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What a start to winter! In many areas where farms have yet to dry out from our wet summer, it has undoubtedly been a challenge!
Hopefully, this issue will brighten your spirits. My team has sat down with accomplished riders, trainers, and industry experts, capturing their wisdom and experiences. These engaging conversations will give you a glimpse into their lives, shedding light on their training methodologies, the challenges they've overcome, and the profound connections they've forged with their horses. Be prepared to be inspired, motivated, and armed with a treasure trove of knowledge to apply to your equestrian pursuits.
Our cover story features Phillip Steiner and his multi-talented family as Phillip headed off to the FEI Longines World Cup Final in Omaha, USA, with Cassina Dior. What a thrill for New Zealand to watch this combination make the final! Diana Dobson caught up with Phillip after the event to find out what makes him tick.
We delve into the impact of respiratory issues such as allergies and infections, which, together with fitness training and nutrition, can significantly impact a horse's health and performance. By understanding how these factors affect our horses, we can make informed decisions to create an optimal living environment supporting lung function.
We also address a common concern facing horse owners - lumps and bumps. It is only natural for us to be attentive to changes in our horses. Still, by familiarising ourselves with the diverse array of lumps and bumps that can affect horses, we can better assess the urgency and appropriate course of action for each situation. Our article offers practical advice on monitoring, evaluating, and seeking veterinary assistance when necessary, ensuring the well-being of our equine partners.
As the publisher, I am incredibly grateful for the contributions of our talented team (especially our editor, who was struck down by Covid!) and the generosity of the equestrian community, who have shared their expertise and stories with us, Through their dedication and passion, we can bring you a magazine that informs, inspires, and connects our community.
Thank you for your continued support. I hope our interviews, training and health articles will serve as valuable resources on your equestrian journey.
Until next time, happy riding.
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COVER IMAGE:
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When Phillip Steiner and Cassina Dior jumped on that plane and headed off to the FEI Longines World Cup Final in Omaha, USA, they took the hearts of New Zealanders with them. The journey was prolonged, with the mare spending 60-plus hours on planes in the month leading into the event, arriving in the US via Australia, Bangkok, Doha, and The Netherlands. But it was well worth it for the quietly spoken farmer, father, horseman and truckie from Tauranga.
According to our latest FEI Longines World Cup finalist, Phillip Steiner, it’s as simple as that. “You need so much patience, but if you have that, things will happen eventually,” he says. At 51, Phillip turned a long-held dream into reality when he became the first Kiwi in eight years to compete at the prestigious event. “It was a long time coming.”
Currently based in The Netherlands with Hillary Scott, the Olympic Games are firmly on Phillip’s bucket list, just above show jumping in Dublin and the main arena at Hickstead. But he cautions, “The Olympic Games are really only half a goal until we qualify!”
Phillip’s journey started on a dairy farm in Ōtorohanga, in the King Country. His family hunted together, and the three kids attended Te Awamutu
Pony Club, where Phillip rode alongside the Nicholson family. He had a good instructor back then in Alan Fergusson, who oversaw the budding young rider.
“Since we had a dairy farm, we could only do close-by stuff, which limited us a bit. I always thought the whole truck lifestyle - following the circuit and staying in trucks - looked exciting, but we had to go home each night.”
As a 10-year-old, his heroes were Sir Mark Todd and the Man from Snowy River.
Phillip’s first pony was Hiawatha – a coloured pony who was the best hunter you could come across. “He was the best six-bar jumper too, but would not leave the cross-country start box!”
The “naughty” pony came to him via Jacqui and Anne Symes. “I was probably only the size of
Left hand page and above right- Phillip and beautiful Dolly before leaving for the FEI Longines World Cup Final in Omaha, USA. Right - It’s really something to make the final of the FEI Longines World Cup and stand beside such a prestigious tophy!
(my daughter) Francie, so he was big to me. My stirrups didn’t reach past the bottom of the saddle flap, but I did everything I could with him.”
It was Hiawatha who gave Phillip his first taste of success, too, in the Pony Six-Bar at the Island Reserve in Ōtorohanga. That led to success at Pony Club Champs and later his first Young Rider victory aboard a borrowed mount. “It was at Claudelands, and I had an old green jacket and a red helmet. I look back now and smile.”
But he did beat the likes of multi-Olympian Bruce Goodin and Paula Mussen.
“It was my first-ever Young Rider start, and I guess that really was the beginning of things.”
Then Cyril Yearbury called Phillip and asked him to attend a training camp in Taupō. “I said ‘no,’ but Mum and Dad made me ring straight back and say I would go.”
He slept in a truck and at the camp, learnt from Harvey Wilson and Merran Hain. “It was fantastic.”
At the same time, he was also dabbling a bit in eventing,
doing horse trials to Novice level and finishing on his dressage score for the Waikato team at Pony Club Champs. “It was a huge thing to even get into that team,” he remembers. “It was a great thing to have done.”
But it was show jumping that captivated him. “I love the competition, the technicality of the courses and the lifestylejust looking after the horses, their fitness and the bloodlines. I don’t get bored with any of it. Every horse is different, and when you go clear, it makes it much more special.”
He met David Goodin – father of Bruce – at a pivotal time in his life. “David shaped me as a rider and a young man. He taught me the mechanics of riding and grew me to be responsible. He taught me about pressure, honesty, owners and life skills in general.”
It came about in a simple but unusual way. “I was at Claudelands, and I saw Bruce and Sarah Milne go, and I thought, ‘That’s how I want to ride’. I talked to Mum, and she suggested lessons.”
But then, while they were at Pukekohe Show, Phillip’s mum mistakenly drove off on David’s little motorbike, which just happened to be identical to theirs. “I was so embarrassed. Well, she and David got talking, and he said I could help there through the winter if I wanted.”
That winter turned into a year, and by the end of it, Phillip says he could do flying changes, see a good distance and do so much he had only dreamt about.
Phillip then set his sights on his next step by writing a letter to Olympic Gold medallist Joe Fargis in the Hamptons. “He
IT WAS A HUGE THING TO EVEN GET INTO THAT TEAM,” HE REMEMBERS. “IT WAS A GREAT THING TO HAVE DONE.Left - Phillip and some of the other competitors in the final of the FEI Longines World Cup Final in Omaha, USA. Top right-hand page - Phillip and CASSINA DIOR during the final of the FEI Longines World Cup Final in Omaha, USA. Below - Left to right James pictured with CENTADEL, Frances and her super-cute pony LITTLE BONNIE. Frances, James, Sally, Oliver and Phillip with their family dog.
was pretty famous at that time. He wrote back and said I would be overworked, underpaid and wouldn’t get to ride.”
Phillip packed his suitcase and headed to the States on a horse flight alongside a groom called Marty.
In a strange twist, when Phillip started his trip with Dolly, Marty was still doing the same job with IRT.
Within 10 days of landing in the Hamptons, Phillip was riding. He spent the summer there, again soaking up as much as he could from the experts, and even got to ride Mill Pearl – the horse Joe won a team Silver on at the 1988 Olympic Games.
Phillip again sought the best he could when he headed to Europe, where he worked for Swiss champion and horse dealer Max Hauri, then Lesley McNaught, where he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Steve Guerdat and Pius Schwizer.
In recent years Phillip has been influenced by double Olympic Silver medallist Greg Best, who has been there for phone calls and training. “Until I made the ESNZ High Performance squad, I hadn’t had a proper lesson for five or six years. Over the past year, the High Performance training system has been really good and provided the push to help me get to Australia, which definitely set me up with contacts over here in Europe.”
He feels his trip to Australia last winter was key in preparing for the European campaign. While there, he reconnected with fellow HP squad member Josh Collins who, as a 10-year-old, had helped Phillip and his wife Sally out when they were based at Mount View Sport Horses.
1.60m
2.20m
“I gave him his first breeches, and now the tables have turned.”
Phillip based with Josh in Australia, and while he has been away, Josh has been a regular contact. “It’s funny how the world goes round. If you are honest and go around trying to do a good job, it usually works out for you if you are patient.”
Patience is a word Phillip uses a lot. “You need it! There were times I would be riding on rainy days at home, traipsing through mud and just looking up at the sky thinking ‘what the hell’.”
In a sad twist, Sally had lost her World Cup star Well Wisher on the same day before Phillip and Dolly flew out of New Zealand. Phillip remembers that when she won the series, they were sharing bubbles on the truck ramp when Maurice Beatson raced over to say she had to go to the final. She didn’t. Phillip wonders if that’s why he made the call to go.
“You never know what is around the corner.”
as he heads towards hopefully making the New Zealand team to qualify the nation for the Paris Olympic Games is straightforward. “I don’t like to be in the arena every day,” he says. “I like to work Dolly in the paddock. Luckily here we have a 20-acre paddock to ride in –
UNTIL I MADE THE ESNZ HIGH PERFORMANCE SQUAD, I HADN’T HAD A PROPER LESSON FOR FIVE OR SIX YEARS. OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE HIGH PERFORMANCE TRAINING SYSTEM HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD AND PROVIDED THE PUSH TO HELP ME GET TO AUSTRALIA, WHICH DEFINITELY SET ME UP WITH CONTACTS OVER HERE IN EUROPE.
that’s pretty special in The Netherlands where I am based with Hillary Scott – and we have nearby woods.”
He draws inspiration from top showjumper Thomas Fuchs who says training is not about drilling a horse every single day but rather should include a mixture of fast work, slower, arena, paddock and more.
“Sally and I do a lot of training over little bounce and cavaletti-type jumps. We don’t overjump them.”
He dares not think about how much the campaign has cost, aside from saying that just getting Dolly to Europe was a tad over $50,000. Add to that all sorts of invoices for blood tests and vet visits for health checks, and the numbers start to climb.
He’d like to see the New Zealand World Cup Series finish in December at the Christmas Classic to give combinations a better chance to prepare and head offshore earlier.
Talent with horses runs in the Steiner family. Phillip’s sister Margaret is mum to Anneke van Rooyen, while his other sister Anne is mother to Deanna Horsburgh – both young women are making their own marks in the world of show jumping.
Phillip and Sally’s children have all shown they’ve got the gene too, with James now winning at Pony Grand Prix level and moving up to Junior Rider level.
uses the iPad to record everyone’s rounds.
Oliver is an
“He has two really good mounts and an opportunity to grow. He can ride them both so well and just seems to know how to walk his courses.”
Phillip figures that’s table talk – kids grow up listening to all that’s talked about around the kitchen table. Photography also used to be a passion for James, but he now juggles his riding with DJ-ing.
Phillip says that daughter Francie would have four ponies if she could. Her whole season is geared around the Answer Back Cup and her starry Little Bonnie.
Oliver prefers a different type of horsepower but is also a very accomplished pianist and very talented rugby player.
It’s a real family affair at shows where Oliver uses the iPad to record everyone’s rounds.
The family also has a few nice youngsters coming through at home.
While Phillip is away, the family trucking business continues under the watchful eye of his 2IC Marcus Rose, and the pair talk daily. They have two trucks going between cool stores and the port for eight
THE OLYMPIC GAMES ARE REALLY ONLY HALF A GOAL UNTIL WE QUALIFY!”
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months of the year; they also shift 22,000 bins of kiwifruit from orchards to pack houses. Sally is the logistics arm of the operation. “She comes up with the ideas when Marcus and I don’t know how to make something happen.”
The World Cup final was a huge eye-opener for Phillip in many ways. His classy mare Cassina Dior, bred by Pip McCarroll, caught the eyes of many, and he admits to turning down some rather big numbers. “You can’t buy a dream,” he explains. “If I sold her for a whole lot of money and went home, life would still be the same. I don’t know what will happen in the end – maybe Paris if we can qualify - but for now, I am really happy to keep her and see where we go.” C
The opportunity to have a schoolmaster was not available to Wendi, so she focused on buying quality youngsters and producing them herself. Her longstanding relationship with Judith and Peter Matthews from Matthews Hanoverians began when Wendi and her husband Jonnie purchased a gorgeous, dark yearling gelding called Dejavu MH (DJ) in 2007. While they had high hopes for DJ at the time, they never would have dreamt of the journey they were about to embark on together.
DJ, of course, became Wendi’s first serious Grand Prix horse. The pair dominated in New Zealand and enjoyed success in Australia, the UK and Europe before representing New Zealand at the World Cup Finals in 2017.
Wendi explains that when selecting her youngsters, she likes to buy from the same mare lines because she has a good idea of what she will get as they grow and develop.
“Between the ages of four and five, I start to better understand their work ethic, which is probably the most important thing for me. They can be the most beautifully put-together and moving horse, but they will only go all the way if they enjoy the work. They have to love it; I don’t mind if they are a little quirky and sensitive as long as they have the will to do the work and try to do the right thing.”
The Williamsons have 26 of their own horses on the farm, with the addition of a couple of extras owned by a friend and a young rider. Wendi has six in work, her assistant riders/grooms each have two of Wendi’s horses in work, and daughter Becki has another two. They range from newly started through to Grand Prix, with the current stable star, 10-year-old Don Vito MH, at the top of the string.
“Most of the horses are from Matthews Hanoverians, but I also have six from Renai Hart’s River Park stud. DJ was the first we bought as an 18-month-old from Matthews Hanoverians, and we developed a solid relationship with them from there,” she reflects. “We have been back and bought at least one foal each year.”
When Wendi realised how special DJ was, she decided she wanted more foals from his dam, Adelheid MH, mainly because he had an incredible work ethic and attitude towards his training. Since then, she has come to know more of the Matthers Hanoverian breeding mares, and she is thankful that Judith allows her to look first at specific lines and have input into stallion selection if she wishes. “Judith is very good at matching her mares and enjoys the process, I think, but if there is a certain stallion I would like, I can always ask”.
“Even if I am not buying a foal from a particular mare, I still look to see what the mares are producing
Elite dressage rider Wendi Williamson has been at the top of the dressage circuit for years now, and with the strongest team of horses she has ever had, the future is looking better than ever.WORDS - Ashleigh Kendall AT HOME IMAGES - Julia Murch Photography
and keep that in mind for future years,” she says. “I have a four-year-old that I bought as a yearling - I liked him so much when I started working with him that I now have two others from the same mare!” she laughs.
“I have a lot of youngsters with Donnerhall lines, but this has expanded over the last five years, and we now have a really broad range of sires in our horses. I bought the first foal from Renai Hart because I really wanted a Vitalis, and I liked her mare. I got to see some of the other lines she is breeding, and we now have three by Dancier which we have high hopes for. I also have a super Furstenball out of a Totilas mare who is one of the best four-year-olds I have ever had; we have a nice Totilas mare out of an imported Solomon De Hus mare and a Furst Nymphenburg gelding from a B-line mare, so there is a good range of bloodlines in our team now!
Below
“Fugato SW is a relatively recent addition and has been a challenge because he is so different from what I have ridden in my career - he is also really cool. I wouldn’t say one standout star is coming through, though, because they are all exciting in their own way.”
Unlike many who are riding at the very top of the sport, Wendi isn’t a full-time rider, and she juggles a very intense and busy full-time career in her and Jonnie’s business, Williamson Water and Land Advisory. She typically gets up, helps the girls, feeds the horses and rides for around four hours before work every morning. “Depending on what
is happening at work, I might go in early to work once or twice a week. I always ride on Saturdays, and depending on how the week has gone, I will ride on Sundays as well to get through all the horses,” she explains.
Wendi has a lot of lovely horses now - and it has taken hard work and sacrifice over many years to get to this point. “I always said I didn’t want to work in the industry, so I took a different pathway with my career,” she says. “We started off buying a yearling, and it took a couple of years to buy the next one because we couldn’t afford it, and Judith and Peter generously let us pay them off. Just because you are riding part-time, after work in the dark, doesn’t mean you can’t get there; there is no one size fits all.”
She trains the horses a lot less than when she first started doing dressage. “I used to train pretty hard six days a week. Over the past few years, I have taken inspiration from Charlotte
and Carl’s system and work them harder for a couple of days, then they do something different like hacking or a day off, although now, I don’t hack them myself as much as I used to because of work commitments.”
One of Wendi’s strengths is her sheer determination to make it all work She also credits Jonnie for his support and role in their operation. “If I didn’t have Jonnie, it would be very different; I wouldn’t be able to do any of it as I do. He is so into it because he is also very competitive, so we both love it,” she says. “It has often been his idea to make our trips to Australia. A trip overseas to a competition is like his ultimate holiday, besides surfing in Bali!”
The team has made the trip to Australia about eight times now, and their trip to the Sydney CDI in May was the most enjoyable yet for them. “I am more streamlined about what I pack now than the first time! But there is an element of the unknown when you go, especially with a new horse; you don’t know what you will get until you are riding down the centerline,” she reflects. “Everything is different for the horse. Loading onto the plane and flying can be quite unsettling for them; it’s all new. Some of them can get a bit wound up with the whole experience, and for some, it’s like water off a duck’s back, so you just never know how well it will go until you are doing it.”
For Wendi, Sydney is like going to Nationals in New Zealand. She knows many of the organising committee, the stewards, judges and riders. “I still get nervous about the process of getting there and getting on for the first test. I get anxious if it doesn’t go to plan as I feel we will have wasted a lot of money,” she says. “So the added element of the expense does add a lot of pressure on top of everything else, and also, there is increased interest from people who are keen to watch which is amazing but a bit of pressure to perform too!”
Despite that, Wendi is highly pragmatic when it comes to competing. “Most of the time at a show in New Zealand, I don’t get nervous. I have had a lot of disappointments in my career, especially on the international stage, so now I go in without any great expectations,” she says. “I just take comfort in the fact that I have confidence in where I am at with the horse. I will visualise and plan for how I want to ride the test, but of course, with horses, it doesn’t always go to plan, and
there is always another day. I don’t think about the end result; I only think about what is directly in front of me and making the best out of whatever happens when we enter the ring.”
Her preparation in the lead-up to Sydney CDI looked much the same as her lead-in to any other show - the only significant difference was pegging back the work a bit earlier to consider the travel. “Even with the shows we go to in New Zealand, I will work them to a point and then dial it back before travel. Then once we are at the show, I will build it up again. Normally the last hard work day is two days before we travel. When we went to Sydney, the first ride was a hack on Monday and Tuesday, we did some trotting, and that was the first work we had done since the Wednesday of the previous week.”
Sydney was a memorable experience for Wendi as it was a fantastic team environment, and it was great to have her head groom, Madison Schollum, competing with her horse Kinnordy
Golda in the Prix St George. “It was the most enjoyable trip we have had, it was so cool to have that much support from friends, family and riding colleagues on the grounds, and it was awesome to go with Melissa and Madi and have that team environment. That is the way of the future and how we should strive to work together to progress the sport,” she says.
“It definitely helps when you have other good riders around you to push you and keep your goals going; when there are many strong riders, it lifts the rest of the sport at all levels. I have loved travelling and competing overseas, watching the top riders, and learning from that,” she continues. “People think they aren’t talented or good enough, but you don’t need to be naturally talented to succeed. Obviously, It does help, but hard work, perseverance, and an understanding of your weaknesses will make you progress. It’s important to realise this is a lifelong sport, and learning ‘feel’ and the tools to cope with different
IT DEFINITELY HELPS WHEN YOU HAVE OTHER GOOD RIDERS AROUND YOU TO PUSH YOU AND KEEP YOUR GOALS GOING; WHEN THERE ARE MANY STRONG RIDERS, IT LIFTS THE REST OF THE SPORT AT ALL LEVELS.Wendi training FUGATO SW at home. Below - Wendi and her husband, Jonnie, who she says is her rock. Opposite page - Wendi and six year old DANSEUR (DANCIER).
PEOPLE THINK THEY AREN’T TALENTED OR GOOD ENOUGH, BUT YOU DON’T NEED TO BE NATURALLY TALENTED TO SUCCEED; IT DOES HELP, OBVIOUSLY, BUT HARD WORK, PERSEVERANCE, AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR WEAKNESS WILL MAKE YOU PROGRESS.
horses is a continuous journey.”
Wendi experienced what is for her a rare feeling after her performance in the Grand Prix Freestyle on Don Vito (Junior). “When I left the arena, I felt stoked with my horse. Normally, when I’m on my way out, I’m busy critiquing my performance, but I just felt so pleased with how it went for that moment in our journey.”
“I think DJ was a pretty exciting horse, and he and Junior are very similar in their personalities, but Junior is probably the best horse I have had so far,” she says. “DJ would get really hot and freaked out by everything, so it was hard to perfect everything in the test, but Junior gives me a cool feeling; he tries hard and learns quickly.” While she is proud and excited about where she is headed with Junior, she holds a lot of love in her heart for DJ.
“He was my first really serious horse and had such great international potential; I am proud of what we achieved not only in the competition ring but also in terms of his
management, as he had many things going on,” she reflects. “To train and overcome some of his challenges was amazing. In New Zealand, we don’t have the luxury of an endless supply of horses, so we must really work hard to make things work. It teaches you a lot about managing them and keeping them sound and happy.”
Like anyone at the top of their sport, Wendi has not been without the experience of the roller-coaster of horses and developing resilience is vital. “I can absolutely relate to things not going to plan and the disappointment that goes with that,” she explains. “A failure on the world stage is extremely hard, and I think you would be weird if it didn’t affect you momentarily, but because of my love of the sport, I made a new plan to help me move past that. It’s important to look at the bigger picture. I have a burning desire and determination to keep pushing on while I am physically able.”
Wendi doesn’t believe you must be a naturally talented rider to reach the top. “It takes a positive mindset, determination and self-awareness more than anything else. Being able to take on board feedback and work on it to improve is so important, and
the fantastic thing about our sport is body awareness happens as you age and experience new situations,” she encourages. “I don’t think I am naturally talented; it is about having the right attitude and body awareness. Some people have the right proportions to look beautiful on a horse, a natural feel, and you can’t change that. Still, training consistently takes a particular mindset and drive, the ability to self-learn and develop a feel over time.”
She urges riders to remember that dressage is a lifelong journey; it isn’t a sport where you retire at 20. “The more horses you can ride in your life, the more you learn. Current World Champion Lottie Fry rides so many horses a day (probably 18 or more), accelerating her learning. In New Zealand, we can’t do that, so don’t be in such a rush for it to happen. It’s a bit of a numbers game, but every horse you have the opportunity to develop and train sets you up for when that superstar horse comes along. Getting a horse to Grand Prix takes a long time, and it might take a few horses before you do.” C
The milestone of 50 years at the helm makes Dave Ferriman the longest-serving Huntsman in New Zealand and quite possibly the history of the sport globally - a remarkable achievement he is quietly understated about.
Simply, hunting has always been a way of life for Dave, whose father was the Master of what was then Ashburton Hunt. “Ashburton used to be a branch of Christchurch, but they never had hounds. They used to bring the Christchurch hounds down.”
Dave has been on the hunt field since he was just five years old, starting on ponies and graduating to hacks. When he was 15, his father became Master. “I used to go to Hunter Trials and Point-to-Points, and my father and I would go up and hunt with Christchurch.”
After leaving school, Dave worked alongside his
father on the family farm for about three years before it came time to spread his wings and leave home, taking a job on a farm at Waimate. He continued to attend Hunter Trials and Pointto-Point events in Ashburton. The Christchurch Huntsman at the time was Ian Gliddon, who asked if Dave was interested in coming up to whip. At that time, the position of Whipper-in was a paid one, with some responsibility for helping care for the hounds, too.
To supplement his income, Dave would go back to Ashburton to work in the freezing works over the summer. After his third season as a Whip, Ian was giving up the job as Huntsman the following year, 1973. Dave was asked if he was interested in hunting the hounds, and the rest is history, though he never imagined it would lead to five decades in the role.
A lifetime of dedication and passion for the sport of hunting has Dave Ferriman in his 50th year hunting the hounds as Huntsman for Christchurch Hunt - and he’s not finished yet.
IT’S JUST THE SPORT, BEING A NONCOMPETITIVE SPORT. THE PLEASURE, AND WHAT I ENJOY SO MUCH, IS SEEING THE HOUNDS WORK AND SPEAK ON A LINE. THEY ARE A BIG FAMILY TO ME .
“It’s just the sport, being a non-competitive sport. The pleasure I enjoy so much is seeing the hounds work and speak on a line. They are a big family to me.”
Dave married and started a family. His three daughters, Ann, Maree, and Bindy, were all raised at the kennels and have hunting in their blood too. Now that grandchildren are starting to ride and join him on the hunt field, it’s all the more special.
“It’s been a tremendous journey, and I’ve enjoyed it the whole way through.”
Dave says the Christchurch hounds have always been on the bigger side than most in the South Island due to netting and gorse fences, which meant the hounds needed to be able to jump. “We have big country, and the hounds are not heavy but a bit stronger and taller.”
As a rule, Dave hasn’t looked out to other hounds much when it comes to breeding. “I was lucky to use a dog from Starborough 15 to 20 years ago, and I got a nice bitch from Eastern Southland for the foundation. I never went out too far to another dog.”
However, a dog that has influenced the pack over the last 10 years is Sherston, who was imported from England by the New Zealand Hunts Association. “He tidied up the feet and body conformation and left some very nice hounds around the country. They’re a pretty good type that suits us.”
Scenting can be a fickle thing, and Dave says the hares never fail to amuse in their behaviour and trying to outsmart the
hounds. “Scent is one of the funniest things to try to understand - why it’s good from one day to the next.”
Presently he has 17 and a half couples (a couple is two hounds), with five new pups introduced to the pack this year. Hounds go out to be ‘walked’ by hunt members or friends, who teach them their names and how to lead.
Dave’s role as Huntsman is year-round, with the responsibility to maintain, feed
and breed the pack. The busiest time of the year is building up to hunt season, getting the pack and five to six horses fit for their upcoming job, and introducing new pups into the pack.
Although it is busy at certain times of the year, Dave has supplemented his role as Huntsman with his job as Clerk of the Course at Riccarton and Addington racecourses and at country meetings around Canterbury.
IT’S BEEN A TREMENDOUS JOURNEY AND I’VE ENJOYED IT THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH.
“It’s a part-time job that blends in very well with hunting. I attend 60 to 70 race meetings annually as a side-line. I’ve been doing Riccarton for as many years as I’ve been hunting the hounds. I’ve seen a lot of good horses and good races.”
A Huntsman relies on a team of good horses to carry him, most of which Dave has picked up or been offered over the years. As is often the way for Huntsmen, many were other people’s cast-offs or problem horses that he has been able to make something of.
With Christchurch having mainly flat country, he finds a lighter Thoroughbred/crossbred type suits best, something that can amble along fairly quickly. “We have big paddocks, and you need something that can endure the three hours. I find that if you have a heavy horse and it gets tired, it’s tired
for the rest of the day. The Thoroughbred/crossbred can recover with a short break.”
He reckons he’s had more than 50 hunters in his time, and there are a few that stand out.
Jen How was a Thoroughbred that bled as a racehorse and consequently had three months off. He was offered to Dave, who took him on, on the condition that if he did return to racing and didn’t stand up to it, he was to come back. This was precisely what happened.
Dave used Jen How as Clerk of the Course and
competed with him in Round the Ring hunter jumping competitions. “He had some very good rounds and was a lovely horse to do hunter rounds on. He was a horse that loved his jumping – he would jump one fence and then say, where’s the next one?”
His daughter Ann even took Jen How to Pony Club Eventing Championships, and he became a bit of a family pet.
Another of note was Red, a big horse Dave whipped on from the beginning who was also suitable for the
races as the Clerk of the Course horse.
“They all have their personalities and are a little bit different. It’s about how you bond with them. I have two horses now that come into the shelters to feed at night; one is my daughter’s horse. When you start the hunt truck up on hunt morning, he has a habit of jumping out into the paddock. He enjoys hunting and has a great personality. All of my hunters enjoy hunting.”
Never for a moment did Dave imagine clocking up 50 years as Huntsman, but he has no plans to slow down just yet. “I got to 40 years and thought that was a milestone. As long as my health stays with me and I can still get on a horse, I’ll keep going. I did consider retiring after this year, but I think when you have been busy all your life like I have been, it’s
better not to just stop. I might wind back the racing a bit, but while I’m still enjoying it, why not carry on?”
To mark his 40-year tenure, the Hunt presented Dave with an air ticket to go hunting in Ireland. “That was really good. I haven’t travelled much in my life, and that was a real ‘bucket list’ thing to do.”
When asked to pinpoint what makes hunting so appealing, he says it is the non-competitive aspect of the sport and camaraderie with like-minded people that have motivated him to keep going for so long.
“The only competition is between you and your horse to jump a fence. The camaraderie of hunting people is strong throughout New Zealand. It’s great to see all the members out enjoying themselves hunting and riding horses.”
THE ONLY COMPETITION IS BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR HORSE TO JUMP A FENCE. THE COMRADERY OF HUNTING PEOPLE IS STRONG THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND. IT’S GREAT TO SEE ALL THE MEMBERS OUT ENJOYING THEMSELVES HUNTING AND RIDING HORSES .
The wellbeing of the hounds is paramount to Dave and he also considers them part of the family.
He has witnessed change over his tenure, notably in land use, with the rise of dairying and the use of irrigation and centre pivots. This means having to contend with long alleyways and two-wire electrics that don’t lend themselves to jumping easily.
Days have also changed to make hunting a more family-friendly sport. Initially, they hunted Saturday and Tuesday but changed to Sunday and Wednesday because of children’s sports being held on Saturday. “Mum or Dad would have to take the kid to sport and miss out. Sunday suits us very well because kids can come out and we’re seeing a lot of young faces and teenagers now. People enjoy the relaxation of the sport. With that, we changed mid-week hunting to a Wednesday to give the hounds more time to recover.”
He says membership has remained largely static over his 50 years in the saddle. Recently he’s noted an influx of new members and young people to the Hunt, something that bodes well for the future of the sport.
