shortening the overall length of the limb. During this phase, the hoof brakes rapidly and slides forward and downward into the surface.
Hoof landing and braking
• The fetlock extends, dropping to the ground and places tension through the flexor tendons and suspensory apparatus; providing a shock absorbing and elastic effect.
Full contact and load
• Injuries sustained during this phase commonly occur to the tendons, ligaments, joints and bone due to large forces that they are exposed to.
• During this phase, the grip of the surface (determined by friction and shear strength) determines the amount of traction the hoof has, altering the propulsion of the limb.
98 - SHOW CIRCUIT MAGAZINE HEALTH arenas
• Surface properties determine the amount of force placed through the limb, the length of time the limb is exposed to those forces and the rate of increase and decrease of the forces placed through the limb.
• This phase loads the ligaments, hoof wall and the tip of the coffin bone, and there is more of a stretch of the superficial digital flexor tendon.
Our Expert: Leigh de Clifford BVSc, Cert AVP, PGCertVPS, MRCVS Born and raised in rural Australia, Leigh grew up around racing, rodeo and camp drafting. Leigh is now a shareholder and senior equine clinician at Matamata Veterinary Services, New Zealand.
• This phase begins when the hoof stops sliding and is in full contact with the ground and the hoof and limb is bearing the full weight of the horse.
•
The leg and hoof withstand great forces when the hoof hits the ground when it carries the horse's total weight during turns and increasing and decreasing speeds.
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• This relates to how springy the surface is and transferring the force back to the horse, aiding in pushing off into the next stride.
• Related to the hardness of the top layer.
• Any surface material's properties can differ daily, depending on use, maintenance and environmental factors.
• Variation of surface use and a gradual introduction to different surfaces should be incorporated into a training plan.
• What a rider feels walking across an arena is also different from what the horse feels.
• A good surface should have adequate cushioning to reduce the stress and strain during full weight bearing.
2.1.
The risk of injury on a surface is primarily determined by how it is used. Riding intensity, speed, duration, frequency and type of work are as important as the properties of the surface.
CushioningResponsiveness
• This alters the mechanical shock experienced by the horse when the hoof first hits the ground.
• Different materials and construction principles can provide surfaces with the same properties.
• This can be assessed by how far the foot rotates into the top layer.
Most arenas in equestrian sports are composed of sand or sand/ rubber or fibre mixes, and they can behave differently depending on the forces they are exposed to and the speed at which they are loaded.
• The natural frequency of the surface will determine the timing of this rebound and is closely related to cushioning; a compacted surface may rebound too quickly and feel stiff, and the opposite may occur with a highly cushioned surface.
• Cushioning is not only dependent on the top layer, but also the lower layer.
Impact firmness
The following sections describe the five key properties of an arena:
• Must maintain the surface properties.
• The properties of a surface, rather than the material it is composed of, affect the horse.
Arenas and their & function
• Cushioning can be achieved by materials that deform under the hoof, with decompaction being able to be achieved by using elastic materials or by maintenance.
• Water moisture is one of the most critical factors influencing surface properties.
•
•
• This describes how the surface dampens the maximum force experienced by the horse when the limb is fully weight bearing.
• A deep top layer that deforms as the hoof is pushed against it may provide too much cushioning, which will make the horse work harder and fatigue quicker, potentially increasing injury risk.
• There is an association between the cushioning effect and the impact firmness of the surface.
• Surfaces are expected to promote performance and soundness.
• A surface that provides minimal cushioning helps horses perform better due to support for the hoof, but they will injure the horse more quickly due to less shock absorption capacity.
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• The properties of an arena will change depending on the moisture content and maintenance.
• Many different surface types can be made to have the same properties or made to suit different disciplines.
• Working your horse on many different types of surfaces allows development of proprioception.
5. Uniformity and consistency
Grip
• Wood based surfaces are 12 times more likely to cause the horse to slip and lose its balance than other surface types.
• Wax properties depend on temperature of environment.
• Horses must be introduced to a new surface and be given time to adapt before introduced to peak loading.
• Presence or absence of a base and its composition can have dramatic effects on how the superficial layers operate, with the absence of a base related to negative surface properties and increased risk of injury.
•
• Interaction between hoof and arena determines load applied to limbs, which can be influenced by the surfaces ability to resist impact (hardness) and to shear forces (resistance to hoof penetration), with greater impact and shear resistance resulting in a more stable surface but greater limb load; greater impact and shear resistance will support and aid in propulsion.
The surface must feel uniform from stride to stride as the horse works on it, as characteristics can vary within the arena.
• Addition of rubber, fiber, wax, etc will limit water evaporation, reduce maintenance, and improve stability.
The hoof must slide a little on impact to reduce the force transmitted through the leg, but not too much, as the surface materials must withstand the forces placed on it during propulsion.
• Arena surfaces influence the horse’s movement patterns.
LANDING TAKE OFF SURFACES AND INJURY 4. 100 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE
• The surface friction determines how well the materials interlock and hold together to provide traction.
• Arena type, maintenance and use can have implications on injury and compromise performance.
• Quartz based sand is harder and more durable, than calcite sand.
• Want moisture level to be between 8-17%.
• Sand properties depend on particle size, shape, moisture content and bulk density.
• Surfaces whose properties change with temperature or ambient conditions are associated with increased injury risk.
• Rubber chunks are better than strips, with uniformity being easier to achieve if used as a top layer instead of being mixed with sand.
• This determines how much the horse’s foot slides during landing, turning and pushing off.
• Arena surface composition.
• Size of the arena is also important, with smaller ones having higher injury risk, due to tighter movements being performed and move frequently use a particular part of the area, causing compaction.
•
• Patchy
Geotextile barrier cloth can prevent the base layer and sand particles from clogging up these drainage systems. There must be drainage around the perimeter so water draining off the arena surface can flow away. n
• Requirement for good particle adherence to keep surface stable, but it can’t become compacted and needs to allow some foot movement on contact. Some slippage is required on impact to dissipate energy and move less through the limb.
Before commencing arena construction, get advice and ensure you have an engineer do a site inspection to prepare a report confirming that the site you have chosen for your arena is more than acceptable.
