What a thrill it is to have interstate competition back in full flight this summer. The buzz, the excitement, the social catch-ups are all restoring that sense of community that’s been missing for so long – especially in Victoria!
The Dressage Championships at Boneo Park and the Victorian Dressage Festival at Werribee Park brought out the best in competitors from several states, with the Willinga Park team making a big impact under head rider Jayden Brown. Jayden, coach Jenny Gehrke and their two grooms brought 10 horses from Prelim to GP, all revelling in the competitive atmosphere. Roger Fitzhardinge captures Team WP’s delight and successes in his coverage, while Dana Krause documents the major placegetters – including Maree Tomkinson’s farewell ride – declaring that “to simply be back in the arena had everyone feeling like a winner”.
We’re all looking forward to the summer glow continuing in the New Year with the Australian Youth Dressage Championships and Boneo CDI coming up later this month.
It may be a new year, but from Heath Ryan’s perspective many of the same issues remain in relation to developing Australia’s next generation of potential Olympians. Heath says there is still a need for a high performance program that builds future stars as we head towards Brisbane 2032.
This will come as a surprise to some, but a rider who has possibly had enough of dressage is Amanda Ross! The champion eventer has taken up show jumping with a passion, joking that “no one cares if your flying changes are late!” There is a fascinating reason behind Amanda’s conversion as she relates it in her typically entertaining style to Adele Severs.
Still on show jumping, we conclude our insightful series on how Diamond B Farm produces such high-quality horses, this time to Grand Prix, under the inimitable combination of Helen Chugg and Amanda Madigan.
Our eventing feature this issue is about the ambitions Dom and Jimmie Schramm have for 2022. This delightful Aussie-American husband-and-wife team are ready to attack five-star competition head-on after two years of Covid disruption. Their goal is to break out of the “emerging athlete category and to join that group of established upper-level riders”, Dom tells Amanda Young from their Pennsylvania property.
Still in the States, who among us has never privately entertained the idea of working as a cowhand on a cattle ranch in the Rocky Mountains? