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Local HorseGold CoastMagazine
“THE MAGAZINE ON THE SCENE”
Over 15 Articles
April 2011
FREEOnline Magazine
www.gclhorsemag.com.au
Cover Photo By: MS Equipix - Mel SpittallCover Artwork By: Aliza Jane Photography
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ContentsCover Story - Friesians Page....7Breeds Page....6Dressage Page....8Horsemanship Page..12Polo/Polocrosse Page..16Pony/Riding Clubs Page..18Racing Page..32Show Jumping Page..36Showing Page..40Trail Riding Page..25Western Pleasure/Performance Page..44
Service DirectoryEquestrian Centres Page..48Farriers Page..48Produce Page..49Saddleries Page..49Veterinary Page..50
Anazac’s Page....4The exquisite Friesian Page....7From The Judge at C Page....9John Chatterton - Affiliated Horemanship Page..13The Sport of Endurance Riding Page..21Double Dan’s - Australia’s Got Talent Page..15Polo - Sport of Kings, King of Sport Page..1710 Fun Points to Impove the way you sit Page..19Trail Riding Page..25Using your horse in live shows Page..26Bitless Bridles - Fad or Fabulous Page..30Racing - $49m Upgrade for Gold Coast Page..33Jumping with Anthony Murray Page..37Balanced Horse Page..39Showing - Grooming Tips from the Top Page..41Western - Barrel Racing Page..45Veterinary - Bowed Tendons Page..50
Articles
Gold Coast Local Horse Magazine have taken every care in preparation of this magazine. Therefore it may not be copied in part or whole for reproduction, with-out said magazine's written authority. While we take every care in the prepa-ration and accuracy of its contents we are not responsible for any mistakes or misprints in any article or advertisement, nor are we responsible for any er-rors by others. Gold Coast Local Horse Magazine accepts no liability result-ing from omissions, errors, misprints or failure to publish any advertisment.
Disclaimer
DEADLINE FOR ARTWORK12th of each month
Printed by: FAST PROOF PRESS(07) 5578 4722
pg. 46
pg. 15
pg. 25
pg. 26
CoverStorypg. 7
pg. 13
Cover Photo: Jeremy Janjic on Jacana TK
Owner-Lynn and Dick Jenkin, Tashkent FriesiansPhoto By: Mel Spittall - MS Equipix
Contacts:Editor: Donna Morton- 0419 029 070
Photographer for Events: Downunder Photography - 0419 029 070Office: (07) 55 434 878
Ecitor: [email protected]: [email protected]
W: www.gclhorsemag.com.au
pg. 43
From The Editor....Hi to everyone and welcome to the Gold Coast’s debut “Local Horse Magazine”. It has been a hectic pre production for this edition and I would like to give a special thank you to both Kristi and Wayne for all their work and support. It’s all so exciting at the same a little daunting, but the team has come thru with flying colours and we can only grow from here on. Congratulations to Mel from Tamworth Local Horse Magazine with her first issue in March, receiving excellent feedback and reviews!
The Gold Coast Local Horse Magazine will be another “Magazine on the Scene” We want to make sure that we cover as many local events as we can, so if you have an event coming up make sure you let us know. Happy Easter & Happy Reading, Donna
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By: Banjo Paterson
Australian RepresentativesPeter McLauglin, Adam McLaughlin, Don Lofthouse, Ray Edwards
Host, Colonel Gowar, with Officers from the Sth African Imperial light horse artillery
Anzac Day
April 25th
Australia takes her pen in hand,To write a line to you,
To let you fellows understand,
How proud we are of you.6
From shearing shed and cattle run,
From Broome to Hobsons Bay,Each native-born Australian son,
stands straighter up today.
The man who used to "hump his
drum",On far-out Queensland runs,
Is fighting side by side with some Tasmanian farmer's sons.
The fisher-boys dropped sail and oarTo grimly stand the test,
Along that storm-swept Turkish
shore,With miners from the west.
The old state jealousies of yoreAre dead as Pharaoh's sow,
We're not State children any more
We're all Australians now!
Our six-starred flag that used to fly,
Half-shyly to the breeze,Unknown where older nations ply
Their trade on foreign seas,
Flies out to meet the morning blueWith Vict'ry at the prow;
For that's the flag the Sydney flew,
The wide seas know it now!
The mettle that a race can showIs proved with shot and steel,
And now we know what nations
know And feel what nations feel.
The honoured graves beneath the
crestOf Gaba Tepe hill,
May hold our bravest and our best,But we have brave men still.
With all our petty quarrels done,Dissensions overthrown,
We have, through what you boys have done,
A history of our own.
Our old world diff'rences are dead,Like weeds beneath the plough,
For English, Scotch, and Irish-bred,
They're all Australians now!
So now we'll toast the Third Bri-
gade,That led Australia's van,
For never shall their glory fadeIn minds Australian.
Fight on, fight on, unflinchingly,Till right and justice reign.
Fight on, fight on, till VictoryShall send you home again.
And with Australia's flag shall flyA spray of wattle bough,To symbolise our unity,
We're all Australians now.
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Peter McLauglinMonte Pierce
Coolangatta Beach
To Egypt and AnzacOn 1 November, 1914, Australia's First Infantry Division and the first four Light Horse regiments sailed for England in a fleet of transport ships.Special stalls were built for the horses below decks and the lighthorsemen worked very hard to care for their mounts and exercise them in the limited space available.Some walers died on the voyage and all of them suffered terribly in the tropics. Each man spent much of his spare time tending his horse. This helped reduce the death rate and strengthened the relationship between them.Plans were changed and the Australians landed in Egypt to complete their training there. They were soon joined by an-other two brigades - six regiments - of Light Horse.When the Australian infantry left to take part in the invasion of Germany's ally Turkey, the lighthorsemen remained in Egypt. But soon afterwards, they too sailed for Gallipoli as infantrymen, leaving their horses behind.A trooper wrote: "We were hoping that in a couple of weeks at the latest, once more mounted, we would canter gaily along the Gallipoli road to Constantinople (capital of Turkey). We were mostly young and optimistic! We were soon to find what a long, long road it was."The first of the Light Horse arrived at Gallipoli in May. Anzac Cove, scene of the first infantry landing, was already a bustling little port. Hundreds of men swam in the cove, ignoring the Turkish shells that burst over them.As the lighthorsemen clambered to their camping areas up the steep, winding ravine of Shrapnel Gully, Turkish bullets cracked high over their heads. Infantrymen, who were old hands by now, laughed when the newcomers ducked.Very soon, they too were old hands. They quickly proved themselves to be excellent soldiers and readily adapted to the dreadful living conditions at the Anzac front.By August, when a huge attack was launched on the Turks, there were ten regiments of Light Horse at Anzac.The 3rd Brigade - the 8th, 9th and 10th Regiments - was to make a dawn charge across a narrow ridge called The Neck.Plans went horribly wrong and nine tiers of Turkish trenches packed with riflemen and machinegunners waited for the Australian attack.The first line of the 8th Light Horse charged and was shot to pieces. Most men ran only a few yards before they fell.The second line of the 8th went over the top and they too were cut down.The first line of the 10th Regiment went to their deaths in the same way. The second line waited for the attack to be can-celled. Then, through an error, they too charged.In three quarters of an hour 234 lighthorsemen were dead and 138 wounded in a futile action. They had shown remark-able courage and discipline. Never again would these qualities be wasted so tragically.
What’s On CalendarBreeds
www.wpcs.com.au/qldwww.mhaaqld.com.au
April 2011 The DPG Farmcraft Open Pony Breed Show - Boonah Showgrounds 17th April Ph: 02 667 779 579
Toowoomba Royal 29th - 2nd May 2011 Boonah Show 21st - 22nd May Contact: Beth Hern Ph: 5463 1124 Email: [email protected] Web: www.boonahshowsociety.org.au
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To Advertise your upcoming Events for FREEContact: Gold Coast Local Horse Magazine at
The beautiful Friesian Horse is recognised as one of the oldest equine
breeds in the world. It is native to a northern province in the Netherlands called
Friesland. Although the breed's conformation resembles that of a light draft horse,
Friesians are graceful and nimble for their size. During the middle ages, it is
believed that the ancestors of Friesian horses were in great demand as war horses
throughout continental Europe. Through the early middle ages and high middle
ages, their size enabled them to carry a knight in armor. In the late middle ages,
heavier, draft type animals were needed. Though the breed nearly became
extinct on more than one occasion, the modern day Friesian horse is growing in
numbers and popularity, used both in harness and under saddle. Most recently,
the breed is being introduced to the field of dressage.
Breed characteristics
The Friesian is most often recognised by its black coat color. Friesian horses
also have a long, thick mane and tail, often wavy, and "feathers" on the lower
legs. The official breed rarely has white markings of any kind; most registries
allow only a small star on the forehead for purebred registration. Though
extremely rare, and not accepted for registration in most cases, Friesians
are occasionally chestnut. The Friesian's average height is about 15.3
hands, although it may vary from 14.2 to 17 hands tall at the withers. The
breed is known for a brisk, high-stepping trot. The Friesian is considered a willing, active, and
energetic horse that is also gentle and docile. A Friesian tends to have great presence and to
carry itself with elegance.
The breed has powerful overall conformation and good bone structure, with what is sometimes called a
"Baroque" body type. Friesians have long, arched necks and well-chiseled, short-eared, "Spanish type" heads.
Their sloping shoulders are quite powerful. They have compact, muscular bodies with strong sloping hindquarters
and a low-set tail. Their limbs are comparatively short and strong.
Today, there are two distinct conformation types. The baroque type has the more robust build of the classical
Friesian. The modern, sport horse type is finer-boned. Conformation type is judged less important than correct
movement, and both types are common, though the Modern type is currently more popular in the show ring than
is the Baroque Friesian.
The Friesian today
From the latter part of the 20th century until the present, demand for purebreds, particularly the "Modern style"
finer-boned, taller, more agile version of the Friesian increased, so breeders have bred both purebreds and a
lighter-weight crossbred horse with valued characteristics, resulting in the Friesian cross and Friesian Sporthorse.
Friesian horses are popular, and are often used today for
dressage competition, pleasure riding, as circus horses and
for driving. Friesian horses can do well in dressage
competition due to the breed's movement, trainability,
appearance, power, and body control.
Due to its flashy appearance, the Friesian has also become
popular in the film industry. Though Friesians are of
dramat ic appearance, somet imes thei r use in
dramatizations of actual historical events is of dubious
accuracy, given that the breed as it is known today only
came into being within the last 400 to 600 years.
Br
ee
ds
S
ec
ti
on
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The Exquisite Friesian
Breed Characteristics
The Friesian Today
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Dressagewww.qld.equestrian.org.au
What’s On Calendar
Surrounding Areas
April 2011 Colleen Kelly Rider Biomechanics Teacher training day and lessons 15th to 17th April [email protected] or go to www.facebook.com/riderbiomechanics to register your interest.
