gold coast local horse mag october edition
DESCRIPTION
Gold Coast Local Horse Magazine FREE ONLINE MAGAZINETRANSCRIPT
Gemini Equestrian & Livestock Services Pty Ltd ABN 67 070 149 290
Five Star accommodation for each horse Individual training programs for each horse to ensure it reaches its maximum potential Foaling down of broodmares Collection and transport of horses can be arranged. Transport costs in accordance with RACQ guidelines (Please ask for price sheet. Shared costs if other horses being carried) Interstate owner accommodation available for weekend stays by arrangement with farm manager 24 hour onsite supervision
Behavioural problems corrected Stable and paddock time daily Stables cleaned daily Feeding twice daily Stallion accommodation available Automatic water refills in stables and paddocks Sheltered accommodation in each paddock Rugging according to climate conditions All rugs and saddle blankets washed regularly Worming, shoeing as required (additional charges apply) Olympic sized 60m x 20m sand arena and 20 m fully enclosed round yard available for hire Horse rug laundry service also available
TRAINING, AGISTMENT AND SERVICES OFFERED
David J Lee 0438 163 735 Sarah A Newman 0487 157 348 Farm phone 07 55 430 527 Farm office fax 07 55 278 209 Farm email [email protected]
Dave & Sarah email [email protected]
Farm: 611 Biddaddaba Creek Road
Biddaddaba Qld 4275
Office: 11 Kootingal Street Ashmore Qld 4214
A division of GELS PTY LTD ABN 67 070 149 290
Kay Sutherland Director mobile 0429 810 668 phone 07 55 278 208 fax 07 55 278 209 email [email protected]
Please see website for full list of all available products
www.equistore.com.au OFFICE: 11 Kootingal Street Ashmore Qld 4214
General enquiries Sarah Newman 0487 157 348
RUGS:
R1. SUMMER COMBO $120.00 Colour as shown. 30% Cotton, 70% ripstop. Sheepskin pad at wither, lining in shoulder, chest, tail flap and strip down centre of back.
.
R2. HANOVERIAN WINTER COMBO $140.00 Colour: Black / Yellow. 600 Denier Outer. 200gm filling.
R3. WINTER TURNOUT COMBO $140.00 Colour: Navy blue / Beige; Navy blue / Purple. 600 Denier Outer. 200gm filling.
COMBO RAIN SHEETS (not pictured) $120.00 Colour: Forest green 600 Denier with cotton lining, no fill. Sizes: .
SADDLE PADS:
S1. CLASSIC WHITE SADDLE PAD $50.00 Colour: White with gold cord. Also available with Hanoverian logo.
S2. HANOVERIAN BLACK SADDLE PAD $50.00 Colour: Black with black/yellow /white binding. Also available with Hanoverian logo.
S3. GENUINE FLEECE NUMNAHS $140.00 Colour: Pure white / jet black. Sizes: Large (black or white) and Medium (white)
HORSE BOOTS:
B1. TRAVEL BOOTS $65.00 (Set of 4) Colour: Navy blue. 1200 Denier outer, fully padded with reinforced bottom. Sizes: Large and Medium
R1
R2 R3
S1
S2 S3
B1
Sarah Sutherland with Florett
2
ContentsBreeds Page....4
Dressage Page...10
Eventing Page...16
Horsemanship Page...20
Out & About Page...24
Pony/Riding Clubs Page...30
Kids Corner Page...32
Property & Improvements Page...34
ShowJumping Page...36
Showing Page...42
Out & About Page...22
Veterinary / Health & Wellbeing Page...44
Service Directory Page...48
The Australian Stockhorse Page.....5
Philosophy of Dressage (Robyn Judd) Page....11
Training - The Language of Learning (K Haynes Lovell) Page....12
‘Livin the Dream’ - Callum Snell Page....13
School it Smart - Travis Templer Page....17
FloatLoadingFoalstheJohnChattertonWay Page....21
HorseFloatTowingSafety Page....26
The Quiet Achiever Page....31
Easy Fix Rubber Products Page....34
StartingaShowjumpingCareer-Equipment Page....37
Equitana“WhatsOn” Page....40
Quarter Marks Masterclass Page....43
IsyourHorseGettingSunburnt? Page....44
Welcome Horse n Hound Page....48
SpringTimeLaminitis Page....46
John Whiteley - Farrier Page....47
The Aussie Contender - Guy McLean Page ...51
Articles
Gold Coast Local Horse Magazine have taken every care in preparation of thismagazine. Therefore it may not be copied in part or whole for reproduction,without said magazine's written authority. While we take every care in thepreparationandaccuracyof itscontentswearenotresponsibleforanymistakesor misprints in any article or advertisement, nor are we responsible for anyerrors by others. Gold Coast Local HorseMagazine accepts no liability resultingfrom omissions, errors, misprints or failure to publish any advertisment.
Disclaimer
DEADLINE FOR ARTWORK17th of each month
Printed by: FAST PROOF PRESS(07) 5578 4722
Front CoverSmooth Move
standing at Regal Oaks Stud, Gold CoastImages & Artwork by Tania Hobbs
Contacts:Editor: Donna Morton- 0419 029 070
Photographer for Events: Downunder Photography - 0419 029 070Office: (07) 55 434 878
Editor: [email protected]: [email protected]
W: www.localhorsemagazine.com.au
From The Editor....Last month I mentioned that S
pring had Sprung.. forget Spring
here comes Summer, plus a load of events due to the rain and in-
clement weather earlier on in the year, it seems that everyone has
decided to cram their events in at the same time, but that
is great
to see, as we thoroughly enjoy dropping in to say hello. I am off
to Werribee in December to check out the Stars of Dressag can’t
wait! Maybe my pony might get dragged out of the paddock now
that there is a little more light in the day!
Happy Riding & Reading,
Donna
pg. 5
pg 12
pg. 26
pg 51
pg 17
pg 13
pg 31
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What’s On CalendarBreeds
October / November 2011Palouse State Show 9th OctoberIndoor Wallon Email: [email protected]:http://bcpalouseponyassoc.webs.com
2011 Top of the Range Arabian Event 22 & 23 OctoberToowoomba Showgrounds Contact: Secretary [email protected]
WP & CS Qld RPG Native Pony Youngstock & Performance Show 29 & 30 OctoberWoodfordShowgroundsContact:SueGroundwater54834765Website:wpcs.com.au/qld
National Miniature Register Inc. State Show 29th OctoberMaryborough Showgrounds
The Arabian Horse Breeders Alliance Showcase - Equitana 10th November10am Sydney Showgroundswww.arabianhorsebreedersalliance.comwww.equitana.com.au
Qld Champagne Classic Halter Extravaganza 20th NovemberEmail: [email protected]:http://bcpalouseponyassoc.webs.com
Aldwyn Park, TamborineContact: DJ Hendren - 0432 656 815
Black15.1hh2002 ASH Working Class National Champion
Won Maiden / 3 Novice campdraftsPlaced in over 24 Open Drafts
Has progeny in CanadaTrainability, Workability and Temperament
Service fee: $1100 inc gst. Live Serve & AI
Condamine Rivoli GlenBlack 16hh service fee $990 incl gstSire: Condamine RomanoDam: Greentop DiannaRomeo bloodlinesSuccessfully shown under saddle Working on cattle
Service fee $990 incl gst. Live Serve & AI
Sire: Yallatup Rivoli RexDam: Bourkes Jedda
Condamine Jubilee
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This, possibly the world’s most versatile horse, is often referred to as ‘The breed for every need’. The Australian
Stock Horse is a fine working and performance animal, renowned for its toughness, endurance, resilience and strength. It also has cat-like speed and agility, giving the horse a cosmopolitan blend of attributes which have produced the world’s best at work and play.
The basic prerequisites of high performance sporting horses are a quiet temperament, intelligence and an
athletic ability. The Australian Stock Horse has all of these qualities, and is now regarded as the benchmark for equestrian breeding excellence
The ancestors of the Australian Stock Horse arrived in Australia on the First Fleet in January 1788. The
end of the 18th century saw horses imported into Botany Bay in small numbers, believed to be of Arabian and Barb blood. The Barb, developed on the Barbary Coast of North Africa, was a desert horse with great hardiness and stamina. Eventually more horses where imported, these were of English Thoroughbred and Spanish stock. Later importations included more Thoroughbreds, Arabs, Timor and Welsh Mountain Ponies. All horses sent to the Colony needed strength and stamina - not only to survive the long sea journey, but also to work in the foreign, untamed environment that had become their home.
In the 1830s, knowledgeable horse breeders imported a steady stream of Thoroughbreds to improve the local
horse strains. The settlers had a keen interest in horse racing, so Thoroughbreds became very popular at the beginning of the 19th century. The use of Thoroughbred stallions over the condition-hardened local mares produced the beautiful strain of tough but stylish animal exemplified by today’s Australian Stock Horse.
Australian horses had been selectively bred for strength and stamina, reliability and versatility. The strongest
were retained for breeding and despite their mixed origins they developed into a strong and handsome type. The horses that developed had a good temperament, were tough and reliable, able to work under saddle and in harness. They were used to clear timber, plough the land and herd sheep and cattle. From this base the breed was refined and developed, using the outstanding sires of the day. Thoroughbreds had a considerable influence, even though the breed carried bloodlines from other breeds.
Explorers, stockmen, settlers, bushrangers and troopers all relied on horses that could travel long distances,
day after day. Weak horses were culled; the stronger types were used to breed sturdy saddle horses that were essential for the Colony’s settlement. Exploits of the explorers and stockmen and their reliable horses in the Australian bush became Australian folklore, and stories such as The Man from Snowy River and Clancy of the Overflow depict the character of these pioneers and their horses.
Many Australians refer to their horses as stock horses or station horses. When purchased by a cavalry exporter,
the horse became known as a remount horse. Originally all Australian horses came from New South Wales (thus the name Waler), but as the settlers spread throughout the continent, they took their horses with them. It was in 1846 that the term Waler was coined by the British. The hardiness of the Waler made him a natural mount for the cavalry. The Australian Army used the Waler in the First World War.
The origins of the Waler date back
to 1840 and during the Boer War and World War I the Australian Horse received worldwide recognition through the success of the Australian Light Horse regiments, a quite significant a c h i e v e m e n t for horses in A u s t r a l i a ’ s history. The Waler was c o n s i d e r e d to be the finest cavalry horse in the world, winning International acclaim for its endurance, reliability and hardiness during the Indian Mutiny, the Boer War and the First World War. In the Boer War, the Waler served in such regiments as the Lancers, Commonwealth Horse, Mounted Rifles and Bushmen’s Troop.
cont’d pg 6
TheAustralian
Stockhorse
5
Around 160,000 Australian horses served in World War I and their performance was best summed up by the English cavalryman, Lt Col RMP Preston DSO, in his book, The Desert Mounted Corps. He described the stamina and spirit of the Australian Light Horse, “… Cavalry Division had covered nearly 170 miles…and their horses had been watered on an average of once in every 36 hours…. The heat, too, had been intense and the short rations, 9½ lb of grain per day without bulk food, had weakened them considerably. Indeed, the hardship endured by some horses was almost incredible. One of the batteries of the Australian Mounted Division had only been able to water its horses three times in the last nine days - the actual intervals being 68, 72 and 76 hours respectively, yet this battery on its arrival had lost only eight horses from exhaustion…. The majority of horses in the Corps were Walers and there is no doubt that these hardy Australian horses make the finest cavalry mounts in the world….”
Although many good breeding stock left Australia never to return, the huge shipments did not seem to affect the horse population at home. In 1906 Australia had 1,765,186 horses and in 1918 when the human census was 5,030,479 there were 2,527,149 horses. As a result, a small group of horsemen deemed it important to establish the Society so that these great horses would not be lost genetically and future generations could be recognised and officially recorded
After the First World War, despite the recognition Australian Horses had won and although the Waler was known as a distinctive type, there was no Stud Book or Registry. Mechanisation of primary industries reduced the need for working horses and it was not until the 1960s that an interest in horses was revived due to the increasing leisure time available to society.
In June 1971, the Australian Horse was given the recognition and formal organisation it deserved with The Australian Stock Horse Society being established. The procedure to register horses was established. All horses were required to be inspected by a panel of three classifiers who judged each horse on its merits and classified it as follows:
• Conformation & Type 60 points Breeding 20 points Ability 20 points
Mares and stallions attaining over 50 points at the inspection were admitted for registration into the Society’s Stud Book, whilst those gaining between 40 and 50 points, or geldings gaining over 50 points were admitted into the appendix. Appendix mares and stallions could be upgraded into the stud book providing a twelve month period had lapsed and the horse had reached the required standard.
At the AGM in 1976, by a strong majority, it was decided to give the required formal notice that the Stud Book would be closing in two years. When the Stud Book closed, only foal recorded horses were accepted into the Stud Book. Other horses were accepted into the registry or accepted under the Special Entry regulations. The Classifier’s point score system continued with a change in the number of points required for acceptance.
By 1979, eight years into the Society’s existence, the classifiers had accepted more than 40,000 horses for registration. The registry section of the Stud Book was closed on 31st July 1988, and all horses registered were automatically upgraded to the Stud Book. From 1st August 1988 and onwards, horses which were accepted for registration were required to have satisfied the Society’s breeding requirements and did not require inspection. The only exceptions were Australian Stud Book (Thoroughbred) mares and stallions. On 1st January 1993, the Society introduced the registration of First Cross and Special Merit horses to better cater for the Breeders’ needs.
In 1996, the Society’s Silver Jubilee year, 130,000 horses had been registered or recorded with the Society. Since the closure of the Society’s Stud Book, only horses that comply with the Society’s regulations have been accepted for registration. In the last decade the Society has experienced unprecedented growth as the demand for Australian Stock Horses and recognition of their many attributes has increased. In the last ten years the Membership of the Society has doubled to over 9,500 and in excess of 170,000 horses have been registered or recorded in our Stud Book.
The object of The Australian Stock Horse Society Limited was to preserve the identity and breeding records of the Stock Horse through registration and to promote their attributes through exhibitions and performance.
Australian Stock Horses are used for general riding and stock work on rural properties, as well as equestrian competitions. With its versatility, the Australian Stock Horse has achieved outstanding success in a wide variety of sports including: campdrafting, showjumping, dressage, eventing, pony club events, harness, polo and polocrosse.
The Australian Stock Horse is intelligent, with courage, toughness and stamina, and has a good temperament. The Australian Stock Horse is considered possibly the world’s most versatile horse, the horse evolved through selective breeding in response to the demands of the environment.
The basic pre-requisites of a high performance horse are a quiet temperament, intelligence and athletic ability. These qualities are essential for a brilliant performance whatever the event.
66
A Holstein bred stallion, Sire: Prestige VDL - (Protege was the first colt by Prestige in Aust via Frozen semen) and Grand sire is the Olympic Team silver medalist Silvano N. On Protege’s Dam side is Winterkoenig who is sired by Woerman. His Dam is full sister to a 2 star eventer and she has produced a Premium Hanovarian Foal.
Protege has excellent elevation and paces and displays great character. He loves to play with tyres and throws them around his yard and chases them.
His foals are leggy and elegant types with loads of presence and he crosses well with both thoroughbred and warmblood mares. His oldest foals are now rising 2 yrs olds.
Inspections are welcomePh: 0416 032 260 (07) 3297 6719
www.Ipstud.com.au
Lourdes Park Prot
ege
Shield Conrad is by the exceptional open sire Hazlewood Conman and the well performed open mare Shield Cilla. Progeny of Shield Cilla includes a Colt that has already earnt his place as an open horse, and a mare that is already at Novice status.
Shield Conrad will be no exception. He recently competed in the Australian Stockhorse Led Class event at the Beaudesert Show - winning his age category followed by runner up Reserve Champion. This was Conrad’s first competitive event.
Conrad has a noticeably calm and cool temperament. He was a breeze to break in, he was very responsive and accepting right from the beginning. He has proved outstanding cattle ability, but his looks and presence will make his progeny suitable for any discipline.
Please call Paul and Annabelle Woods for all enquiries on 07 55 334183 or 0428 739 577.
7
8
• GeneralEquinePractice• DigitalRadiography• Ultrasound• Endoscopy• Dentistry• Pre-PurchaseExamination• ArtificialBreeding:-chilled,frozen&semencollection
Phone:07 55020369
Build your skills over a yearlyprogramme to be confident on the ground and in the saddle.
Learning different equine disciplines each month:
Horse Care, Natural Horsemanship,Bareback Riding, Dressage, Jumping,
Polocrosse, Campdrafting, Trail Riding,Troop Drill, Musical Riding.
ALL AGES RIDING CLUB / LADIES GROUPSHorse supplied or Bring your own
Horse Handling & Riding Education
Horse Connection & Confidence
www.horsere trea t s . com
0 7 5 6 6 7 7 4 6 8
Great for group activities, all ages & riding levelsDiscounts for pre-organised groups
www.horseretreats.com
9
Samford Assoc Dressage 2nd OctoberSamford ShowgroundsContact: e: [email protected]:www.samfordequestriangroupcom
QLD DRESSAGE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS 7 - 9th OctContact:[email protected]
Caboolture Assoc Dressage 16th OctCaboolture ShowgroundsContact: [email protected]: www.caboolturedressage.org.au
Logan Village Assoc Dressage 16th OctLogan Village Riding ClubContact: Sarah Craddock 0427 812 918Website: www.loganvillageridingclub.org.au
NADEC & Horseland Gold Coast Dressage Spectacular 23 Octwww.nadec.net
Logan Village Riding Club 23 OctInterclub ChallengeWebsite: www.loganvillageridingclub.com
PRARG Prelim - Advanced & Freestyle 23 OctContact: Lindal Binch 3297 5759www.prarg.com
AUSTRALIAN DRESSAGE CHAMPIONSHIPS 27 - 30th Oct
Cedar Grove Assoc Dressage Day 30 OctCedar Grove GroundsContact:KristenHeffernan55464410E:[email protected]
Currumbin & District Horse Club 30th OctDressage & Hack Showwww.cdhc.com.au
Caboolture Assoc Dressage & Sign on Day 6th NovContact: [email protected]: www.caboolturedressage.org.au
PRARG Summer Series 13 Nov 27 Nov & 11 DecContact:Secretary0431266889www.prarg.com
www.qld.equestrian.org.auDressage
What’s On Calendar
October/ November 2011
To Advertise your upcoming Events for FREEContact: Gold Coast & Logan Local Horse Magazine at
1010
www.dovehaven.com.au
Perfect Your Dressage With Us...
NCAS Level 1 Instructors Private & Group Lessons5 Yrs & Up • Day/Night LessonsNew Indoor Arena • Holiday CampsTraining/Re-Education of Horses
Ph: 07 5547 0920 • Mob: 0402 992 115
Lets start at the beginning... when we
�rst start with a horse we need to take an honest
look at just how educated this horse is and being totally honest with ourselves on just how well we have actually put it all together.
If you have a young horse that has just been started under saddle, what should we honestly expect this horse to know by the time you get it home to start working them, whether it is just a mate to go for rides on weekends or towards your �rst competition, no matter the discipline?
Don’t you think you owe it to that horse or pony to at least allow them to also appreciate and enjoy the experience at the same time?
I think sometimes we forget that our horses were not born with the knowledge needed to carry a rider and still be expected to do it calmly with suppleness, rhythm and regularity, while staying obedient to all the aids.
This is a big ask for a horse as they are naturally a �ighty animal, so when they start their training they are already holding onto themselves, mainly through their shoulders and back and then it becomes a chain reaction through their entire body and unless you take the time to realize this and change your training sessions to help your horse, not just strengthen these muscles, but also allow to stretch and them be supple, as their bodies grow and develop. If we put too much pressure on their bodies and mind before they are physically or mentally matured to cope with the work we want from them; you will end up more likely to have soundness issues, whether that be mental, muscular or skeletal.
You will end up with a horse who’s behaviour will become unpredictable and disobedient, where in most cases it could have been totally avoided if we were not in such a rush to get out there. I have always thought riding in any style was a privilege not a right. It surprises me what they can actually do when you allow them to learn in a way that allows them to truly understand what we are trying to communicate.
Anyone can jam a horse up into a frame and make it perform - only a few riders truly know how it ‘feels’ to have a horse hold its own frame independently, have the softness of your own body truly move with your horse, without tension in either body and still be e�ective enough to guide your horse through the work they are
expected to do. Again this should be in all disciplines.
Training in an ideal world would be black and white, a right answer for everything, but that will never be the case.
Every horse will challenge you in di�erent ways, even though we may have the same goals for each horse you ride doesn’t mean how you teach one is how you then teach the other.
In my years of teaching I can honestly say that not one of my students where taught in the exact same way. Some would just pick it up and run with it whilst others took longer to understand what they had to do to achieve the same level of riding as each other. It is no di�erent with horses, some just pick it up and do it, others need the time to �gure it out and this is where we sometimes lack the patience or ability to let them.
If riders took more time to understand what they should actually be feeling under them, then most of the questions you have with training issues you could answer yourself. Lets face it, bad habits are harder to break, more so when you don’t even realize you’re doing it.
We all have those days when we should not of put our foot in the stirrup, but we do and then feel crappy at the outcome of our actions. These are lessons we all need to experience as it’s what you do next that makes you either become the rider you live to be, or just a rider. We should all know how it feels to �y and be free, it’s good for your soul. I just think we lose sight of that when you tunnel your thoughts about how to achieve your goals as quick as possible and forget to take a breath and remember this is not just about you but also that beautiful noble equine we cannot live without.
^ Our trainee instructor, Kayla Fury, with ‘Dove Haven Kiss of Glory’; one of our performance ponies; having a quiet moment at one of the dressage competitions earlier this year.
11
These days there are many different methods of training animals, some good and some not so good. The better methods are more enlightened and understanding of the animals breed
specific and individual needs.
As humans we tend to stay with what we understand and are most comfortable with. As trainers we are no different, when we feel
comfortable with a method we tend to use it to best affect. Horses are predominately trained using negative reinforcement; we apply pressure (a negative) and release the pressure (to reinforce) when the animal complies with the movement we require. As a trainer of exotic animals I have spent a good deal of my life working with positive reinforcement to train, this is what I am most comfortable using.
I know that many horse folks don’t like the use of food when training horses and if it is used as a lure or bribe I would fully agree. I use food to reward but
I set the animal up to succeed at a given task then reward. I think of training as language, both trainer and animal need a common language to communicate. This lessens confusion and frustration for both trainer and animal. I start to build my language by using a conditioned reinforcer (bridge). We call it a “bridge” because it bridges the gap between the correct response given by the animal and the reward. Most people know this as clicker training. Let me say that this name really annoys me because I don’t use a clicker. I use a silent dog whistle or the word “yep”. The point of using a bridge is to be able to pinpoint for the animal the exact part of the behaviour that is correct and that they will be rewarded. Using the bridge allows me to reward baby steps towards the end result.
When working with mules or nervous animals I think it is even more important to have positive communication. Mules are thinking animals and remember the bad as easily as the good experiences. Nervous animals or
animals that have had bad experiences can be so concerned about what you are going to do next they are often not thinking clearly. By being able to tell the animal when it has responded correctly without the use of equipment is advantageous with these nervous animals.
I have a little mule that has had some bad experiences in her life, what they were I have no idea. If you can catch her she stands and trembles from head to hoof. Because I don’t know what has been done to her prior to my
getting her I decided to bridge train her and work from there. She responds to the bridge training very well and I am able to handle her by telling her when she has responded correctly. The first time my very patient blacksmith tried to do her feet we took over two hours to trim her. By using the bridge and rewarding her for every correct response, and ignoring her undesirable reactions, we are now able to trim her feet in 45 minutes. She picks up her feet and places them on the shoeing stand with little or no effort. Without the ability to be able to tell her the exact point of the behaviour she was getting rewarded for I think we would still be trying to get those feet trimmed.
As equines are worked with pressure and release I do use this method, however, I teach the movement without equipment first. In this way when the equipment is used the pressure is very light because the animal already
understands and can do the required movement. I use a target, either my hand or a ball on a stick, to get the animal to follow. I reward when the animal touches or follows the movement of the target, whichever is required.
Obviously the training process is more complex than I have explained here, but the take home message is that communication is the basis of all good training and the more information you can give the animal to get it right
the first time the better for all involved.
The language of learningTraining
Kerrie Haynes-LovellCert IV in Captive Animals, Cert III in Companion Animal Services, Cert IV in Workplace Assessment and Training, Lecturer
12
From a polite and reserved young lad to a globe trotting horseman. When you believe in the power of your dreams, the world is your oyster! This is Cal’s story....
Livin’ the dream I grew up on a small cattle farm In Armidale NSW. My father Phillip Snell was a successful international cowboy, and throughout my childhood Phil was always occupied with horses. My mother Del McLennan was born and raised in the bush; most of
her days were spent working with her father who often camped out in the scrub with the local aboriginals controlling weeds, fences and wild animals in the isolated Nymboida Bush. Both my parents avoided city life at all costs. Conversation in our family’s simple, small farm house revolved mostly around horses’. Mum didn’t let us watch TV or stay inside the house whilst it was daylight, saying that we better get outside and find something to do or she would give us housework to do; so I always found myself playing with a horse or two.When I was seven Mum took me and my older siblings Clancy and Cody to a circus that had come to town. I loved everything that the circus was: the performers, the animals and the alternative way they lived, travelling the world in caravans with all those animals (sounded like the best holiday a kid could ever want). That night I was blown away as I watched a bare back gymnast perform on a grey horse with a big peacock feather in between its ears. For the next couple of years I mucked around on my first horse, Mindy. A retired Supreme Champion Hack that had won at every royal show in Australia, Mindy let me do whatever I wanted on her. I used to hang upside down of her and frog-leap on her, ride around backwards, canter her under the clothes line and swing off it or past the trampoline and leap onto it. I used to invite my family and friends to the backyard to watch my ‘circus’, Mindy even had a chook feather as her crown. Most of the time I would find
myself stuck halfway down her neck because she would stop cantering and start eating grass. I spent every spare minute with Mindy. Much to Mums disgust I would open the gate and let Mindy in the backyard so that she would be at the backdoor whenever I wanted her, I would just run out the door and jump straight on her, no saddle or bridle and let her take me for a ride around our farm. She was the most tolerant horse I have ever seen, I remember one day putting on some old rollerblades I had found, holding onto Mindy’s tail and tapping her with a stick to trot around the paddock, more often than not I would fall over and be dragging behind her (rollerblades don’t work too well on grass I discovered), I would do this for hours until eventually she wouldn’t walk any further and would just turn in circles to face me and sniff my face. Any other horse would have got sour or kicked me to kingdom come. Mindy gave me so much enjoyment. I was lucky to have such a good mare and thanks to her a desire to always have fun with horses was developed.The Snell family were all involved in the local Pony Club. I learned a lot there and did fairly well, always qualifying to compete for state, but i was just there for fun with friends, my siblings and our horses, so I never took competition seriously. Mindy would usually win me blue ribbons and then purple ribbons appeared in the show ring, from then on all I wanted was a purple ribbon (7th place), so other kids were always happy to swap with me. I wasn’t concerned whether I came first or last. Throughout these years, our family spent evenings watching ‘The man from Snowy River’ or ‘8 seconds’, and looking at photos of our parents competing for Australia throughout USA and Canada in rodeos. These few ingredients supplied me with a future hunger for adrenalin and adventure. I always felt compelled to live and be just like the boys in those movies. I always wished that when I grew up I would ride horses in movies.By the time i was 15 and in year 10 at school, I had decided that I did not want to continue, I was teased at school because I wasn’t confident, avoided conflict and only hung around ‘rurals’ (horsey kids). Against my parents better judgement I was permitted me to leave under the conditions that I had something constructive to go on with (preferably an apprenticeship). I enrolled in a Horse Management course via TAFE NSW and completed one year of studying all aspects of performance horses. The highlight of this year was the time I spent riding with Jan Upjohn, adopting her passive, patient soft way keeping horses in correct frame (but not taking any rubbish from them either) at Harlow Park. This proved to be a great ‘gap’ year to think about my future as well as giving me the opportunity to work 2 part time jobs. I thought that I would have to go onto Vet nursing or work for a thoroughbred stud until I figured out where it was i wanted to go (chasing movie dreams, seemed unrealistic). Then one day (thankfully) my friend and fellow student Kyra brought a newspaper clipping into College from a Gold Coast paper reading “STABLEHANDS AND PERFORMERS REQUIRED FOR MULTI MILLION DOLLAR PRODUCTION LOCATED ON GOLD COAST”. I was a little dubious due to my doubts that her and I, just lil ole us, would even think of applying for job in a 28 million dollar show. I thought it to be a farfetched idea to think we would stand a chance but so as not to shatter her dreams I said ‘sure let’s do it’. We sent our resumes in (you can imagine what a 16yr olds resume looks like who has competed in Pony Club, worked at Coles and ridden a few steers would look like) and several weeks later to my surprise I got a phone call to do an audition. My audition was nerve wracking; I was pretty shy and hated being the centre of attention, my horse wouldn’t slide stop well enough so they asked me to do it again and again till they got what they wanted. In the end I had to say ‘honestly I’m sure this horse can do it but I just don’t want to be that tough on him’ so I jumped off and thought that that was that. Shane Phillips (AOS Production Manager) walked up to me and asked me how old I was. Nervously I replied 16 adding that I had my L Plates but my mum said she would drop me off at work every day if I got the job. The following weeks contained more interviews, physical examinations and eventually
13
I got the phone call to say I got the job. My parents were separating at the time and Mum said she would move with me to the Gold Coast until I got my P Plates and got set up (Thanks mum).Working at AOS exposed me to a whole new world, the world of independence, I was responsible for myself now, I had money, I had a great job and I was in the ‘big smoke’. To say I was nervous would be an understatement.Donna Morton ‘weaned’ me into the show, aware of how nervous I was. Initially my main act was as a bronc rider but gradually I progressed into participating in more scenes in the show. My first quadrille in the show had me shaking, Donna gave me some Rescue Remedy drops and concealed a microphone in my ear, and as I was riding in the show she watched from backstage and told me when to go where, my nerves causing me to forget the hundred times I had rehearsed it. After about a year, a couple of bottles of anxiety relief drops and a lot of encouragement from co-workers I was in the show full swing. I was offered the opportunity to roman ride. Well it was all about having a go; during a training session those riders that were keen to have a go were thrown up on
2 horses and told ‘go for it’. One after the other the boys jumped up on the horses (I waited till last to avoid the audience), I jumped on and by the end of my go round I was told that I’d be training from then on. I watched the girls’ train trick riding and every day I made sure I was either their safety guy or a rope holder so I could be part of it. Watching them gave me goosebumps. How I wished I could do it, but trick riding was the girls act and roman riding was the boys act, so I counted my blessings and concentrated on roman riding. During my time at AOS I also gained significant experience working with camels, foundational methods of liberty training, rearing, motorbikes, flying the in house helicopter, wagon driving and a very fun stunt involving getting dragged behind a high speed horse, and most importantly learning to observe everything. After 3 years of living on the Gold Coast I missed the bush, so I moved back to the family farm to break in horses and spend time getting back to nature, giving myself plenty of space and time to think about what I wanted to do next. Our family farm got sold, and, in perfect time I received an email from Donna saying there was a roman riding horse show job in Perth at El Caballo Resort. I spent 2 months over there, focusing my energy on training a solo liberty act, improving my roman riding skills on a pair of educated Andalusians and trained very basic trick riding on a quiet Australian Stock Horse I pulled out of a paddock over there, developing a social network and building friendships to keep my mind off the loss of the farm. Soon I learned that my boss was unreliable financially and yet again, perfectly timed, I received a phone call from the Gassers, the family who run ‘The Horseman From Snowy River’ tour, they offered to teach me how to trick ride if I committed to a one year contract with them. So I packed my bags, said goodbye to my new friends and got on a flight to Melbourne.On my first day of work I introduced myself to a couple that had arrived on the same day. Soon I discovered that I had just met a person i had yearned to meet during my time at Outback Spectacular. I had heard stories about their adventures, accomplishments and seen pictures taken by a mutual friend and I had asked to be introduced, but to no avail. So to discover that Zelie Bullen and I had started working on the same job on the same day was like a massive gift from the universe. (Zelie has since become one of my dear friends and an inspirational mentor).Team work, patience and maintaining good manners proved to be the vital ingredients to success and happily functioning in such a tight knit, high stress work environment . I did everything from transportation, construction of the big top tent, building stables, seating, lighting and sound, office duties, exercising/training horses, stable work and finishing the week with performances. Working under Rene Gasser was a pretty awesome experience, his philosophy of educating horses, combined with his artistic experience within the European circus scene, and years of training with famous liberty and high school dressage trainers from all over the world provided his horses with a wealth of mastery. Some days when I had worked my team of horses I would make time to just sit and observe the communication between horse and person. I was always willing to assist Sonny with anything and through this gained knowledge and a feel of what to do and when to do it, as it is with all horses’ education. Another massive component of tour was my co-workers. In that particular situation we lived, ate, slept, worked and played together. We had no one else and our duties in the show could not be abandoned for a weekend away. A lot of people came on tour but could not cope with its demands, so those of us who did stay on developed relationships that cannot be compared to any others. Life on the road is like no other. In summer 2009, Zelie Bullen kindly invited me to join her and her family on a trip to L.A to train with World Champion Trick Rider and All Round stunt performer/ coordinator Tad Griffith. To say I was honoured is an understatement. The following weeks building my foundation as a trick rider with Tad proved to be very challenging and pushed me way out of my comfort zone. The combination of the tricks I was undertaking, the speed of his horses and his eye for perfection made that time unforgettable and I learned how to do some things that I did not think I was capable of. It’s amazing what you can conquer when someone pushes you and you don’t back down. I had busters and hang ups, I got trampled, couldn’t walk because training beat me up and so on but in the end I walked away proud of myself and with an overwhelming sense of gratitude.Mid June this year I resigned from the Gassers ‘Horseman from Snowy River’ and ‘El Caballo Blanco’ shows, after completing over 2 years touring of Australia and New Zealand and flew over to USA and Canada. I have been travelling around meeting trick riders and now have found myself based at Tad Griffiths an hour east of Los Angeles. I have been given the opportunity to train stunts, trick riding and have employment opportunities. Every day I am grateful for the Industry that I have grown into. So far chasing my dreams has challenged all aspects of who I am. I forgot my dream and thankfully a friend gave me a shove in the right direction and from then on I have followed it and life has been empowering. It hasn’t been easy but it has been fulfilling. I cannot express enough how much I urge everyone to dream of what you want. If you don’t dream then your future is like a car with no driver. Life doesn’t stand still, it moves forward and if you don’t choose which way you want to go it will choose for you. I aim for my future to hold good people, fun times, nice horses and challenging work, trick riding, roman riding, liberty, dressage, reining and exotic animal training whilst staying passionate about work and life in general, maintaining an open mind and an aim to forever improve whilst being ever grateful. I encourage everyone who reads this to ask yourself this simple question ‘WHAT WOULD MAKE ME HAPPY”. Then choose what you do from there.
Images courtesy of Ralph Meznar unless marked otherwise.1414
Contact Paul Woods 07 5533 4183 or 0428 739 577
master farrierDane Batten &0439 765 780
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Travis TemplerEventing Coach
Available for Clinics or Private Lessons0433 884 155
What’s On Calendar
QUEENSLAND EVENTS
Logan Village Riding Club Open Hunter Trials 2 Octoberwww.loganvillageridingclub.com
Toowoomba ODE 8 - 9th October
Warwick Spring School 15 - 16th October
FCHT ODE 22 - 23 OctoberContact: Deb Postle 0428 871 791E: [email protected]
Fig Tree Pocket CNC 2* 29 - 30th October
Ned Twohill X Country Challenge 29 October
State Championships KEG (rescheduled from Sept) 5 & 6th November
KEG Summer School 4 & 5th February 2012Contact:DaveLittle0437633866/LisaBarling0417561153
INTERSTATE EVENTS
MIRRABOOKA CIC 1 - 2 October
CoffsHarbour 8-9thOctober
GoulburnODE 15-16thOctober
Wallaby Hills ODE 22 - 23 October
CANBERRA CIC 29 - 30th October
HiddenValley 5-6thNovember
BerrimaODE 26-27thNovember
www.qld.equestrian.org.au
Eventing
School it
Smart
1616
School it
Smart
Over the past two decades cross country courses have moved away from insanely big stand alone
fences, tobemore technicalandmentallychallengingcombinationsthataredesignedtoaskthemostofbothhorse and rider. Preparing your horse for these challenges isimportantandworkingonthefundamentalsofpace,straightness and confidenceareessential to give yourtrusty pony the best opportunity to perform.
Entry and departure from a cross country jump isone of the most important aspects of having a
successful round. An easy way to remember this is to make a balanced controlled entry to a fence, jump itandrollawayitsavestime,energyandalsolooksmoreprofessional. I had instructor once tell me that anybody can make time in the lower grades but you need topractice making sure you get the horse to the fencein good solid balanced rhythm, andmake sure it getsaway smoothly as the departure can make or break your nextelement.Workonyourhalfhalts,practicebringingyour horse back from a fast canter to a balanced one to a point where you have six to eight balanced strides before your jump. As you and your mount becomemoreconfidentobviouslytherewillbelessneedforsomanystridesbeforethefencebutitisstillimportanttomaintainabalanceatanyobstacle.Afteryourfencedonotsimplygallopoffhitthegroundandmovewayandrebuild your rhythm.
Ensuring you can judge your horses speed is thebest way to move around the course smoothly and
easily.Awaytounderstandpace,whileschoolingcrosscountry,istosetupmarkersat200mintervalsandgeta feel for the canter that gets you to those markers in thirtyseconds,tryingtomaintainonerhythm(youarenowtravellingat400mperminute),inmostcasesthisshould be a good forward canter. Having established this rhythm feel free to move the markers to 400m
apart and see if you can get there smack on one minute (don’tdo this toooftenoryouwill gallop the legsoffthe poor bugger). Put a couple of fences in between andseehowthisaffectsyourrhythm,step ituptosoyoulearnhowtocreateabalancebetweenmakingtimeandmakingfencessmooth,itmaysoundsimplebuttoooftenIseepeoplegallopingflatouttothefinishflagsinintroductory or having to trot the last 200m to be in the timewindow.
Having established pace and a balance next comes confidence and straightness. To make a horse
confidentjumpsmallerfencesfirst,builduptothebiggerfences.When schooling try to find obstacles that arechallengingbutdonotoverfacethehorsebyjumpingfences you know he or she is not ready for. Another thing thatwillmakehorseconfidentisstraightness.Schoolingnarrowobstaclesallowsahorseto“getthereeyeonthefence”.Barrelsontheground,withpolesontheside,areagoodstartingpoint.Trystartingwithtwobarrelslyingnext to end to end on the ground with poles on either side directed to the side you’re jumping fromguidingthehorsein,andthenreducetheexercisetoonebarrelwithguidepolesandfinallynopoles.Ifahorserunsoutaparticularsideleavetheguiderailuponthatsideandtake down the other. To increase the challenge of the exercise make the barrel at the beginning or end of a combinationormakeittwosinglebarrelstwoorthreestrides apart. This is a great exercise to help your horse gettheireyeinabigtipistomakesureyoulookstraightahead and remember aids have to be encouraging not harshtomakethehorseconfident.
To have a successful cross country round we need to make sure we understand our horse and that the
horseunderstandsthejobithastodo.Knowyourpace,makeitbalanced,keepitstraightandalwaysschool itsmart.
by Travis Templer
17
www.equinelodgehorsefloats.com.au
www.iride.tv [email protected]
END OF YEAR GRAND FINALPhoto Comp
Thrills & Spills
Shane
Prizes - Prizes - Prizes
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR PHOTO COMPETITION WINNERS!The winner will be judged by you, our readers
GRAND FINAL WINNER will be announced in our DEC/JAN edition along with the winning photo......Heaps of prizes up for grabs generously donated by our sponsors.....
HOW TO ENTER:You can email the name of your favourite photo to [email protected] or alternatively you can go to our facebook page Local Horse Magazine (NEW PAGE) and there will be a photo album created
with all the photo winners, click ‘like’ on your favourite photo and the ‘likes’ will be tallied up along with the email entrants and the GRAND FINAL WINNER will be announced in our DEC/JAN edition ...
Funny Photo
KathBest Sporting
Best Novelty
Jasmine
Cutest Photo
StephanieRachael
Best Costume
Karen
••
•
••
••
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END OF YEAR GRAND FINALPhoto Comp
Thrills & Spills
Shane
Prizes - Prizes - Prizes
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR PHOTO COMPETITION WINNERS!The winner will be judged by you, our readers
GRAND FINAL WINNER will be announced in our DEC/JAN edition along with the winning photo......Heaps of prizes up for grabs generously donated by our sponsors.....