• Harrowing decreases hardness and improves uniformity, both of which improve consistency in the vertical forces acting on the hoof.
• Maintenance schedule must be appropriate for the composition, use and location of the arena.
Jumping
•
• Watering improves stability and uniformity of the surface, allowing better balance, thus reducing instability-related injuries. Don’t over water as patchy and boggy surfaces increase the risk of injury.
• Patchy
Factors that decrease injury risk
Small arenas
Dressage
A base coarse rock or limestone base
• Remaining
Factors that increase injury risk
Inadequate maintenance of arenas
TOO MANY COARSE PARTICLES WILL BE VERY ABRASIVE TO THE HORSES' FEET AND THE SAND SHAPE IS VERY ANGULAR, SO THE DOES NOT KNIT TOGETHER AND IT WILL REMAIN VERY OPEN. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU HAVE TOO MANY FINE PARTICLES THE WILL COMPACT AND BECOME LIKE A CEMENT BLOCK IN
SUMMER SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 101
• Working on sand/wood sawdust combinations cause reduced days lost in training due to decreased loading of limbs.
• Tripping • Slipping •
Discipline-based risk factors
• May have to perform on grass and artificial surfaces.
Losing balance
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Drainage is critical!
• Grass surfaces are associated with increased days lost in training, and is due to unevenness of grass.
Most horses work on artificial surfaces and the repetitive nature of the work can lead to chronic injuries, therefore it is important that surfaces are correct.
•
Remaining uniform in normal conditions uniform in hot and dry conditions
•
•
•
• Sand allows the foot to slide more before peak loading occurs, whereas the foot penetrates the ground more on grass.
• Regular maintenance is important in reducing injury risk.
The wrong base or an arena that is built on top soil or uneven in normal conditions Deep or boggy in wet conditions or firm in hot, dry conditions
•
• Surface must be consistent and possess uniformity, as an inconsistent surface will alter gait, leading to more rapid fatigue, reducing confidence in the horse and causing injury, all of which cause a reduction in performance.
Recommendations:
Get advice on what you will need. Excellent drainage also increases the life of the surface material and will make it safer for your horse. Areas of high rainfall have been constructed using drainage trenches filled with porous rock (scoria or graded aggregates) and piping ("Novaflo" coil or field tiles).
• Key surface properties are stability. It needs to support movements such as canter pirouettes and resistance during propulsion to aid in showing extended paces.
SURFACE
To facilitate water drainage, try to construct your arena on slightly higher ground than the surrounding land. Make sure you have installed drainage; this will depend on the nature of the site, including the amount of rainfall, the type of soil, the geography of the site, and the surrounding features.
• Deep, soft surfaces cause earlier muscle, tendon and ligament fatigue, where harder surfaces are associated with increased risk of damage to bone, joint and laminar foot-related injuries.
Maintenance
SURFACE
• A higher traction surface that does not allow sliding or slight rotation of the hoof is likely to increase risk of injury to the limb.
Find your
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“There are so many perks from using this product – reduced concussion on joints through better impact absorption; it maintains a more even spread than traditional sand surfaces; it can be mixed with your existing surface; reduced dust means less respiratory issues – and these are just a few of the benefits.”Treadlite sales manager Tracy Smith ought to know a thing or
W
ADVERTORIAL
“This product is the best, and most definitely my product of choice for the horses, and I to train on to perform at the top of our game. It provides an incredible, even surface for the horses to work on,” Vanessa says.
hen you want an exceptional surface for your horse, and to feel good about the planet at the same time, Treadlite is the innovative new option for riders of any level. From high-performance through to grassroots riders at Pony Club, this surface is for everyone. Designed by riders for riders, Treadlite is making waves with some of the country’s top riders, who love the recycled rubber surface mix made right here in New Zealand. Elite dressage rider Vanessa Way is sold on the premium Treadlite product and is using it in her arena.
A clever idea to save tyres from landfill and turn them into a premium equestrian surface is gaining traction with riders around New Zealand – and overseas.
two about surfaces - she’s ridden to Grand Prix level in dressage and coached many of the country’s top riders. She thought her arena, which had been in for 20 years, was done, but Treadlite breathed new life into the surface.
Treadlite prides itself on taking care of the whole supply chain, from picking up tyres to delivering them to their own plant in Cambridge, where they are turned into premium surface mix. They offer delivery and spreading options too. Service is a high priority, and Treadlite aims to make the whole process as simple as possible.
“I was ready to pull it up, but Treadlite completely changed it – I would call it an absolute premium surface now.”
The beauty of Treadlite is the fact that it’s made from a mix of three different elements of recycled rubber tyres – shred, crumb and fibre - and has been trialled by riders from day one to ensure it is perfectly tailored to meet top-level performance needs.
Such is the popularity of Treadlite that they have already commissioned a new plant and are on the cusp of launching into footing
WORDS - Rebecca Greaves IMAGES Christine Cornege Photography
The business is saving more than 1.2 million tyres from landfills every year. “It’s good for the environment and solving a problem, too. This is a really innovative business that’s fast-paced and dynamic,” Tracy explains.
SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 103
WHAT IS TREADLITE?
An arena is not cheap, but vet bills are more expensive and can be heartbreaking. It’s like sleeping on a good bed; we should put our horses on a good surface, where we do the most work. “ “
“We do most of our own shipping. We’re big on customer service and making it easy. We have a team of guys who do the spreading. We’ve streamlined the whole process; it’s basically click and collect.”
The surface consists of between 5-8mm tyre shred, crumb and a third product produced from the fibre of tyres, which gives the surface more bounce.
Treadlite provides a cushioning that reduces injury
REDUCES DUST, LESS RAIN AFFECTED AND NO NEED TO IRRIGATE:
BENEFITS OF TREADLITE
The arena mix you will receive arrives in easy applied bags and is premium quality
Treadlite is the surface for all seasons. Dust reduction is a massive benefit. There is no need to irrigate Treadlite, and in winter, you get fewer puddles than other surfaces.