NADEC - Official & Associate Dressage (Prep to GP) 8th May Contact: Shelly Homes Ph: 0402 821 322
Jimboomba Pony Club - Official Dressage 15th May Contact: 0407 968 777
Horseland Qld State Dressage Championship - Gatton 8th - 10th April email: [email protected] web: www.legs.org.au
PRARG - Dressage Associate Prep to Advanced 17th April Contact: 55 460 669
Logan Village Riding Club - Masters Weekend 21st & 22nd May Contact: Sarah Craddock Ph: 0427 812 918
Tweed Valley Equestrian Group - Official & Associate Dressage 22nd May Contact: Keighley Leeson Ph: 0428 536868 Email: [email protected]
Cedar Grove & District Riding Club - Open Dressage 29th May Contact: Kristen Heffernan Ph: 0404071123 Email: [email protected] Web: www.cgdrc.org.au
May 2011
April 2011
To Advertise your upcoming Events for FREEContact: Gold Coast Local Horse Magazine at
From the Judge at CLiz Coe
‘A’ level Grand Prix Dressage Judge/Mentor and Judge Educator
Take heart this is only the beginning of your partnership. Remember don’t be afraid of mistakes – every single mistake is a perfect training opportunity you can use to develop towards your goal.
Before we go on there are vital points to remember!!!
Next issue: - The Training Scale
So let us begin.
What is Dressage? It is a French term which is roughly translated into the word “training”.
Its fundamental purpose is to develop, through standardized progressive training methods, the horse’s natural athletic ability and willingness to perform, thereby maximizing its potential as a riding horse and increasing the usable life of the horse.
The very spectacular caprioles and airs above ground that is seen by thousands at the Spanish Riding School had its roots in a very practical application: the horses were trained to leap and kick out this way in battle to free the horse and rider of foot soldiers surrounding them. These horses responded to weight and leg signals from the rider, leaving both hands free to wield weapons of war. So the better trained the horse was in response to the rider’s aid, the better the chance of survival for its rider.
Dressage is also occasionally referred to as “Horse Ballet”. Early European aristocrats displayed their horses’ training in equestrian parades and displays, but in modern dressage, successful training of the horse from preliminary level to Grand Prix is demonstrated through the performance of “dressage tests”, which is a set of prescribed movements ridden within a 60 x 20 metre arena.
1. I am assuming that you ride these wonderful creatures and compete at the competitions because you enjoy riding and love the sport, so remember you are NOT competing for sheep stations it is meant to be fun!
2. The horse will not go any better at a competition than in your home paddock, in fact my old coach used to say that you lose approxi mately 10% in marks when you compete compared to what you can achieve at home, and she was right! So if the movement is not amazing at home do not expect it to be amazing at your competition
3. When all goes well the rider deserves the credit and rightly so.
4. When there are problems the rider must then bear the responsibility as well. Don’t lose your temper at the horse. Your horse, while munching his breakfast hay, does NOT think "I don’t really want to do my novice and elementary tests today so I am going to be very naughty just to make my owner cranky."
5. Some days the test does not go as planned, and whether you are new to the sport or a former Olympian you need to think that today, in this test, the aids were not quite effective and my horse has not really listened to me. The problem could be something as simple as not getting there early enough to warm up correctly or too much warm up and the horse becomes tired, so you make plans on how you will train a little differently for a better result.
“Riding is a partnership. The horse lends you his strength, speed and grace, which are greater than yours. For your part you give him your guidance, intelligence and understanding, which are greater than his. Together you can achieve a richness that
alone neither can." ~ Lucy Rees
My name is Liz, and in this series of articles I would like to take you on a journey from what is the meaning of “dressage” through the train-ing scale and what characteristics of the horse’s way of going the judge is looking for in each movement. What does that 5-6 or 8 mean? I will discuss different phrases such as contact and how it is different from “on the bit”. I will try to highlight what judges comments on your tests actually mean in plain English. Finally, we will provide a section for your voice where you can write in with questions that you may have.
Judges evaluate each movement on the basis of an objective standard appropriate to the level of the test and assign each movement a score from zero to ten - zero being “not executed” and 10 being “excellent”(notice I do NOT say perfect!). A competitor achieving all 6s (which means 60% overall) should be considering moving on to the next level. At the peak of a dressage horse’s gymnastic development, it can smoothly respond to a skilled rider’s minimal almost invisible aids and perform the requested movement while remaining balanced, energetic but relaxed and appearing effortless. When you see a lovely test where the horse appears to be performing the test on their own – you are seeing excellent training. This is the ultimate goal of modern dressage; however most of us when starting our dressage career often begin with a test that may look a little more like this one.
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Coaches & TrainersDressage
Gabrielle Veitch Email: [email protected] Phone Hm: (07) 5533 8211 Mb: 0438 522 711
Jacqueline Reed Email: [email protected] Phone Hm: (07) 5533 7450 Mb: 0407 593 241
Mariette Van Den Berge Email: [email protected] Phone Mb: 0404 849 396
Nicole Tough Email: [email protected] Phone Mb: 0405 916 212
Ricky MacMillan Email: [email protected] Phone Mb: 0418 758 149
Terry (Tadateru) Sakai Email: [email protected] Phone Mb: 0419 794 293
Paris is a QH (Paint) x TB. She’s capable of novice dressage & jumps up to 1.1m in competition & is schooling 1.2m at home. Has been to PC & agricultural shows. Entered in 2011 Toowoomba Royal Show. Beautiful nature. Foward moving but quiet. Best suited to a capable young rider who’s looking for a fun but serious competition horse. Youtube Wynd-
hams Barbie Doll. $8500 very negotiable to good home. Call Sarah on 0415 292 120
FOR SALERegistered Palomino Overo Mare - 14.3hh 9 y.0
www.qlddressagefest.com
To Advertise your Horses for SaleContact: Gold Coast Local Horse Magazine at
www.horsesrus .com.au
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What’s On CalendarHorsemanship
April 2011 John Chatterton - Junior Clinic 3rd April Chatto’s Place, Jai-Lee Lodge, Chambers Flat Contact:- Ali on 0400 065 570
Glen Gough Clinic 9th & 10th April Rathdowney Memorial Showgrounds Contact: Steve Gooley Ph: 0424 025 653
Quantum Savvy Play Day - Oxenford 16th April Contact: Denise Niit 0419 750 854
John Chatterton - 2 day Clinic 16th & 17th April Rossmore Road Indoor Arena Chambers Flat Contact: Ali 0400 065 570
To Advertise your upcoming events for FREEContact: Gold Coast Local Horse Magazine at
13
These days I am finding that so many people are calling me to help them with a problem horse that has become very switched off, head strong or barging all over them. When I ask them what sort of things they have been doing, they are showing me a lot of dominant body language towards their horse and are telling me that their horse has a bad attitude and I need to be more assertive and higher in the “pecking order” and make my horse move out of my space by using more body language.
Horses resent being pushed around, I like to use a method I call Affiliative Leadership. This is where you take the role of being like the mother is to her foal, (don’t forget the foal always looks to its mother for a ‘comfort zone’). Teach your horse that you become its ‘comfort zone’ rather than you being higher in the pecking order or being a dominant leader.
The Domestic verses the Wild HorseA young domestic horse often gets pushed around by an older dominant horse at feed time. As the young horse grows up, it then constantly tries to get higher in the pecking order, often this horse learns to become dominant with the owner. This is where many people make the mistake & get told not to let the horse get away with that and are told that they have to “be the boss”! Many people misinterpret this behaviour as the horse being the leader of the herd, which is not true, he has just become a dominant horse that other horses don’t really want to be around, through incorrect management. Horses don’t fight over grass so this normally starts around feed time. I’ve seen stallions being beaten up for biting and this all goes back to how they were handled at birth.
I’ve often seen breeding studs, in the winter time, drop a few bales in the paddock to the mares and foals, which very quickly teaches them to be aggressive, which teaches young horses to fight over food, which then leads them to becom-ing pushy & barging with their owner. Then the owner gets taught to be higher in the “pecking order” and becomes the dominant leader. The phrase I hear a lot is “we only do what horses do to each other in the paddock” meaning they chase, bite, kick, barge or lay ears back etc. We’ve been made to believe we should become more assertive & teach them we are a dominant leader & to drive them out of our space.
In a domestic situation, when there is more than one horse at feed time, the second horse will challenge the third horse and so on. If you buy a mare to include into your herd, she will challenge your horses to be higher in the pecking order and this is not what a true lead mare is all about.
A true lead mare in the wild never leaves the herd, she starts off as a filly, comes up through the ranks until she eventu-ally becomes lead mare by leadership and respect rather than by dominance. Horses prefer to be with a calm, easy-going, non-aggressive horse rather than the dominant horse in the paddock.
Similar to any hierarchal system, a good teacher does not intimidate their students but rather inspires them. Oppositely, aggression breeds resentment. If you watch a true alpha mare, she is never aggressive and there is no kicking, biting or ears back. Instead she peacefully leads by example. When she decides to move to another spot she wanders off, her foal will follow and the rest of the herd will follow her too, with no resistance.
Affiliative Horsemanship
T h e W i l d H o r s e
J o h n C h a t t e r t o n
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John grew up in Paraguay, South America and lived with the Gaucho’s (horsemen) where horses were the only means of transport. In the remote area where John lived the Gaucho was very calm and kind to his horses. They used a lot of psychology to communicate with their horses as they were roaming on thousands of acres with no fences. They realised to keep their young horses calm when handling they needed to handle them in the open, rather than in yards. Their ‘bell mare’ was the key to their gentle method.
The premise of John’s teaching comes from this same structure. His 10 Steps never make the horse fearful. Fear is the biggest inhibitor of learning and because of the trust with the horse and the lack of flight re-
sponse there is no adrenaline in any of the lessons.
In a lot of countries, young horses are rounded up into yards and feel they have just been put in a trap, which makes them wary and on guard. The Gaucho’s method was the complete opposite to the way most
horses get handled, as John has explained in his book The Ten Commandments.
When John first came to Australia, he was staying with some friends in Brisbane, they took John for a drive to the country as he was missing it a great deal. He noticed on properties there where very high solid yards and innocently ask his friend if they were for training “elephants”. His friend said ‘no they are for training
horses’.
John’s impression was they must be putting a lot of pressure on these horses.
John’s method is “Affiliative Horsemanship” which means it is based on a family unit. He believes that horses have a great need for a comfort zone and bases his training method on Affiliative leadership rather
than dominant leadership, so that the handler or rider becomes the comfort zone for the horse.