HOW TO ENTER:You can email the name of your favourite photo to [email protected] or alternatively you can go to our facebook page Local Horse Magazine (NEW PAGE) and there will be a photo album created
with all the photo winners, click ‘like’ on your favourite photo and the ‘likes’ will be tallied up along with the email entrants and the GRAND FINAL WINNER will be announced in our DEC/JAN edition ...
Funny Photo
KathBest Sporting
Best Novelty
Jasmine
Cutest Photo
StephanieRachael
Best Costume
Karen
••
•
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••
19
What’s On CalendarHorsemanship
ANIMAL INSTINCTS – HAYLEY CHAMBERS-HOLT 9th October Horsemanship & Trick Training Clinic – Tamborine Pony Club Grounds 30th OctoberContact:[email protected]
JOHN CHATTERTON CLINICS
ChambersFlat-ChattosPlace 8-9thOctoberContact:Ali0400065570e:0400065570
Melbourne Clinics & Lessons 19 - 30th OctoberContact:-KerrieCoffeye:[email protected]
Gladstone Clinic 5-7th NovemberContact:-KathyMartinP:49784263
Sth Australia Clinics 18-20th NovemberContact: Candice Oster e [email protected]
KEN ANDERSON RIDER SAFETY & HORSEMANSHIP CLINICSouthport Indoor Arena 8 - 9th OctoberContact:- 0419 724 980 e: [email protected]
QUANTUM SAVVY COME & PLAY CLINICSCedar Grove District Riding Club Contact:TraceyEdie0411106651 20thNovember 4th December
Logan Village Riding Club Contact: Sharon Ford 0411 551 703 12th October 26thOctober 9th November 23rd NovemberMunruben Contact:TraceyEdie0411106651 5thNovemberSth Brisbane Christmas Party 10th December
BONOGIN VALLEY HORSE RETREAT
Contact:Deb&Mark0756677468Email: [email protected]
Website: www.horseretreats.com
Every Sunday 3hr RIDING CLUB (Adults and Children’s groups)Every Friday is relax and unwind with our TRANQUIL CAFE TRAIL RIDES 2hr and Half day available3-5 October Pony Club Day Camp6 Oct ober Games Day
FOR SALE:- “Cooper” Grey Stockhorse/tbred gelding 15hh 6 yrs. Good basic training an absolute dream to handle and great fun to ride. No vices at all, great on roads, east to CSF and do anything with. Ex kids
Polocrosse horse - $4500 Email - [email protected] or 0413 357 233
Happy Birthday John Chatterton
8th October (21 years young!)
FLOATLOADINGFOALS the
John Chattertonway
In the last two issues of the magazine we have covered quite a lot of my standard foal handling practices
which I always use on our own foals and when working with clients foals. The better the early handling of a foal, the easier it will be to handle and teach that foal later in life. If you haven’t read the previous two articles and have a new foal or are expecting one, I strongly urge you to contact the girls at Local Horse Magazine to obtain a copy.
The first and most important step for safely loading and transporting a foal is to teach
him how to relax and accept being handled. Have a helper hold the mare on a halter just a few feet away from the foal. It is important that the foal is facing the mare while you are doing the early training so they both feel secure and unthreatened.
You next need to train your foal to walk forward by placing your arms in a cradle position
around him (in front of his chest and behind his rump), taking care not to hold tightly. If you hold too tightly you may panic the foal. If my previous handling tutorials have been followed regularly, your foal will not be worried about being held this way. I make a verbal clicking sound as a signal for my foal to move forward. If he doesn’t move, I gently move my arms forward, putting a gentle pressure on his rump and leaving a slightly open space between my arm and his chest to encourage him to step forward into the space.
Look for a 1% effort (and all this may mean is a rock forward) then stop pushing and reward
him with a rub. Change sides and repeat what you have just done. Once he has learned the click sound to step forward, teach him to take a step backwards. Simply say “baack” and push back with your arm on his chest, remembering the 1% rule, and then change sides.
At this stage still keep your arm loosely around your foals chest and touch him all
over and down his legs. Sometimes when touching the foals legs they will try and pick their leg up and move it away from your hand. Don’t hold the leg up, just rub the leg until the foal puts it down. The foal must learn that touching the leg is not the signal to pick it up. This will be beneficial later when you need to wash, bandage or treat a cut on the horse’s leg and need him to be standing on it rather than picking it up every time you touch his leg. If you spend a small amount of time each day handling your foal all over in this manner, with a little help from friends, loading him on a float with his mother will be much easier.
It’s a good idea to give your foal a little trip in the float whether his mother needs to travel to stud
or not, to give him confidence for travelling. Many mares will be taken back to the stallion on their foal heat, and in this case you will have only a week or so to practice handling your foal so that his trip to the stud is as stress free as possible.
I transport a lot of mares and foals in my JR Longreach float which has removable chest bars. With
two other people helping me, I have one person holding the mare while a helper and I stand either side of the foal and hold hands behind it. The other person will gently rest their hand on the foals chest while I pick up the foals front foot and place it on the ramp, “clicking” him to go forward. I have already taught the foal to walk forward on this signal in the stable or yard so they should move forward willingly. With one side of the front chest bar removed, I can walk the foal right up into the front of the float.
I get my other handler to walk the mare into the float on the opposite side. Even a difficult mare will
load to get to her foal. I don’t tie her in, the handler will stay with her until the rump bar and tail gate are secure. While I am still standing with the foal, my second handler will now secure a plywood partition across the front of the chest bars from chest height to the floor so that the foal can’t get under its mother’s feet. After the bum-bar and tail gate are secured, I unclip the mare’s lead rope to avoid the possibility of the foal becoming entangled. You will find the mare will travel happier when she can see her foal directly in front of her.
Make sure the foal is standing on a suitable nonslip mat or flooring and the door is well
secured so the foal can’t accidentally open it. On a trip longer than half an hour you will need to stop and remove the partition to allow the foal to drink from the mare.
2020
FLOATLOADINGFOALS the
John Chattertonway
In the last two issues of the magazine we have covered quite a lot of my standard foal handling practices
which I always use on our own foals and when working with clients foals. The better the early handling of a foal, the easier it will be to handle and teach that foal later in life. If you haven’t read the previous two articles and have a new foal or are expecting one, I strongly urge you to contact the girls at Local Horse Magazine to obtain a copy.
The first and most important step for safely loading and transporting a foal is to teach
him how to relax and accept being handled. Have a helper hold the mare on a halter just a few feet away from the foal. It is important that the foal is facing the mare while you are doing the early training so they both feel secure and unthreatened.
You next need to train your foal to walk forward by placing your arms in a cradle position
around him (in front of his chest and behind his rump), taking care not to hold tightly. If you hold too tightly you may panic the foal. If my previous handling tutorials have been followed regularly, your foal will not be worried about being held this way. I make a verbal clicking sound as a signal for my foal to move forward. If he doesn’t move, I gently move my arms forward, putting a gentle pressure on his rump and leaving a slightly open space between my arm and his chest to encourage him to step forward into the space.
Look for a 1% effort (and all this may mean is a rock forward) then stop pushing and reward
him with a rub. Change sides and repeat what you have just done. Once he has learned the click sound to step forward, teach him to take a step backwards. Simply say “baack” and push back with your arm on his chest, remembering the 1% rule, and then change sides.
At this stage still keep your arm loosely around your foals chest and touch him all
over and down his legs. Sometimes when touching the foals legs they will try and pick their leg up and move it away from your hand. Don’t hold the leg up, just rub the leg until the foal puts it down. The foal must learn that touching the leg is not the signal to pick it up. This will be beneficial later when you need to wash, bandage or treat a cut on the horse’s leg and need him to be standing on it rather than picking it up every time you touch his leg. If you spend a small amount of time each day handling your foal all over in this manner, with a little help from friends, loading him on a float with his mother will be much easier.
It’s a good idea to give your foal a little trip in the float whether his mother needs to travel to stud
or not, to give him confidence for travelling. Many mares will be taken back to the stallion on their foal heat, and in this case you will have only a week or so to practice handling your foal so that his trip to the stud is as stress free as possible.
I transport a lot of mares and foals in my JR Longreach float which has removable chest bars. With
two other people helping me, I have one person holding the mare while a helper and I stand either side of the foal and hold hands behind it. The other person will gently rest their hand on the foals chest while I pick up the foals front foot and place it on the ramp, “clicking” him to go forward. I have already taught the foal to walk forward on this signal in the stable or yard so they should move forward willingly. With one side of the front chest bar removed, I can walk the foal right up into the front of the float.
I get my other handler to walk the mare into the float on the opposite side. Even a difficult mare will
load to get to her foal. I don’t tie her in, the handler will stay with her until the rump bar and tail gate are secure. While I am still standing with the foal, my second handler will now secure a plywood partition across the front of the chest bars from chest height to the floor so that the foal can’t get under its mother’s feet. After the bum-bar and tail gate are secured, I unclip the mare’s lead rope to avoid the possibility of the foal becoming entangled. You will find the mare will travel happier when she can see her foal directly in front of her.
Make sure the foal is standing on a suitable nonslip mat or flooring and the door is well
secured so the foal can’t accidentally open it. On a trip longer than half an hour you will need to stop and remove the partition to allow the foal to drink from the mare.
21
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WIN TICKETS TO EQUITANAGo to Local Horse Magazine (NEW PAGE)
on facebookClick on the Equitana photo at the top of the page in the photo album then in
the comments section type your answer to: What/Who is your favourite event/performer at Equitana and why?
Most ‘likes’ received on your comment will win. Entries close 20th October winner announced on 31st October 2011
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Out & about in the
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Gold Coast & Logan
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Towing a Horse Float requires additional knowledge and skill. All Horse floats, trailers and caravans affect the performance of the towing vehicle. They affect fuel consumption, acceleration, braking ability, general control and manoeuvrability. These effects worsen as the size and weight of the horse float increases relative to that of the towing vehicle.
The extra length and width can be hard to manage, with wind, road roughness and passing vehicles having a greater effect than on the vehicle alone. This puts additional responsibilities on a driver.
The information on this page applies to vehicles not exceeding 4.5 tonne gross vehicle mass (GVM).
Rules for TowingTowing more than one Horse Float at a time is not allowed. Nobody is allowed to ride in Horse Floats, trailers or caravans. When towing and driving on a road without street lights, drive at least 60 metres behind heavy vehicles or other vehicles towing trailers, unless overtaking. Learner drivers and learner and provisional motorcycle riders are not allowed to tow. P1 car license holders can tow small trailers with up to 250 kg of unloaded weight.
The DriverDriving with a Horse Float takes practice.
Remember:• Allow for the Horse Floats tendency to ‘cut-in’ on
corners and curves.• Allow longer distances for braking,overtaking and
joining a traffic stream.• When reversing, it is advisable to have someone outside
the vehicle giving directions.• Avoid sudden lane changes and changes of direction.• Look further ahead than normal so you can react to
changes in traffic or road conditions. • Use the accelerator, brakes and steering smoothly and
gently at all times.• Use a lower gear when travelling downhill to increase
vehicle control and reduce strain on brakes.• Slow down well before entering corners and curves.• Horse Floats tend to jerk the back of the vehicle around
and can cause sway (snaking). If a Horse Float starts to sway, the vehicle’s brakes should not be applied, except as an absolute last resort. If the Floats brakes can be operated by themselves they should be applied gently, otherwise a steady speed or slight acceleration should be held if possible until the sway stops.
• Take care not to hold up traffic unnecessarily.• Plan more rest stops and shorter travelling days as
towing is more stressful and tiring than normal driving.• There is no specific speed restriction while towing a
Horse Float. However, the posted speed limits must not be exceeded.
• Always drive to the road,traffic and weather conditions. Before each trip, Check:• Vehicle and Horse Float are roadworthy.• All tyres are properly inflated.• Floats wheel-bearings, suspension and brakes work
properly.• All lights work and safety chains are properly
connected.• Oil, water, brake fluid, battery and other service checks
on the vehicle.
At regular intervals during the trip, check:• Couplings, all doors, hatches, covers and any load or
equipment are still properly secured.• Tyres are still properly inflated and not rubbing on
suspension or body work.• If travelling to another State, check with the relevant
roads authority whether there are different rules.
The Towing VehicleVehicles must be suited to the trailer. Vehicle manufacturers usually indicate in the owner’s manuals the maximum weight and other features of trailers appropriate for the vehicle. These limits should not be exceeded. If unsure we recommend that you contact your local manufacturer or retailer of the Horse Float you are looking to purchase.
RegistrationAll vehicles must comply with all relevant standards for registration and be roadworthy at all times. Rear number plates and lights must not be obscured by the tow bar when there is no trailer connected.
Towing vehicles must be properly equipped with:• Tow bars and couplings of a suitable type and capacity.• Electrical sockets for lighting.• Brake connections if the trailer is fitted with power or
electric brakes.• Additionally: Extra mirrors may be needed for the
towing vehicle if towing a large Float.• For vehicles with automatic transmission, an extra
transmission oil cooler may be needed.• Some vehicles need structural reinforcement and/or
special suspension and transmission options and load-distributing devices to be able to tow heavier Floats.
Horse Float
Towing Safet
y
cont’d page 28
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Australian Credit Acceptance has a wide variety of lenders, which not only ensures you a great Finance deal, but also means your Finance Package is tailored to your personal needs.
Our Finance Consultants specialise in Horse Float Finance, each consultant is fully qualified in this area, and will usually have you picking up your new Float within 48 hours.