104 - SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE the Australian market, based on the level of enquiries andButdemand.Treadlite is not just for arenas. They are now putting the surface into training tracks, race tracks, lunging round pens and walkers at rehabilitation centres, with great success.
CARE FOR THE PLANET: Care for your horse and care for the planet at the same time - it’s a win:win. Studies by engineers and council environmental planning reports have also shown that a Treadlite surface does not have a detrimental impact on the environment.
Those who care about their horses and prolonging their performance life know the importance of taking care of joints, and the surface we ride on is a huge factor in this.
Better impact absorption and less wear and tear on hooves: Everyone knows the saying, ‘no hoof, no horse’. The big benefit of Treadlite is easing joint concussion. “All four feet are important, and those feet should be on a premium product.”
“An arena is not cheap, but vet bills are more expensive and can be heartbreaking. It’s like sleeping on a good bed; we should put our horses on a good surface, where we do the most work.”
“The fact it’s not one straight chip gives a more dynamic feeling when the horses land on it.” Tyres are collected from multiple points throughout the North Island and brought to the plant in Cambridge. The plant is capable of processing 5,000 tyres a day. From there, the product is bagged and shipped.
PREMIUM ARENA MIX Treadlite is excited to offer premium arena mix which can be tailored made for each riders desired requirements. We proudly produce Treadlite right here in New Zealand. The recycling process takes used tyres which would otherwise be disposed of in landfill, stockpiled, illegally dumped or shipped offshore to be burnt. At our plant in Cambridge our triple treated refinery process uses a series of shredders and magnets to produce a consistent evenly sized material that is 99.9% metal free. Why use Treadlite arena mix: • Less wear and tear on horses’ hooves • Reduced concussion on joints through better impact absorption • Lively surface allows horses to get more air above the ground and better takeoff for jumping • Maintains a more even spread than traditional sand surface • Less affected by rain • Reduced dust means fewer respiratory issues • Can be used alone over base-coarse or spread on top and mixed with existing sand GOOD FOR YOUR THEGOODHORSEFORPLANET! NI - $300 + gst ex Cambridge SI - $300 + gst ex Darfield Available in recycled Treadlite bags before after Recommendations 10mm Minimum 15mm Optimum 20mm+ Premium Please contact Treadlite for your Personal arena requirements Tracy Smith 021 928 231 or Chris Lovelady 027 206 1737 For more information follow us on Facebook or visit www.treadlite.co.nz
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Our team specialises in producing foals! Talk to our Specialist – Dr Lee Morris 07 870 1845 or email: info@equibreed.co.nz www.equibreed.co.nz | EquiBreed NZ Ltd, 399 Parklands Rd, RD 1, Te Awamutu EQUIBREED NZ ARE LEADERS IN: + FROZEN SEMEN + LOW DOSE INSEMINATION + EMBRYO TRANSFER, SHIPPING AND FREEZING + EMBRYO RECIPIENT HERD + STALLION SERVICES + F ERTILITY SEX-SORTEDTREATMENTSSEMEN + ICSI EMBRYOS EquiBreed Excellence in Equine ReproductionE quiBreed NZLtd
VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION, PHOTOS AND VIDEOS www.eurosporthorses.co.nz EURO SPORT DARCO OBOLENSKY Darco x Cornet Obolensky x Grannus 2016 168cm BLACK STALLION One of the last sons of legendary DARCO, ranked no.1 Sire in the World five years in a row from 2007 to 2011. To this day Darco has the sired the most 1.60 horses of any stallion! “DARCO OBOLENSKY shows alot of power. He is a strong stallion who is expected to follow in the footsteps of his father DARCO.” BWP Stallion Approval Committee EURO DIMEROSPORTNN Z Diamant de Semilly x Casper van Erpekom x Querlybet Hero Performance tested & approved for BWP Studbook Service fee $2000 + GST - LFG 2016 170cm SKEWBALD ZANGERSHEIDE STALLION EUROKALASKASPORT Kalaska de Semilly x Centadel x Quilot Z 2015 169cm BAY STALLION ALL STALLIONS ARE AVAILABLE VIA FRESH/CHILLED SEMEN AND ARE WFFS FREE Service fee $2000 + GST - LFG • Sire DIAMANT DE SEMILLY was ranked No.1 in the WBFSH World SJ Sire Rankings in 2015/16, and is currently ranked No.2 • From direct dam line of CSI SJers KRISKRAS DV 5* 1.60m, GUCCI DV 1.50m & HEROS DV 1.40m • Cannot produce chestnut offspring “This horse is very modern, uses its body in a good way, a lot of action and strength in the hind legs, great technique in the front legs, uses its back properly, a beautiful and chic stallion.” - XAVIER LEREDDE - International Grand Prix rider of Jalisco B and Papillon Rouge, and breeder of superstars Quidam de Revel and Papillon Rouge. Licensed for Hanoverian, AES & NZWB Studbooks Service fee $2000 + GST - LFGCarries 50% Thoroughbred blood
EURO DIAMANTSPORTB Diacontinus x Calido I x Calypso II 2014 178cm GREY STALLION • Sire DIACONTINUS is ranked No.1 on the German FN SJ Young Horse Sire Rankings • At the Hanoverian licensing auction the under bidder for Diamant B was Olympic Gold Medalist Ludger Beerbaum Licensed for Hanoverian & NZWB Studbooks Service fee $2000 + GST - LFG ALL STALLIONS ARE AVAILABLE VIA FRESH/CHILLED SEMEN AND ARE WFFS FREE EURO SPORT HORSES eurosporthorses@hotmail.com | 021 907 227 or 027 223 4818 CENTAVOS 2004 172cm BLACK/BROWN STALLION Escudo I x Argentinus x Bariton ES CENTAVOS is an International 1.60m Show Jumper, representing New Zealand in the Furusiyya Nation’s Cup in Ocala, FL 2016. 2015 Silver Fern Stakes & NZ Horse of the Year Champion and winner of countless Grand Prix. “Euro Sport Centavos is extremely scopey (powerful) and careful, intelligent & lovely to ride! Traits we all hope for.” - Multiple Olympic & World Championship SJ MedalistBEEZIE MADDEN Approved for Hanoverian, Oldenburg, SBS & NZWB Studbooks Service fee $2000 + GST - LFG Cannot produce chestnut offspring.