You can f ind more information about John at www.johnchatterton.com.au
John ChattertonAbout
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It has been a hard slog and a little long winded but finally the boys, Dan James & Dan Steers, “Double Dan Horsemanship” got to show off their excep- tional horsemanship talents to the “Australia’s Got Talent” judges – Brian McFadden (Australia’s Favourite ex pat Irishman), Danni Minogue “Aus-tralia’s Got Talent Alumni” and last but not least Kyle Sandilands (the infamous shock jock).
The first initial audition was held at Stadium Australia, Sydney last October. At this time no one was advised if they were in or out, so the boys had to wait for the call, which came as a high just as they were finishing off their performances at Equitana, Melbourne.
The next step was in March this year to venture back down to Sydney town. The venue, Sydney Theatre to show Australia and the judges, just what a horse/s shouldn’t do! Well for a start “Ari” you need to know that doing the horsey thing (manure) in Kyle’s dressing room is not the best way to win friends or votes!
OK lets get down the the nitty gritty, well for all you horsey folks you would understand that presenting your horse to the un-known sometimes is a little daunting, well we are proud to say that as much as we would of liked to show the horses the stage, which was by the way only 9m x 5m, they took it all in their stride! They have performed in many places, but this was something special and unique and they were absolutely awesome. Now for the tricky bits….. well next time, Dan and Dan take to the stage for Australia’s Got Talent, we will definitely make sure that our whips are a touch shorter, so as to not take out the overhead lighting and cables???? Whoops!
The boys had only 2 minutes to cram “ Double Image” sitting on a bean bag, both horses rearing, “Ari” laying upside down performing his hat trick and then the boys finished off with whip cracking display to wow the judges and the audience. They had a standing ovation and everyone just went “NUTS”!!!
So in men- tioning the above, maybe we should share with you all….. yes, drum roll….. 3 Y E S ’ s ! ! ! ! “The Double Dans” are in!!! A first for Australia’s Got Talent!
After the audition, the boys and their stallions spent some time in front of the famous Sydney Op- era House filming out takes. The team was supported by their strappers Pia Steers, Erin Sheen and Ally Love (Canada). Also a special thank you to Donna Morton, A n i m a l s Downunder who offered our act up to “Australia’s Got Talent”.
Now the long wait, the boys and their horses are on hold for the next audition to be held in Sydney.
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR UP DATES!
www.double-dan-horsemanship.com.auLets make sure we give them our votes and support our Local equine entertainers!
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Date Club Event Goal Rating Chukkas Venue
1-Apr QPA Beginners Day Clinic Doomben Racecourse
2/3 April SEQPC Willowcroft 2 4 Willowcroft Polo Fields
9/10 April SEQPC Willowcroft 2 4 Willowcroft Polo Fields
16/17 April Biddaddaba Autumn League for Beginners Graded 2 4 Biddaddaba Polo Fields
23/24 April Easter and Anzac Day No Games
30-Apr SEQPC Ashling Anzac Cup 2 4 Ashling Polo Fields
1-May SEQPC Ashling Anzac Cup 2 4 Ashling Polo Fields
7/8 May SEQPC Ashling Anzac Cup 2 - 4 4 Ashling Polo Fields
14/15 May SEQPC City Motor Auction Group Tournament 2 - 4 4 Alsace Polo Fields - Veresdale
21/22 May Biddaddaba Biddaddaba C PC Ladies Tournament Graded 4 Biddaddaba Polo Fields
21/22 May Biddaddaba Biddadaba C PC 4 Goal Tournament Graded 4 Biddaddaba Polo Fields
28/29 May Downs PC Neil MacGinley Tournament Graded 4 Clifton
28/29 May SEQPC Willowcroft 4 Goals 4 Willowcroft
4/5 June Downs PC Downs Shield Graded 4 & 5 Clifton Showgrounds
11/12/13 June GYMPIE Frank Sherred Tournament 2 Goal 4 Gympie Polo Fields
11/12 June SEQPC Ashling 4 Goal 4 Ashling Polo Fields
18/19 June Downs PC Cooke/O'Leary Tournament Graded 4 Clifton Showgrounds
25/26 June GCPC Gold Coast Polo Club Tournament Graded 4 Gold Coast Polo Field
2-Jul QPA COLTS TOURNAMENT Doomben Racecourse
2-Jul QPA COUNTRY vs CITY Doomben Racecourse
2-Jul QPA STATE OF ORIGIN Doomben Racecourse
3-Jul SEQPC Yellow Cab TBC 4 & 6 Alsace Polo Fields - Veresdale
9/10 July Biddaddaba Harcourt's Beaudesert Family Tournament Graded 4 Biddaddaba Polo Fields
16/17 July GYMPIE Gympie Mary Valley Classic 0 4 Gympie Polo Fields
23/24 July GYMPIE Dowling Cup 2 4 Gympie Polo Fields
30/31 July GCPC Guanaba Cup Graded 4 & 6 Gold Coast Polo Field
6/7 Aug SEQPC Custodian 6 4 & 6 Canungra
6/7 Aug Biddaddaba Biddaddaba C PC OVERFLOW TEAMS Graded 4 Biddaddaba Polo Fields
13/14 Aug QPA QPA GOLD CUP STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Graded 4 & 6 Willowcroft / Bromelton
20/21 Aug SEQPC Kooralbyn 4-10 4 & 6 Willowcroft
27/28 Aug GCPC Ron Hunt Memorial Graded 4 & 6 Gold Coast Polo Field
3/4 Sept SEQPC Ashling 4-10 4 & 6 Ashling Polo Fields
10/11 Sept Biddaddaba Biddaddaba C PC OVERFLOW TEAMS Graded 4 Biddaddaba Polo Fields
10/11 Sept SEQPC Mercedes Benz Tournament 4-10 4 & 6 Alsace Polo Fields - Veresdale
17/18 Sept QPA AUSTRALIAN OPEN Various Beaudesert Fields
24/25 Sept QPA AUSTRALIAN OPEN Doomben Racecourse
1/2 Oct Biddaddaba Biddaddaba C PC Tournament Graded 4 Biddaddaba Polo Fields
15/16 Oct Biddaddaba Biddaddaba C PC Tournament Graded 4 Biddaddaba Polo Fields
Please note these calendar dates can change without warning at anytime.To confirm an event please contact the club directly.
Queensland Polo AssociationCalendar 2011
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
Photos By:
Queensland Polo AssociationMobile: 0458722753
PO Box 731, Beaudesert Q 4285
Magic Millions Ph: (07) 5504 1200 Fx: (07) 5531 7082
Proudly Sponsored By:
Article By: Queensland Polo Association
Queensland’s Polo playing season is very dependant on weather, usually starting in March and continuing through thecooler months to October annually avoiding the wet season in Qld and the hotter months.
Each of the Qld clubs hold a variety of tournaments during the year with practice chukkas on a regular basis.
The Queensland Polo Association has 7 affiliated clubs, they are; Biddaddaba Creek Polo Club, Brisbane Polo Club Inc,Downs Polo Club Inc, Gold Coast Polo Club Inc, Gympie and Mary Valley Polo Club (Sunshine Coast Polo Club), MalenyPolo Club and South East Qld Polo Club.
If you are new to the sport of polo and would like to learn how to play polo many of our clubs hold coaching clinics duringthe year accommodating beginners to advanced players. You can even hire horses and purchase ‘Trial Memberships’ fora minimal fee which provides you a 28 day membership giving you ample time to discover the ‘excitement’ of polo. If,after the 28 day trial, you want to continue to play Polo, as many of our Trial Members do, you can then upgrade yourmembership to either a Senior Playing annual member or Junior Playing annual member only paying the remainder of themembership fee.
It is compulsory to hold a playing membership from an affiliated club if you intend to play polo in Australia as this coversthe player for Public Liability Insurance on receipt of payment.
The QLD Polo Association have an online membership registration system which gives clubs and members the ability toview their membership status online and to update details at any time. Your memberships are activated instantaneously.
Polo is played in 5 States in Australia: QLD, NSW, SA, VIC & WA. There are approximately 50 Clubs throughoutAustralia, each club affiliated to their State Polo Association overseen by the Australian Polo Council.
In the scheme of equestrian sports Polo is known to be the King Of Sports.
Polo is an equine sport designed to be fast, skilful, social and entertaining.
The Polo field length varies between a maximum of 275 metres and a minimum of 230 metres. The width also can varybetween a maximum of 180 metres unboarded & 150 metres boarded.
Polo is played with two teams usually with 4 players a side. The game is divided into 6 or 4 periods called ‘chukkas’ eachlasting 7 minutes with a 30 second overtime available.
Polo is played with a ball and each player on horse back has a ‘mallet’ to hit the ball.
Players play off ‘Handicaps’. All registered players in Australia are rated on a scale of –2 to 10 (the higher the better).The handicap of the team is the sum total rating of its players and their handicaps. Players usually start on a -2 Handicapdepending on their ability.
Each of the four team members plays a noticeably different position. Since polo is such a flowing game, the players maybriefly change positions but usually return to their initial position.
No 1 is the most forward offensive player.No 2 is just as offensive but plays deeper and works harder.No 3 is the pivot player between offence and defence and tries to turn all plays to offence.No 4 or the Back is a defensive player whose role is principally to protect the goal.
Any time a ball crosses the line between the goal posts it is considered a goal regardless of whether a horse or a malletcauses the ball to go through. The teams change ends after every goal scored. The team that scores the most goalswins.
The fundamental nature of the Polo is teamwork.
If you would like to experience the heart thumping excitement and the feeling of participating in a Polo team we wouldlove you to contact us;
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ContactsPony Clubs
Mudgeeraba Pony Club Nerang Pony ClubSECRETARY SECRETARYName: Liz Lloyd Name: Dianne McIntyrePH: 0451 671131 PH: 0416 221 332Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Oxenford Pony Club Southport Pony ClubPRESIDENT SECRETARYName: Russell Lynch Name: Diane McIntyrePH: 0414673578 PH: 0416 221 332Web: www. myoxenfordponyclub.com Email: [email protected]
Tallebudgera Pony Club Twin towns pony clubSECRETARY Ph: 5533 9626 Name: Jacque LovegrovePH: 0430 794 749Email: [email protected]: www.tallebudgeraponyclub.com
Riding ClubsCurrumbin & District Horse Club NADECSECRETARY TREASURERName: Kirsten Stanford Name: Gayle Blums Email: [email protected] PH: 040928780Web: www.cdhc.com.au Web: www.nadec.net.au
Tweed Valley equestrian SECRETARY Name: Name: Keighley Leeson PH: 0428 536868 Email: [email protected]
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Lets look at the top ten points you can work on.
1. H o w t o h o l d t h e r e i n sHow do you hold the reins? Do you hold them like you are playing a piano? Or like you are carrying a cup of hot chocolate – with your thumbs on top?