“It’s been a great journey. I’m still enjoying hunting the hounds, and that’s why I’m still here,” Dave sums up. C
They always say everything happens for a reason. So while it was heartbreaking to miss the season on her gorgeous mare, Leo Donna, due to injury, it meant that Brina Carpenter was given the ride on the fabulous Grand Prix schoolmaster Parkridge Disco SW, who has given her a dream season.
While Brina grew up in rural Clevedon, it wasn’t until she was nine that she started riding. She came from an unhorsey family, but a family friend at the time had horses. After a few visits, she began begging her parents at every opportunity to let her ride. Her first pony was a Kaimanawa called Barley, who spent a lot of time throwing around her weight. However, Brina and Barley learnt plenty together along the way and came out the other side all the better for it.
“Looking back, Barley was definitely not the most suitable first pony at all! She had been out of work for a while and had a couple of quirks that weren’t great for a beginner. When I got her, I couldn’t even canter her on a 20m circle without her trying to buck me off. She did teach me how to ride, though, or more like how to stay on,” Brina laughs. “We did lots of Pony Club competitions, and in the end, I could do anything with her, so although it was tricky at the start, I’m grateful we persevered with her as she became worth her weight in gold.
“Before I got into horses, my family, for the most part, wasn’t horsey, but that has quickly changed! I have three younger brothers, none of whom ride, but they have all given it a go at one point – all three are much more into football and motorbikes. My parents are now super into horses, though, and a few years after I began riding, my mum even decided to learn too and had a horse of her own for a while. She no longer rides but comes to the farm most days and
helps me with my horses. She and Dad come with me to many of the shows throughout the season, and I am grateful that my whole family is so supportive.”
When Brina first started riding, she did a little bit of everything, competing in Pony Club events, ODEs and ribbon days. She had always enjoyed the dressage and flatwork side of riding; however, the catalyst for moving to dressage full-time came when she was 16, and her pony was lame.
“My pony at the time was injured, and I was riding a friend’s show jumper a few times a week. Even though I always preferred dressage, this solidified that I didn’t want to jump. So we decided it was time to look for a first hack - something that would help me get into dressage more competitively. From there, we purchased Lily (Plutonium Lady) from Chelsea Cunningham. Lily was bred by Irene Asplin and had interesting breeding for a dressage horse; she’s a Saddlebred cross by Denmarks Platinum Playboy and out of Lady Leprechaun (Twig Moss). Lily was an invaluable schoolmaster who was absolutely worth her weight in gold; she successfully took me from knowing nothing to being very competitive and winning national titles. Together, Lily and I went from Elementary to Advanced before we sold her so she could go and teach someone else the tricks.”
In 2021, Brina graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in management and marketing. She is currently working on a livery farm in Clevedon five days a week, looking after the horses, as well as coaching and schooling. Before working on the farm, she spent a short time at the Van Olst stables in the Netherlands, home to World Champion Lottie Fry.
“I was lucky enough to spend some time at Van Olst, but in the end decided to come home where I could focus on my horses. I had intended to stay longer, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out. You have to do the hard yards, and it’s a huge learning curve, but I am glad I went. If you imagine what everyone tells you it’s like, double that and times it by 10, that’s what it’s really like! I was fortunate to have a sit on some top horses, though, including Dark Legend and Don Joe.”
Brina currently has three horses on her team; the fabulous Parkridge Disco SW, a chestnut gelding by Dancier and out of Parkridge Welcome (Wolkentanz) bred by Carol Eivers; Leo Donna, a bay mare by Don Quattro and out of Leo Merry Dance (Leo Godonov) bred by Julia Fraser and finally Fine Sir SW, a chestnut
I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO SPEND SOME TIME AT VAN
OLST, BUT IN THE END DECIDED TO COME HOME
WHERE I COULD FOCUS ON MY HORSES.
I TRAIN WITH SHEENA AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK, AND I OWE HER SO MUCH OF MY SUCCESS . SHE HAS BEEN THERE SINCE DAY ONE, AND WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP.
gelding by Fugato and out of Siriana SW (Donnerhall) bred by Sheena Ross.
“Danny (Parkridge Disco SW) is 15 and is owned by Sheena Ross. He competed to Grand Prix level with Sheena but unfortunately retired due to injury. When my Donna (Leo Donna) managed to injure herself at the beginning of the season, Sheena said Danny had been looking really good and sound in the paddock, and I was welcome to try and bring him back into work and see what happened. He has been back in work since the end of September 2022 and has been feeling great! He’s a hot potato but in a good way; he’s never naughty, he just has a lot of energy - he is like a little energizer bunny,” she laughs. “We took it slowly bringing him back in, and I’m cautious about what I do with him, but we had a really exciting start to our competition career this season, and I am so grateful to be able to ride him.”
“Donna is 13, and I’ve had her for almost four years. I bought her from Alicia Zeludko, who had competed with her at Small Tour level. We have stepped up to Medium Tour together; however, we have had a couple of quiet seasons due to injury, COVID-19 and me being at Van Olst. She is so easy to have around and is such an old soul; she has won everybody over at the yard and knows she is everybody’s favourite.
“I have had Sunny (Fine Sir SW) since he was three months
old; he’s now four and has been under saddle for about a year. He is sharp and sensitive, but he learns quickly and is sensible and easy to have around. He’s the biggest of all my horses, and I feel tiny when I’m riding him, but he gives a really good feeling, and I am very excited about him for the future!”
Since she began her dressage journey, Brina has been incredibly lucky to have the support of Sheena Ross. Not only has she been Brina’s coach, but Sheena has also been instrumental in the horses Brina has had the opportunity to ride. With Sheena’s support at the 2023 Bates Nationals, Brina and Danny were Reserve in the Medium Tour Championship and the Pro-AM Silver Tour Champions.
“I train with Sheena at least once or twice a week, and I owe her so much of my success. She has been there since day one, and we have a great relationship. She is a great coach and has been a fantastic mentor in all aspects of horses, from dealing with setbacks to always thinking one step ahead. I also train with Andrea Raves monthly when she comes to Auckland, and I love my lessons with her. Whenever overseas instructors visit, I like to try to have lessons with them, too, if I can, as it’s always great to get a new set of eyes every now and then.
“My success at Nationals with Danny was such a crazy time; I’d only been riding him six months, but we had gotten
to know each other, and we work together really well. It’s always exciting to win something with him because I know it makes Sheena super proud, and we can share in the success. And, of course, my awesome sponsors, Oro Equestrian and 4CYTE, always share in our success too.”
Intending to have Danny at Grand Prix, Donna at Small Tour and Sunny out to his first competitions next season, the future looks incredibly exciting for Brina. In the distant future, she would also like to head back overseas; however, what this will look like is still undetermined.
“It will be my first season at Grand Prix, so that is super exciting, and I’m grateful to continue to have the ride on him. Donna has recovered well from her injury and is feeling great, so having her back as part of the team will be wonderful. Eventually, I would like to head back overseas, whether that be another working position somewhere in Europe or the UK setting myself up with my horses there or on a smaller scale, such as just going over to compete in Australia; I’m not sure. This sport has constant highs and lows, though, and it can be so easy to dwell on things when they aren’t going well. It’s important to remember that everyone has their ups and downs and that even though it seems it’s going so well for everyone else, your time will come too!” C
WE TOOK IT SLOWLY BRINGING HIM BACK IN, AND I’M CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHAT I DO WITH HIM, BUT WE HAD A REALLY EXCITING START
TO OUR COMPETITION CAREER THIS SEASON, AND I AM SO GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO RIDE HIM.
BLOOMINGDALE
ESCANTO PS
NZ Agents for IHB. View stallion list: stoneyleafarm.co.nz
Alfeld knows what it takes to make it to the top of the sport. With paddocks stacked with quality youngsters, she’s hoping there’s a diamond among them, waiting to take her back to the top level.
Super Nova (Case) was the horse that took Rose all the way – a horse she once doubted would even jump Young Rider classes.
A wonderful role model for other young riders, Rose is a full-time rider and coach based at Leeston, south of Christchurch.
The horses are at her parents’ 90-acre property, which boasts excellent facilities, including an arena and racetrack, while Rose and her partner live just down the road.
A typical day for Rose comprises working with her team of competition jumpers in the mornings before an afternoon of teaching. In winter, hunting is her day off work. “I do some clinics out of Christchurch and around the area at different
arenas, but the majority of lessons are here at home, which makes it easier to get my horses worked as well.
“I love hunting, and I love the downtime. It’s my day off from work, though I often work horses before a hunt. It’s the social aspect and noncompetitive atmosphere; everyone is there on a level playing field to enjoy their day out.
“I love the thrill of jumping a big hedge, and I love my hunter, Big Sid. He was imported from Ireland as a show jumper and is now retired, so he’s a very expensive hunter! We had to give him a job; we couldn’t make him redundant. It’s a job he enjoyshe didn’t enjoy show jumping.”
It’s no surprise Rose has chosen to make her living from horses, as both her parents came from horsey
Beach rides are a great change of scenery for the horses as well as a super way to keep up their fitness. Rose is riding Lucy (FOOTLOOSE NZPH).
Below - Rose’s dogs are always in the yard, especially Poppy who knows she is super-cute.
backgrounds. Her dad trains racehorses and has not long given up competitive riding himself. Rose’s mum was an eventer, and both parents hunted.
“I was very keen from the get-go. I was riding before I could walk. It’s so addictive – I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. It’s making my passion into my job.”
Rose dabbled in eventing when she was young but chose to focus on show jumping from the age of about 14. “In the beginning, as a kid, I didn’t love dressage. As an adult, I love dressage and am terrified of cross-country! There’s something about solid fences.”
Flatwork and schooling are essential to her training, which she says is vital for show jumping. “Having a soft, supple horse is so important, and I enjoy producing my horses as far as I can with their flatwork. It makes show jumping so much easier.”
Show jumping is black and white, and Rose likes that the placing is not dictated by someone’s opinion. “I guess that’s
The horse who took her all the way was her homebred horse of a lifetime, Case, by Corlando out of a St James mare. “Case would have been one of my first horses. Mum and Dad bred me a few horses when I was quite young as future-proofing. We couldn’t afford to purchase anything up and going. Dad used to break them in, and I would work them from there.”
Rose started riding Case when she was just 15 and purchased him for the princely sum of $6000 from her parents. “Mum and Dad made me buy him,” she laughs. Case proved to be a good investment, and Rose took him through the age group series.
Ironically, they didn’t think Case had what it took to jump Young Riders, so the family imported a lovely mare, Capprera (Molly), from Germany to fill that gap. But Case proved them all wrong, going on to win the Young Rider title at the Horse of the Year Show in 2014, then his first World
I WAS VERY KEEN FROM THE GET-GO. I WAS RIDING BEFORE I COULD WALK. IT'S SO ADDICTIVE – I COULDN'T IMAGINE DOING ANYTHING ELSE. IT'S MAKING MY PASSION INTO MY JOB.
Cup start and the overall series in New Zealand that year. Rose admits the series seemed like a big dream, not something she thought was possible, but she believed in the horse, and he believed in her.
“Case had a very unorthodox technique, still does. I thought that would hold him back in the end, but he was just a horse with a massive heart. We know each other inside out. He’s like a member of the family. There were a few times people showed interest in purchasing him, but I couldn’t bear to part with him.”
Selling horses is something Rose struggles with, though it’s part of running a financially viable business. Horses tend to be with her for the long haul, and she has ‘about’ 20 horses in her paddocks, not including retired horses or racehorses. “It’s a funny farm. I find it hard to sell; I seem to accumulate them! Case is
literally a member of the family, and he’s done so much for me as a rider; he owes me nothing.”
Turning 18 this year, Case no longer competes but is still in work and gets an outing on the hunt field from time to time, an activity he finds extremely exciting. “He loves it but gets too keen, so we just take him for a hack out the back. He gets very excited and happy; he doesn’t know he’s as old as he is. He would be so sad just left in the paddock at home.”
In her quietly determined way, Rose is grafting away, producing her string of homebred horses, hoping to emulate her achievements with Case. But finding the next Case is no mean feat. Rose had a nice horse, Cadenza NZPH, who she took through the age group series, winning the Seven-Year-Old Series, and had high hopes for. Ultimately, he was too much horse for her, and, despite his potential, she knew it was best to move him on. She ended up swapping him for Footloose (Lucy), an eight-year-old mare by Quintus, who is currently her top mount and recently stepped up to 1.40m.
Lucy is small, not what Rose would usually choose in a
CASE HAD A VERY UNORTHODOX TECHNIQUE, STILL DOES. I THOUGHT THAT WOULD HOLD HIM BACK IN THE END, BUT HE WAS JUST A HORSE WITH A MASSIVE HEART. WE KNOW EACH OTHER INSIDE OUT.Right - Rose and Chris ( CELEBRATION ECPH) a seven-year-old by Corofino, who won the Seven-YearOld class at Series Finals and was second overall in the series, by one point!
I LOVE WORKING WITH YOUNG HORSES, SEEING THEM DEVELOP. IT'S EXCITING SEEING THEM GETTING BETTER, FEELING THE POTENTIAL OF WHAT COULD BE, AND HOPING TO GET THEM THERE.
Above - Rose loves the hunting season and considers it ‘her day’ during winter. Pictured riding Big Sid (KBS THE IRISHMAN).
Rose’s Labador, Bear, is a constant companion. His happy place is following the horses on the beach and the training track. Right hand page - Rose and Lucy (FOOTLOOSE NZPH) at the South Island Show Jumping Championships in Otago in January 2023.
horse, but the mare has exceeded all her expectations, and she hopes to step her up to Grand Prix next season.
“Cadenza NZPH went on to jump World Cup for his next rider, which I knew he could do, that’s what made the decision so hard, but I knew it was the right thing to do. Feeling-wise, he was the best horse I had ever sat on, but he was very difficult,” she says ruefully.
“I would love to get back to World Cup; it’s just waiting for that right horse. It would be nice to be able to purchase or have someone purchase one for me! At the moment, I’m going through the young horses we have bred or bought, hoping there’s a superstar in there.”
Her dad still helps her with the groundwork for the young ones, but Rose does all the riding and starting of horses. It’s a necessity but also something she enjoys. “I love working with young horses, seeing them develop. It’s exciting seeing them getting better, feeling the potential of what could be, and hoping to get them there.”
Generally when starting a horse she likes to do a little bit often. “When we are educating them, I don’t like having them in for long periods. It’s a little bit of work, turnout, and then a little more so they don’t feel overwhelmed or tired and are refreshed when they come back in.”
Most seasons, Rose does one or two trips to the North Island, something she believes is a valuable part of educating the younger horses. “Through the travel and time away from home, they grow up a lot – it’s almost like being at school camp.”
competition team is Celebration ECPH (Chris), a sevenyear-old by Corofino, who won the Seven-Year-Old class at Series Finals and was second overall in the series by one point.
“He’s actually for sale. He’s a lovely horse, but in my business, you can’t keep them all. It’s definitely a tough decision.”
Then there are two six-year-olds, Hip Hop NZPH, a gelding by Kannan,
and Harlequin NZPH, a mare by Fuego du Prelet. Rose is slowly producing both, who just completed their first full season at 1.10 – 1.20m. Harlequin also won a Six-Year-Old class.
“Along with Lucy, they’re the only horses that have been off the property. I have a lot of young horses.”
Among the youngsters is one particularly special homebred horse, out of Capprera (Molly) and by Chacco Silver. “Sadly, Molly passed away two years ago, and this is the only foal we managed to get from her. I think he’s pretty special. He has just been broken in and is rising four. Molly was such a super-tough mare with great technique and a pretty big heart. She would absolutely try her guts out.”
The other three-year-old in work is Kel’ Amour NZPH (Kelly), a gelding by Contendro I.
When she can, Rose trains with Olympic medallist Greg Best. “He’s someone whose opinion I value. He doesn’t teach much anymore, but he’s fantastic, and I love his horsemanship, which I think is important.”
Rose continues to dream big, with the goal of producing the horses they have bred to the top level in New Zealand. One day, she would love to take a horse overseas. “That’s the ultimate goal. Look at Phillip Steiner; how amazing was that? And the likes of Tom Tarver. It’s not impossible if you work hard. That’s the big dream, I guess. Hopefully, there’s a diamond in the paddocks.”
Despite her success, Rose remains humble and lets the hard work speak for itself. She believes that supporting others and ensuring that competing in the sport is a positive experience is important.
ENCOURAGING OTHERS AND ENJOYING THE SPORT AS MUCH AS I DO IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
“Encouraging others and enjoying the sport as much as I do is important to me, especially as it’s such a hard sport to get ahead in.”
She paid tribute to her biggest supporter and influence on her riding career, her mum. “She’s my number one supporter, head groom, the first up in the morning and the last to bed at night. She’s amazing and works with me every single day.”
Rose is also grateful to be sponsored by her dream team, Mitavite, Cavalleria Toscana, Hinterland, Canter for Cancer, and The Art of Michelle Clarke. C
Inspirational Waitoki rider and coach Sarah Revis has experienced it all, from the highlights of national successes to the darkest times. Through her unfailing love of all things equine, she has focused on building an enviable lifestyle, and with a supportive team around her and a lineup of multi-talented horses, the future looks bright.
At just four years old, Sarah began riding at her local riding school in England. The horsey bug started with weekly lessons, but as she got older, she tried to spend every moment at the riding school; weekends and holidays were spent doing any job under the sun so that she could get the chance for even one extra ride. Moving to New Zealand as a thirteen-year-old allowed Sarah to have her own pony, as she'd always dreamed, so she needed no further convincing about the move.
“Mum was a keen rider and had lessons at a riding school in England, so as soon as I was old enough to be allowed to, I was straight down the road to the same school. When the idea of moving to New Zealand came up, Mum and Dad basically told me that if we moved, I was way more likely to have a horse of my own, so I was immediately keen and had my bags packed that day," Sarah laughs. “My first pony was a super-cute
little chestnut mare. We quickly joined the local Pony Club, and I went and got a job delivering the New Zealand Herald each morning so that I could cover the cost of her grazing. In the early days, I was fortunate to go to shows with the property owners I grazed with, as we didn't have a float or towing vehicle."
When Sarah was 16, her family bought a small lifestyle block which meant she could keep her horse at home. However, no arena or transport meant lots of road riding during winter, so she saved up and bought her own little single float.
“I wouldn't even dream of having a single float now; they're a bit scary! I went all over the place in my scary little float, though, and then for my 21st birthday, everyone chipped in together to get me my first double float which was a very exciting moment. After that, my double and I travelled around the country, even to my first Horse of the Year in 2008. By this stage, we had sold
THE EVENTING IS STILL MORE JUST THE FUN SIDE OF MY RIDING, THOUGH I'M NOT SURE I'LL EVER GO ABOVE 1* AGAIN; SHOW JUMPING IS WHERE MY TRUE PASSION LIES.
I COMMENTED TO HIS OWNER ABOUT HOW STUNNING HE WAS; SHE REPLIED THAT SHE NEEDED TO SELL HIM, AND THE NEXT MINUTE I WAS RIDING HIM AROUND AT THE SHOW AND THE REST IS HISTORY.
the little lifestyle block, and I had found grazing that had a floodlit arena which meant I could ride the horses after work – at the time, I was working as a lab technician. By 23, I got my Class 2 licence and purchased my first little horse truck, which was even more exciting than the double float!"
In her teens and early twenties, Sarah well and truly had the eventing bug, competing up to current 2* level with a little chestnut mare called Motley Top. Polo was by Imperial Seal and out of Island Princess (So Vain), and together she and Sarah also competed in show jumping with many placings up to Amateur Rider level.
“Polo was only 15hh, but man, could she jump. We never had a single cross-country fault in our eight seasons together. Then, in my last couple of seasons with her, I started doing a bit of show jumping, which I fell in love with, and I went into a show jumping-only phase. I only started to get back into eventing in the past couple of years after going to Northland Horse Trial to do the Pre-Training for some fun. I had no expectations
because I had no idea what the horses would make of the cross-country fences. I soon realised they were actually pretty good at it! The eventing is still more just the fun side of my riding, although I'm not sure I'll ever go above 1* again. Show jumping is where my true passion lies."
A challenging year in 2018 put a considerable strain not only on Sarah's riding future but also on her mental health. However, in an industry and country where so many keep quiet about their struggles, Sarah is a refreshing and important example of someone willing to speak up. This example will hopefully help others.
“The toughest year of my life would have been 2018. It started with losing my beautiful mare Bailey to a freak paddock accident which broke her leg; I had only had her for three months and had purchased her to take me up the heights as she had jumped to 1.40m with her previous owners. Bailey was my dream horse; I had put everything into her purchase. Then my wonderful little Thoroughbred Sunny had an aneurysm in the paddock and also passed away. Sunny had been part of my life for five years, he was a very quirky hot horse, but we had worked each other out really well, and he knew his job in the ring and won
MY FRIEND THOUGHT I WAS ABSOLUTELY INSANE DRIVING FOR SEVEN HOURS TO TRY A RANDOM HORSE I'D SEEN ON FACEBOOK WHEN I WASN'T EVEN LOOKING FOR ONE, BUT I TRIED HIM AND LOVED HIM.
many prizes over the years. At this point, I was at the ultimate low of my riding career; I had no horses and wondered if I could ever get back to where I was and find horses like the two I had just lost.
“Grief was a massive thing for me; it was a very tough time of my life, and to this day, just talking about it still brings tears to my eyes.
“I had professional help with the grief to help me get back on track. My biggest breakthrough, though, was meeting Tane; he truly saved my life. Getting to ride him showed me it would be okay, and I could go out, have fun and love riding again. I owe him everything; he will be part of my team forever."
Thoroughbred by Rock N Pop and out of Civetta, is still relatively new to his sporthorse life.
“Royal Blue, known as Charlie - or Charles, depending on the day - was found by accident through a friend on Facebook. I wasn't looking for another horse, but I found myself continually returning to his photos and videos. My friend thought I was absolutely insane driving for seven hours to try a random horse I'd seen on Facebook when I wasn't even looking for one, but I tried him and loved him. I've had him for three years now, and last season we won our first Amateur Rider class and competed in some dressage and showing – plus, he also takes my working student out eventing!
Sarah's team
currently made up of three horses who compete across multiple disciplines. First, Royal Blue is a 16.3hh 11-year-old grey Warmblood cross by Eurosport Centavos and out of Blue Bird (Billys Dream) competing in dressage, show jumping, showing and eventing. Next is Sarah's saving grace, Triple Star Puzzled By Time (Tane), a 16hh 14-year-old Pinto crossbred. The partnership dabbles successfully across many disciplines, including winning the Pinto Saddle Hunter of the Year in 2019.
Finally, Pop Culture RE, a 15.2hh
Tane (Triple Star Puzzled By Time) was parked next to us at a show one day, and I commented to his owner about how stunning he was. She replied that she needed to sell him, and the next minute I was riding him around at the show - the rest is history. I've owned him for five years now, and he has done pretty much every discipline possible with success in every one of them. He has been my rock in my hardest years and gives me everything at every show. He's truly a one-in-a-million teammate.
“Rocky (Pop Culture RE) is an off-the-
tracker I bought to produce in June last year. He has been super-cool to bring on. Originally he didn't have a clue what jumping was and spent a lot of time bashing through cross bars. However, he's finally found his feet and is proving to be really bold now."
Now based on an equestrian property in Waitoki where she runs her business Revis Equine Sarah is flat out with coaching and riding and is an instrumental part of the West Auckland Pony Club scene. With a gorgeous group of horses and a supportive team around her, it looks like the next few years will provide a massive amount of promise and fun for her.
“I'm very grateful to have a 40x60 jumping arena, stable block and plenty of yards and paddocks to put ponies in for camps and schooling at home. I've been running Revis Equine for about five and a half years. I work with a vast range of riders, from Pony Club kids to adults, and am also the Head Coach at Silverdale Pony Club and Chief Head Coach at Harbour District.
“I've been fortunate to have the support of Edward Bullock over the past 20 years as my coach and friend. He has always been amazing to watch with all his horses and certainly hasn't had easy ones - this is what I love about him, as he gets the quirky ones and can always work out how to make them tick and perform in the ring. As most of my horses have been a bit hot or quirky, he is awesome to work with, as he doesn't try to get every horse to fit in the same box. Edward has been extremely supportive of my riding over the years; he has laughed with me, celebrated my successes with me, cried with me when my horses passed away and been at the side of the ring riding with me around the course. I owe so much to him." C
There hasn’t been a time in Alena’s life when horses haven’t been involved. Her cousins were avid riders in their youths, and she did everything she could to spend as much time as possible on their Hunua farm with the horses. At three-years-old Alena got her first pony, Smudge, and from that point on, she was well and truly hooked. “My Aunty and cousins were the ones who originally got me into horses, although Mum did ride when she was younger, so she was always super supportive of the idea. Unfortunately, my first pony, Smudge, passed away a year or so after I got him, so I joined the local riding school so Mum and Dad could check it wasn’t just a phase. Unfortunately for them, it definitely wasn’t,” she laughs. “I begged and begged for a pony of my own, so for my fifth birthday, Mum and Dad purchased Nickleby from the riding school. He was a super-cute, albeit very naughty, 11.1hh grey Welsh pony. If anything, he taught me how
to fall off - it happened most days for a fair while!”
As she was quite a small child, Alena’s mum Jacquie thought it would be a good idea for her to develop her riding skills in the dressage arena before being let loose on the cross-country with her cousins. Her first competitive mount was Little Miss Squirt, a fiery skewbald mare who Alena trained through to placing in the Level One Pony of the Year. Next came the first purchase from Mihi Shepherd, the outstanding little chestnut Ngahere Romeo who won the Level Two Pony of the Year with Alena. The final pony for her dressage career was Kozee, another purchase from Mihi and the winner of the 2016 Dressage Pony of the Year for Alena.
“I literally only started growing in my late teens,” Alena laughs. “I was such a small kid on a big pony when I was younger that Mum wanted to make sure I had an excellent skillset before I was let loose in a big paddock, let alone out on a
She may have cut her teeth in the dressage arena, but it’s out on the cross-country course where true passion lies for 22-year-old Alena Dorotich.WORDS & IMAGES - Caitlin
Benzie
MY AUNTY AND COUSINS WERE THE ONES WHO ORIGINALLY GOT ME INTO HORSES, ALTHOUGH MUM DID RIDE WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER, SO SHE WAS ALWAYS SUPER SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA.
Right
Below - ONLY THE BRAVE happy in his stable.
“I WAS SUCH A SMALL KID ON A BIG PONY WHEN I WAS YOUNGER THAT MUM WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAD AN EXCELLENT SKILLSET BEFORE I WAS LET LOOSE IN A BIG PADDOCK, LET ALONE OUT ON A CROSS-COUNTRY !
cross-country! Of course, I was so desperate to be out on a crosscountry course with my cousins at the time. Still, in the end, the slight detour was worth it, as it helped immensely to develop my foundations on the flat from such a young age. I feel very fortunate to have had Jeanette Benzie as my dressage coach in the early years; she kickstarted my riding career.”
“After a few years of successful straight dressage campaigns, which included two Horse of the Year titles, two Young Rider titles and representing New Zealand at the World FEI Dressage challenge, I began playing with some eventing, and after selling my last dressage horse Astek Ginsling (Kinnordy Gymbello/Flying Pegasus) in 2017, I made a move to full-time eventing. It was always a running joke at the time to see if I would ride in tails first in dressage or eventing. It turns out it was eventing that made the cut!”
Alena’s eventing career truly began with the dressagebred Donner XS, a 15hh gelding by Donnerwind V out of Belmont Ballerina (Gruenhorn du Trichon), bred by Jody Hartstone. At eight years old, Squirt was a pretty late starter to eventing. Still, what he lacked in size and experience, he made up for in heart, flying up the levels from Pre-Training to 2* in only his first two seasons. “Squirt taught me such a massive amount in our seven years together; he was the first horse I ever produced in eventing, and I was lucky enough to take him right through to 3* level. I learned a lot about developing an event horse from scratch. He was also crucial in how I learned to get horses ready for long-format events - with those short little legs, he had to be super fit to make it around the track within the time! Together we were fourth in the 3* at Horse of the Year in 2019 and won the Puhinui Three-Day 3* Young Rider title in the same year. This led to being named on
I LITERALLY ONLY STARTED GROWING IN MY LATE TEENS,” ALENA LAUGHS.Far right - (L-R) CHARLTON ELITE , CASSIANA XTREME and ONLY THE BRAVE hand page competiton images - Alena and CASSIANA XTREME at Brookby Horse Trial - Spurs CCN1*-S
the ESNZ Talent ID Squad in 2020, which has been so great in helping me advance as a rider and build solid foundations for future development.
“Unfortunately, all good things must end, and at the start of 2022, I retired Squirt from upper-level eventing. It was heartbreaking because I had a huge goal to aim for the Young Rider Trans-Tasman team in 2021; however, COVID-19 cancelled the competition, and 2022 wasn’t the year for us. He found a wonderful new home now, which has allowed me to refocus on my other horses coming through and, at the time, opened up an opportunity to add another horse to the team. I’m very grateful for all he taught me.”
Based on a lovely 10-acre property in Runciman in South Auckland, Alena currently has a team of three horses.
The queen bee of the team is Cassiana Xtreme, a
nine-year-old 16.3hh bay mare by Cassiano and out of Cheleken Heidi (Ramirez/Aberlou), who is currently competing at 3* level.
Alena is clearly a rider who can get on well with mares, and her second teammate is Charlton Elite, another nine-year-old mare. She is by Eurosport Heartbreak and out of Double Delight and was bred by Nicoli Fife of Charlton Stud.
Rounding out Alena’s team is Only the Brave, a seven-yearold 15.1hh Thoroughbred gelding by Niagara and out of a Soviet Lad mare.
Alena has also been competing Nicoli Fife’s Charlton Halo, a six-year-old grey mare by Corofino II and out of Charlton Poi (TB Drums of Time), who finished the season by winning the Training class at Rotorua Horse Trial.
“Hazel (Cassiana Xtreme) had great success last year, winning the Rotorua 2*-S and the Taupo Three Day 2*-L. I love working with Hazel, she’s a very athletic type and ticks lots of boxes, so I’m looking forward to continuing to progress her through the grades. Hazel was purchased from Xtreme sport horses in February 2021 as a seven-year-old; she had done a bit of show jumping, including success in the Takapoto five-year-old style classes. She has taken to eventing quickly but is definitely the yard princess - she 100% knows it too!
“Elite is my fun horse that I can do anything with. She has evented up to Pre-Novice successfully, but loves to show jump.
IT WAS ALWAYS A RUNNING JOKE AT THE TIME TO SEE IF I WOULD RIDE IN TAILS FIRST IN DRESSAGE OR EVENTING . IT TURNS OUT IT WAS EVENTING THAT MADE THE CUT! ”
Currently, we’re show jumping at 1.25m, and I’m looking forward to getting out to some more shows in the spring and going around some 1.30m tracks and Pro-Ams.
BG (Only the Brave) is the world’s cheekiest horse. He’s currently competing at Training/ Pre Novice and has had a few great runs and a few blips along the way too! In April, he won the Training at Matamata in the Thoroughbred class. Then he went straight on to Kihikihi, where he won the 105 Vosper Law Show Down at his first Pre-Novice start. We then headed to the Taupo Three-Day, where he decided the first jump on the cross-country was the most terrifying thing he’d ever seen!
“I’m looking forward to continuing to produce him up the levels, though. For all his quirks, he’s super talented, and I love riding him.”
Alena is now eyeing up spending winter in Europe to continue building on the skills her coaches have taught her by training with and learning from some of the best of the best. She completed a four-year university degree
in December, graduating with a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation through the Auckland University of Technology, and is now working full-time in the equine industry.
“This winter, I’m heading off to England to do a stint working and experiencing life in international eventing yards. The plan is to start at Bundy Philpott’s for four to five weeks and then have a few short stays at some other Kiwi yards and
potentially some British yards, too. To save up for the big trip, I’ve been working at Cyprus Point Racing Stable in Karaka in the mornings, which I’ve been enjoying, plus riding for William Willis at Matawhio Sport Horses.
“Working in the industry is a great way to keep my skillset up, which is complemented by having help from some seriously awesome coaches. I’ve worked with Andrea Raves since I was a kid in dressage, and she’s been a great asset in moving Hazel’s dressage to a higher quality. Nicoli Fife is also a massive influence; I was very fortunate to base with her for three and a half months, from November 2021 to February 2022, when Auckland was in lockdown. Nicoli has been a great mentor to me, has a wealth of knowledge as a dressage coach and judge, and is a successful upper-level event rider and breeder. Lizzie Green has been my go-to for everything jumping since she returned to New Zealand in 2017. I’ve also been very fortunate to have the help of Jeff McVean, Penny Castle and Blyth Tait, thanks to being part of the ESNZ Eventing Squads. I must admit, though, even with such an amazing team around me, my mum is still the most influential person; she is my rock and has been with me through every high and low of our crazy sport. She’s always the first person I call and has been my biggest supporter throughout my whole riding career; plus, when I see a big jump out on cross-country, she’s always the first to roll her eyes at me and tells me to walk it a couple of times until it gets smaller and to not to be such a wimp!” C
I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO PRODUCE HIM UP THE LEVELS, THOUGH. FOR ALL HIS QUIRKS, HE’S SUPER TALENTED, AND I LOVE RIDING HIM.
With his stable star Apteryx, West Auckland rider Kyle Brenten Calder is firmly established on the eventing scene, and is looking forward to continuing to check off his goals.
Unknown to many, Kyle spent the first four years of his life living in the USA. He was born in Pasadena, California, where he lived for two years before his family moved to Seattle, Washington, for another two years.
Shortly before his fourth birthday, his parents decided to move to Auckland, as they had the opportunity to buy part of the family farm in Waiatarua, in the foothills of the Waitakere Ranges - this is where Kyle grew up and developed his love of horses.
“As a really young kid, I was more into BMX and rugby than horses. However, I remember watching my sister and cousin ride at Henderson Valley Pony Club and thought I’d give it a crack - how hard could it be?” Kyle laughs. “Mum got me my first pony, Sam, and I loved it. He was 10.3hh and quite a little devil; he used to buck me off quite a bit, but eventually, I managed to get the hang of it. Mum
thought after half a season, I’d get bored and give up, so she gave Sam to my cousin to ride, but BMX had gone out the window, and I was still hooked on the horses. So I started riding Urchin, who was a Welsh Arab that Mum had bred. After a bit, my sister’s pony Storm-Boy, got sick, so we both started riding Urchin and, in the end, we swapped, and I ended up with Storm-Boy and my sister, Ashley, kept Urchin.”
Kyle began his eventing career with Valdez, a Thoroughbred bay gelding by Blue Razor and out of Nassimento (Nassipour), who was purchased from Janelle Nicholls. Kyle and Valdez headed up the levels, competing from Pre-Novice to the current 2* level in their two years together, with plenty of placings along the way. Kyle’s next ride was Sensation, a purchase from well-known eventer Janine Hayde; another bay Thoroughbred, this time
AS A REALLY YOUNG KID, I WAS MORE INTO BMX AND RUGBY THAN HORSES. HOWEVER, I REMEMBER WATCHING MY SISTER AND COUSIN RIDE AT HENDERSON VALLEY PONY CLUB AND THOUGHT I’D GIVE IT A CRACK; HOW HARD COULD IT BE.
by Defensive Play and out of Raewyn’s Polly (Mighty Avalanche). Buddy had competed to the current 3* level with Janine, so he was a fantastic opportunity for Kyle to ride at the higher levels again, competing right through to 3* successfully with a placing at Puhinui in 2012. Kyle was also selected to ride for New Zealand in the NZPCA Inter-Pacific Exchange in Hong Kong during this time. Unfortunately for Kyle, the Puhinui Three Day Event in 2014 was to be the end of Buddy’s competition career, as he was vetted out at the trot up due to a heart murmur.
However, Kyle’s luck was about to change - Kiwi was about to enter his life.
“We had heard about Kiwi (Apteryx) from Helen Connett, who had broken him in. We got in touch with the owner, who suggested we come and look at Kiwi that weekend; she also suggested we take the truck up and just take him straight home if we liked the look of him. So we turned up, and Kiwi was standing there ready to be loaded onto the truck; I asked if I could maybe have a quick ride on him first,” laughs Kyle. “Although we only walked around in the arena, I could tell he had some potential, so we loaded him up and off we went home. He hadn’t jumped at all when we got him and had only been on a few outings with his breeder without competing, but he was a super quick learner, and within two or three months, he was coming together nicely.”
Kyle and Kiwi, a Clydesdale X Thoroughbred by Trojan Horse, rocketed onto the eventing scene, winning three out of their first five starts (with a second in there for good measure) with sub-
OUR SEASON WAS REALLY TOPPED OFF BY WINNING THE WAITEKO TROPHY AT THE KEITH ANDREWS ONE DAY NATIONALS IN NORTHLAND IN APRIL, KIWI LED FROM START TO FINISH...
30 scores. After that, they continued to storm up the grades with help from an excellent team around them, and within three years, they made it to 2* level with plenty of success along the way.
“I remember we took him to his first One Day Event at Pre-Training, and we won that on our dressage score of 70ish%. He quickly breezed his way up the grades; within a year, he had won a handful of Training classes and his first Pre-Novice at Springbush in 2016 on my birthday weekend – my first ever winner’s rug, a great birthday present, thanks Kiwi! He went from strength to strength very quickly; he has always been very willing to learn and is naturally gifted with his movement for the dressage.
“I’ve been so lucky to have such amazing support over the years. Since I was about 13 or 14, I have trained closely with Kris Hughes, who has generously helped me regularly. Kris has not only been a great dressage
coach but also a mentor and my second-biggest supporter. In the past couple of years, I have also been helped immensely by Saskia Ostermeier and, more recently, Greg Smith, who has been great at bringing out the best in Kiwi. Jumping-wise, my coaches have included Kirstin Kelly and Blyth Tait in earlier years with Kiwi, and currently, Donna Edwards-Smith and Vaughn Jefferis. The most important person in my riding career would have to be my Mum, though. She has always been there every footfall of the way and is my number one supporter and the world’s best groom! I’m so lucky to have her by my side; I wouldn’t be even close to where I am today without her.”
However, the eventing journey hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Kyle, and there have been a few major setbacks along the way, including horse injuries and a bad fall last year.
“In March 2018, when we were competing in the 2* at Puhinui, Kiwi felt slightly off in the dressage. We didn’t overthink it then because the ground was a little soft
underfoot after some really heavy rain. The show jumping was a challenging track, but Kiwi is usually a relatively consistent show jumper, so it was very odd for him to end up with four rails down. After his round, I noticed some heat in one of his legs, which turned out to be a tendon injury that forced an immediate end to our season. It was a tough time waiting to find out the extent of the injury, but fortunately, there was only a small amount of damage to the tendon, and we were able to have stem-cell treatment, which worked incredibly well. After a careful 12 months of rehabilitation for Kiwi, I was very grateful to have him back out competing like nothing had ever happened.
“The biggest setback I’ve probably had in my riding was a nasty fall at Brookby Horse Trial in February 2022. I was riding a horse I was schooling, George, who had recently stepped up to 2*. Unfortunately, George misunderstood the ground line at jump three of the cross-country, a tabletop shaded under a tree in the fence line. We hit the jump quite badly, resulting in a rotational fall and George landing on
WITHIN A YEAR, HE HAD WON A HANDFUL OF TRAINING CLASSES AND HIS FIRST PRE NOVICE AT SPRINGBUSH IN 2016 ON MY BIRTHDAY WEEKEND – WHICH WAS ALSO MY FIRST EVER WINNERS RUG, GREAT BIRTHDAY PRESENT THANKS KIWI!
top of me. I nearly broke my pelvis, and while I was okay in most ways, I’ve been left with some longer-lasting injuries, which I’m still managing each day even now.”
Still based in West Auckland, Kyle works as a chartered Building Services Engineer at Jacksons Engineering, specialising in mechanical services as the Commercial Lead. Currently, he only has Kiwi due to none of their homebred horses growing tall enough for him. However, that hasn’t stopped him from having one of his best seasons yet this year.
“We’ve been fortunate to have a fantastic season this year with wins at Te Rapa in the 2* and Taupo and Brookby in the 3*, and placings at Riverdale, Arran Station, Brookby and Kihikihi in the 3*. Our season was really topped off by winning the Waiteko Trophy at the Keith Andrews One Day Nationals in Northland in April, Kiwi led from start to finish, and we had a near-perfect run, only adding a few crosscountry time penalties to our dressage score in some very deep going.
Disappointingly, the Three-Day at Taupo didn’t quite go to plan this season due to Kiwi having a small bout of tying-up on cross-country day. Still, he was all fine and happy by the end of the day. That will be our big goal for next year, as at the moment, it’s still proving to be the elusive one!” C
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WORDS - Sarah Holmes
IMAGES -Show Circuit
Francesca Masfen and her fouryear-old gelding, Riverrock Falcon, were fortunate to spend time with Carlos DeCleermaecker while he was visiting New Zealand. Carlos, a Pferdewirtschaftsmeister with 50 years of experience riding and training with some of Europe’s most influential classical dressage coaches and riders, generously gave his time for this Show Circuit training clinic.
Francesca is 20 years old and is presently studying for a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Property degree at the University of Auckland. She successfully evented to 2* level on her schoolmaster, Kinnordy Galilee, but has now taken to dressage and is focusing on bringing her HP Fresco gelding up the levels. Falcon was bred by Aliesha Moroney-Ormsby and started by her husband, Chad, from Riverrock Farm. Aliesha says, “Falcon is an example of the proven F and S line cross. He encapsulates his dam’s trainability and his sire’s modern type. Francesca is doing a great job – we are really proud of them both.” Carlos immediately identified an elastic and willing horse in Falcon, who shows great promise for his future in the dressage arena. He noted Francesca’s balanced seat and soft hands but could see a need to improve the connection from the hind leg to the bit.
With time and correct training basics, we enable them to maintain balance for longer durations and through increasingly difficult transitions and movements.
A true connection is when the horse is working from its pushing hind legs over its loose and swinging back into an elastic forward contact between the bit and the rider’s hands. The horse should be in a correct frame, drawing the bit forward, with the neck reaching out from the wither and the top of the neck supple and loose. The rider should be able to feel they can slightly flex the poll left and right.
Next, Carlos shifted focus to trot-halt transitions. Riding into the full-halt, he coached Francesca into thinking about a series of half-halts, finishing with a full-halt.
It’s essential to have balance in all downward transitions. A lack of balance during the transition is often paired with a lack of preparation before the transition. Carlos suggests teaching a young horse first and foremost to halt with immobility, in the correct frame, while staying connected, and only then think about making the halt square. The square halt should develop later as the balance improves. If you don’t prioritise immobility and submission in the halt, confusion about the stop-go aids is highly probable.
Carlos asked Francesca to score her transitions. If it is a 7.0, there are still 3.0 marks to achieve. You need to practice transitions for a 10.0 – practice perfect transitions, and until they are perfect, keep practising.
The answer to improving connection is to do many ‘perfect’ transitions. When you think you are doing a lot, do more! On a 20-metre circle, Carlos asked for walk-trot-walk transitions, with five to six strides of true medium walk before asking for the trot. The horse should be able to transition to a working trot from an energetic medium walk without changing its posture, frame and forward elastic feeling in the contact. Regardless of training level, it is critical not to allow the walk to slow and lose the engagement of the hind legs – always think of active steps. With respect to the horse’s frame, Falcon is the sort of horse that Carlos does not want to see too deep. However, a rounder frame during the warm-up phase, while the rider works on flexion and bend, helps improve the overall connection and balance of the horse – two prerequisites for achieving a correct uphill frame.
It is easy to drive a Ferrari fast, but it is difficult to drive a Ferrari fast on the road.
“A problem in the front is a problem in the back,” repeats Carlos.
Improving the horse’s engagement is to improve the pushing power from its hind legs. The more the hind legs reach under the horse’s belly, the more the back lifts, rounds and pushes forward over the back, neck and into the bit.
If you have had the comment ‘more engagement’ on your test sheet, you are not alone. As a young horse, Falcon needs to learn to push from behind and be allowed to lift his back and take the contact forward.
Through the use of (even more) transitions on a 20-metre circle, including trot-canter transitions in medium paces, Falcon extended the reach of his hind leg progressively through repetition – the result: his balance noticeably improved, he closed behind in the downward transition and maintained the correct frame.
Carlos noted it is essential for Francesca to lighten her seat for the horse to lift its back during the transition .
Improving
Horses take time to build strength through their backs, so with time and correct training basics, we enable them to maintain balance for longer durations and through increasingly difficult transitions and movements – all while carrying the weight and movement of the rider.
In preparation for the transition, Carlos told Francesca to sit to the trot well before the transition to walk so that the horse does not associate the rider going from rising to sitting trot as the aid for stopping. When the rider sits, the horse must keep going for as long as the rider wants. As the rider prepares to walk, they should lighten the seat, allowing the horse’s back to lift under the rider’s weight. This, in turn, increases the range of the hind leg coming under the belly, optimising engagement.
Simultaneously, the horse’s neck and poll should be positioned a little deeper so the back does not hollow. Carlos explains, “We must think about the neck having two separate hinges, one at the poll and one at the wither. We can influence the angle and flexion of those two hinges in isolation of each other”.
Once Falcon becomes more engaged, he swings through his back, in an uphill frame.
the horse’s engagement is to improve his pushing power from his hind legs.
Falcon needs to learn to push from behind and be allowed to lift his back and take the contact forward.
Leg yield was introduced to encourage more engagement by crossing the hind legs. On the K-G and F-G diagonal lines, Carlos wanted to see Falcon moving forward and sideways in trot, parallel to the long sides of the arena. The aim for leg yield and, later, half-pass in trot is to maximise the ground cover of the horse’s pace in an uphill frame; going right, the left hind leg lifts and steps across in front of the right hind leg, and the longer the reach of the step, the greater the ground cover, and the greater the cadence and lift of the forehand. The shallow diagonal in this exercise allows Falcon to maintain the elements of the training scale he has begun to grasp (rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion) and progress towards developing those that still lie ahead of him and his rider (straightness and collection).
If the connection and pushing power are improved, what do you get? You get throughness, balance and ultimately, collection.
Transitions improve contact and pushing power (engagement). The result? The horse takes weight from the front to the back and increases the power from the hind leg, which in turn, lifts and lightens the forehand.
This cycle of energy is moving through the horse’s body continuously, allowing the horse to swing with impulsion and produce cadence, collection and greater activity of the limbs. The rider can be balanced and discrete with their aids. This is the goal of dressage – to execute difficult movements in perfect balance and make it look easy!
An analogy flies off Carlos’ tongue, which is worth thinking through as it relates to riding in balance. “It is easy to drive a Ferrari fast, but it is difficult to drive a Ferrari fast on the road”.
A balanced rider is important for the development of a young horse like Falcon. Carlos commented that Francesca sits very well, especially for a tall person with a long body. Carlos said he often sees tall riders having a tendency to collapse at the ribcage, which can impact a horse’s balance and straightness.
At the end of her session, Francesca could feel more swing through Falcon’s back and noted his contact had improved significantly. The disconnection at the beginning had transitioned (pun intended) into a true connection that improved engagement, throughness and balance.
And with that, Falcon and Francesca were equipped with a new, indispensable tool that, when used frequently, correctly and repetitively, is highly effective in building the early foundations of your dressage horse - perfect transitions. C
with Carlos De Cleermaecker
WORDS - Sarah Holmes IMAGES - Show Circuit magazine
I was one of 11 working pupils at the Riding School, administered with the extreme discipline of imposing Military Majors. I did kitchen shifts during the day, making breakfast, lunch and dinner for the Military and Riding School staff and by night, I slept in the stables caring for the horses during the night shift. I made DM 4 (Deutsche Mark) a day!
Where did you grow up?
I was born in the Congo, and my parents worked in the cotton industry. My dad managed the staff, and my mum was the company secretary. In the 1960s, when I was five, my family, including my brother, moved back to Antwerp, Belgium. I immigrated to Australia 20 years ago, in 2003.
Are you married and is she horsey?
Yes, I’m married to an Australian, Melinda, and we live in the Hunter Valley, NSW, with our four dogs. Melinda runs her own coaching business, MDC Dressage, and she breeds quality performance dressage warmbloods with European bloodlines, including Secret, Charmeur, Sandro Hit and Totilas. We have a very promising yearling colt by Secret out of our Charmeur mare. Unfortunately, we will have to sell him as Melinda has had another serious accident that has made her unable to ride at the level she would like.
How many children do you have?
Two boys, Eric and Jan. Both, hate horses, love soccer and currently live in Belgium.
How would you describe your riding and training style?
Classical, following the German Training Scale. I focus on the foundations of training a horse, improving the paces and frame quality. Then, with a talented horse and a good rider, the Grand Prix movements will be achievable with time.
What made you move to Australia?
In 2003, a Belgian friend living in Australia begged me to come to Sydney to teach dressage. Well, I did, and I met my wife, and the rest is history! I enjoy the warmth of Australia and have enjoyed my roles as both Queensland State and New South Wales State Dressage Coach over the years. Currently, I have a great bunch of clients who I teach, from Novice through to Grand Prix, including young riders, adults and professionals. I am also an NCAS Level 3 accredited coach with Equestrian Australia.
Where did your love of horses come from?
When I was seven, my father encouraged me and my brothers to play sports. My dad liked animals and took me trail riding, which led me to join a riding school in Belgium. During my school years, I went to Germany for every Christmas break for three years, where I rode with a coach who jumped 1.60m tracks while also competing in Grand Prix dressage. I did a lot of show jumping early on with great jumping trainers, including Hermann Baron von Nagel, and I won the coveted “Vor” title as a 13-year-old. However, by age 18, my passion was for dressage. I decided to become a professional dressage rider at a time when there was no such thing in Belgium!
Tell us about your early training in Germany, where you achieved your Pferdewirtschaftsmeister, the highest level of qualification in Germany.
Once I decided to pursue dressage full-time in the 1970s, I had to move to either France or Germany. France was too expensive, and I could get paid to work in a riding school in Germany. I joined the Westphalian Riding and Driving School in Münster under Major Paul Stecken, one of the great influencers of classical dressage. The Riding School was attached to the Germany Army at the time, so I rode and studied my Bereiter levels in between cooking in the military barracks and doing stable work.
I was one of 11 working pupils at the Riding School, administered with the extreme discipline of imposing Military Majors. I did kitchen shifts during the day, making breakfast, lunch and dinner for the Military and Riding School staff and by night, I slept in the stables caring for the horses during the night shift. I made DM 4 (Deutsche Mark) a day!
Major Stecken, who died in 2016 at 100, produced over 1,900 professional and amateur trainers and 108 apprentices, including Dr Reiner Klimke, his daughter Ingrid Klimke, and many other top riders.
I completed my Pferdewirtschaftsmeister in the years following, working for independent trainers – the Pferdewirtschaftsmeister is the highest level of Bereiter, including qualification as a ‘Coach Educator’.
What did you do after the Westphalian Riding and Driving School in Münster?
Around 1973, when Johann Hinnemann was leaving his posting at the Riding School to start his own training business, I asked him for a job. I only had my Level II Bereiter at that stage, which was ‘nothing’, but Johann took me on. That is where my training, learning and riding really gained momentum. I finally appreciated the discipline I’d learnt from those Military influences at the Riding School. Later on, I was called up for 10 months of Military service, which I completed before continuing with my dressage career under trainer Heinz Lammers, another defining riding master of the Westphalian equestrian sport.
Johann trained with Dr Reiner Klimke, and in 1986, with ‘Ideaal’ won Team Gold and Individual Bronze at the World Dressage Championships, followed by Team Gold and Individual Bronze again in 1987 at the European Championships. In 1996, Johann was awarded the rarely bestowed title of “Reitmeister –Master Rider”.
Was there one coach in particular that moulded your riding career?
There are three: Heinz Lammers, Georg Wahl - an Oberbereiter of the famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna, and Johann Hinnemann.
“I finally appreciated the discipline I’d learnt from those Military influences at the Riding School. Later on, I was called up for 10 months of Military service, which I completed before continuing with my dressage career under trainer, Heinz Lammers, another defining riding master of the Westphalian equestrian sport.”
What are important qualities to have as a successful rider?
Physical and mental fitness, a deep seat in the saddle that moves with the horse, and an interest in seeking a thorough understanding of dressage theory. Riders should grow their knowledge by reading books, particularly those that relate to their current level. It is interesting reading about the Grand Prix but reading and understanding the Training Scale and the qualities of a correct seat is just as important.
What do you see as the best attributes of a horse?
Correct conformation, with an uphill frame. A trainable temperament and interesting personality, not lazy but not crazy. Three good paces with ‘Schwung’, which with effective training uses the horse’s natural paces, combined with suppleness and elasticity. C
“ Riders should grow their knowledge by reading books, particularly those that relate to their current level – it is interesting reading about the Grand Prix. Still, reading and understanding the Training Scale and the qualities of a correct seat are just as important.”
Engaging your horse when riding y.ressage means encouraging the horse to work from behind and engage its hindquarters, which helps to improve balance, impulsion, and collection. Here are some simple tips for engaging your horse effectively.
Before you can engage your horse, you need to establish a good working gait. Your horse should be moving forward energetically and maintaining a steady rhythm.
USE YOUR LEGS:
Your legs are your primary aid for engaging your horse. Use your legs to ask the horse to move forward and activate its hindquarters. Use a series of light squeezes rather than one hard kick.
USE YOUR SEAT:
Your seat is also essential for engaging your horse. Sit deep in the saddle and use your hips to encourage the horse to engage its hindquarters. As you ride, focus on maintaining steady, elastic contact with the horse’s mouth through the reins.
Half-halts are brief pauses in the rhythm of the gait that allow you to rebalance your horse and shift its weight back onto its hindquarters. Use your seat and your reins to give a subtle half-halt, and then release the aid to allow the horse to move forward again.
Lateral movements such as leg-yield, shoulder-in, and haunches-in can also help to engage your horse. These movements encourage the horse to shift its weight back onto its hindquarters and to work through its body in a more collected and balanced way.
Engaging your horse can take time and patience. Be consistent with your aids and expectations, and be patient and positive with your horse. Encourage the horse to try its best and reward it for its efforts.
Remember that engaging your horse is an ongoing process that requires consistent training and practice. Work with a qualified dressage trainer to develop a training plan appropriate for your horse’s level of experience and ability.
IMAGE - Denise Flay Photography
Respiratory issues such as allergies, infections and inflammatory airway disease can significantly impact a horse’s health and performance. Horses can be susceptible to various respiratory issues, including allergies, infections, and inflammatory airway disease. Proper respiratory health management is crucial to ensure horses can breathe easily and comfortably.
RESPIRATORY DISEASES IN HORSES ARE VERY COMMON AND HAVE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CAUSES. INFECTIOUS RESPIRATORY DISEASES CAUSED BY BACTERIAL AND VIRAL INFECTIONS, FOR EXAMPLE; INFLUENZA, OCCUR IN HORSES OF ALL AGES AND ARE PARTICULARLY COMMON IN YOUNG HORSES, ESPECIALLY THOSE KEPT IN LARGER GROUPS OR FARMS.
The environment plays a significant role in developing and exacerbating respiratory issues in horses. Certain environmental factors can increase the risk of respiratory problems or exacerbate existing respiratory conditions. Here are some important considerations for managing the equine environment to promote respiratory health:
1. DUST CONTROL: Dust is a common respiratory irritant and can exacerbate respiratory issues in horses. Bedding, hay, and arena surfaces can all contribute to environmental dust levels. Controlling dust includes using low-dust bedding, soaking hay, and watering arena surfaces.
2. VENTILATION: Proper ventilation is important for maintaining good air quality in the equine environment. Adequate ventilation can help reduce the concentration of respiratory irritants and improve respiratory health. Proper ventilation can be achieved through fans, windows, and other forms of mechanical ventilation.
3. AMMONIA CONTROL: High ammonia levels in the environment can irritate the respiratory system and contribute to respiratory issues in horses. Strategies to control ammonia include using highquality bedding, cleaning stalls frequently, and providing adequate ventilation.
4. TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY CONTROL: Extreme temperatures and humidity levels can exacerbate respiratory issues in horses. Stables should be kept at a comfortable temperature and humidity level to promote respiratory health.
5. PASTURE MANAGEMENT: Exposure to allergens in the pasture, such as pollen or dust, can contribute to respiratory issues in horses. Strategies to reduce exposure to pasture allergens include turning horses out when allergen levels are low and providing shaded areas for horses to rest.
Overall, managing the equine environment is essential to promoting respiratory health in horses. Strategies such as dust control, ventilation, ammonia control, temperature and humidity control, and pasture management can help reduce the risk of respiratory issues and improve respiratory health in horses.
Regular exercise is vital for maintaining equine respiratory health. Exercise helps to improve lung capacity, strengthen respiratory muscles, and increase oxygen uptake in the body. However, it is essential to ensure that horses exercise safely and appropriately to prevent respiratory issues. Here are some important considerations for exercise and respiratory health:
1. GRADUAL INTENSITY: Horses should gradually build up to more intense exercise over time to allow their respiratory system to adapt to the increased demand for oxygen. Starting with shorter, less strenuous workouts and gradually increasing intensity and duration can help prevent respiratory distress.
2. WARM-UP AND COOL-DOWN: Warming up and cooling down before and after exercise can help prevent respiratory issues by gradually increasing and decreasing the demand on the respiratory system.
3. ENVIRONMENT: Horses should exercise in a clean, dust-free environment with adequate ventilation to prevent respiratory irritation and inflammation.
4. REST AND RECOVERY: After exercise, horses should be allowed adequate rest and recovery time to let their respiratory system fully recover before engaging in strenuous activity.
For an unfit horse, a basic fitness programme should be planned over a period of six to eight weeks or so, starting with short slow sessions, working up to longer faster periods of work. Each week the length and intensity of the work should increase to improve strength and fitness, but remember to incorporate rest days into the timetable too. A basic fitness programme of gentle exercise will burn off excess fat, tone up muscles, strengthen joints, tendons and ligaments, in preparation for a more intensive exercise programme. The periods of faster work towards the end of the fitness programme will strengthen the heart and lungs.
DISTRESS: Horses should be closely monitored during and after exercise for signs of respiratory distress, such as coughing, laboured breathing, or nasal discharge. If any of these signs are observed, a veterinarian should evaluate the horse to determine the underlying cause and appropriate treatment.
Overall, regular exercise is essential to maintaining equine respiratory health. However, it is important to ensure that horses exercise safely and appropriately to prevent respiratory issues. Gradual increase in intensity, proper warm-up and cool-down, a clean environment, rest and recovery, and monitoring for respiratory distress are all essential considerations for equine exercise and respiratory health.
Proper nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining equine respiratory health. It helps to support the immune system, reduce inflammation, and prevent respiratory issues caused by allergies or irritants. Here are some essential considerations for equine nutrition and respiratory health:
1. FORAGE: High-quality forage, such as hay or pasture, should comprise most of a horse’s diet. Forage provides essential nutrients and helps to support digestive health, which can, in turn, support respiratory health.
2. LOW-DUST FEED: Horses with respiratory issues should be fed low-dust feed, as dust can irritate the respiratory system and exacerbate respiratory problems. Pelleted or cubed feeds may be a good option for horses with respiratory sensitivities.
3. HYDRATION: Proper hydration is essential for respiratory health. Horses should always have access to clean, fresh water, as dehydration can increase the risk of respiratory issues.
4. SUPPLEMENTS: Certain supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids or antioxidants, may help to support respiratory health by reducing inflammation and boosting immune function. However, consulting a veterinarian or equine nutritionist is vital before adding supplements to a horse’s diet.
5. AVOIDANCE OF ALLERGENS: Horses with respiratory sensitivities should be kept away from known allergens, such as dusty hay or bedding. Soaking hay or using low-dust bedding may be beneficial for these horses.
Overall, proper nutrition is an important aspect of maintaining equine respiratory health. High-quality forage, low-dust feed, adequate hydration, and potentially beneficial supplements can help support respiratory health and prevent respiratory issues. Additionally, avoiding known allergens and providing a clean and dust-free environment can help reduce the risk of respiratory problems in horses.
Vaccines help to prevent or reduce the severity of respiratory infections, which can cause significant respiratory issues in horses. Here are some key considerations for vaccination and respiratory health in horses:
1. CORE VACCINES: Core vaccines are recommended for all horses, regardless of their risk of exposure. Two core vaccines that help protect against respiratory infections are the equine influenza vaccine and the equine herpes virus vaccine.
2. RISK-BASED VACCINES : Risk-based vaccines are recommended based on a horse’s risk of exposure to certain diseases. Examples of risk-based vaccines that can help protect against respiratory infections include the strangles vaccine.
3. TIMING OF VACCINATION: It is essential to follow the recommended vaccination schedule for each vaccine to ensure maximum protection against respiratory infections. Vaccines may need to be boosted periodically to maintain protection.
4. PRE-TRAVEL VACCINATION: Horses that travel frequently or attend events with other horses should be vaccinated before travel to reduce the risk of respiratory infections.
5. IMPORTANCE OF HERD IMMUNITY: Vaccination protects individual horses and contributes to herd immunity, which can help reduce the overall risk of respiratory infections within a group of horses.
Overall, vaccination is an essential tool for maintaining equine respiratory health. Following the recommended vaccination schedule protects horses against respiratory infections and their associated respiratory issues. Additionally, vaccination can contribute to herd immunity, which can help reduce the overall risk of respiratory infections in a group of horses.
In most other countries, the equine flu vaccine is compulsory for competition horses, and whilst it is not here in New Zealand, all horse owners should put it on their yearly health programme.
Soaking hay for horses can be invaluable when feeding a hay that is a little dusty,
Respiratory issues can significantly impact equine health and performance. Proper management of respiratory problems is essential for ensuring the best possible outcomes for affected horses. Here are some key considerations for managing respiratory issues in horses:
1. VETERINARY EVALUATION: If a horse is experiencing respiratory issues, it is essential to seek veterinary evaluation. A thorough physical examination, including a respiratory exam, can help identify the underlying cause of the problem and guide appropriate treatment.
2. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: Environmental factors like poor air quality can exacerbate respiratory issues. Managing the horse's environment by providing clean, dust-free bedding and ensuring adequate ventilation can help reduce respiratory irritants and improve respiratory health.
3. MEDICATIONS: Depending on the underlying cause of the respiratory issue, medications may be necessary to manage symptoms and treat the condition. Common medications used to manage respiratory problems in horses include bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and antibiotics.
4. NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT: Nutritional support can play a role in managing respiratory issues by supporting immune function and reducing inflammation. Supplements such as antioxidants or omega-3 fatty acids may sometimes be recommended.
5. EXERCISE MODIFICATION: Depending on the severity of the respiratory issue, modifications to exercise routines may be necessary. Light exercise or rest may be recommended in some cases. In others, more structured exercise programs may be developed to help improve respiratory function.
6. FOLLOW-UP CARE: Follow-up care monitors progress and adjusts treatment plans. Regular veterinary evaluations and monitoring of respiratory symptoms can help ensure the best possible outcomes for horses with respiratory issues.
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Overall, managing respiratory issues in horses requires a comprehensive approach that involves veterinary evaluation, environmental management, medication, nutritional support, exercise modification, and follow-up care. By working with a veterinarian and developing an appropriate management plan, horses with respiratory issues can experience improved respiratory health and better quality of life.
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In addition to medical treatment and nutritional modification, alterations in living conditions for horses with respiratory disease can help support these individuals. When considering bedding for stabled horses, the utilisation of dust-free materials such as shavings or pelleted bedding should be explored. In many cases, allowing horses to live outdoors with access to pasture may help reduce the overall particle load on the horse.
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Horses that reside indoors may benefit from a well-ventilated building with hay and feedstuffs stored away from their accommodation.
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Reducing the number of birds that access indoor horse accommodation can reduce feathers and bird dander, common causes of airway inflammation.
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Finally, bedding should be changed regularly for these horses, and they should be kept from reentering their stables for at least an hour after cleaning to allow dust and other particulates to settle. You can also lightly wet down sawdust if you cannot buy a dust-free product. C
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Over their lifetimes, horses present with an array of lumps and bumps on various occasions. At times the lump or bump will seemingly appear suddenly out of nowhere, or it may develop slowly and remain for years without change. The behaviour and clinical picture of the lump/bump will determine whether it needs further investigation and attention or whether space and time are the best course of action.
Our horses’ legs are prone to the odd bump, but when is a swelling nothing more than a blemish – and when is it time to call the vet? We’ve got advice to help you spot, and deal with, these lumps.
Splints are a common condition affecting horses. A splint is a bony enlargement that forms on the splint bone, one of two small bones that run along the back of the cannon bone in the horse’s lower leg.
Causes:
n Overloading of the splint bone due to excessive stress, such as repetitive concussion or strain during highintensity exercise.
n Poor conformation, such as narrow or offset cannons, can increase the risk of splints.
n Trauma to the splint bone or surrounding tissues.
Signs and Symptoms:
n Swelling along the inside or outside of the canon bone.
n Heat and tenderness in the affected area.
n Lameness, particularly when the horse is in motion or during flexion of the affected leg.
n A hard, bony enlargement can sometimes be felt on the splint bone, as seen in the right-hand image.
Diagnosis:
n A veterinarian will physically examine the affected leg, assessing the splint’s location, size, and severity. n X-rays may be taken to evaluate the extent of the bony enlargement and rule out any other potential underlying issues.
Rest: Providing adequate rest and reducing the horse’s workload is essential to allow the splint to heal. This may involve a period confined to a stable or limited turnout.
Cold Therapy: Applying cold therapy, such as ice or cold water, to the affected area can help reduce swelling and inflammation.
Supportive Bandaging: Applying a supportive bandage or splint boots may provide additional support and protection to the splint area.
Veterinarians may prescribe NSAIDs to help manage pain and reduce inflammation.
Controlled Exercise: Gradual reintroduction of exercise, under the guidance of a veterinarian, can help promote healing and prevent re-injury.
Surgical Intervention: In some cases, when splints are large, painful, or interfere with the horse’s performance, surgical splint removal may be recommended. This is typically considered a last-resort option.
It’s important to note that splints are usually a selflimiting condition, which tends to resolve over time with appropriate management and rest. However, in some cases, the bony enlargement may persist even after the horse has recovered, but it generally does not cause significant issues or lameness.
If you suspect your horse has a splint or notice any signs of lameness or swelling, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan tailored to your horse’s specific needs.
Blemishes are visible abnormalities in your horse’s appearance. For example, a bump or even a scar that does not impact movement, whereas unsoundness must be further investigated.
Thoroughpin is a condition that can affect horses and is characterised by swelling and distension in the hollow area inside the hock joint. The condition is named ‘thoroughpin’ due to the appearance of a swelling that can extend from one side of the hock to the other, giving the appearance of a ‘pin’ passing through the joint.
n The horse may sometimes exhibit lameness or discomfort, especially when the swelling is significant or associated with an underlying condition.
n A veterinarian will physically examine the horse, assessing the swelling and its characteristics.
n X-rays or ultrasound may be used to evaluate the hock joint and surrounding structures, ruling out other potential swelling causes.
In many cases, a thoroughpin is considered a cosmetic issue and does not cause significant lameness or interfere with the horse’s performance. Therefore, treatment may not be necessary
Causes:
n Thoroughpin is primarily caused by the accumulation of synovial fluid within the sheath of the deep digital flexor tendon as it passes through the hock joint.
n It can be associated with conformational abnormalities of the hock, such as sickle or cow hocks.
n Trauma or excessive strain to the hock joint can also contribute to the development of the thoroughpin.
Signs and Symptoms:
n Swelling and distension of the area on the inside of the hock joint.
n The swelling may extend across the hock joint, appearing as a bulge or fluid-filled pouch.
n The site may be soft and fluctuant when palpated.
Windgalls, also known as windpuffs or winddrops, are a common condition affecting horses. They refer to the swelling or distension of the fluid-filled sheaths or bursae around tendons and joints in the horse’s legs.
Causes:
n Windgalls are typically caused by an accumulation of synovial fluid within the sheaths or bursae surrounding the tendons and joints.
n Repetitive strain or stress on the legs, particularly during high-intensity exercise or strenuous work, can contribute to developing windgalls.
n Other factors, such as ageing, trauma, or inflammation, can also contribute to their formation.
If the horse experiences discomfort or lameness, the underlying cause of the thoroughpin should be addressed. This may involve treating any concurrent joint disease, such as arthritis.
n Cold therapy or the application of topical anti-inflammatory medications may help reduce swelling and provide temporary relief.
n The veterinarian may recommend draining the fluid from the thoroughpin in severe cases where the swelling is significant and causing discomfort. However, it’s important to note that a thoroughpin often reoccurs after drainage.
n Corrective shoeing, supportive wraps, or boots may help support the hock joint and alleviate some symptoms.
n If the underlying cause of the thoroughpin is conformational, such as specific hock abnormalities, management and training practices should be adjusted to minimise stress on the joint.
Conformational abnormalities, such as straight or post-legged conformation, may increase the likelihood of windgalls; here are some examples:
Upright Pasterns: Horses with upright pasterns have a more vertical alignment of the pastern bones, which can increase strain on the fetlock joint. This increased stress can contribute to the development of windgalls.
Long, Weak Pasterns : Horses with long, weak pasterns may lack the necessary support and shock absorption in the fetlock joint. This can lead to increased strain on the joint, making the horse more prone to windgalls.
Weak Ligament and Tendon Structures: Horses with conformational weaknesses in their ligament and tendon
structures may have reduced stability and support around the fetlock joint. This can result in increased movement and fluid accumulation, leading to the formation of windgalls.
Overweight or Overworked Horses: Poor conformation, excessive weight, or strenuous exercise can strain the fetlock joints. The increased stress on the joint can contribute to the development or worsening of windgalls.
It’s important to note that windgalls can also occur in horses with good conformation due to other factors such as exercise, genetics, or joint inflammation. However, when poor conformation is present, it can create an environment where windgalls are more likely to occur or persist.
If a horse has windgalls associated with poor conformation, it’s crucial to address the underlying conformational issues, if possible, to minimise further strain on the fetlock joints.
n Swelling or fluid-filled swellings can be felt or seen around the fetlock joint, particularly on the back of the horse’s leg.
n Windgalls are often soft and compressible when palpated.
n They typically do not cause lameness or discomfort unless there is an underlying issue or excessive swelling.
n Windgalls are usually diagnosed through a physical examination by a veterinarian, evaluating the presence, size, and location of the swellings.
n Additional diagnostic tests, such as ultrasound or x-rays, may be performed if there is concern about an underlying injury or joint condition.
Treatment and Management:
n Windgalls are often considered a cosmetic issue and do not require specific treatment.
n Rest and reduced exercise may help reduce swelling and prevent further fluid accumulation.
n Cold therapy or the application of topical treatments, such as liniments or gels, may provide temporary relief and help minimise swelling.
n Supportive measures, such as the use of supportive wraps or boots, may offer additional support to the affected area.
n In cases where windgalls are associated with an underlying injury or joint condition, the primary cause should be addressed. This may involve veterinary intervention, such as joint injections or other therapies, to manage inflammation and improve joint health.
If you have concerns about windgalls or if they are accompanied by lameness or other symptoms, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian for a proper evaluation and rule out any underlying issues. If you have concerns about windgalls or if they are accompanied by lameness or other symptoms, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian for a proper evaluation and rule out any underlying issues.
It's important to note that windgalls may come and go, appearing larger after periods of exercise or strenuous work and decreasing with rest.
Hives, also known as urticaria or allergic dermatitis, can occur in horses as in humans. Hives are characterised by raised, swollen, and often itchy bumps or welts on the horse’s skin.
Hives in horses are typically an allergic reaction triggered by various factors, including:
1. Ingestion of specific allergens, such as certain types of feed, plants, or medications.
2. Exposure to environmental allergens, such as pollen, mould spores, or insect bites.
3. Contact with irritants, including certain bedding materials, grooming products, or chemicals.
4. Insect hypersensitivity, such as allergies to mosquito bites or insecticides.
n Raised, swollen, and often itchy bumps or welts on the horse’s skin.
n The bumps may vary in size and can merge to form larger swelling areas.
n The affected areas may appear red or pale, and the surrounding skin may be warm to the touch.
n The horse may exhibit signs of discomfort, such as rubbing, scratching, or biting at the affected areas.
n In severe cases, hives can be accompanied by systemic signs, including respiratory distress, swelling of the face or limbs, or signs of anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction).
The treatment and management of hives in horses depend on the underlying cause and the severity of the reaction. Here are some general guidelines:
n Remove the triggering factor, if possible. For example, if a specific feed causes hives, discontinue its use.
n Provide relief from itching and discomfort by using cold compresses or applying soothing topical products, such as calamine lotion or aloe vera gel.
n Consult a veterinarian who may recommend antihistamines, corticosteroids, or other medications to alleviate the allergic reaction.
n If the horse is experiencing severe systemic signs or signs of anaphylaxis, immediate veterinary attention is necessary. In such cases, epinephrine may be administered.
A ‘pressure bump’ on a horse caused by a saddle could refer to a localised area of swelling or thickened skin that develops due to prolonged pressure or friction from the saddle. This can occur if the saddle does not fit correctly or if there is excessive pressure on a specific area. Here are some points to consider regarding pressure bumps caused by saddles:
1. Saddle Fit: A correctly fitting saddle is crucial to avoid pressure points and discomfort for the horse. A saddle that is too narrow, too wide, or has an incorrect tree size can create excessive pressure on specific areas of the horse’s back, resulting in pressure bumps.
2. Tree Points or Panels: Improperly designed or worn-out saddle tree points or panels can cause localised pressure, forming pressure bumps. Tree points too long or panels that do not distribute the rider’s weight evenly can exacerbate the issue.
3. Saddle Pad or Blanket: The type and thickness of the saddle pad or blanket used can also contribute to pressure bumps. Pads that are too thick or poorly fitted may create additional pressure on specific areas of the horse’s back.
Preventing hives in horses involves identifying and avoiding the triggering factors. Here are some preventive measures:
n Keep a record of any previous episodes of hives to identify potential allergens.
n Gradually introduce new feeds or medications to monitor the horse’s reaction.
n Minimise exposure to known environmental allergens, such as keeping the horse indoors during peak pollen seasons or using fly sheets and insect repellents.
n Use hypoallergenic bedding materials and avoid using harsh or irritating grooming products.
If your horse develops hives or if you suspect an allergic reaction, it is essential to consult with a veterinarian. They can help determine the cause, provide appropriate treatment, and offer guidance on managing future episodes.
Choose Low-Dust Bedding: Opt for bedding materials that have low levels of dust, such as dust-extracted straw or dust-free wood shavings. Avoid using bedding materials that are known to be high in dust content.
4. Rider Position: How the rider sits in the saddle can impact pressure distribution. Poor rider balance or positioning can increase pressure on specific points, potentially leading to the development of pressure bumps.
Thick saddle pads or cloths can potentially cause pressure spots or points of excessive pressure on the horse’s back. When the padding is too thick, it can create an uneven distribution of weight and pressure, leading to discomfort, soreness, or even the development of pressure sores. They can also result in diminished sensitivity and communication.
1. Ensure Proper Saddle Fit: Work with a knowledgeable saddle fitter to ensure the saddle properly fits your horse. This includes checking the saddle tree size, panel shape, and overall balance.
2. Regular Evaluation: Regularly assess your horse’s back for signs of pressure bumps, rubs, or soreness. Catching issues early can help prevent them from worsening.
3. Saddle Pad or Blanket Selection: Choose a pad or blanket that provides adequate cushioning and promotes even weight distribution. It should be appropriately sized and shaped for your saddle and horse.
4. Saddle Pad Adjustments: Ensure the pad is correctly
positioned under the saddle and does not bunch up or create additional pressure points. Buy two of the same saddle pads, so you have precisely the same for at home and also in competitions to avoid a different saddle fit.
5. Rider Position and Balance: Develop good riding skills and maintain proper balance and position in the saddle. This helps to distribute the rider’s weight more evenly across the horse’s back.
If your horse develops pressure bumps or shows signs of discomfort, it’s important to address the issue promptly. Consult a qualified saddle fitter to ensure the correct fit and make necessary adjustments or changes to prevent further problems.
n While melanomas can develop at any age, they are more commonly seen in horses aged eight to ten years.
Locations and behaviour:
n Melanomas in grey horses tend to be slow-growing and have benign or indolent behaviour. They usually remain localised to the skin or underlying tissues and rarely metastasise (spread) to other organs.
However, some melanomas can become aggressive or invasive, especially if they are large, ulcerated, or located in areas that impede normal bodily functions.
Impact on health:
Small, isolated melanomas do not cause clinical signs and may not significantly impact a horse’s health or performance. Melanomas in specific locations, such as around the anus or tail base, can cause discomfort, interfere with defecation or urination, or affect tail mobility.
Like scars, tumours can appear anywhere on your horse’s body. If you have a grey horse, pay close attention to his rectum, tail, and sheath area, as this is where melanomas often appear. Melanomas are most commonly seen in grey horses. Grey horses have a genetic predisposition to developing melanomas, tumours arising from melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells in the skin and other tissues.
Prevalence and characteristics:
n Grey horses have a higher incidence of melanomas than horses of other coat colours. It is estimated that more than 80% of grey horses over the age of 15 will develop melanomas.
n Melanomas in grey horses typically appear as dark, pigmented nodules or masses. They can vary in size, texture, and location on the body.
Treatment options for melanomas in grey horses include surgical removal, cryosurgery (freezing), laser therapy, immunotherapy, or radiation therapy.
Treatment choice depends on factors such as the melanoma’s size, location, and behaviour.
It is essential to consult a veterinarian experienced in managing melanomas to determine the most appropriate course of action for each case.
Treating sarcoids around the eye requires careful consideration due to the sensitive and delicate nature of the eye. It’s crucial to involve a veterinarian to evaluate the specific case and determine the most appropriate treatment approach. Consult with a veterinarian experienced in equine dermatology to assess the sarcoid’s size, location, and overall characteristics. They will determine the best course of action based on the individual case.
Sarcoids are the most common skin tumours found in horses. They are a type of fibroblastic skin tumour that can vary in appearance and behaviour.
The exact cause of sarcoids is unknown, but it is believed to be related to the bovine papillomavirus (BPV) or a similar virus. Sarcoids are not known to be hereditary, but certain factors may increase the risk of their development, including:
n Weakened immune system.
n Trauma or irritation to the skin.
n Genetic predisposition.
Sarcoids can be present in various forms, and their appearance can differ significantly. The different types of sarcoids include:
1. Nodular Sarcoid: These are firm, round, or irregularly shaped tumours that can vary in size. They often have a rough or warty surface and can occur anywhere on the horse’s body.
2. Verrucous Sarcoid: These sarcoids have a wart-like appearance and are typically flat, raised, and rough.
3. Fibroblastic Sarcoid: This type of sarcoid is characterised by rapidly growing, fleshy masses that can be ulcerated and prone to bleeding.
4. Occult Sarcoid: Occult sarcoids are flat and hairless areas of skin that may resemble scars or plaques. They can be challenging to detect and may become more aggressive over time.
Diagnosing sarcoids is typically based on their characteristic appearance and behaviour. However, in some cases, a veterinarian may perform a biopsy or other tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment options for sarcoids include:
n Surgical Excision : Surgical removal of sarcoids may be an option for some instances, but recurrence is possible.
n Cryosurgery: Freezing the sarcoid with liquid nitrogen to destroy the tumour cells.
n Laser Therapy: Using laser treatment to destroy the sarcoid tissue selectively.
n Topical Treatments: Various creams, ointments, or medications may be applied directly to the sarcoid to promote regression.
n Immunotherapy: In some cases, immunostimulant injections may activate the immune system and target the tumour cells.
n Radiation Therapy: This option may be considered for more prominent, aggressive, or difficult-to-treat sarcoids.
It’s important to note that the behaviour and response to the treatment of sarcoids can vary widely among individual horses. Recurrence is possible even after successful treatment, and some sarcoids may require long-term management. It is recommended to consult a veterinarian with experience treating sarcoids to determine the best course of action for an affected horse.
Bog Spavin refers to the swelling and distension of the joint capsule in the hock joint. It typically involves the tibiotarsal joint, the largest joint in the horse’s hock. Here are some critical points about bog spavin:
n Excessive stress or strain on the hock joint due to activities such as jumping, galloping, or abrupt turns.
n Trauma or injury to the joint.
n Conformational abnormalities, such as sickle or cow hocks, put extra stress on the joint.
n Concurrent joint diseases, such as osteoarthritis, may contribute to the development of bog spavin.
n Swelling and distension of the joint capsule, often visible on the inside or front of the hock joint.
n The swelling may be soft or fluctuant when palpated.
n In some cases, the horse may exhibit lameness or stiffness, particularly when the swelling is significant or associated with underlying joint disease.
n A veterinarian will perform a physical examination, evaluating the hock joint for signs of swelling and assessing the horse’s gait.
n X-rays or other imaging techniques may be used to evaluate the integrity of the joint structures and identify any underlying causes.
n Rest and controlled exercise may be recommended to allow for healing and prevent further joint stress.
n Cold therapy or the application of topical anti-inflammatory medications may help reduce swelling and provide temporary relief.
n In some cases, joint injections with anti-inflammatory medications or regenerative therapies may be utilised to manage inflammation and improve joint function.
n Corrective shoeing, supportive wraps, or boots may help support the hock joint and alleviate symptoms.
n Surgical intervention may be considered in severe cases or those unresponsive to conservative management.
Ringbone in horses refers to a painful condition characterised by new bone growth. It affects either the pastern joint (“high ringbone”) or the coffin joint (“low ringbone”).
The swelling can be seen and felt at the two superficial outpouchings of the joint capsule; at the front towards the inside and on the outside just below and infront of the point of hock. If one swelling is compressed this usually causes the other swelling to enlarge temporarily and vice versa. Bog spavin can occur in one or both hind legs.
Ringbone is a common condition in horses that affects the bones in the lower leg, specifically the pastern or coffin joint. The development of bony growths or exostoses around the affected joint characterises it.
1. High Ringbone (Proximal Interphalangeal Joint): This type of ringbone affects the joint between the long and short pastern bones. It is located higher up on the leg and is generally associated with more severe lameness.
2. Low Ringbone (Distal Interphalangeal Joint): Low ringbone affects the joint between the short pastern bone and the coffin bone). It is located more down on the leg and is typically associated with less severe lameness.
Causes: The exact cause of the ringbone is not fully understood, but it is believed to be multifactorial. Contributing factors may include:
1. Genetics: Some horses may be predisposed to developing ringbone due to conformation or genetic factors.
2. Conformation and Stress: Conformational abnormalities, such as upright pasterns or long-toe/low-heel hoof conformation, can increase stress on the joints and contribute to ringbone development. Repetitive stress impact, or excessive strain on the joint, can lead to the formation of bony growths.
n Lameness: Horses with ringbone may exhibit varying degrees of lameness, depending on the severity of the condition and the joint affected.
n Stiffness: Affected horses may show stiffness, especially during warm-up or after rest.
n Swelling and Heat: Swelling and heat can be observed around the affected joint, particularly during flare-ups.
n Restricted Range of Motion: Reduced flexibility and range of motion in the affected joint may be evident.
n Diagnosis of ringbone is typically based on clinical signs, physical examination, and diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays or ultrasound, to assess the bony changes in the affected joint.
n Treatment of ringbone aims to manage pain, reduce inflammation, and slow down the progression of the disease.
A combination of the following may be required:
n Rest and reduced workload to alleviate stress on the affected joint.
n Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to manage pain and inflammation.
n Joint injections with corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid to provide localised relief.
n Physical therapy, including controlled exercise, to maintain joint mobility and reduce stiffness.
n Corrective hoof trimming and shoeing to improve foot balance and reduce stress on the joint.
n Surgical intervention may be considered in severe cases, such as arthrodesis (fusion) of the affected joint.
It’s important to note that the management and prognosis for ringbone can vary depending on the severity, location, and response to treatment.
Evaluate the size, location, and sever ity of the haematoma. The haematoma pictured required veterinary assistance. If it is a small haematoma and the horse appears comfortable, you may be able to manage it with basic first aid. However, if the haematoma is large, causing significant discomfort or there are signs of other complications, it is best to call the veterinarian.
Haematoma in horses refers to a localised collection of blood outside blood vessels, typically caused by trauma or injury. A haematoma can occur in various areas of a horse’s body, including muscles, skin, and internal organs.
n Trauma: Haematomas commonly result from blunt force trauma, such as kicks, falls, or collisions with objects. The impact causes blood vessels to rupture, leading to bleeding and the formation of a haematoma.
n Surgical Procedures: Haematomas can occasionally occur as a complication of surgical procedures, particularly if blood vessels are damaged or excessive bleeding during the surgery.
n Needle Injections: In rare cases, haematoma formation may occur at the site of needle injections if a blood vessel is inadvertently punctured.
n Swelling: Haematomas often appear as a swelling or lump at the site of the injury. The swelling may be warm to the touch and may vary in size depending on the severity of the haematoma.
n Discolouration: Haematomas can cause skin discolouration, turning it dark or purple in the affected area.
n Pain and Sensitivity: Horses with haematomas may exhibit discomfort or pain when pressure is applied to the affected area.
Treatment:
n Cold Therapy: Applying cold therapy, such as ice packs or cold water soaks, to the haematoma site can help reduce swelling and inflammation in the early stages.
n Rest and Restricted Movement: Resting and limiting the horse’s movement can help prevent further trauma to the affected area and allow the body to heal.
n Veterinary Examination: It is essential to have a veterinarian evaluate the haematoma to assess its severity, rule out any underlying injuries, and determine the appropriate course of treatment.
n Drainage or Aspiration: Sometimes, a veterinarian may need to drain or aspirate the haematoma to alleviate pressure and facilitate healing. A qualified professional should only perform this procedure to minimise the risk of complications.
n Supportive Care: Depending on the size and location of the haematoma, your veterinarian may prescribe antiinflammatory medications or provide other supportive care to manage pain and aid in the healing process.
It’s important to note that larger or more severe haematomas may require more extensive treatment, and the recovery time can vary depending on the individual horse and the specific circumstances of the haematoma. Always consult a veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan for this condition. advisable to consult a veterinarian. These symptoms may indicate an underlying infection, organ dysfunction, or other systemic issues.
Ventral oedema, also known as swelling on the underside of a horse’s abdomen or lower belly, can be caused by various factors, including fluid retention, inflammation, or underlying medical conditions. While mild ventral oedema may not always require immediate veterinary attention, there are situations where it is advisable to call a veterinarian. Here are some guidelines on when to call a vet for ventral oedema:
n Sudden or Severe Swelling: If ventral oedema develops rapidly or is accompanied by significant swelling, it is essential to contact a veterinarian. Sudden and severe swelling could indicate a more serious underlying issue that requires immediate evaluation and treatment.
n Pain or Discomfort: If the horse shows signs of pain or discomfort, such as reluctance to move, sensitivity to touch, or signs of colic, it is essential to seek veterinary assistance promptly. These symptoms may suggest an underlying condition that needs professional attention.
n Signs of Systemic Illness: If the horse displays other signs of systemic illness, such as fever, loss of appetite, lethargy, or abnormal behaviour, it is
n Progressive or Persistent Swelling: If ventral oedema continues to worsen or does not resolve over time, it is recommended to have a veterinarian assess the situation. Prolonged or progressive swelling may indicate an ongoing problem that requires diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
n Associated Abnormalities: If ventral oedema is accompanied by other abnormal signs, such as difficulty breathing, abnormal urination, or changes in manure consistency, contacting a veterinarian is crucial. These additional symptoms could suggest a more significant health issue requiring veterinary intervention.
If you see oedema on your horse’s belly, observe the horse's behaviour and overall condition. Note any signs of distress, discomfort, or changes in behaviour. If the horse appears to be in pain, shows signs of colic, or displays other abnormal symptoms, it is crucial to act quickly and call a veterinarian. If you have a marker, draw around the swelling, so you can see if it is reducing or enlarging while you wait for the veterinarian to arrive.
It’s important to remember that every case is unique, and the severity and circumstances of ventral oedema can vary. If you are unsure whether to call a veterinarian, it is generally better to err on the side of caution and seek professional advice. A veterinarian can evaluate the situation, diagnose it correctly, and recommend the most appropriate course of action for your horse’s condition. Prompt identification and management of the underlying cause are vital for the horse’s well-being.