FOALING feature
Tips for a successful foaling journey
A common area that people overlook is optimal nutrition for mare and foal. Even if your mare is a good doer, she still needs nutritional support for her growing foal, both while in-foal and nursing. Good, balanced nutrition is crucial for thriving mares and foals. Discovering once the foal is born that there are issues due to poor nutrition is, sadly, too late. It is better to be well-prepared and work to avoid any problems.
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GOOD NUTRITION IS PARAMOUNT
WORDS - Ashleigh Kendall
You have spent many hours choosing a stallion and breeding him to your special mare. You have dotted all your i’s and crossed your t’s with the hope of producing your dream foal - but the work doesn’t stop with a positive scan. Mares in-foal need special care and attention to ensure an excellent outcome for the mare, foal and you! Read on for some top tips for your exciting journey to foaling.
Firstly, as with any horse, ensure she always has access to clean water. Grass alone is not enough for a broodmare. While good quality pasture can provide her with enough calories and protein to maintain (and sometimes gain) body condition, it is often unbalanced and missing critical nutrients for the mare and her growing foal. A common issue is an unbalanced calcium and phosphorus ratio and low levels of copper, zinc, selenium and manganese, all of which can lead to developmental problems in foals, including Osteochondritis (OCD) and bone abnormalities and articular cartilage lesions.
Broodmares deficient in iodine risk having weak foals with a poor suckle response and limb deformities. Some foals never fully recover or are sadly stillborn in the worst-case scenario.
While it may sound scary, providing complete nutrition is generally relatively simple. Several fantastic products are available from feed companies like Dunstan Horse Feeds and Hygain. They give the broodmares a well-formulated, balanced source of nutrition when fed at the recommended daily intake, ensuring she gets everything she needs to support her growing baby. Once the foal is born, it is equally important to continue feeding your broodmare so she can maintain body condition and meet the energy demands of lactation. In addition, if you are breeding from her straight away, good nutrition will increase her chances of conception.
SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 111 THE LAST TRIMESTER OF THE MARE’S PREGNANCY IS A CRITICAL TIME TO PROVIDE HER WITH THE APPROPRIATE INTAKES OF KEY TRACE MINERALS INCLUDING COPPER, ZINC, SELENIUM AND THETHEITIFMANGANESE.THISISDONE,WILLASSISTINDEVELOPMENTOFASOUNDSKELETONINSUBSEQUENTFOALANDTHEFUTUREATHLETE. - Dunstan Horse Feeds-
BE SURE TO CONTINUE HER REGULAR HOOF AND DENTAL CARE THROUGHOUT HER PREGNANCY.
VACCINATIONS
Strangles is an upper respiratory tract infection that causes abscesses under the jaw and can have significant long-term effects on your horse. It is also contagious. Vaccinating your mare will reduce the risk during the breeding season when she may mingle with different horses. Again, a booster vaccination four weeks before foaling offers protection to the foal from birth, through antibodies in the mare’s colostrum. The initial vaccination course requires three doses, spaced two weeks apart and then an annual booster. This can be done in conjunction with the tetanus vaccination.
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WORMING Since broodmares spend most of their time on pasture, they are at constant risk for parasite infection. Avoid administering wormers during peak hot, dry summer months since risk of strongyle transmission is greatly reduced.
Routine worming of the pregnant mare throughout gestation will decrease the exposure of the newborn foal to parasites. Therefore your mare should be wormed regularly, according to the schedule set by your veterinarian for your particular climate with the last treatment occurring 4-6 weeks before her due date. Please consult with your veterinarian for advice on a worming programme.
PRE-FOALING PREPARATIONS
It is recommended that mares be given a booster vaccination four weeks before their foaling date. This ensures a good level of tetanus antibodies in the colostrum, providing adequate foal protection in its first weeks of life. It also protects the mare during the post-partum period. The foal may still require a tetanus antibody test if they do not receive adequate colostrum.
Vaccines must be given to pregnant mares 4‐6 weeks prior to their anticipated foaling date. These vaccines induce an antibody response in the mare and result in the secretion of antibodies in her colostrum. Once the newborn foal ingests the colostrum, these antibodies are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and enter the newborn’s bloodstream providing a strong foundation for the neonate’s immune system.
Unlike humans, there is no specific way of predicting a due date for foaling. However, there is a window when the mare is most likely to give birth to a healthy foal. The average gestational length is around 340 days from the day of last ovulation. Still, in reality, the usual window is anywhere from 320-360 days, so it pays to keep an eye on your mare and note any changes that suggest she is close to foaling. If she has a caslick, then be sure to have the vet remove that around one month before foaling to avoid complications.
Since infectious diseases can trigger abortions, vaccinations are extremely important. The Equine Herpes Virus 1 and 4 have been linked as a cause of late-term abortion in pregnant mares. This is serious because if one mare on the property gets it, it is highly likely that others will, too, resulting in multiple abortions across the farm.
As the time of foaling becomes more imminent, some mares will develop a yellowish, waxy substance at the end of their teats, often referred to as waxing. This substance is an accumulation of dried colostrum. Finally, the mammary fluid will become milky white and sticky from the colostrum. At this stage, foaling usually occurs within 24 to 48 hours. Signs of impending foaling differ between mares. Some will have significant udder development and ‘waxing’ of the teats, whereas others may not be so obvious. Other signs are relaxation of the vulva and pelvic ligaments above the tail. Utilising the practice of daily inspections of mammary secretions can be one method for predicting the time of foaling, especially when combined with other physical signs of approaching parturition.
FOALING SIGNS
A caslick is a procedure performed by a veterinarian which involves suturing closed the upper part of the vulva. This procedure is most commonly performed on mares with undesirable conformation of the genital area. It is believed to prevent manure and air from being ‘sucked in’ to the vagina, which may compromise the foal’s healthyMovingdevelopment.herintoher foaling paddock around this time is also a good idea. This will allow her time to settle in her environment, so she doesn’t have any undue stress before foaling.