WeWe can provide Finance terms of up to 7 years. Lending amounts start at $3,000 for any Float purchase. Depending on your circumstances, we can offer a secured or unsecured Loan for your Float.
We can provide a comprehensive range of insurance products to protect you and your float at very competitive prices.
We have a range of contract types on offer including Personal Loans, Chattel Mortgages, Hire Purchases, Low-Doc facilities for the Self-Employed (no financials required)(no financials required)
Once we have an application from you, in most cases, we’ll have an answer back to you within 24-48 hours, usually with contracts out the same day.
27
Tow BarA properly designed and fitted tow bar is essential for towing. The rated capacity of the tow bar and coupling should not be exceeded. The tow bar should be clearly and permanently marked with its: Maximum rated capacity. Make and model of the vehicle it is intended for or the manufacturer’s part number. Manufacturer’s name or trade mark. This is compulsory for vehicles built after 1 January 1992. The exception is where the tow bar is a p e r m a n e n t part of the vehicle. Tow bars must not protrude d ange rous ly when there is no float or trailer connected.
Load EqualizersLoad equalisers can be used when towing large Horse floats or caravans. Load equalisers: Help the vehicle retain normal suspension height and effective steering control. Transfer some of the weight from the towbar to the front and rear suspension of the vehicle. As load equalisers may overload the towbar and its components, check with the towbar manufacturer for advice before use.
The Horse FloatHorse Floats must be of a suitable size and type for their intended tasks. They must be built to meet the standards for registration. If a horse float is required to be registered it must be fitted with a rear number plate and a registration label holder and current registration label mounted as close as possible to the number plate.
Towing Ration RequirementThe loaded mass of the trailer must not exceed the lesser of: Rated capacity of the towbar and tow coupling. Maximum towing capacity of the vehicle. Maximum carrying capacity of the trailer. Maximum rated carrying capacity of the tyres.
If the vehicle manufacturer has not specified the maximum towing mass, the maximum towing mass is: One and a half times the unladen mass of the towing vehicle, provided that the trailer is fitted with brakes which are connected and in working order, or the unladen mass of the towing vehicle if the trailer does not require brakes.
Vehicles with a manufacturer’s gross combination mass (GCM) more than 4.5 tonne may tow in accordance with the above requirements.The GCM is the gross combination mass of the car and loaded Horse Float.Once again we recommend that if you are in any doubt to contact your manufacturer or retailer of your horse float and discuss any concerns you may have.
Braking SystemThe minimum braking system for a float depends on the type of Horse Float, its weight and the weight of the vehicle: 0 - 750 kg loaded weight - no brakes required. 751 - 2000 kg loaded weight - braking on both wheels on at least one axle. 2001- 4500 kg loaded weight - braking on all wheels, and an automatic breakaway system in case the trailer becomes detached from the vehicle. Brakes must be operable from the driver’s seating position.
Towing CouplingAll couplings: Must be strong enough to take the weight of a fully loaded trailer. Should be marked with the manufacturer’s name or trade mark and rated capacity. Must be equipped with a positive locking mechanism. The locking mechanism must be able to be released regardless of the angle of the trailer to the towing vehicle.
Safety ChainsMust comply with Australian Standards. Trailers less than 2500 kg when loaded must be fitted with at least one safety chain. Trailers over 2500 kg when loaded must be fitted with two safety chains. To prevent the front end of the drawbar from hitting the ground if the coupling is disconnected, safety chains must be: As short as practicable and connected to the towing vehicle. Crossed over if two chains are fitted.
Loading of HorsefloatsIt is important that Horse floats are not overloaded and that your horse and equipment are properly secured and or contained within the trailer. Your horses safety is of the utmost importance and therefore your float should be properly configured to ensure that you, your horse and all of your equipment have a safe and trouble free trip.
HORSE FLOAT TOWING SAFETY cont’d
28
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COME ON DOWN – Mon to Fri 8.00am - 5.00pm and Sat 8.00am - 12.00pmOpposite Lock Gold Coast: 2/26 Spencer Road Nerang QLD 4211
Ph: 07 5596 4886 Fax: 07 5596 6885 Email: [email protected]
• Fencing• Saddlery• StockFeed• Hay/Chaff
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29
What’s On CalendarPony/Riding/Driving Clubs
Jimboomba Open Sporting Day 1st OctContact Sandy Bakerwww.jimboombaponyclub.com.au
Logan Village Riding Club 2nd OctHunter Trialswww.loganvillageridingclub.com
Beaudesert Gymkhana 9th OctBeaudesert Pony Club GroundsE: [email protected]
Gold Coast & Carriage Club /Mudgeeraba & Hinterland Horse Trail Club 9th OctNovelty DayE: [email protected]
ZONE TEAMS SHOWJUMPING CHALLENGE 14-16th OctCaboolture
Kooralbyn Gymkhana 16th OctE: [email protected]
Mudgeeraba & Hinterland Horse Trail Club 16th OctMisty Mountain RideContact:Jill0437237969
Darra Oxley Pony Club - Open Sporting 16th OctContact: 3375 3722
LVRC Assoc Dressage 16th Octwww.loganvillageridingclub.com
Waterford X Country Training Day 15th OctContact: Tracey Evans 0408 379 040
LVRC Masters Sporting & Showjumping 22nd Octwww.loganvillageridingclub.com
ZONE TEAMS CHALLENGE 22- 23rd OctSouthport Pony Club Web: www.southportponyclub.com.au
LVRC Interclub Challenge 23rd Octwww.loganvillageridingclub.com
PRARG Saddlery Market 29th Octwww.prarg.com
Waterford PC Open Hunter Trial 30th OctContact: Tracey Evans 0408 379 040
Cedar Creek Open Sporting Day 30th OctContact: Jean Evans 0413 399 309Email:[email protected]
Tamborine PC Gymkhana 30th OctContact:ChristinaSmith55463171E: [email protected]
Cedar Grove Open Dressage 30th OctContact:ToniLaracuente55477096Web: ww.cgdrc.org.au
Tamborine Riders - Social Trail Ride 30th OctWyralong DamContact: Denise Niit 0448 855 133www.tdrc.webs.com
Fassifern PC Annual Showjumping 30th Octwww.fhpc.org.au
NED TWOHILL CHALLENGE 5th NovSouthport
Tallebudgera Gymkhana 6th NovContact: 0430 794 749Email: [email protected]
Tallebudgera Open Showjumping Day 10th Nov Contact: 0430 794 749Email:[email protected]
Warwick PC Dressage 26 NovemberContact:54286101
Cedar Creek Open Sporting Day 27th Nov Contact: Jean Evans 0413 399 309Email:[email protected]
Nominations close on Thurs 13th OctoberNominations: $25 per horse (pay on day) $15 WPC members
E: [email protected]: Tracey mob: 0408 379 040
Start: 10am sharp (riders must be ready to ride by 9.45am) Practice/train over cross country jumps (1.5hrs) and then ride the whole course
OPEN TO ALL LEVELS Beginner 30-50 cm Intermediate 60 - 80cm Open 80cm - 1 metre.
Disclaimer:Note - All riders must wear a back protector No Back protector NO RIDE.• Run under PCAQ rules• Neither the organising committee of this event nor PCAQ accepts any
liability for the damage, accident, injury or illness to horses, riders, spectators, or any other persons or propery whatsoever. The organising committee reserves the right to combine or split classes according to the numbers nominated.
• Participants disclaimers to be signed on the day by non PCAQ members• All riders must wear an approved safety helmet and boots• No Jeans• No dogs allowed on grounds
Saturday 15 October
Waterford Pony ClubWeaber Road, Buccan
Cross Country Day
3030
Generally, the horse world is full of interesting, knowledgeable people. Some of these are ‘on the go’, working diligently for many years.
However, some, unwittingly, dedicate their whole persona to the horses, their riders and to the sport management committees. Jane Bell, is one such angel. Jane has
had a positive impact on so many people & horses within the local area. As a volunteer for over forty years with the Pony Club movement, Jane’s’ quiet resolve and positive input has assisted so many of us to appreciate and better understand our equine athletes. Always with a kind word for the people, it is Jane’s own natural abilities with the horse as well as her genuine respect for the animal that is truly inspiring & motivating. Thank you Jane for educating us all.
Jane Bell began her involvement with horses during her college years. She worked as a strapper for Kev Wallen on weekends and it was during this time, she bought her first horse, a mare called Wanda. Soon she joined Wynnum Pony Club, and so began a lifetime of devotion on, Jane’s behalf, to the Pony Club movement.
Janes teaching career began shortly after, her first posting was to the Gold Coast. Here she joined Southport Pony Club and bought her second horse, Meisa.
Following her marriage to husband, Chris, and subsequent move to the Beaudesert area, Jane joined Nerang Pony Club. Of course after marriage there came children, and when first born David, was old enough to go to pony club the family joined Beaudesert and have remained there since 1987.
During her time with Beaudesert Jane has taken on many of the clubs executive committee roles, she is currently the zone 2 Chief Instructor, a position which she has held since 2000. As Chief Instructor Jane has devoted many hours, days and weekends to organizing and conducting schools, and training days to assist the zone in training new instructors, and ensuring current instructors are up to date. Jane also runs specialist schools for dressage judging, show jump judging and course building, equitation judging and gymkhana judging.
Jane herself has over thirty years riding experience and coaching in various disciplines. These days she also co-manages Bellara Park with Chris. They currently stand the Australian Warmblood, Daniro. Jane works daily with foals in all facets of their education, from handling and onto their under saddle careers.
For many years Jane has been the quiet achiever of pony club. She is always there for the children when they are first starting out, offering encouragement and support. Similarly, parents and other members of pony club committees turn to Jane for advice, particularly when it comes to pony club procedures and protocols. She is described as a true friend, and an inspiration by those around her. Most importantly, Jane never fails to have a sincere kind word, and is the first to acknowledge every person’s efforts.
Now it is time for us to acknowledge Jane.
For all your hard work, devotion, time and patience, thank you !!!
From the Editor: I would just like to thank all Jane’s family and friends who have gladly contributed to this article. It takes a “Special” person to have so many “Special “ friends.
The Quiet Achiever
31
3232
Do you have the most amazing horse? Why not show him you care by fixing him one of these delicious horsey treats!!....
1 cup uncooked oatmeal1 cup flour1 cup shredded carrots1 teaspoon salt1 tablespoon sugar2 tablespoons corn oil¼ cup water (one quarter cup)¼ cup molasses (one quarter cup)
Mix ingredients in a bowl in the order listed. Make small balls and place on cookie sheet sprayed. Bake 177 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Horses love ‘em!
Molasses Oats (any kind will do! Even just plain rolled oats)Carrots and Apples
Mix together loads of molasses to an almost equal amount of oats, add carrots and/or apples and voila! A yummy treat in seconds!!
3 Carrots chopped into small pieces3 apples cut into small piecesCup of oatmeal
Drench cut up carrots and apples in molasses. Roll molasses cover carrots and apples into oats shake. Put in refrigerator, and serve when cooled.
1 cup margarine1 cup all-purpose flour1 cup brown sugar1 cup bran1 cup diced carrots1 cup diced apples1 teaspoon baking soda2 cups quick cooking rolled oats2 eggs
Cream margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs. Combine flour, bran and baking soda. Blend into creamed mixture. Stir in oats, carrots, and apples. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets and bake at 177 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove and cool. Makes about 4 dozen.
33
Pr
op
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35
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What’s On CalendarShow Jumping
www.qld.equestrian.org.au
October 2011Logan Village Hunter Trials 2 Octoberwww.loganvillagridingclub.com
Sunshine Coast Showjumping Day 16th Octobercontact:[email protected]:www.sunshinecoastshowjumping.com.au
LVRC Masters Sporting & Showjumping 22 Octoberwww.loganvillageridingclub.com
Zone 2 Dressage & CT Championships 19 & 20 October
Waterford Pony Club Open Hunter Trials 30th Octoberwww.waterfordponyclub.org.au
Tallebudgera Open Showjumping 10th NovemberE:[email protected]
Larkbeare Farm Equine ServicesBreaking-in / Training,Instruction & Farrier workSpecialising in the breaking-in &training of performance horsesfor all disciplines
0400 931 148 or 0438 868 436 [email protected] (Logan Village, SEQ)
Anthony Murray & Ellie Pajovic
OPEN HUNTER TRIAL - SUNDAY 30th OCTOBER
3636
We just want to take a slight side step for this article to discuss the tack and equipment that may be useful as training progresses. In the article that follows we will be looking into problems that may be occurring in training for showjumping. As this will mention some items covered in this article we thought it best to go through a brief overview on these items and what their attributes are first.
The rules referred to in this article are laid down by the EA (Equestrian Australia) and are based on the FEI (Federation Equestrian International) rules. The FEI is the international governing body for all Olympic equestrian disciplines.
BitsAs much as possible we want to use the kindest bit we can. It is essential we spend the necessary time in training the horse to be obedient to the aids of body and legs and try to keep use of the rein soft and to a minimum. The more rein we use, the more “dead” the horse’s mouth becomes and hence, the more we fight with the horse in front and this in turn makes the ride less balanced and less enjoyable.Bits work on either one part or a combination of different parts of the horse’s head.
These are the: • tongue• bars of the mouth (the gum just in front of the
molar teeth)• poll• chin groove (where the lower lip joins the jaw)• palate • lips (corners of the mouth)
These parts are shown right:-
For some horses, it may be necessary to use a more sever bit at shows or cross country but for schooling at home, where possible try to use a simple snaffle bit.
We most like the loose-ring three piece bit pictured left.
The loose rings allow the bit to move around the ring so makes it harder for the horse to “sit” on or hold on to the bit on one side – the horse must have its own self carriage rather than look to be supported by the rider. It may be necessary to use rubber cheeks to protect the corners of the horse’s mouth if the bit pinches as it moves around the ring. We prefer the three piece or double jointed option for the mouthpiece (part inside the horse’s mouth) as it avoids the “nut cracker” effect that often upsets horses caused by the rein pressure on the single jointed bit. This effect is often noted by the horse throwing its head up as the reins are applied. On the other hand, some horses may prefer this to the more flexible three piece bit. It is really a series of trial and error to find what suits your horse and remember, this may vary between disciplines even for the same horse.
One of the benefits of the jointed snaffle over the single straight bar is the independence of each rein. The horse can feel a supportive steady contact with one rein whilst the other asks for a flexion and softness. The rigid straight bar acts as a whole and so becomes harder for the horse to decipher the questions asked by the rider through the contact.
Starting a Show Jumping CareerAnthony Murray & Ellie Pajovic
Part VI: Equipment
cont’d page 4837
We use the FM (fuller mouth) sides of the bit (image below) on our breakers while they are trying to understand the new language of the rider and horse. The effect of the elongated FM bits on the side of the horse’s mouth helps to guide the horse in the right direction to back up the leg aids. Often young horses will open their mouths when they feel the rider apply pressure to one side, in this situation the bit may slip though the horse’s mouth if it is not aided by the FM. It helps with teaching flexion and direction. Below are two examples of bits with FM sides. The first is an eggbutt FM (because the mouthpiece can’t move around the rings) with copper rollers. The copper encourages the horse to salivate and “mouth up” and the fact that the copper rolls around the bit encourages the horse to play with the roller and soften to the contact. The second is a loose ring FM. Both bits have a two piece or double joint mouth piece.
FMs, eggbutts and loose ring snaffles can generally be found with any combination of straight bar, single jointed, double jointed or multiple jointed (for example the Waterford or chain) mouthpiece. They also come in a variety of materials including the common stainless steel, the soft rubber or “apple mouth” mouth piece and the sweet iron which encourages the horse to salivate.
Any bit that has a separate connection for the reins than for the cheek pieces (such as the pelham or the gag) has a lever effect, which puts pressure on the poll.
The pelham is often seen in cross country as it has a strong breaking effect, but it is often a culprit for encouraging the horse to become over bent or behind the bit. This results in loss of impulsion and interferes with the horse’s natural movement.
Right: single jointed, rubber Pelham.The curb chain sits in the chin grove and should be fastened ample enough to ensure it only comes into use as needed when the horse becomes stronger.
A running gag allows the bit to move higher up in the mouth by sliding up the cheek pieces as the reins are applied. This encourages the horse to bring its head up (opposite effect to the Pelham). These bits can be very strong. Below are two examples of running gags, the cheek pieces run through the bit sides as demonstrated in the first picture. The second bit is a loose ringed double
jointed running gag with sweet iron incorporated into it. It also has a sweet iron roller on the centre section of the mouthpiece.
The Dutch gag is also seen fairly often. It offers varying degrees of severity by providing the different options for where to connect the reins. The lower down the shank the reins are connected,
the harsher the lever action, the more pressure is applied to the poll and mouth.
Remember, with bits that allow several options for where to attach the reins, two sets of reins can be used on the same bridle so that the rider can ride on the softer contact as much as possible but have the stronger action ready for when it is needed. Or a c o m p r o m i s e of the two strengths can be made finding a midway between the two by using a rounding as seen right. The rein is then attached to the leather loop.
A bit with a port (a raised part in the mouthpiece) is not seen so commonly these days but puts pressure on the tongue and, if the port is large enough, inside the horse’s mouth or palate. Pictured below
The Waterford bit is made up of smooth flexible nuggets, which can act as pressure points. As these bits are so flexible, they discourage the horse from leaning on it. They are most often used on strong going horses but may be preferable also to a horse with a soft mouth who is unhappy with a rigid bit,w provided it is used with soft hands.
Below, the first image shows a simple stainless steel egg butt Waterford. The second shows a hanging cheek Waterford, therefore adding the extra action on the poll.
The thinner the bit is in diameter, the sharper the effect is. Therefore if your horse is not listening, you may be able to find the same bit it has been happy in, but just a thinner or thicker version. On the other hand it is important to look at the horse’s type. A horse with a small mouth or thinner lips may be unhappy in a big thick bit even if it is soft in the mouth. Conversely, a horse with thicker lips may be heavier in a thinner bit as it may want to hold on to the bit to avoid being pinched, therefore it may be happier in a thicker bit.
cont’d over
38
That said, any form of bit can be severe in harsh hands and likewise even a severe bit can be used softly if the rider is able to.
It is sensible to find a bit that is appropriate to horse and rider.
Remember to always ensure that the bit is the correct size for the horse. The size of the bit is the measurement of the length of the mouth piece. As a general rule, with a correctly fitting bit you should be able to fit a little finger on each side between the horse’s mouth and the bit sides.
There is also a type of connection that uses pressure on the nose and or poll and or jaw but not the mouth. These are called bitless bridles, the most commonly seen version of these is the hackamore.
Hackamores apply pressure to the face, nose and chin. They are most commonly seen in western riding and endurance, but also sometimes in show jumping. While some riders simply prefer this method of connection, they are usually seen on mature horses with dental issues that make bit use painful, and on horses with mouth or tongue injuries that would be aggravated by a bit. There is such a wide selection of bits and cross-breeds of bits on the market that it is likely you will stumble across something suitable for you and your horse. If you are having trouble finding a bit to suit your horse Charlie Mortimer of Circle C bits. (contact - 07 4696 2930 or 0428 314 740) makes bit from scratch to the specification of riders to suit any horse and will be glad to help you
EA Show Jumping Rule article 257:1.3 ‘In the competition arena there are no restrictions on bits. However, the Ground Jury has the right, based on veterinary advice, to forbid the use of a bit that may cause injury to the horse. Reins must be attached to the bit(s) or directly to the bridle [in the case of a hackamore]. Gags and hackamores are allowed.’
Anthony Murray & Ellie Pajovic
All the Action!
Gold Coast Show 2011
www.downunderphotography.co
.....Equipment cont’d next month
39
Sydney Showground at Sydney Olympic Park will play host to the new and exciting equine spectacular, EQUITANA Sydney, from the 10th-13th November and the event promises
four days of exciting competition, education, shopping and great family entertainment.A key component of EQUITANA is the Education Program, where over 200 informative and insightful sessions will be presented by a world class range of Australian and International trainers, equine health professionals and Clinicians. The program gives Australian horse trainers, health practitioners such as farriers, dentists and equine masseurs and horse breeders, the opportunity to increase their client base considerably over the four days.
The International element of the Education Program allows Australians to see top trainers and equine health practitioners from around the world in action – an opportunity many would likely never have otherwise. The additional advantage of being exposed to this line-up is that Australia’s comparable practitioners gain exposure to how things are done overseas and to make contacts that enable them to network their skills and products to a broader world market.
International Guests Among EQUITANA Sydney’s special overseas guests, will be Dutch Dressage superstars, Edward Gal and Hans Peter Minderhoud, who have taken the European and International circuits by storm in the past few years. Edward and Hans Peter will present the Specialist Dressage Clinic together, which is a world’s first for the pair. Individually Edward and Hans Peter are amazing, but together they will be phenomenal and Australians will be the first to see them working as a duo!
Edward and Hans Peter will be presenting a Dressage clinic on Saturday 12th November and also performing a freestyle like you’ve never seen before during the Saturday evening Grand
Prix Dressage finals.
The spectacular Reining champion from the USA, Stacy Westfall, who is a major American Quarter Horse Association and National Reining Horse Association champion, will deliver a Specialist Horsemanship Clinic for Australian fans. Stacy won the Freestyle Reining Championship twice riding without a saddle or bridle and these rides became famous, wowing internet audiences worldwide to the point where popular talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres, had Stacy and her stallion on the show as special guests.
Stacy will be delivering the Horsemanship Clinic on Thursday 10th and also performing an exciting freestyle during the
Thursday evening Reining Championships.
A second American celebrity visiting Sydney is Bobby Ingersoll, who is considered world-wide to be “the” Cutting Master. He became interested in the idea of training a wild horse for reining and cow horse competition at an early age and has been training and winning in this arena for many years. Along with his busy competition schedule, Bobby has also taken the time to write a book on “Traditional California Hackamore Training”, because the skills, brought to Mexico by the original “Spanish Vaqueros”, were on the verge of vanishing.
Bobby will be presenting a Cutting Masterclass on Thursday 10th November and will also be
judging The Way Of The Horse Challenge throughout the event.
Although Australian born, Boyd Exell, has lived in the UK for many years and is considered to be one of the top International Carriage Drivers. He grew up in Bega NSW and after winning the Australian Pairs Championship at 16, left for Britain to improve his carriage driving skills, as the competition was of a much higher calibre than could be found here at that time. Since then, Boyd has won numerous carriage driving competitions, however 2010 saw him reach the pinnacle of his driving career when he won ten out of eleven major competitions he entered and, after delivering a world record dressage test, the first ever Australian gold medal for driving in the
World Four-In-Hand Championships at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.
Boyd will be competing in the Zilco Four-In-Hand Driving Challenge on Friday 11th of November and also presenting a
Driving Masterclass on Sunday 13th November.
For program and ticket information visit the EQUITANA website
www.equitana.com.au
DON’T MISS OUT
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The Excitement of World-Class CompetitionThe inaugural Sydney spectacular Competition Program will see the launch of the “Equestrian Grand Final”, the pinnacle of Australian equestrian competition. Equestrian Australia has joined forces with EQUITANA to develop a national annual grand final for Dressage, Jumping and the new and thrilling, Exhibition Eventing competition, a first for Australia. EQUITANA Sydney will also feature the “EQUITANA Australian Open”, which incorporates the action-packed Australian national finals for Campdrafting, Reining and Cutting, showcasing the “best of the best” in those disciplines. These two series bring the excitement and pace of elite competition to Sydney, with the best Australian riders competing for substantial prize pools.
In addition to the two major competition series, visitors can also enjoy competition such as:- The Zilco Indoor Carriage Driving Championships, Australia’s newly emerging international game, Horse Ball, Trick Riding and Barrel Racing at their best, Obstathon Carriage Driving and Show Horse and Rider Championships. Another first for the country will be the glamourous Arabian Showcase, where elegant Arabian horses and riders in Middle Eastern attire will display their grace and beauty. However, rather than the traditional method of judging the best of the best, the EQUITANA Sydney audience will be the judges this time, voting for their favourites by sms or mobile call.
A Feast of Family EntertainmentEntertainment is also a high priority on the EQUITANA Sydney menu, as a key direction for the event is to showcase the myriad of ways that the horse can delight the whole family.
The daily Entertainment program includes special demonstrations by equine entertainers and trainers, Double Dan Horsemanship. Dan James and Dan Steers will present an incredible demonstration of training, as they work their horses free from restraint. The “Double Dans” will also be delivering a fun-filled performance at the Opening Night Reining Championships on
Thursday 10th of November. You will also be able to see Bison (American Buffalo) Campdrafting, synchronised riding to music by the NSW Mounted Police – accompanied by the NSW Police Band - riding displays by the Light Horse Skilled Arms Team, young rider Mounted Games and exquisite Miniature Horses, who go over jumps as high as they are!
Another daytime feature is the remarkable “The Way Of The Horse – Australian Horsemanship Challenge” presented by the Hawkesbury River Saddlery Co.
In this unique challenge, three of Australia’s leading horse trainers demonstrate their highly personal and specialist methods of connecting with a young horse. Dan Maloney (Vic), Greg Powell (NSW) and David Manchon (QLD) will be provided with
unhandled three year old Australian Stockhorses, trucked directly from the paddock to the venue to ensure the integrity of their “unhandled” condition. The three trainers work simultaneously in separate roundpens, giving the public a unique opportunity to compare starting methods and training styles. The contestants are judged by a respected panel of Equestrians, who award individual points for techniques used to catch, halter, mouth and back their chosen youngster. Once these aims have been achieved, each trainer puts the horse through a series of tasks to demonstrate that their recently untouched horse is ready to become a willing member of a future riding partnership.
The, when the sun goes down, the evening programs begin! Major competitions combine with action riding, a range of beautiful equine entertainment and great music, to provide a night you and your family will never forget. While the Crème de la Crème of elite competitors battle it out for the titles in fast-paced western disciplines, high flying jumping or balletic Dressage displays to music, you will also be able to see some great supporting performances.
Special musical guests on the EQUITANA Sydney bill are the incredible “String Angels”, three glamourous string players, who deliver classical music like you’ve never heard it before. Lead Violinist, Sarah Moir, has been training with legendary Australian Horseman, Heath Harris, to deliver a beautiful liberty performance, where she serenades Thoroughbred “Okie” in the arena, as the finale to the performance.
EQUITANA is also very pleased to present the fabulous Queensland family who were barely pipped at the post in last year’s “Australia’s Got Talent”, The Twine, as guests at the event. This unique 2.5 piece (Mum, Dad & pint-sized son) deliver a performance of exhilaration and fun that is guaranteed to get you stamping your feet!
Shoppers ParadiseEQUITANA Sydney’s Exhibition offers the largest ever equine shopper’s paradise seen in Australia. With hundreds of air conditioned, boutique retail stands, you can buy everything from a wide range of specific horse equipment and health and training products, through to hats, boots and fashion wear, jewellery and even state of the art farm equipment.
WIN!2 GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS
to EQUITANA Sydney
TO ENTER VISIT - FACEBOOKLocal Horse Magazine (new page)
41
Bay, 16hh, 6yo, TB, GeldingSire: Encosta De Largo
QT is a stunning looking an flash moving horse who would make it to Royal Show level in hacking.
However he can also jump and would make a great all rounder. Training canter/ walk, walk/canter and laterals on the flat.
He is dead quiet, has been to half a dozen comp/outings & has been well behaved. Will be a promising horse to whoever buys him. $9,900. Logan Village, QLD. Phone 0409 370 427
October / November 2011Palouse State Show 9th OctoberIndoor WallonEmail: [email protected]: http://bcpalouseponyassoc.webs.com
SHCQ Horse of the Year 8 - 9 OctoberGattonShowgroundsContact: Julie 0402 714 802www.shcq.com.au
Fernando Alvarez Memorial Hack Show 29th OctoberMudgeerabab Show Groundswww.nadec.net
The Arabian Horse Breeders Alliance Showcase - Equitana 10th November10am Sydney Showgroundswww.arabianhorsebreedersalliance.comwww.equitana.com.au
Palouse Champagne Halter Classic 20th NovemberEmail: [email protected]: http://bcpalouseponyassoc.webs.com
What’s on CalendarShowing/Agricultural
pQuarter marks are a type of ornamentation on a horse seen in certain types of exhibition or competition. Typically, these marks are found on the croup of the animal and are created by combing its hair in diff erent directions, creating contrasting areas. Th e classic design was created by hand-creating each square with a small brush or comb. However, in modern times, they can also be created quite quickly by use of a stencil lain on a given area with the exposed hair brushed in a diff erent direction than other growth.
Quarter marks enhance the conformation of a well-muscled hip and croup, and draw attention to the cleanliness and shine of a well-conditioned show
horse. Quarter marks not only highlight a horse’s conformation and give correct turnout a fi nishing touch, they can also refl ect personal style and add some fun for special occasions.
Show horse and pony quarter marks can seem very complicated but practice is all that is needed to get them right.
Th e following equipment is required: Quarter mark comb (or small hair comb trimmed to about 1” in length). A wide body brush with closely knitted bristles. A bucket of water. Horse coat gloss. A fi nishing spray
Quarter Marks for Show Hacks and Show PoniesStep One: Before marking up begins, spray some of the equine coat gloss generously on to the horse’s coat and quarters area. Th e coat gloss will create a blank canvas to work with and will also help keep the fi nished markings in place. With a body brush, start at the top of the horse’s quarters and brush the hair straight from left to right, working down to just above the horse’s thigh.
Step Two: For Show Ponies and Hacks the traditional markings are an upside down V checker board pattern. To create this eff ect, a quarter marking comb is needed. Start on the left hand side at the top of the horse’s quarters and gently comb down to create an even small square around one inch in size, then leave a gap of an inch and comb down again. Continue this until about six squares have been created. More squares might be needed for larger horses and ponies. Once the fi rst row has been created, add in the additional markings directly below the square that has not been combed. Each row should have one less square in it, so that it will eventually end in a V-shape. Once the ‘V’ is completed, repeat this exercise on the other side. It is important that the marks are applied on the other side in directly the same place as the ones that have just been produced, otherwise when the judge stands behind the horse the quarters will not look even.
Show Hunter Quarter MarksShow Hunter quarter marks are much simpler to apply than Show Pony ones.
Step One: Prepare the hindquarters in the same way as with the Show Ponies by spraying the quarters liberally with horse coat gloss before adding the quarter marks.
Step Two: Place the mane comb or brush on the rump and comb down vertically to create a rectangle. Leave a gap of about two inches and then repeat. Th e result should be two or three rectangles, which will produce a simple look. It is important to remember that Show Hunters suit something that is bold but still ‘showy.’ Sometimes, to put even more emphasis on the hindquarters, it is possible to create a V-shape instead of rectangular blocks running down the quarters. To create this, take a body brush from the horse’s hip and brush into the centre. Th en, take the brush and start from the top of the tail and brush to the centre. Th ese marks can be made even more interesting by using a small quarter mark comb and combing one or two small squares horizontally into the rectangle that has just been created.
Sharks Teeth for all Show Horses and PoniesNow the quarter marks have been fi nished, it is time to add the sharks teeth underneath. Standing at the side or wherever is most comfortable to see, take a damp body brush and brush in an upwards direction with one stroke in an arch shape. Th is should be seen clearly as the hair will now be lying in a diff erent direction. Th en starting at the same point, brush downwards in a diagonal movement. Th e next step is to brush up and try to meet the last point down. Repeat this until there are three or four sharks teeth down, depending on the size of the quarters. To add a professional fi nishing touch take a brush and starting at the dock brush down in a gentle arc, down the quarter to create a more refi ned look. Use an horse sparkle spray to add the fi nishing touches to the quarter marks and sharks teeth, enhancing the overall appearance of the horse’s quarters even more.
Quarter marks masterclass
Email: [email protected] 933 193 or 3297 5601
MEDIA RELEASEFernando Alvarez Memorial Hack Show
Exciting Charity Hack & Breed Horse DayNADEC is proud to present a spectacular “Charity Hack and Breed Day” on October 29, 2011 in memory of Fernando Alvarez, who lost his life to Lung Cancer.
The Mudgeeraba Show Ground will host this show in 2 ring circus style, which will be offering an array of opportunities for show and breed horses including a $1,000.00 prize to the Supreme Hack of the Show . A separate show hunter ring will also be in the program. There will be a vast array of Champion Awards, garlands and prizes for competitors on offer as well.
This unique event will be run in support of the Australian Lung Foundation with all money raised going towards Cancer Awareness and Treatment Initiatives.
The day will include trade displays and several silent auctions with an outstanding array of donated gifts.
Don’t miss out, mark the date in your diary – programs to this great event will be out shortly.
BATES ESPRENCE SADDLE15” Brown - Excellent Condition - Changeable Gullet
Fully mounted with turnout leathers & girthPrice $1,200 ONO Ph: 55 436 076
42
pQuarter marks are a type of ornamentation on a horse seen in certain types of exhibition or competition. Typically, these marks are found on the croup of the animal and are created by combing its hair in diff erent directions, creating contrasting areas. Th e classic design was created by hand-creating each square with a small brush or comb. However, in modern times, they can also be created quite quickly by use of a stencil lain on a given area with the exposed hair brushed in a diff erent direction than other growth.
Quarter marks enhance the conformation of a well-muscled hip and croup, and draw attention to the cleanliness and shine of a well-conditioned show
horse. Quarter marks not only highlight a horse’s conformation and give correct turnout a fi nishing touch, they can also refl ect personal style and add some fun for special occasions.
Show horse and pony quarter marks can seem very complicated but practice is all that is needed to get them right.
Th e following equipment is required: Quarter mark comb (or small hair comb trimmed to about 1” in length). A wide body brush with closely knitted bristles. A bucket of water. Horse coat gloss. A fi nishing spray
Quarter Marks for Show Hacks and Show PoniesStep One: Before marking up begins, spray some of the equine coat gloss generously on to the horse’s coat and quarters area. Th e coat gloss will create a blank canvas to work with and will also help keep the fi nished markings in place. With a body brush, start at the top of the horse’s quarters and brush the hair straight from left to right, working down to just above the horse’s thigh.
Step Two: For Show Ponies and Hacks the traditional markings are an upside down V checker board pattern. To create this eff ect, a quarter marking comb is needed. Start on the left hand side at the top of the horse’s quarters and gently comb down to create an even small square around one inch in size, then leave a gap of an inch and comb down again. Continue this until about six squares have been created. More squares might be needed for larger horses and ponies. Once the fi rst row has been created, add in the additional markings directly below the square that has not been combed. Each row should have one less square in it, so that it will eventually end in a V-shape. Once the ‘V’ is completed, repeat this exercise on the other side. It is important that the marks are applied on the other side in directly the same place as the ones that have just been produced, otherwise when the judge stands behind the horse the quarters will not look even.
Show Hunter Quarter MarksShow Hunter quarter marks are much simpler to apply than Show Pony ones.
Step One: Prepare the hindquarters in the same way as with the Show Ponies by spraying the quarters liberally with horse coat gloss before adding the quarter marks.
Step Two: Place the mane comb or brush on the rump and comb down vertically to create a rectangle. Leave a gap of about two inches and then repeat. Th e result should be two or three rectangles, which will produce a simple look. It is important to remember that Show Hunters suit something that is bold but still ‘showy.’ Sometimes, to put even more emphasis on the hindquarters, it is possible to create a V-shape instead of rectangular blocks running down the quarters. To create this, take a body brush from the horse’s hip and brush into the centre. Th en, take the brush and start from the top of the tail and brush to the centre. Th ese marks can be made even more interesting by using a small quarter mark comb and combing one or two small squares horizontally into the rectangle that has just been created.
Sharks Teeth for all Show Horses and PoniesNow the quarter marks have been fi nished, it is time to add the sharks teeth underneath. Standing at the side or wherever is most comfortable to see, take a damp body brush and brush in an upwards direction with one stroke in an arch shape. Th is should be seen clearly as the hair will now be lying in a diff erent direction. Th en starting at the same point, brush downwards in a diagonal movement. Th e next step is to brush up and try to meet the last point down. Repeat this until there are three or four sharks teeth down, depending on the size of the quarters. To add a professional fi nishing touch take a brush and starting at the dock brush down in a gentle arc, down the quarter to create a more refi ned look. Use an horse sparkle spray to add the fi nishing touches to the quarter marks and sharks teeth, enhancing the overall appearance of the horse’s quarters even more.
Quarter marks masterclass
43
Is your horse getting sunburnt?….. there is a solution!
In response to the Squarmous cell, Carcinoma article by Amanda Vella in the August 11 edition, I wanted to advise everyone…..I have a solution to this scary epidemic!!!!!
I applaud horse companies for bringing out UV safe rugs but what about the face, that bit at the end of it called the muzzle that just seems to stick out?! Ok, so not every horse has pink skin or a white nose, but they may have other problems like, rain scalding down the front of the face, white rimmed eyes/blue eyes, be photosensitive to the light, have injuries that need protecting, or bandages that need to be covered and protected.
My horse Lucky had a white nose but after a couple of months from moving from Victoria to Qld, it started turning pink, he was getting sunburnt! I couldn’t find anything that I thought would do the job in protecting it so I started to make my own ‘veil’. Unfortunately, a few months later my Lucky died from colic and now I sell them in his memory under the name “Horse Face Veils HFV™”.
I wanted a good product so I started researching and designing…..what materials to use, how to make it UV safe, how to keep it on the horse without it causing harm or discomfort. I came up with 96% UV protection, which is the
highest on the market today and the materials I use in the veils come from all over the world, and I thought it would be easy!!! I also talked to many horsey experts in regards to the make up of the horses head ie the skeletal aspects and general safety and am happy to say my veil is totally loose around the throat and jaw area and it comes off if caught!!!!!!
I started off with my first veil that I put on Lucky’s halter, I ended up with 5 more designs like my HFV Fly (also called Sunglasses for horses), HFV Bridle (to wear while riding), HFV Eye (these are for horses that have white rimmed eyes but get freaked out if something is on or covering their eyes, they are little hat brims over each eye).
I totally agree with Amanda when she says you would rather spend $30 on a mask than a $3000 vet bill to get cancer removed from your horses beautiful face.
So if you’re having similar problems that I have mentioned you might like to check out my website and see if any of my products will help you and your horse……I hope I can.
Happy and safe riding …….. from Kirsty
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Ph: 07 5570 298815 Ken Russell Court, Bundall
E: [email protected] W: www.trackvet.com.au
• FullyEquippedSurgicalFacility
• PoorPerformanceEvaluation
• LamenessExamination
• DigitalRadiography
• DiagnosticUltrasound
• VideoEndoscopy
• ShockwaveTherapy
• StemCellTherapy• Prepurchaseexaminations
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DrCharlieMcCormackBVSc&AssociatesDrPaulRobinsonBVScDipACVS
DrMatthewMorahanBVSc
New Equine Surgery & Clinic
Well I am absolutely delighted to announce that I have started upmyown‘little’business!“Horse‘NHoundMassageTherapyQld”,using‘Equivibe’.
Forthoseofyouwhoareunawareoftheproduct,EquivibeisaphysiotherapymachinewhichusesCycloidalVibrationTherapytodeliverahighlyeffectiveandsafemassagetoyourHorse(orDog).Equivibehasmanybenefits;increasedcirculation,increasestride length, decrease lactic acid build up, relieve musclesoreness,jointmobilityandsomuchmore!
I stumbled across Equivibewhile searching for a treatment togiveMoet, who has been having back issues and hindquartersoreness for the past few months. I was so very impressed withtheimmediatereliefhefelt,thesubsequentchangeinhisbehaviour and marked improvement of his movement that I waskeentopurchasetheequipmentformyself touseonhimregularly!
IactuallyusetheEquivibeWandformyself,Iuseitonmyneckformusclesoreness;myarmsformyRSI;andwhilstusingitonmyneckIhavefoundthatthevibrationtherapyhassignificantlyreduced my sinus pain and my tinnitus as the Equivibe canpenetrate4ftofboneandtissue.Ican’ttellyouthereliefthishasgivenme,andspursmeoninthebeliefthatitishelpingmyhorsessignificantly!
Aseachofyouareaware,Ideeplycareforthehealthandwellbeing of my horses – especially because they work so hard to carry meoverlongdistances,butthiscaringdoesn’tendwithmyownhorses.Bystartingupmybusiness,IfeelthatIamofferinghorses
and owners a caring and professional service which will only help to improve the health and well being of horses (and dogs and other animals too,ofcourse!). Whilst I envisage that the majority of my clientswill be horses, I am alsoaiming the therapy for dogsand forZooAnimals (theCycloidalVibrationTherapyhasbeensuccessfullyusedonanElephantinNewZealand!) Ibelievethattheskyisthelimitwithmynewbusiness,andIwillapproach it in the same way I approach everything in my life with greatenthusiasm,dedicationtolearning,andgreatgusto! I will continue to inform you over the next few days andsubsequentweeksofmydevelopmentswiththebusiness.Ifyouhaveanyonewhoyouthinkwouldbenefitfromatreatment,letmeknoworgivethemmymobilenumber!Iwillbeofferingmyfriends who refer me to clients who book a treatment with me specialgiftsorfreetreatmentsasaformofsaying
“Thank You” for your support!