The rein should be gripped between your thumb and the second finger, quite firmly, so it doesn’t slip through your hand. It should run down through your hand, and out between your little finger and your 4th finger.
And…make sure your little fingers aren’t open and point out, or you could hurt them!
2. H o w t o Tu r nTurning is actually much easier than you may realise. Horses have a really good sense of where you are, and are very much affected by little movements in your body. Try for yourself, walking at a nice march, then, rather than pulling on the rein to turn, just look where you want to go.
If you want to turn right, look over to your right. Exaggerate it if you don’t get a re-sponse straight away, turning your shoulders as well. It’s very important not just to pull on that inside rein!
3. H o w t o s i tWhy don’t you get one of your friends on the ground to help you out here! Ask them to have a look at your belt and make sure it’s level to the ground.
It’s important that your tailbone feels pretty heavy. Leaning back or leaning forward can be quite dangerous.
Have a look at your helmet, and make sure it looks level to the horizon.
4. S h o u l d e r sIt’s so hard to know if your shoulders are level! So, let’s just forget about it! It’s much easier instead to concentrate on your elbows and make sure your elbows are level to the ground. It’s so much easier than trying to get your shoulders level.
A great way to improve all of your upper body is to pretend to lift someone or something onto the horse. With the sport of vaulting (gymnastics on horseback) we lift other rid-ers onto the horse, this is amazing for fixing your posture, especially your shoulders!
5. F e e t s t r a i g h tKeeping your feet straight keeps the horse straight. Imagine you’ve got skis on your feet, and you need to keep them level and straight. Or, you can imagine that you’re a push bike rider, and that the stirrups need to be on the balls of your feet. This will be-come more and more important as you do advanced sideways work, as the advanced riders help their horse go sideways by pressing on that stirrup a little.
6. L e a n i n g f o r w a r dLeaning forward might be OK in jumping (so long as your heels are down), but if the horse stops suddenly you can get flung forward! A great tip is to learn to stand up in the stir-rups. Standing up FULLY straight up and down, just like you would when you’re standing on the ground.
And, make sure your toes don’t point out. If you’ve seen people point their toes out, then have a look at the top eventers. They sure don’t point their toes out, or their spurs would be on all the time. Turning your toes out makes you lean forward even more.
7. L e v e l s e a t b o n e sAre you a bit confused about where your seat bones are? You are not alone!
If you know where your tailbone is, and you know where you pubic bone is, then there are also the other bones that you sit on, on the left and right.
If you want to know if they are level, imagine you are wearing a belt. Is the belt level from back to front, and left and right.
If your seat bones were torches, where would they point? Would they point down to the ground? They should! Or would they be shooting out behind you? When you are on a circle where would they point? Would they point down or would they be blinding the horse in the paddock next door?
It is interesting once you become aware of these, how much you can improve your riding by fixing this alone.
8. B e n t e l b o w sEver been told to keep your hands still? Well to help that happen you need to learn to have soft, loose elbows. A great exercise is to sometimes do rising trot holding the saddle. That will help your elbows move, and keep your hands still. But make sure you’re safe when you do it!
9. S e e w h a t y o u r c h e s t d o e s t o t h e h o r s eTry this out…walk your horse around and drop your chest, sitting sort of “lazy and slumped”. You’ll soon feel the horse’s two front feet get heavier than the two back ones. Then raise your chest again, and you’ll feel the two back feet get heavier. It’s amazing! When weight is on the two front feet it’s called “on the forehand”. When weight is more on the back feet it’s called “engaged”. Engaged is good…on the forehand is bad. And you can so easily fix it by seeing how much your chest affects the horse!
10 . C l e a n y o u r t e e t h o n o n e f o o t .Last by not least, and exercise you can do every night. Clean your teeth standing on one foot with the other foot out in front of you! It’s an exercise that’s come from the very best people in the world to help with your balance. And the trainer that trained the United States Dressage Federation Horse of the Year does it every morning and every night…so why not try it?
S i t t i n g P r e t t y !
So you want to learn how to ride? There are many things to learn, and the learning never stops. Even when you have been riding for twenty years, you will still feel like you have more to learn.
When you are getting started, there are a number of things that are key points for success. If you can get these basics under control, you will have a lifetime of enjoyable and most importantly SAFE riding ahead.
If you have ever been to a trail riding school where you hire a horse for an hour, they have probably taught you to kick to go, pull the reins to stop, pull his head to go left, and pull his head to go right. When you have your own horse, or a horse you ride regularly, there is a much easier and kinder way to communicate
to your horse what it is that you want.
These basics are things you can work on and get better at no matter what level you ride. Even a Grand Prix dressage rider can improve their balance, and many include these types of exercises in their riding routine everyday.
Good Luck, and enjoy your riding. Come and watch some of the clinics coming up in your area!
Colleen Kelly and Kelly Tombs are both Official Trainers with the International Society of Rider Biomechanics. Kelly is based on the Gold Coast and Colleen conducts clinics Worldwide. You can follow them on www.facebook.com/colleenkellyriderbiomechanics and
www.facebook.com/postureseatbalance .
Kids CornerImprove the way you sit with these 10 fun points
By Colleen Kelly and Kelly Tombs
Kids Corner
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What’s On CalendarPony/Riding Clubs
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April 2011
Oxenford Pony Club - T-Shirt Hack Show 10th April Ph: 0417 840 367
Currumbin District Horse Club - Unofficial Dressage & Hack Day 10th April Contact: Kirsten Stanford email: [email protected]
Mudgeeraba Pony Club - Gymkhana 17th April Contact: Liz Lloyd Ph: 0451 671131
NADEC - Showjumping Competition 30th April Contact: Shelly Homes Ph: 0402 821 322
May 2011
Oxenford Pony Club - Gymkhana 2nd May Ph: 0417 840 367
NADEC - Official & Associate Dressage (Prep to GP) 8th May Contact: Shelly Homes Ph: 0402 821 322
Jimboomba Pony Club - Official Dressage 15th May Contact: 0407 968 777
Oxenford Pony Club - Senior Rider Sporting 21st May Ph: 55 478 003
Southport Pony Club - Official Combined Training 21st May Ph: 04160 13081
Southport Pony Club - ODE Championships (Open) 22nd May Ph: 04160 13081
Oxenford Pony Club - Gymkhana 22nd May Ph: 0417 784 0367
What’s On CalendarPony/Riding Clubs
Surrounding Areas
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April 2011 Fassifern Horse & Pony Club are hosting an Open Sports Day 9th April Boonah Show grounds. Contact: Melanie Fedrick [email protected]
Cedar Grove & District Riding Club - Open Jump Training 10th April Contact: Inger Beulah Ph: 0488 721 775 email: [email protected]
PRARG - Dressage Associate Prep to Advanced 17th April Contact: 55 460 669
PCAQ Easter Camp 18th - 20th April
Cedar Creek Pony Club - Open Sports Day 24th April Contact: 0413 399 309
PRARG - Saddlery Market 23rd April Contact: 55 460 669
Cedar Grove & District Riding Club - Open Show Jumping 24th April Contact: Inger Beulah Ph: 0488 721 775 email: [email protected]
May 2011 Beaudesert Pony Club - Zone Campdraft Gymkhana (TBC) 7th & 8th May Contact :
Fassifern Vaulting Club - Vaulting Competition 8th May
Kooralbyn Pony Club - Open Hack Show 14th May Contact: Cheryl Harris Ph: 07 5544 6474 Email: [email protected] Web: www.freewebs.com/kooralbynponyclub
Boonah Show 20th - 22nd May Contact: Beth Hern Ph: 5463 1124 Email: [email protected] Web: www.boonahshowsociety.org.au
Logan Village Riding Club - Masters Weekend 21st & 22nd May Contact: Sarah Craddock Ph: 0427 812 918
Tweed Valley Equestrian Group - Official & Associate Dressage 22nd May Contact:
Cedar Creek Pony Club - Open Sporting 28th May Contact: 0413 399 309
Cedar Grove & District Riding Club - Open Dressage 29th May Contact: Kristen Heffernan Ph: 0404071123 Email: [email protected] Web: www.cgdrc.org.au
Waterford Pony Club - Zone 2 Formal Day 29th May Contact: Elle Hagarty Ph: [email protected]
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Easter SATURDAY – 23rd April(By popular demand two markets will be held in 2011)
Club GroundsCnr. Olson & Teviot Roads, North MacleanBE THERE FOR BARGAINS AND FUN!!!
Clubs and individuals are invited to gather gear, riding apparel and other ‘horsey’ items to sell or swap in a market type atmosphere. Trade displays welcome.
A perfect way to raise money for your respective groups or yourselves. Sell as an individual or as a group.
Refreshments availableVendors to be in position by 7am and to stay until 11.30am or unless sold out
BOOKING FEE - $15 PER SITE (Sponsors no charge) Pay at the Gate
(Sell from your car, float or truck or bring your own equipment) Only one vehicle per site on grounds
Sorry, only photographs of horses for sale.
Enquiries - (55) 460 669(Regina)/Chris 55 477 314 or [email protected]
PRARG’SNEW & USEDSADDLERY
MARKET
Cnr Tamborine Mt Rd & Cedar Creek Falls Rd, North Tamborine
Open 6 days a week(Closed Mondays)
Bookings essential
• Overnight accommodation available for you and your horse or bring your own horse for the day.
•Rainforest and mountain trail rides for all ages and levels of experience on quality, well cared for horses.
• Qualified, friendly instructors.
• Children's pony rides and pony parties.
• Fully licensed restaurant and café.
Tamborine Mountainwww.horseridingqld.com
Ph: 5545 3505 Bring Your Own Horse
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Age: 18
Clubs: Tallebudgera Pony Club
Horse Details: Esscort Dominator "Ed" 7yo Bay Warmblood Arab gelding,16.2hh. Selection 64 "Nigel" 12yo chestnut TB gelding, 16.3hh
Disciplines: Showjumping/Pony Club
How Long Have You Had This Horse?: We bred Ed and he was a stallion till 4yo...we have 4 foals from him. Nigel was bought from Billy Raymont and we have had him for 4years.
How Long Have You Been Riding?: Since 6yo, my first pony was Miss Liffi ,a cute 13.3hh palomino mare with heaps of pony club experience. Winning lots of ribbons on her, she gave me the taste of competition and having a go. Sec- ond horse was Enchanted 14.3hh beautiful liv- erchestnut mare, rather a fast quick turning mare who loved to do eve-rything from swim- ming in our dam to State level Showjumping, Dressage and Eventing.' Whinney ' 16.1 Bay TB gelding, he was my next horse who came off the track, who I com-peted D grade at the State PCAQ Showjumping Championships 2006. Ed and Nigel are my com-petitive horses now, I have been to the nationals in Pony Club and In- terschool with these two horses. And I am training three of Ed's foals, Rain ,Duell (4yo) and Dexi (3yo).
Highlights: Competing at Horsley Park, Sydney at the 2009 Pony Club Nationals and placing 8th overall in the Junior Showjumping on Nigel. At the 2010 Gold Coast Show, jumping 1.6m ! to win the 6 Bar Junior competition on Ed. Being Captain of the QLD Interschool Equestrian Showjumping team at Nationals 2010.
Goals: Always to have fun, and to put effort in to do my best. This year for 2011, I am taking a gap year before starting Nursing/Midwifery and am planning to travel to Europe for 3-4 months to experience and work in the international horse world.
My Favorite Thing About Riding: Great friendships made over the years .Love the team spirit .Never stop learning . It gives me variety , from going on a lovely relaxed ride on our property to competing at National level when the pressure is on.
Mentors: Mum and Dad, Ron Easey and my horses.
Rider of the Month
Niesje Lovell....
F u n n y
Gold Coast Local horse magazine is running a photo competition each month.
Entries close on the 12th of each month....
For our May Edition we will be taking entrants for “THRILLS & SPILLS”. Please email all photos to
[email protected] with your name and contact details and who took the photos.
Be sure to put a caption with your photo. The top 3 photos will be displayed in the April edition and the winner
will receive a $50 voucher produce voucher. This is an amateur photo competition (no professional photographers
please)
See website for Photo Competition Rules.www.gclhorsemag.com.au
May Edition
"Thrills & Spills"END OF YEAR GRAND FINAL
The winner from each months competition will go into the end of year GRAND FINAL.There will be 2 Winners, 1 winner will be judged by the readers and the other winner will be judged by Gold Coast Local Horse Magazine. Keep checking here for details..... GRAND FINAL WINNERS will be announced in
our DEC/JAN edition along with the winning photos......Great GRAND FINAL Prizes to be won........
P ho toCom p e t i t io n
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Congratulations to Kath Galloway
Cash trying to get that last little bit....
1st Place
HANG ONNearly Got it!
2nd Place
3rd Place
As you are aware this year there is a 5 day break at Easter and TRA have organized a stationary riding camp from Blackbutt in the Brisbane Valley. See the website for more information. This will be a chance to ride in some very beautiful country side. Secondly it will be chance to provide support for the community of Blackbutt and surrounds who suffered so much during the recent floods.
Some readers from the Boonah area have contacted me regarding having a training day. I would be available to conduct a train-ing day in the area at a suitable venue such as a show ground. You would need to have a group of at least 15 riders. You can contact me to arrange this on my e-mail address.
With the Easter camp this brings me to an important training time for your horse. Can your horse be kept behind an electric fence when you are not riding? I have seen some terrible scenes in the middle of the night when owners have thought that their horse was electric trained. To solve this problem you need to get your horse accustomed to an electric fence and for the horse to respect that there is a current that passes through that little wire and it bites.
If you do not have a fence unit most stock feed stores carry portable units. Besides the unit you need at least 4 pig tails (post) and electric tape and a fence tester. The cheapest is a piece of grass held in your hand, this will tell you if it is working or you can buy one. Set fence up at home in your horse’s yard or paddock. Roughly 12 feet by 12 feet. Place the horse inside the fence and turn the unit on. With you on the outside of the yard, lead your horse around and get him to touch the fence. Be prepared for him to pull back quickly. You will then find that your horse will not go near the fence. Some people will say this is cruel but it is not. It is far crueler to have a horse that cannot be yarded at night running wild around a show grounds or onto the local roads. This also applies to portable panels, train you horse at home to be contained behind these. I have seen many horses put into panel yards at night for the first time and by midnight chaos reigns. When we go on trail rides we want it to be an enjoyable experience for you the rider and your horse. You want to go again and you want your horse to want to go also. Whatever you ask your horse to do out on the rail away from home you should try and expose him to those things at home in his comfort zone.
If you want to join TRA rides to experience Trail Riding you can contact the Beechmont and District Trail riders on 55331061
This club rides on the 1st Sunday of the MonthOr
Mudgeeraba and Hinterland Trail RidersThis club rides on the 3rd Sunday of the month.
Email [email protected] [email protected].
On the1st May and 2nd May which is the long weekend The Mudgeeraba Club is holding a working bee in the am of these days and education sessions in the pm. If you are not a member you are welcome to attend these education sessions and the cost will be $10.00 per session.
These sessions will be held at our new club grounds on Worongary Road opposite the Gilston School., Oval at the traffic lights at the school.
Safe RidingFor further details contact Graeme Sleeman
0400941389
A Few Tips for
Safe Camping on Trail Rides
www.trailridingaustralia-inc.org
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Personally my first experience riding a horse in a live show was in 1989 in the Blue Mountains. How hard could it be? I thought. What the lovely pony clubber teenage girl failed to tell me was that "Mandy" (The horse on loan to me that I had to ride amongst school children) hated school bags. She used to be kept in a paddock next to a primary
school and some of the rat bags used to try and hit her with them. So, although my character didn't have a school bag, "Mandy" thought the back pack I was carrying looked
very much like one but only after I was sitting on her back. She bolted and so did I. She didn't stop....but I did.
This piece of unfortunate history is something I always remember when casting horses and riders into my arena productions around Australia. I'm sure you can image the horses and riders that turn up to be part of one of my Troupe Drill routines or Kelly Gang members and other horse action sequences. I just can't take the risk of having a horse and rider not
in control out there so the selection process and rehearsals are vital to ensure a safe passage thorough all performances of my live shows.
Also consider that appart from 30 or 40 horses and riders out there in the Arena I also have 150 dancers, 80 singers in a choir, World War 2 veterans in vintage cars, CWA ladies and a number of other groups and organizations too numerous to mention. All up - there can be
as many as 600 people out there on the arena and our horses and riders have to perform in a designated area a safe distance away from all of these people.
That's a challenge and one we can't fail in. I'm very happy to say that of the 30 Arena Spectaculars I've produced we've only had minor horse related incidences that has seen a rider come off in practice as horses sort out whether or not they want to be put in such an
unnatural environment as a piece of theatre.
But all the hard work is worth it because at the end of the day people love to see horses in live shows. They look great, cover large distances quickly and tug on heart strings when the formations are spot on. Overlay a beautiful music score and you leave the audience wanting more. The riders too love to be part of these shows as they form life-long memories, make
new friends, challenge themselves and share a unique experience with their horse.
Go Well.... and if ever you voluntarily jump off a bolting horse....don't do it where there's a tree. It hurts!
Mark Eady, Creative ProducerOzworks Creative and Entertainment
www.ozworks.net
U s i n g H o r s e s i n L i v e S h o w s .
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w w w . d o w n u n d e r p h o t o g r a p h y . c o
Out & About on The
gold coast
www.nobitbridles.com
For thousands of years the use of bits has been common place and, in a lot of disciplines, mandatory. As we have continued to discover more advanced ways of caring for our horses, the use of bits still strangely remains the norm. This is despite the facts we know about the damage they can cause to the mouth and teeth of the horse, not to mention the psychological impacts through abuse of the bit.
It’s not really until we are on the receiving end of some head tossing or shaking, bucking or some severe pulling that we start asking questions about our choice of gear and sadly even then we miss the most common cause of the horse’s reactions – the bit.
So what’s the answer? A bitless bridle of course! There are many styles available now but one that has been around for several years (and is made in Australia) is the NoBit Bridle™. Originally developed for the Australian market.
Probably the most common reason people switch to bitless rid-ing is for the welfare of the horse. While owners may be getting good results from a bit, they believe that the horse would be happier without that metallic intrusion into one of the horse’s most sensitive areas. We spend so much time and effort fitting our saddles, looking after their feet and maintaining the cor-
rect feeding regimes to ensure our horses are comfortable and healthy, but then we tend to overlook such a crucial area of the horse – his mouth. Even the lightest of contact on the reins has impact on the bit, causing pressure to the bars of the mouth, not to mention contact against the teeth or on any remnants of wolf teeth, causing discomfort and in some cases outright pain.
The second most common reason people make the transition to bitless is “behavioural problems”. Many bit related problems are hard to diagnose because there doesn’t seem to be any logi-cal connection between the bit and the behaviour. All too com-monly we reach for a stronger or different bit when our horse shows reluctance to stop or perform to our standards. Just think about how much money you have wasted on the eternal search for the perfect bit.
Making the transition to bitless is easier than you may think. Provided your horse is yielding well to pressure then the No-Bit Bridle™ should work well with your horse, regardless of age, breed, discipline or your experience level. Because the horse’s reactions are instinctive and are based on the halter training (learning to give to pressure) that we give them from a young age, there is little or no retraining required for the majority of horses to understand and make the change from a bitted bridle to the NoBit Bridle™. And to you it feels just like a normal bridle, except that less effort is usually required to get the same result.
Will you still be able to achieve a correct frame, contact and col-lection while using the NoBit Bridle™? Absolutely! Collection is something your horse will naturally achieve in the paddock, he does not need a bit to be able to perform something he does naturally. As riders we really need to replace the term “on the bit” with “working into the bridle” as that is what your horse
will be doing when working bitless. What you may find is that he is more relaxed and happier in his work be-cause the bit is not there anymore. In fact, this is something we see of-ten, even with bad pullers, along with improved balance and performance through a more natural head and neck position.
The NoBit Bridle™ is not just for pleasure riders either. Many forms of competition allow the use of bitless bridles and it is starting to become common to see them at events as more and more riders look for better options for their h o r s e s . They are being used by riders as young as two years of age and on horses performing show jumping, cross country, endur-ance and even thoroughbred and harness racing. We also see a lot of dressage riders training bitless to help refine their work, even though to date bits are still mandatory in this discipline. Thankfully overseas, National versions of the FEI are trialing bitless bridles in competition dressage so we may soon see a change in Australia as well.
So while bitless riding may still be classed as a fashionable fad by some, the choice to try bitless is for sound valid reasons for the wellbeing of our horses and not just for good looks!
Written by: Nicole Rosevear
Bitless Bridles –Fad or Fabulous?
The NoBit Bridle™ is now used all over the world on thousands of horses.
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Ph: 07 5596 4886 Fax: 07 5596 6885 Email: [email protected]
Easter Family Fun RacedaySaturday 23rd AprilGates open 10am.
FREE kids entertainment and activities 11am - 3pm
Families will flock to the annual Gold Coast Turf Club’s Easter Family Fun Raceday on Saturday the 23rd of April for a day of free entertainment, activities and chocolicious fun!
* Eggs, eggs and more eggs with the Cadbury Easter Egg giveaway!* Special visit from the Easter Bunny * Kids Fashions On The Field Competition* Pony rides * Petting zoo* Jumping castle* Face painting* Sumo wrestling* Craft tent* …and much more!
The excitement kicks off at 11am with pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, jumping castle, sumo wres-tling, colouring in competitions and more. There will also be a children’s Fashions On The Field competi-tion, with prizes awarded in the 0-5, 6-10 and 11+ cat-egories.
What’s more, there will be a very special visit from the Easter Bunny, and the ever popular chocolate easter egg giveaway!The big kids will also be thoroughly entertained, with an exciting racing program throughout the day.
General admission is $10 (Kids under 18 free)
A free courtesy bus will operate from Tweed Heads through Surfers in both the morning and afternoon.
Prime Ministers Cup RacedaySaturday 7th MayGates open 10am.
Celebrate the start of the Winter Racing Carnival with an action packed day full of incredible racing, fash-ions, music, entertainment and glamour!
Featuring over $1 million in prize money!
Including* $300,000 Group 2 AD Hollindale Stakes* $175,000 Prime Ministers Cup
Fashions On The FieldOff the track the ladies and lads will be strutting their stuff to win a sensational basket of prizes worth thou-sands!Registration is FREE to enter and will take place on the day. Join in the fun, or come and watch the breathtak-ing fashions on show!
Categories are* Best dressed female* Best dressed male* Best hat/fascinator
Plus a dedicated FREE Pamper Precinct where you can indulge in mini massages, hair and makeup touch ups, plus get all the latest beauty advice from the pro-fessionals!
Dining and function packages have been released and selling fast – contact functions on 07 5538 1599 for more information.
General admission is $15 (Kids under 18 free)
A free courtesy bus will operate from Tweed Heads through Surfers in both the morning and afternoon
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THE TRUE TOURISM POTENTIAL OF AN UPGRADED BUNDALL FACILITY AND HOSTING OF THE SUMMER MAGIC MILLIONS IS YET TO BE TAPPED
gold coast racinghuge untapped potential
$49 Million UpgradeFor Gold Coast Turf Club
Bob Bentley, Chairman of Racing Qld Limited:
In the short time that Racing Queensland Limited has been in operation (since July 1, 2010) it has had the unique opportunity to look at the industry as a whole.
As part of the amalgamation of the three codes, Racing Queensland Limited undertook a review of all racing venues in order to make better use of the available facili-ties for the benefit of the entire industry and to secure the future of racing in Queensland.
The multi-million dollar Industry Infrastructure Plan was about using existing industry venues more strategically, creating new multi-use facilities and modernising racing operations.
If implemented, the Industry Infrastructure Plan would deliver an upgrade of facilities located in key racing areas such as the Gold Coast. However, from the beginning RQL has been clear that implementation of the Plan would rely on securing funds
from a number of sources in redirected wagering tax already committed by the Queensland Government, the scrapping of the proposed Logan Greyhound facility and the sale of Albion Park Raceway. Currently, progress on the Industry Infrastructure Plan has been held up due to the former Queensland Harness Racing Limited board mounting legal action to prevent the sale of Albion Park.It is unfortunate that a few people chose to take a course of action to thwart the delivery of the Industry Infrastruc-ture Plan that stands to benefit so many throughout the racing industry in Queensland.Feedback that was provided and collated late last year indicated widespread industry support for the imple-mentation of the Industry Infrastructure Plan. This has been conveyed to the Queensland Government, which no doubt has a range of pressing issues that have stemmed from the recent catastrophic occurrences witnessed in many parts of Queensland.
www.magicmillions.com.au
34
www.countrypark.com.au
NADEC - Showjumping Competition 30th April Contact: Shelly Homes Ph: 0402 821 322 GCHG - David Quick Clinic 9th & 10th April Ph: 0407971188
What’s On CalendarShow Jumping
www.qld.equestrian.org.au April 2011
36
May 2011 GCHG - Jump Club 28th May Ph: 0407971188
37
Starting A Show Jumping Careerwith Anthony Murray & Ellie Pajovic
There are various different aspects of the horse that combine to make the show jumper we want. Some of these points have stronger weight than others and these vary in priority between riders. For example, it is often found that a horse with a good temperament and poor conformation may be quick to learn and more obliging to train and so will progress faster than a horse with naturally good conformation and scope (ability to jump) but not such a good work ethic. On the other hand, the first horse may progress faster but its ability may eventually be compromised by poor conformation and not allow it to progress to a higher level.
This is just an overview on some things you may consider next time you go to look at a new horse, or may even answer a few questions your current horse poses... Temperament:The horse of choice would prefer-ably be calm but quick to learn. By “calm” we mean relaxed enough to be able to process information quickly without becoming upset or hot. It is important for the horse to be able to think quickly and re-act to our aids as there is always another jump not too far away to get organised for!! If a mistake is made on course it is a good asset if the horse is able to cope with the necessary adjustments and con-tinue on to complete the round to their best ability. In other words, we would say a horse that will cope with training pressure. We would hope that the horse would be brave but not uncareful. A brave horse is a bonus as it will obviously give you an advantage over the more difficult obstacles. Some horses can appear to be spooky and unfocused around the arena but are not so concerned with the actual jump. This should hopefully improve with training and experience.
The horses’ braveness should not compromise how careful it is go-ing over a jump - it must be brave, yet careful and have respect for the jump so as not to touch it. Types and Breeds:Although throroughbreds and warmbloods are often the mounts seen to dominate the show jumping scene, almost any horse can jump - it is after all an essential natural movement to survive and escape in the wild. There are many types that show the ability to go to some level of jumping. More and more cross breeds are appearing and bringing different attributes to the sport. Again it is important to find a type suitable to you and your present level of experience. Breeding:Breeding cannot guarentee you a world class show jumper but ge-netics are worth considering especially if buying a young horse not yet under saddle or free jumping.
Conformation:As mentioned before, there are always exceptions to the rule - temperament, intellect & ability can exceed conformation but generally a horse that is better put together and built for the sport will find its job easier and is more likely to have a higher degree of soundness. The back end of the show jumper is important as this is where the ability to spring lies.Starting over the top of the back, the lumbosacral (LS) joint - where the spine meets the sacrum - needs to be well positioned. This joint enables the engaged horse to carry the weight off the fore-hand and shift it onto the hind quarters. This allows the forward and upward motion and supports the front end of the horse in the stretch, particularly over spreads. The further back behind the
point of hip the LS joint appears the more stress that is put on the joint.
If you were to draw a line from the point of hip to point of buttock to stifle and back to point of hip again it would be most preferable for this shape to be a equal lateral tri-angle (equi-distant between each point). The more “crouch” the horse can get the more spring it can produce. If the distance from hip to stifle is smaller less spring can be compressed and therefore less power is produced and less jump is made. For the same rea-son it is important that the hocks are strong and spring loaded too. A horse with a lower stifle is pref-erable. It would be expected that a horse with a higher stifle may be
compised in scope in the higher levels as it restricts the height and width a horse can clear.
Hooves should appear healthy and the straighter the line from the fetlock through the hoof (pastern hoof axis) the better. The horse needs the best hoof care possible with regular good farriering. A horse with better hooves will be happier in his work and sounder in his career. A majority of problems with hooves can be at least improved if not corrected. If you are concerned about the hooves of a horse you are hoping to buy ask a farriers advice and keep in mind that you may have to be patient with the correcting process. A horse with a good sloping shoulder is an advantage. Generally these horses give you a smoother ride with a better canter - a good canter is paramount in a jumping horse. The horses anatomy moves as one motion from the shoulder to the knee and as the horse rolls its shoulder back the fore leg lifts. A good angle al-lows a better roll back of the shoulder, allowing a higher lift of the knees. This will enable the horse to more easily “tuck” its front legs out of the way. A straight shoulder blocks the movement of the fore leg and can create concussion.
If you are unsure about going to look at a new horse yourself it is often a good idea to ask your instructor if they are available to see the horse with you,
or even take a video for a second opinion. Always remember...
It is most important overall to choose a horse that you are comfortable with. Hopefully these pointers may have helped shine some light on things to consider, or at least have been of interest to you
if not now maybe in the future...
Hi, in this issue we hope to provide a little insight in what to look out for when choosing a mount for show jumping, but first a brief introduction to who we are....
Together, (under the careful eye of our one year old son!) we run a breaking and training yard near Jimboomba, catering to start horses for all olympic disciplines and taking horses on for training & competing in show jumping and dressage. We provide instruction
both private and clinics. Anthony is also a certificate III course designer & judge and has ridden at world cup level over the years.
Finding a Horse for Show Jumping
38
Coaches & TrainersJump ing
Larkbeare Farm Equine ServicesBreaking-in / Training,Instruction & Farrier workSpecialising in the breaking-in &training of performance horsesfor all disciplines
0400 931 148 or 0438 868 436 [email protected] (Logan Village, SEQ)
Anthony Murray & Ellie Pajovic
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Paris is a QH (Paint) x TB. She’s capable of novice dressage & jumps up to 1.1m in competition & is schooling 1.2m at home. Has been to PC & agricultural shows. Entered in 2011 Toowoomba Royal Show. Beautiful nature. Foward moving but quiet. Best suited to a capable young rider who’s looking for a fun but serious competition horse. Youtube Wynd-
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All horses experience stresses upon their bodies as a result of the work we ask them to do. To cut a very long story short, this is because they aren’t biomechanically designed to carry our weight. This gives us a responsibility to en-sure that their bodies are properly maintained and that the constant stresses they experience don’t eventually lead to a permanent compromise in their movement.
Equine Positional Release is an approach derived from osteopathy that works on the horse’s muscular and skeletal systems. It works extensively on vertebral realignment, as well as addressing shoulder and pelvic imbalance, includ-ing rotation. By stimulating the sensory receptors found in joints, muscles and tendons, it’s possible to help the horse achieve skeletal realignment and release of tension throughout its whole body.
Importantly, the work removes the layers of compensation issues that inhibit your horse’s movement. This is when earlier physical problems have caused the horse to adapt in their overall balance, with the result that another area of their body becomes overworked and stressed. These more recent problems can then lead on to further compensa-tion, and so on.
To help with this, the bodywork has a built-in ‘re-education’ aspect, so that the horse’s body not only realigns, but the horse’s awareness takes on board the fact that the realignment has happened. There is no point in correcting problems in the body, if the horse continues to move in the ‘wrong’ way.
What many owners like about this approach is that it’s so remarkably light, despite being profoundly effective. Used after an extensive assessment of the horse’s posture, range of motion and way of moving, this method of joint realignment and soft tissue release can address a very wide range of issues. The rewards are considerable: postural improvements, improved biomechanical function, faster recovery from injury and, most importantly, a horse who is able to move better.
Jane Clothier works on the Gold Coast and hinterland, providing bodywork for horses and saddle fit checks. She also runs a one-day workshop, ‘Saddle Fit Essentials for Horse Owners’, at venues in the region.
www.balancedhorse.com.au
Maximising Your Horse’s Potential for
Movement
What’s on CalendarShowing/Agricultural
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Oxenford Pony Club - T-Shirt Hack Show 10th April Ph: 0417 840 367
April 2011
Kooralbyn Pony Club - Open Hack Show 14th May Contact: Cheryl Harris Ph: 07 5544 6474 Email: [email protected] Web: www.freewebs.com/kooralbynponyclub
Boonah Show 20th - 22nd May Contact: Beth Hern Ph: 5463 1124 Email: [email protected] Web: www.boonahshowsociety.org.au
Surrounding Areas May 2011
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Grooming Tips - From the TopShow groomers share secret techniques for making their horses stand out on show day.
Every top show groom has his or her own bag of tricks out of which they pull some secret technique to make their horses stand out. Here's a list of tips to help you shine on show day:
• For really white socks or stockings, dust the legs with baby powder, corn starch or French white chalk.
• To cut down on static electricity in the mane and tail, use dryer sheets. One wipe-down through the hair will help eliminate static.
• Rub a dab of baby oil along the bridle path to get rid of that chalky, just-clipped look and make it shiny.
• For breeds that show with a patent-leather shiny hoof, fill in any old nail holes with a spackling compound that matches the colour of your horse's hoof. For a black foot, the colour of the compound won't matter. To polish the feet, use the wax-based, cake shoe polishes to add a deep luster to the foot while protecting it from the drying effects of hoof lacquer, which can be applied over the shoe polish.
• When you don't need to pull the mane, use thinning shears to shorten it without having the chopped look of scissor cuts.
• Clippers can give you the effect of a pulled tail, without having to pull out hairs. Run the clippers carefully along the outside of the dock and down about 4 to 6 inches, just up to the point where the hair begins to crest over. Thin the hairs along the top of the tail and blend longer hairs to gradually blend into the shorter ones.
• To make your horse shiny mix your shampoo in water and add baby oil.
• Wash your horse a couple of days before the show so the oils of the coat have time to work to the surface for a natural shine. Keep a light sheet on to keep the coat clean until show day.
• If you choose not to braid a horse's mane, lay a dampened towel over the neck to help the hairs lie down smoothly.
• Keep a wrap on your horse's braided tail - temporarily - so that it arrives at the show grounds with the braid intact.
• Apply only one coat of hoof oil or dressing if arena footing is deep. The oil will collect dirt, but the judge will know that you made the effort.
• Instead of using rags to wipe down your horse, purchase inexpensive knit gloves (available at most Chemists or hardware stores) and apply the product directly to them. When you are finished, they can be washed.
• For coarse tails, use a hot oil treatment in addition to your regular equine conditioner to soften the hairs and make them flow.
• Clipping excess hair to show refinement of the socks, fetlocks, tail, bridle path, ears, muzzle and jaw. If you clip the inside of your horse's ears, place cotton inside to prevent hairs from entering the ear canal and also to deaden the buzz of the clippers.
• On some colours, darkening the colour of the legs using ravens oil, enhances the coat colour and finish.
• Darkening the muzzle and ear region to simulate a ‘summer’ face/coat, done with specialised makeup or chalk and baby oil (my preferred method, easy and cheap!)
• If you like the sleek, shiny look on the face, try using Brylcreem instead of baby oil. This wonderful men's hair product creates a natural shine that sets off your horse without making him look oily. It only takes a little bit to add polish to your horse's face.
• Dyeing the tail of the bay horse to eliminate sun bleaching and to show a nice gloss to the hair. Flaxen and palomino horses often need a stronger method of cleaning to eliminate urine stains if a tail bag has not been used. Sard Wonder Soap or Sunlight Soap in the bar, works amazing on white tails and socks.
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www.showhorsedesigns.com.au
42
TM
Please visit www.secretstrands.com.au to view our new arrivals and gallery.
Horse ClippingHeather Crack
Ph: 5546 3276 / 0408 193 131
Australian Arabian National ChampionshipsTamworth 2011
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What’s On CalendarWesetern/Performance
www.nationalrodeoassociation.com.auwww.prorodeo.asn.au
April 2011
April 2011
May 2011
Surrounding Areas
To Advertise your upcoming Events for FREEContact: Gold Coast Local Horse Magazine at
National Finals Rodeo 7th - 10th AprilContact: Ticketek Ph: 132 849
Barrel Racing - Canungra Show Grounds 2nd AprilContact: Katrina Pugley
National Finals Rodeo 7th - 10th AprilContact: Ticketek Ph: 132 849
Barrel Racing - Gympie Horse and Rodeo Grounds 9th AprilContact: Katrina Pugsley 0403 649635
Barrel Raceing - Toorbul 17th April
Barrel Racing - Toogoolawah Showgrounds 17th AprilContact: NBHA Ph: 0448 995 049
Roma Bull Ride 22nd April
Barrel Racing - Harlin Jackpot 23rd AprilContact: Jenny Moore 0417 786935
Emerald Easter Sunflower Festival Rodeo 23rd April
Barrel Racing - Harlin Open Event 24th AprilContact: Jenny Moore 0417 786935
Roma Rodeo 24th April
Barrel Racing - Woodenbong Jackpot 30th AprilContact: Andrea Reid
St George Rodeo 1st May
Beaudesert Rodeo 7th May
Barrel Racing - Gympie - Open Event 7th May
Barrel Racing - Gympie - Jackpot Open 8th May
Barrel Racing - Rathdowney Showgrounds - Jackpot Open 15th May
Barrel Racing - Nambour Showgrounds - Open Event 29th May
45
Barrel Racing is an Event in which three 44 gallon drums are used. These barrels are set up and run in a clover leaf pattern. It is the rider’s choice to begin with a left hand or right handed course. Depending on the arena the barrel course may differ in size. The rider that is able to execute the correct pattern in the fastest time wins. The Goal is to turn as tightly as possible around the barrels while keeping your speed throughout the pattern without knocking a Barrel down, if this does occur penalty or elimination will be the outcome.
A horse for barrel racing needs to be controlled, willing, calm and intelligent. Barrel Racing horses have great tempera-ments, soft eye, and speed and agility. The most popular breed for the sport is the American Quarter horse which is Shorter bodied yet stocky and versatile type; this is ideal because they are bred for speed yet also can shut down the speed quickly to get around the barrels.
Barrel Racing becomes a passion creating a very big addiction that many of us love to do, It is like no other sport, where every hundredth of a second counts. It is the relationship that the rider and the horse share that ultimately lead to success.
National Barrel Horse Association (Affiliated with America) which is situated in South East Queensland region, is a great way to get started into barrel racing. Whether you’re an experienced Rodeo competitor, Jackpot competitor, a pony club rider or starting Barrel Racing NBHA is perfect for you.
The NBHA is a 4 D format which gives all competitors a chance at a division. The format encourages everyone to learn, and succeed and build their skills and work towards other higher divisions, while still staying competitive and having a chance at winning money or prizes. The Divisions work by 1D-Riders with the fastest time of the day , 2D These are the competitors ½ second slower than the overall fastest time , 3 D These are the competitors who are 1 second slower than the overall fastest time, 4 D These are the competitors 2 seconds slower than the overall fastest time. The NBHA is also the only Barrel Racing Association in the Country to be able to offer their finalist to go and compete in the USA NBHA world finals in Georgia to represent Australia.
For Barrel Racing enthusiasts interested in seeing these barrel events and these Associations grow and become widely available, means it is essential to support them at every opportunity available by either becoming an member or competitor, promoting the club, fundraising and assisting in the running of events, donating to the club etc .
THIS SPORT CAN AND WILL BECOME BIGGER AND BETTER AS IT GROWS EVERY YEAR.
National Barrel Horse Association Contact details:
http://nbhaaustralia.webs.comEmail: [email protected] Written by: Courtney McGeechan
The EXTREME sport ofBarre l Rac ing
Its fast paced, its an addiction for speed!!
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T h e N a t i o n a l F i n a l s R o d e o C o w b o y s t a k e H a t s O f f
T o G o l d C o a s t C o n v e n t i o n a n d E x h i b i t i o n C e n t r eORGANISERS of the re-scheduled 2011 National Finals Rodeo have dipped their wide-brimmed cowboy hats to the
crew at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
After the planned January finals were postponed because of the Queensland flood emergency, 400 tonnes of dirt and over 500 tonnes of cattle and horseflesh created a mountain of work that suddenly had to be moved to later in
the year.
It was a monumental logistical and re-scheduling task, but thanks to the Convention and Exhibition Centre and ma-jor supporter Jupiters the rodeo will go ahead from Thursday 7th to Sunday 10th April.
Australia’s top 120 rodeo stars will saddle up to compete in six events - Bareback Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Bar-rel Racing, Saddle Bronc Riding, Team Roping and Bull Riding.
It will run at the same time and in the same precinct as the 2011 Australian Surf Life Saving Titles, something sure to provide a massive economic boost for Broadbeach and the Gold Coast.
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) General Manager Adrienne Readings said the much-antici-pated Rodeo was expected to be a returning hit among local Gold Coasters and interstate fans who make an annual
trip to the Sunshine State especially for the event.
“After some delay due to circumstances beyond our control, we are pleased that the National Finals Rodeo is back up and running for what we anticipate to be another successful year.
“Each year the Rodeo adds to our growing list of diverse public events attracting thousands to the venue and adding significant economic boost to the surrounding area,” she said.
Other National Finals Rodeo supporters include Gold Coast Tourism, Queensland Tourism, Broadbeach Alliance, RACV Royal Pines Resort, Ford, Australian Outback Spectacular, Tyrells Wines and Fourex Gold.
Adult tickets start at $19 children’s tickets at $12 and family tickets start at only $50.
There are also three, four and five session passes and tickets are available now at www.nfrgoldcoast.com.au, www.ticketek.com or at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre ticket office on 07 5504 4181.
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.
Veterinary
Email: [email protected]: www.westernsaddles.com.au
Phone: 55333081
Why are tendon strain injuries so common?Horses carry a greater proportion of their weight through their forelimbs so the flexor tendons are frequently placed under loads close to their functional limits dur-ing maximal exercise or competition. This makes them susceptible to overstrain injuries. Commonly injury results from an accumulation of repetitive forces which eventually overload the tendon causing tearing of the tendon fibers. Although less common, tendons may be injured if they receive external injury from a blunt force while under a heavy load such as an interference injury during galloping or racing. These injuries often have accompanying skin and soft tissue bruising/contusion overlying the region of tendon damage. Although the precise mechanisms causing tendon strain are not fully understood factors that contribute to injury include foot balance/shoeing, conformation, bodyweight, track conditions, fatigue, competition distance and training regime.
DiagnosisRecognition of clinical signs associated with tendon in-jury allows early diagnosis, (typically reducing the sever-ity of the injury), facilitates prompt treatment and often results in an improved long term outcome. Signs of in-flammation include swelling or a change in profile of the tendon (“bowed tendon”) (Fig 1), and heat and pain on palpation. Lameness is not always apparent or it may be transient and mild and does not necessarily correlate to the severity of the injury. If any of these signs are evident they should be evaluated by your veterinarian immedi-ately. Ultrasound evaluation may be required to detect the presence of a tendon strain. (Fig 2 and 3)
TreatmentThe aim of treatment is to reduce inflammation to mini-mise further damage and promote healing and decrease the amount of scar tissue formation. Scar tissue is weaker and less elastic than normal tendon tissue and is suscep-tible to re-injury. Initial inflammation is controlled by
systemic medication (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and physical therapy such as icing (20 mins three times daily) and pressure bandaging.Graded exercise programs have a dramatic improvement in the prognosis for return to competition compared to pasture turnout alone and are an important component of the rehabilitation process. Early unrestricted turnout may result in re-injury of the tendon as the damaged fib-ers cannot withstand any sudden heavy loading. A con-trolled exercise program gradually loads the tendon in increasing amounts which stimulates and improves heal-ing of the tendon. Other treatments aimed at improv-ing the quality of healing of the damaged fibers include shockwave therapy or injections directly into the lesion (damaged area of the tendon). Intra-lesional injections include Stem Cells and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP).
Recent advances in stem cell research have led to the de-velopment of new collection and processing techniques for stem cells in horses. This new technique, developed by Medivet Australia, means that the procedure can now be completed in one day and can be done at approxi-mately half of the previous costs. We can now collect adipose (fat) tissue from the rump of the horse and iso-late very large numbers of mesenchymal stem cells form this tissue. The cells are then re-injected into the tendon (or ligament) via ultrasound guidance.
PRP therapy uses a component of the horse’s own blood (the platelet) which contains growth factors and proteins that stimulate and improve healing to form a stronger better organized tendon. The technique involves same day blood collection, sample processing and injection into the injured tendon.
These procedures are used widely in leading clinics in Australia and the USA and are available at GCEC. For more detailed information regarding tendon and liga-ment injuries and to determine the best treatment op-tions for your horse, please refer to our website or call to speak to a veterinarian.
“Bowed Tendons”Why, How & What To Do
By: Gold Coast Equine Clinic
Fig 1 Obvious
change in profile of the back of the
leg
Fig 2 Cross section of a tendon showing a core
lesionFig 3
Corresponding ultrasound
image of the core lesion of the tendon in
Fig 2 Left
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Veterinary
Ph: 07 5570 298815 Ken Russell Court, Bundall
E: [email protected] W: www.trackvet.com.au
• FullyEquippedSurgicalFacility
• PoorPerformanceEvaluation
• LamenessExamination
• DigitalRadiography
• DiagnosticUltrasound
• VideoEndoscopy
• ShockwaveTherapy
• StemCellTherapy• Prepurchaseexaminations
• IRAPJointTherapy
DrCharlieMcCormackBVSc&AssociatesDrPaulRobinsonBVScDipACVS
DrMatthewMorahanBVSc
New Equine Surgery & Clinic
51
GOLD COAST EQUINE CLINICThe Gold Coast Equine Clinic is a new veterinary centre created specifically for horses. Located
close to the Gold Coast Turf Club and adjacent to the Magic Millions sales complex, the GCEC is the only equine veterinary facility on the God Coast. From this base our equine veterinarians service an area stretching from Brisbane in the north, west to Beaudesert and south across the border into
Northern New South Wales.
The new clinic is equipped with full surgical and diagnostic facilities including sterile and non sterile surgery theatres, padded recovery room, large undercover work station and crush area,
lameness trot-up area as well as overnight stabling.
These new features are complimented by our diagnostic equipment including video endoscopy, digital radiography and digital ultrasound. This enables our vets to diagnose and treat horses on site in an efficient and professional manner, utilising modern and practical facilities and state of the art
equipment.
Our surgical suite is equipped with the latest anaesthetic and patient monitoring equipment enabling us to conduct a full range of surgical procedures from complicated arthroscopic and orthopaedic
surgery through to routine gelding operations.
www.aera.asn.au/gera
www.equissage.com.au
52
2011 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORMOFFICE USE ONLY
CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP & COST: ALL FEES QUOTED INCLUDE GST AT 10% AND INSURANCE. CLASS TOTAL GOLD CARD Single Riding $ 175 $ 145 NOTE: New members are eligible for Gold Card rate. Junior Riding $ 80 $ N/A Renewing members must provide club verifying their Gold Card rate Student Riding $ 155 $ 125 Associate $ 70 $ 40 (Non riding members) Family $ 340 $ 310/280 (2 adult riding members - additional junior riders $57 each)
DETAILS: MEMBER 1 Family Single Junior Student Associate
Surname: Given Name: DOB:
Postal Address:
Postcode:State:
Phone: Fax:
Email:Membership No: Type:
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Name of club verifying Gold Card status:
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DETAILS: MEMBER 2 (Family Membership Only)
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DETAILS: ADDITIONAL MEMBERS (Family Membership Only)Please include further family members on another form if required.
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I undertake to conduct myself in a manner not to be injurious or prejudicial to the character or interests of the sport of Endurance riding or the AERA Inc. via the State Management Committee. I also undertake to abide by the riding rules, procedures and veterinary standards of AERA/QERA Inc.
SIGNATURE APPLICANT 1: SIGNATURE APPLICANT 2:
SIGNATURE PARENT/GUARDIAN FOR APPLICANTS UNDER 18:
Please complete this form and accompanying waiver and send with payment to: QERA INC REGISTRAR, PO BOX 618, GYMPIE, QLD 4570
Cheques to be made payable to QUEENSLAND ENDURANCE RIDERS ASSOCIATION INC
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MEMBERSHIP NUMBER:YES NO
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Palomino GoldHelp ensure your PalominoLooks a Million Dollars!!
Palomino Gold is the world’s first supplement formulated specifically for Palomino horses! Extensive field trials with leading Palomino breeders and show exhibitors have shown that when fed as directed with a ‘white’ feed diet, Palomino Gold minimises the risk of dark ‘smutty’ patches in the coat, giving a healthy golden coat with uniform colour. Palomino Gold contains 5 individual supplet pellets, blended at an optimum ration to correct low or inadequate levels of important nutrients, without any excesses which can lead to unwanted dark smutty patches and coat colour variation. Palomino Gold is the ideal supplement to put the gold back in your Palomino’s coat.
John Kohnke Products
1800112227
P.O Box 3234 Rouse HillNSW 2155
www.kohnkesown.com
53
www.annieminton.com.au
From
Features and Benefits:Quick ‘n’ Easy Erection • High Quality Cotton PVC Material (Waterproof, rot and mould resistant) • Improved Finish Edges are finished with a Heat Welded Seam Tape • Sturdy Locking Mechanisms (The Cam-locks on the telescopic legs are now Metal and include a revised travelling rubber block for the legs) • New Legs to Stand-On (The Aluminium legs are now all anodized) • Protection from the Elements (Heavier Duty travel bag offers maximum protection in between uses) • Enhanced Accessories (The Mosquito Net (accessory) now comes with additional tie-down points and a mudflap on the bottom)
Open Sky Awnings come with 1 Year ‘no fuss’ warranty!
Open Sky Awning – 1250 210cm Deep x 125cm Wide
Open Sky Awning – 2000 210cm Deep x 200cm Wide
Open Sky Mosquito Net - 2000 210cm Deep x 200cm Wide
Open Sky Awning - 2500 210cm Deep x 250cm Wide
Open Sky Mosquito Net - 2500 210cm Deep x 250cm Wide
Available Sizes:
COME ON DOWN – Mon to Fri 8.00am - 5.00pm and Sat 8.00am - 12.00pmOpposite Lock Gold Coast: 2/26 Spencer Road Nerang QLD 4211
Ph: 07 5596 4886 Fax: 07 5596 6885 Email: [email protected]
Specialising in visually attractive equestrian design
Websites & Design
Isuzu Truck FRR550 and 5 horse Gooseneck - The Complete Package Isuzu crew cab FRR550, 1998 model with 2 custom made removable tack boxes, pioneer custom fitted stereo with
bluetooth, 163,146klms + 5 horse gooseneck with living, kitchenette, shower and gas hot water system.
More photos available on request. Price $90,000Ph: Danny 0418755816 or email [email protected]
FOR SALE
· 2 x HAYDON RAYGUN out of Edenhope Sam Mare 3 y.o and 4 y.o · Beautiful chestnut by T’bred out of Edenhope Sam Mare 7 y.o
· T’bred Mare played A grade 12 y.o , suitable for dressarge (very smart) · 7 y.o. Mare by Riveria Knight Opera out of Edenhope Sam Mare
All horses are beautiful to handle, well educated, bred to play polocrosse or campdraft. Please phone Danny 0418755816
email: [email protected]
5 Polocrosse Horses For Sale.0
Kara Kar 2 Horse Extended, 3 yrs old always kept under cover. Fits large and small horses with adjustable chest bars. Sides open with removable clears, saddle & bridle racks inside, electric brakes and very light weight and easy
to tow $8500 onoContact: Aleisha 0403498743 or 55337127
Brand New 2 Horse Deluxe Angle Load with all the bells and whistlesMetallic two tone paint in Silver and white, padded dividers, mag wheels,
rocker roller supspension, drop down side windows, swing out saddle tack box, inside above rug rack, pop up vents and back strut doors, fully lock-
able. Great little float! $14,000 ono first to see will buy!Contact: Aleisha 0403498743 or 55337127
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Features include:• over 3.25 acres, fully fenced with dam• 3 bed brick home with A/C & combustion heating• Sep self contained granny flat• Close to town, shops and schools• Motivated seller, must be sold
220 Green Ridge Rd , JIMBOOMBA Make an offer!!
Horse lovers, dual families, families with teenagers, truckies, home business…The list goes on! There are so many ways to enjoy this property and improve your lifestyle..
Outside you have over 3 acres, fully fenced and partitioned into paddocks. It’s perfect for horses, and ideal for other livestock. Why not become a Llama farmer?! The prop-erty also features a dam, shelters, large shed, chook enclosure and nearly completed dressage arena.
There are 2 dwellings. The first is a 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom brick home, with full length rear verandah overlooking the property. It also has combustion heating and R/C air conditioning. The kitchen is functional but it would be a great starting place to do a makeover and add your own personality.
This unique property also has a separate granny flat, with its own bathroom, sep bed-room and open plan kitchen/living area. Also heaps of storage and water.
All these features wrapped up in one bundle, located just a stone’s throw from the town centre. How could you go wrong??
Call today to arrange an inspection Bernard Hussey 0414 962291
Versat i l i ty PLUS!
www.4280.com.au PROPERTY ID: 445680
ww.sharpelabscom.au
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