All broodmares (and horses in general) should be vaccinated against tetanus. Tetanus is a painful disease affecting the neurological system and is often fatal. The tetanus vaccination requires two initial vaccinations spaced four weeks apart and a booster after one year.
Tail tone
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Standard indications of a mare getting ready to foal:
Profuse sweating even if the weather isn’t warm Milk running out from the udder and wax on teats Increased respiration
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Monitoring the mare’s behaviour
The mare’s behaviour will often dramatically change before foaling. Your usually sweet mare may become aggressive towards other horses or even people. When foaling is imminent, the mare should be in a clean grassy area, alone and with a mate nearby. If you notice the mare becoming restless, monitor her closely.
Returning to the same spot, sometimes lying down Kicking or looking at the abdomen Tail swishing or tail held up Intensive grazing Another reasonably reliable measure is testing her milk with a pH strip. The milk colour changes and the pH levels drop right before foaling. When the milk pH is 6.4 or less, you can expect a foal within 72 hours.
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Shape of vulva
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Udder is much fuller and tight still have speckles on the nipples. This image was taken on the 318 day of gestation. Milk is still yellow but thinner and sticky. The udder is very warm and full at 329 days in gestation. The deep crease in the udders is gone, and wax has appeared on one nipple at 330 days of gestation. Milk at 330 days Drops of milk on the inside of the leg at approximately 330 days. 330 days. Wax has been removed to allow droplets of milk for pH testing. This mare foaled the next day.
RanchHouseYellow©page:thisImages
A normal vulva is not very long and has wrinkles on its sides. Everything on her hind end relaxes right before foaling, including her vulva. It will appear much longer to you and won’t have as many wrinkles on its side.
Shape of abdomen
While it’s critical to remember that every mare is different, each mare usually has a consistent foaling pattern, showing similar signs on similar timelines from year to year. Keeping detailed records is essential for optimising the chance of being present during delivery.
If your mare allows you, lift her tail daily to look at her vulva.
Taking herself away from other horses
Observe the shape of your mare’s belly. First, it is very big and round, but the closer she is to foaling, the more her belly will drop. Some mares develop some oedema (fluid retention) on their bellies.
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The hind end will loosen up before foaling. If you lift her tail daily, you will notice she has a strong tone in her tail and gives you some resistance. The closer she is to foaling, the less resistance you will feel when lifting her tail.
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Resting for more extended periods lying down Pacing aimlessly back and forth
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It is critical to call for vet assistance when:
• If more than ten minutes pass with no progression
Stage one: The mare starts to look uncomfortable. She may get up and down as the foal shifts and move into the foaling position. The mare might look to take herself away from other horses and appear to be in occasional distress. The signs are often similar to what you expect of a horse suffering from colic as the foal moves around and the discomfort becomes obvious. Stage one can last anywhere from one to six hours.
for safe delivery. Stage two is rapid and can last from five to twenty minutes. If it is longer than this with no action, call your vet. Stage three: The expulsion of the foetal membranes (placenta).
• Mare is not getting up after foaling.
• Excessive tearing or abnormal tissue presenting
Usually, this happens within four hours of the birth of the foal. If it hasn’t passed after this time, call your vet. The placenta must be removed as if it remains inside the mare for too long, it becomes toxic, and she can get laminitis and other life-threatening health concerns.
• Foaling before 320 days
Your mare should be keen to eat after foaling to replace the energy she used giving birth. Make sure you continue to feed her complete and balanced feed and give her a good supply of hay. She might need more feed than before foaling to keep her condition. Call your vet if she is off her food and isn’t interested in a sweetfeed or mash alternative.Neverhesitate to reach out for help from your vet or equine nutritionist for help and clarity. The best way to ensure success for everyone is to be well prepared with a plan!
Licking is one of the first signs of mare/foal bonding. It is essential to stimulate, encourage, and dry the foal. Nudging is another form of bonding between the mare and foal. Normal, healthy foals should be able to sit up and hold themselves on their chest within two to five minutes of birth. They should have a good sucking reflex within 20 to 30 minutes, stand within two hours and be capable of nursing from the mare within two to four hours.
Suspected abortion
• If the mare has not passed the placenta after four hours
• Not enough milk supply
Image - Christine Cornege Photography
Once she has foaled, both the mare and her foal should be standing within the first hour, and within the first two hours, the foal should have nursed and had its first colostrum. Again, call your vet for advice if this hasn’t happened in these time frames. It pays to have your vet check your foal around 24 hours after birth to check vital signs and ensure they are healthy. It is also a good idea to take an IgG blood sample that measures the immunoglobulin G. A good IgG score indicates the foal has received immunity from the mare.
• Any vaginal discharge
Stage two: Her water breaking (rupture of the chorioallantois/outer foetal membranes) is the beginning of the next stage of labour. She will begin to have contractions increasing in frequency and force. Usually, the mare will get up and down as she repositions the foal
If you are concerned at any stage during your mare’s pregnancy, you shouldn’t hesitate to call your vet. They are only too happy to help or answer any questions you may have.
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n
While foaling is usually problem-free, have your veterinarian’s telephone number handy. Your mare will need a clean, safe, quiet place to foal. If the weather is good, a clean pasture is excellent. If not, she will need a stable large enough to lay down freely with room on both ends. Avoid a situation where the mare or foal is forced into a corner or against a wall at delivery.
• Abnormal udder development or milk secretion well before the due date – could indicate premature foaling or placentitis.
• Not allowing the foal to nurse
FOALING STAGES
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NUTRITION FOR MARE AND FOAL WHEN TO CALL THE VET
• The foal doesn’t appear to be positioned correctly. For example, you can see a back leg rather than a front leg.
• Stage two labour for more than 30 minutes
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Signs of colic, sweating profusely and shaking
• Gestation length of more than 360 days
SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 115 BOUTIQUE EQUINE BREEDING SERVICES
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The best method for assessing the passive transfer of antibodies from mare to foal is for a vet to take a blood test to check the IgG levels within 12-16 hours of birth. Normal IgG levels are 800mg/dL or greater. Partial transfer failure is indicated with a level of 400800mg/ dL, and complete failure is below 400mg/ dL, significantly increasing the foal's risk of disease by at least 25%. An IgG below 200 mg/ dL increases the risk by 75%.
Vital signs
Once your mare and foal have had time to stand and nurse, it pays to examine them both to check that everything is within normal limits and they are both healthy. If you are not experienced, it does pay to have a vet attend to do an initial exam on day one. This involves taking temperatures as well as assessing pulse and respiratory rate. If you are undertaking this yourself, it is helpful to know that for newborn foals, the range of what is normal differs from an older horse. What to look for: n The normal newborn temperature range is 37.5-39 degrees celsius (higher than an adult). n Newborn heart rate should be more than 60 beats per minute (bpm), and it is normal to expect a range of 80-100bpm. n Newborn respiration rate is 30 breaths per minute with a range of 20- 40 breaths per minute.
Whether you choose to have your mare foal at the farm or at a foaling-down facility, while this time is mostly a joyous occasion, some foals begin their life struggling to survive. Problems with new foals can quickly become serious, even fatal. Read on to learn some of the signs.
In this initial examination, it is also vital to listen to the heart and lungs for abnormal sounds such as murmurs, rhythms and wheezes.
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THE NEWBORN FOAL
A Star is Born
WORDS - Ashleigh Kendall Foaling season brings the reward for all that waited over the 11 months of your mare’s gestation.
Colostrum
FOALING feature
Once you have assessed the vital signs as within normal range, have a good look over the whole foal. One thing to look for in particular is rib fractures. Rib fractures can happen during birth, so carefully palpate the rib cage to feel for any defects. If you have any concerns, speak to your vet.
Foals should be up on their feet and should have received their first drink of colostrum within three hours of birth. Colostrum is essential to the newborn as it contains all the antibodies (immunoglobins), protein and calories for a healthy foal with good immunity. Without a good dose of colostrum, the foal is at risk of environmental diseases and sickness. The foal must ingest the immunoglobins within the first 24 hours of life. After this time, the foal's small intestine won't absorb them, so the only way to give the foal these antibodies is through plasma transfusion.
SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 121 FOALS WILL MEET THEIR NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS IN THEIR FIRST 2-3 MONTHS OF AGE FROM THE MARE’S MILK AND PASTURE. IF A FOAL AND MARE ARE IN GOOD CONDITION, THE FOAL DOES NOT NEED TO START CREEP FEEDING UNTIL IT IS AT LEAST 2 MONTHS OLD. HOWEVER, SOME MAY NEED TO START CREEP FEEDING BY 30 DAYS OF AGE. IN THE THIRD MONTH OF LACTATION THE MARE’S MILK PRODUCTION DROPS WHILE THE FOAL’S NUTRITIONAL NEEDS KEEP INCREASING. - HYGAIN -
Hernias
A hernia is when tissue or organs push through a weak spot in the muscle presenting as a soft flesh-coloured sack. Hernias in foals can be pretty common and can be diagnosed quickly by palpating the foal’s abdomen, mainly focusing on the umbilical, inguinal and scrotal regions. Umbilical hernias are the most common and can vary in size up to 12 centimetres. Smaller hernias usually close up independently, but larger ones require surgery to correct. A good rule of thumb is that if it is bigger than a couple of fingertips or doesn’t appear to be closing, it pays to check with your vet for advice.
Signs
This discomfort can lead to foals becoming depressed and reluctant to nurse. This is a vicious circle as the mare’s milk is a natural laxative, and failure to suckle leads to the meconium becoming more difficult to pass. Meconium impaction can occur in any foal. However, it is seen more frequently in colt foals due to their smaller pelvis size. Foals may also be
Meconium
include: n Straining to defecate (constipated) n Tail lifting/tail flagging n Restlessness n Increased heart rate n Abdominal distension n Rolling/colicky n Lying upside down n Abnormal stance,
Observe the foal’s nursing habits. If it suckles for more than 30 minutes at a time, it may not be receiving enough milk.
Foal with meconium impaction straining to defecate. Umbilical hernias will have a bulge on the bottom of the body wall that is located at the umbilical remnant.
Clinical signs
IF IN DOUBT, CALL THE VET!
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predisposed if they are weak or dysmature foals (premature or postmature). As foals may not have had adequate nursing, they are also at risk of failure of passive transfer, and it is recommended that an IgG test is Meconiumperformed.maybe able to be felt through gentle rectal examination. However, radiographs or ultrasound may be required if there is an impaction in the large colon. Treatment for meconium impaction may include manual removal combined with an enema. Care is needed with enemas as they may cause rectal irritation and are best warmed before use. Your vet may also use soapy water enemas, mucomyst (retention enema), fluids and pain relief. If severe, surgical intervention may be required. Contact your vet immediately if you are concerned that your foal has meconium retention or impaction
It is essential to check the foal has passed its first meconium (faeces) in the first few hours of life. The meconium is hard and pelleted, dark and licorice-like in colour. Once the meconium has been passed, the foal’s faeces will change to a looser consistency, pale and yellowish in colour. of meconium impaction can occur up to 3-4 days after birth. that may indicate a foal has retained meconium hunched back
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While many factors can affect newborn foals, most arrive into the world perfectly healthy, robust and ready to keep their mums on their toes for the next six months. Foals will grow rapidly before your eyes - by two years old, they have attained 90 per cent of their adult size. Thus, it is crucial to support healthy growth.
Nutrition is a critical area which can affect growth both positively and negatively. An undernourished foal can suffer from stunted growth and weakness, but overfeeding a young horse can also have devastating consequences on development. It is essential to strive for a balance that supports growth without accelerating it.
In most cases, usually a few days rest in a stable and the condition is resolved and foals can return to the paddock without further incident.
Lax and contracted tendons
Still, sometimes there needs to be medical intervention, mainly if the foal appears to be in pain or there is no improvement within the first couple of weeks. Some newborn foals have weak flexor tendons, most commonly on the hind limbs. This results in the fetlocks sagging and the pasterns coming close to parallel to the ground. In many cases, the toe of the hoof lifts off the ground.
While foals will initially gain most of their nutrition from their mothers, they start to show an interest in nibbling at pasture and solid food from as young as ten days old, and their gut will adapt to these new foods. From around eight to ten weeks, the foal will eat more forage and hard feed to supplement the mare’s milk. If you choose to feed your foal grains and hard feed, ensure you are providing a complete, balanced ration at the correct feeding rate. This way, you will avoid mineral and vitamin imbalances.
Lax flexor tendons are common in premature and dysmature foals, who tend to suffer from other problems. But it can also be seen in full-term foals who otherwise seem ordinary and healthy.
After so long growing in their mother’s uterus, new foals are often born with the appearance of walking on the back of their fetlocks (lax) or on tiptoe (contracted).
Typically, confinement and time are all the foal needs to correct.
Some top tips when feeding your growing foal: n As for any horse, ensure your mare and foal always have access to clean water and high-quality roughage n Assess your foal’s vitamin and mineral needs and feed accordingly n Feed several smaller feeds each day rather than one big one n Be careful not to overfeed as this can cause developmental issues
Haltering, brushing and leading the foal while still with it’s mother will be a lot easier than when it is weaned.
The term ‘contracted tendons’ describes a condition where the leg is excessively straight, usually at the fetlock or coronary band (coronopedal joint), but occasionally also affects the knees. If the condition is very severe, the foal may be unable to stand correctly.
A growing foal
“The period of time between weaning and foaling is the best time to increase body condition of thin mares,” said Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research (KER). Because the caloric burden of lactation is no longer a factor, these mares will likely gain weight quickly. Weight gain should not be rushed, however. Gradually increase feed intake over a period of about two weeks, and make all changes to the diets
Don’t Forget Mumma
“Onceslowly.the mare has achieved the desired body condition—and that might be a smidgen above optimal if weight loss is a known problem during late gestation or lactation—then the ration can be re-evaluated and tweaked to maintain the preferred weight,” commented Crandell.
Special procedures - Some maintenance work is difficult to do when mares are in late gestation or lactation, so the period following weaning is an opportune time. Routine dental maintenance is often best done when there is no foal afoot, as is other veterinary and farrier work that cannot be achieved when a mare is in late pregnancy.
Weaning
Care of the weanling and beyond From this point, care is the same as you would provide to an adult horse. Generally, young horses should live out 24/7 with access to some shelter. Your young horse also needs regular basic handling, farrier care, worming, vaccinations, dental care, and continued attention to their nutritional needs as they grow. This is the time to set them up for success later on!
Weight gain - Nourishing a foal, especially a robust one, can sap a mare of her energy stores, and this shows up as weight loss. Not all mares will suffer this fate, especially if diets have been managed to account for the inevitable energy drain. Others, such as hard keepers or older mares, might lose weight during peak lactation no matter how well fed they are.
Untreated mastitis in mares could make one or both sides of the udder permanently nonfunctional, so it is imperative that any infection be cleared quickly.
Mastitis - Although it is not common, some mares suffer from mastitis, or inflammation of the mammary glands, following weaning. Expect this problem to crop up within a few days after pulling the foal. One or both sides of the udder might be affected. The mammary glands can become so tender that mares might refuse to allow palpation, so care should be taken during an examination. Some mares will be so sore that they walk stiffly behind, almost as if they are lame. A veterinarian should be called immediately, and can determine the best course for these mares, including appropriate antibiotics.
Doing what you think will provide the least stress to the mare and foal is important. Something to bear in mind is to keep a good eye on your mare while she is drying off. Sometimes mastitis can cause problems, but generally, the mare will be dried off after a week or two.
Others like to take the mare or foal away to another property until the weaning process is completed.
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By around four to six months, your foal will be more independent, venturing away from Mum more and eating on their own. The mare will also have a decline in the amount of milk she produces for the foal. Before weaning, you should prepare your foal by feeding more hard feed to replace their mother’s milk. You can also begin separating them so they get used to spending some time apart. Often, the mare is ready to say goodbye to her foal by weaning time and is only too happy to have time apart.
As early as 10 -14 days of age, a foal may begin to show an interest in feed. By nibbling and sampling, the youngster learns to eat solid food. Its digestive system quickly adapts to the dietary changes. A stress-free way of weaning a foal would be to use an older dry mare. Put her in the paddock with the mare and foal a month before weaning, so an adult is still in charge when the broodmare is removed.
There are many ways to wean a mare and foal. The pair may be separated by removing the mare from the paddock and into her own area nearby or by separating the mare and foal in neighbouring yards or stables. This method allows for some flexibility - they can be apart for lengthening periods until they are ready to remain separated.
Top tips from Kentucky Equine Research
Foals frequently pull the focus of farm managers during the weaning process, as they are far more susceptible to postseparation problems than their dams. Plus, they’re usually noisier during the process! Most mares, especially older ones, accept weaning with aplomb, but careful attention should be paid to them in case other concerns arise.
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG!
Mare’s milk replacers and goat’s milk have also been used successfully to feed orphan foals.
Instead of seeing a thin, transparent, greyish-white membrane and a release of fluids, you will see a red, velvet-appearing placenta, the “red bag.” This indicates that the delivery is not proceeding as normal, and urgent action is Aneeded.redbag delivery is life-threatening for both the mare and foal, so this is a veterinary emergency that requires immediate attention!
Occasionally, foals will suffer from a lack of oxygen during partition due to placental separation, dystocia or septicaemia. These foals will be lethargic and often show signs of weakness or inability to suckle, abnormal sounds, seizures, spastic movements, and more.
A normal foal will start “gasping respiration” and breathe immediately on delivery. The amniotic sac should be cleared from its muzzle immediately. It should be struggling to sit on its sternum within 5 minutes. Sometimes, the foal is not breathing when born — a problem
The Orphan Foal
Stillbirth
Reb bag delivery
that can occur following normal foaling. If the foal can be revived, it must be resuscitated immediately to stand any chance of survival. This means being on hand with the necessary knowledge and equipment. If the foal has difficulties, call your vet without delay for further health checks.
Breeders are sometimes faced with raising an orphan foal. Foals can become orphaned for several reasons, including lack of milk production, poor mothering and mare death. We are lucky enough to have a Facebook page set up here in New Zealand where foster mares become www.facebook.com/NZFosterMaresandOrphanFoals/available:Whetherasuitablefostermarecanbelocatedornot, the success of rearing an orphan foal improves dramatically if colostrum is given as early as possible - ideally at birth. Foals should be housed in a clean, draught-free environment and have access to a grazing paddock and fresh drinking water. Milk should be warmed to about 30°C and fed every two hours for the first week, reducing this to every four hours by the end of the second week. After one month, reduce feeding frequency to every six hours. Foals may be initially fed from a bottle and teat; however, they quickly learn to drink from a bucket. During the hand-rearing period, body weight should increase by about 1.5kgTypicaldaily.foal growth charts and feed guidelines can be obtained from manufacturers of milk replacer products. Over-feeding can cause diarrhoea, so deviations from the suggested feed volumes are not advised. When the foal is about two months old, it should begin to show interest in solid food. Introduce a commercial starter feed into the diet and slowly reduce the volume of milk replacer fed. The foal should have free exercise in a paddock and have access to hay and pasture. Rearing an orphan foal is intense, and carers tend to wean foals as soon as possible - but it's vital at this point to keep your eye on the long game and ensure that the foal is sufficiently mature before weaning. Your orphan foal also needs equine companionship and the chance to learn appropriate behaviour. Grazing with a suitable paddock mate will pay life-long dividends. n
RED BAG DELIVERY - CALL THE VET! -
Dummy Foals
SHOWCIRCUIT MAGAZINE - 125
In mares, the fetal portion of the placenta, or fetal membranes, are normally expelled within 3 hours after birth. Although some mares may retain the fetal membranes longer without suffering ill effects, many mares with retained membranes become toxic and may even die. The cause of placental retention is not known. If the entire fetal membranes have not been passed by 3 hours after the foal is born, you should contact your veterinarian so that oxytocin can be administered. The oxytocin will cause uterine contraction and expulsion of the fetal membranes. If the membranes have still not passed by 8 hours after the foal’s birth, your veterinarian will administer antibiotics and antiinflammatory drugs. The placenta should never be manually pulled out, as this may cause parts of the placenta to be retained or cause damage to the lining of the uterus.
NORMAL DELIVERY
If your foal displays unusual signs, urgent veterinary attention is required. A dummy foal is a veterinary emergency, and these foals need intensive treatment to save their lives. With the correct treatment, dummy foals often recover and grow to live useful and healthy lives
Retained palcenta
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KEUR had the highest scores for Team NL at the Rio Olympics, and contributed to Team Bronze in the London Olympics, and Team Gold at the European Championships in Aachen. He was voted KWPN Horse of the Year in 2020. Johnson’s offspring are competing at the highest levels: in NZ with Melissa Galloway (J’Obei) and Gaylene Lennard (Jax Johnson). He has a superb temperament and passes his beauty and movement on to his offspring. He is approved for KWPN, Oldenburg, Westfalen and Hannover.
Fontaine TN (Finest/Samarant) is still a young stallion (b. 2015) and was second in his performance test (Adeldheidsdorf 2018). He gained the following points: character/temperament: 9,00; willingness to work: 9,50; trot: 8,50; canter: 9,50; walk: 9,50; rideability: 9,00. Sire Finest was declared premium stallion and has already claimed remarkable results in the young horse competitions. Approved for Westfalen, Hannover and Oldenburg. Spielberg (Sunny Boy/Rosier) has outstanding breeding and conformation, and movement with a lot of rhythm and balance. He won his performance test on the dressage elements, and has competed successfully to a high level under Joyce Lenaerts. His grandsires include Sandro Song, Donnerhall and Rubenstein. Approvals include Westphalen and Oldenburg, and he is a true breeding bay. Sandreo (Sandro Hit/Flemmingh) is also available.
Firestone (Johnson/Florencio) was reserve champion as a threeyear-old at the KWPN stallion competition, earning 82.5 points in his performance test. Firestone was bred out of the famous Bella-damline, and his damsire, Florencio, was awarded Keur status by the KWPN. His full sister Elfi scored 95 points for her trot at the KWPN Mare Inspections. Approved for KWPN and Oldenburg.
SpielbergFirestoneFontaine
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SHOWJUMPINGVerdi
I’m Special de Muze GrandoradoEldorado van de Zeshoek Other high-performing jumping stallions offered are
Superstar jumping stallion Verdi (Quidam de Revel/Landgraf 1) KEUR was in the Dutch team for the previous two Olympics. He won team gold at Aachen, and WEG in Caen, and team silver and individual bronze at the London Olympics. Verdi is a son of the legendary sire Quidam de Revel. He has more than 50 offspring competing internationally. Verdi is approved for KWPN, Holstein, Hannover, OS/OL, Unire, Z and Selle Français. I’m Special de Muze (Emerald/Nabab de Reve) won the GMB competition for six- and seven-year-olds in Drachten in 2015 and is competing successfully at GP level. Sire Emerald was in the Dutch team at the Rio Olympics. Dam Walnut de Muze also competed with great success at GP level. I’m Special de Muze’s rider Zoï Snels confirms the great qualities of the stallion. “I think he has a 100% score on every aspect: he is top careful, has scope, has a great rideability and has a super attitude.”
from Team Nijhof
Eldorado van de Zeshoek (Clinton/Toulon) is hugely successful in both high-level competition and as a breeding stallion. He was awarded PREFERENT status – the highest possible award in KWPN breeding, with three of his sons coming first, second and third in the stallion class (1.40m -1.50m) at the 2020 KWPN stallion show. Approved for KWPN, Oldenburg, Hannover and Selle Français. Grandorado (Eldorado x Carolus x Baloubet du Rouet) is an exciting stallion selected for the Dutch Team at WEG 2022. He won his KWPN performance test in 2014, and in 2015 he won the four-year-old class at Tubbergen with scores of 8,9 and 9,0 for jumping. Grandorado is approved for KWPN and Oldenburg. He came first at the 2020 KWPN stallion show jumping competition.
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