Welcome!Horse ‘n Hound
Naomi Andrew0412 996 613
Did you know that after colic laminitis and founder is thesecondbiggestkillerofhorsesinAustralia?
Laminitisisthenamegiventothisserioushoofdiseasereferringto damage to the laminae which is the connective tissue
connecting the hoof bones to the hoof wall. Laminitis causesrotationofthepedal(coffin)bonewithinthehoof,sinkingdown,rotatingforwardandrubbingonthesolecausingextremepainandinsomecasespenetratingthroughthesole.Itcandamageanumberofbloodvesselsandtissueduetobonemovementandwithout treatment can cause many serious permanent changes tothehoofgrowthmechanisms,includingcrackstothecoronetband,flattenedorconvexsole,ringsinthehoofandseparationbetween the sole and hoof wall.
Thereareanumberofdifferentcausesoflaminitis,springgrass(excess carbohydrates and Nitrogen) being a main culprit and
withthewarmerweatherapproaching,muchneededwinterrainand lush green grasses we must monitor the grazing habits of our equinecompanionsprotectingthemfromthehiddendangersintheir paddocks.
Feed related laminitiswill happen if there is an over flowofstarchinthelargeintestinewhichwilloccurwhenthehorse
eatstoomuchlushgreengrassorfromgrain.Fatponies,crestedhorsesandhorseswithahistoryoflaminitisaremorepronetoanattackbutlaminitisisn’tlimitedtosuchhorses.Asthepresidentof Save a Horse Australia Horse Rescue and Sanctuary we have alsotreatedunderweightthoroughbredswithacutelaminitis.
Springtime cold nights and warm days can drive sugar andstarch levels in growing grass to extremely high levels with
the highest sugar and starch content during bright sunlight so it’s best to avoid allowing your horse to graze when the sun is out. Locking your horse up during the day and allowing some grazing at night or grazing on cloudy rainy days will help protect your horse from feed related laminitis. It is important to rememberthat when locking your horse or pony up you will need to feed a lowGIdiethighinfiberandyoushouldneverstarveahorsewithlaminitis contrary to popular belief. Laminitis causes damageto the hoof and your horse will need a number of vitamins and mineralstohelprepairthatdamage,includingprotein,calcium,zinc, biotin, cooper and magnesium. An excellent producecontaining biotin, zinc and magnesium is called “retread” bynature vet and we have used it on our rescue horses with great success. Remember that when feeding zinc you must also feed abalanced ratioof copperbecause tomuchzinc can interferewithcoppercausingadeficiencyandtomuchcoppercancauseazincdeficiency.Therecommendedratioofcoppertozincis1:3,soifyourhorseisgetting600mgofzincperdaythenthecopperamount needed is 200mg.
Calcium and protein are both found in Lucerne so it’s important not to cut Lucerne out of the horses’ diet and soaking hay
overnight will reduce the sugar and starch content. Dolomite is also an excellent magnesium and calcium supplement.
Spring grass is also low in Magnesium which is a vital mineral in helping your horse metabolize sugars so a supplement such
as magnesium oxide should be provided if your horse has lush pasture. If yourhorse is prone to laminitis a daily supplementof Founder Guard which contains Virginiamycin will reduce the lacticacidinthehindgutkillingthebacteriacausinglaminitis.
Preventionisalwaysbetterthanthecuresoit’s importanttomonitoryouhorsesgrazingpatternsinspringandgivecorrect
supplements but what do you do if your horse starts to show signsoflaminitisandwhatarethesignstolookoutfor?
Symptoms: one of the first andmost common symptoms oflaminitis is lameness. You horse will be reluctant to move
forward, standing so that his weight is taken off the affectedhoovesandlaminitisismorelikelytooccurinthefronthooves.Hewillshiftweightfromonehooftotheotherhoof,hishoofwillfeel warmer than normal and he will respond to sole pressure. When picking up one hoof he will be reluctant due to not being able to bare all of his weight on the other hoof.
Other symptoms include depression, trembling, anxiety,sweating,hightemperatureandincreasedheartrate.
If your horse is showing signs of laminitis you must seekprofessional treatment by a trained veterinarian immediately. Laminitis must be treated in the early stages to preventpermanent damage and even death.
Treatment:atthefirstonsetof laminitistakeyourhorseoutofanylushpasture,lockhimupinastableoryardwithsoft
bedding and reduce the amount of carbohydrates from his diet. Iftherearechangesinthehooftemperatureplacehisaffectedhooves in cold water, this will help increase blood flow. Lackof blood flow to the hooves restricts oxygen and amino acidsreaching the laminae causing it to breakdown and with limited or no blood supply to the hooves will result in the horse having tobeeuthanatized.Yourvetwill prescribeyourhorseananti-inflammatory drug, bute being the most common which willofferpainrelief,reduceinflammationandincreasebloodflow.
Heart-bar shoes are excellent in acute cases. They reduce sole pressure and help
limit pedal bone rotation but it’s extremelyimportant that they are made especially for your horses hooves because an improperly fitted shoe will aggravate the hoof causingpain. Contact a proper corrective farrierwhomakeshis shoes fromscratch tofitheart-barshoes on your horse. At Save a Horse Australia Horse Rescue and Sanctuary we use John Whitely and Tim Heeb.
Pleasenotethatthisarticleisnotasubstituteforaconsultationwithaveterinarianandlaminitisisamedicalemergencythat
requiresimmediatetreatment.Callyourvetifyoususpectthatyourhorsehaslaminitis.
Marley has acute laminitis and after 9 months in care is still in heart bar shoes. The cracks have grown out however he will need shoes on for the rest of his life
Amanda Vellawww.saveahorse.amandavella.com
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I have been a farrier for most of my life and in that time I have had the opportunity to work with some of the world’s leaders in the farrier and veterinarian fields. One of the experiences I would like to share is getting the chance to shoe for David and Karen O’Connor, a couple who
excel in equestrian disciplines and were team members for the Sydney 2000 USA Olympic team. Prior to the 2000 Olympics one of my clients was the Packer family and Mrs Packer had a dressage team which competed for many years and Mr Packer had his Polo team so I was out at the property, Ellerston about one hour out of Scone in the Hunter Valley NSW frequently shoeing.
Leading up to the games the US A team trained out of Ellerston possibly for two reasons, the security and the horse facilities are first class. About one week before the team left for Sydney David had asked me to shoe the two horses he and his wife had spent so long preparing for one of the biggest events of their competing careers, and then a disaster. One of the other farriers that was working for me at the time had travelled with me on this particular day as we had a lot of horses to shoe and when it came time to shoe the two horses from America it was very late in the
afternoon and we needed lights in the barn to see. So late, tired, bad light and guess what my colleague got the horse with the good feet, I had the bad footed one. The collegue has pricked both front hooves multiple times and without realising we go home. The next day Ellerston veterinarian Alan Simson rings with the bad news I drive out to the farm feeling very bad, you could say devastated but to my surprise David and Karen O’Connor where the absolute professionals. They stayed very calm and focused on getting the horse sound. I fitted temporary shoes whilst the vet and the O’Connors soaked and treated both feet. Then David mentions he knows a farrier in the states, a friend that had been working on a new shoe that requires no nails. Their name, Sigafoos. So the shoes arrive with hand written instructions and I fit them to both front hooves, the horse is sound they go to Sydney and win a Gold and a Bronze medal. Every thing works out fine but now I work alone I like to only have myself to blame if something goes wrong . I purchase my Sigafoo shoes from Dr Terry Hicks of the Muswellbrook Veterinary and Equine Podiatry Clinic.
Master FarrierAnd how it came about I got to shoe some of the
USA 2000 Olympic Equestrian Team
John Whiteley
47
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Guy McLean - the Aussie Contendor!Guy McLean was born in, Me l b o u r n e , V i c t o r i a , Australia in 1975, the youngest of five strapping boys in an inner city s u b u r b , thousands of miles from where and who he is today. Guy often jokes
that if his family stayed in Melbourne that he would have been a very ordinary footballer and he is forever thankful that as a one year old his family packed up all their belongings to start a brand new life in the country. They moved to Hervey Bay, Queensland, where they purchased a 1600 acre property and with countless opportunities to prosper and grow and it was here on the banks of the lazy Susan River that Guy was sat on his first horse as a 16 month old.
Guy can never recollect a day that horses weren’t a huge part of his life and it was on the back of a pretty chestnut mare called Sunny that this young boy felt most at home. By the time Guy was four he would ride Sunny alone on the rides with the guests and often fall asleep on the last mile home and that special little mare would carry him safely all the way to the yards. When Guy turned Five Sunny was passed on to his baby sister Skye and that little mare continued to do what she did best. Guy now truly believes that it is the contrasts in our lives that make us search for something different, all of Guys brothers were talented sportsmen and adept with their hands, being very useful with anything mechanical on the farm. Guy on the other hand was required to wear glasses from the time he was five until he was fifteen and therefore found ball sports difficult and as far as he was concerned machines were only good for bringing the horses in so he could ride. At school, as at home Guy felt somewhat overshadowed by those around him and though at the time it was seen as a negative, Guy now sees this as a wonderful gift, because on the back of his beloved horses he was faster than his schoolmates, stronger and braver than the meanest bullies and above all else for one time in his life, in the eyes of his beloved horses, he felt like an equal. It is in fact the contrast of his life with and without the presence of this amazing creature with their incredible power and undeniable honesty, which has drawn him to them like a moth to the flame.
Guy is often asked what has caused him to become an equine performer with a desire to travel the world and although you might think that performing came natural to him, it is far from the truth. Right through to his teenage years the only subject that would cause Guy to say anymore than a few sentences was horses and for as long as he can remember, when other kids spoke of being policeman or fireman when they grew up, Guy only ever wanted to be a Horseman. From the time he was fifteen until he was twenty four Guy took over the trail riding duties at the Homestead and was in charge of fifty guest horses and their training, as well as taking on outside horses to educate for the public. By the time he decided to leave home and start his own Horse training business, Guy had already met one of his finest teachers and most remarkable students, a Golden Dun colt he named Nugget who he bought for 200 dollars out of a bush paddock an hour from home. Nugget was the honest and willing pupil for any of Guy’s new ideas and by the tender age of four, Nugget was so proficient at his work that he never performed in a bridle and saddle for the next 12 years, at total liberty and at one with everything he was asked, a truly special stallion and until this day, Guy’s best mate. It is very common that the best trainers around the world in all disciplines are normally training many horses for clients without the luxury of being able to ride their own and those who do, quite often have to sell their best horses to survive. One of Guys biggest weaknesses or in fact his greatest strength is the personal and mutual attachment and bond that he forms with every horse that he spends continued time with and as he would no sooner sell his best mate than fly to the moon, he had to come up with a plan for his own horses to pay their way and it was then that Guy McLean the performer was dragged reluctantly from his shell.
Guys performances, the same as his horsemanship methods have all been self taught, right since the very fiesta time he can remember his father has always said “As long as you and your ponies are safe, you can do whatever you like” with a “Keep your hands down” or “Give that pony a rest” thrown in every now and then. Guy believes that it was this somewhat free rein that allowed him to evolve into the Horseman and Entertainer he is today, for although he has always shown an interest in all of the disciplines and performers that he has witnessed, it has ultimately been the countless hours spent in the presence of a horse or in front of a crowd that has moulded him and as his life motto reads “Finding a Better Way” he is always open to something that might improve what he already has whilst always staying true to what has always worked. Guy truly believes
that the best tools in horsemanship are “Knowledge, Compassion, Patience and Imagination” and in using these, many a fine partnership has been formed. Since 1999, Guy and his equine team (led by Nugget for 12 years) performed all over Australia at every Major Equine event or agricultural show. In 2002 and 2006 Guy received the great honour of being named an official Ambassador of the Outback and thru his performances of Horsemanship, Bush poetry and whip cracking he has helped to keep the traditions of the bush and the true Aussie stockman alive.
In 2005 Guy was the inaugural winner of “Equitana’s” ‘Way of the Horse’ your horse starting competition and it was the methods he hearty in the Queensland bush under the watchful eye of many a young horse that brought him victory.
Guy and his horse’s have achieved national acclaim in Australia over the past 15 years and his talented horses (especially Nugget) have had their names chanted in front of 20 000 people at Royal shows such as Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide shows, as well as Guy’s favourite, the Brisbane Ekka where for the last nine years Guy and his team have performed in front of well over a million people. Guy has been acclaimed by his fans and Australian dignitaries alike as a National treasure and Living Legend and although this humble Australian still blushes at such remarks, it is the kind words and stories of inspiration that Guy evokes that keeps him in the frame of mind to succeed and continue to spread his message. Although the calling of international work has made Guy step away from his beloved homeland for a while, Australia will always be his home and where his heart resides and yet wherever there are wonderful horses and crowds to entertain and educate, Guy will feel at home.
So it is now that the next stage of the Life of Guy McLean begins as he and four of his own Australian bred ‘Quietway Performance horses’ (of which three are Nuggets babies) have expanded to the international stage. At the moment they are based in Texas USA and will follow their dreams to perform worldwide. Right from a child, Guy has always been a dreamer and it is true what they say, that if you wish hard enough and stick to your guns, dreams can and will come true.
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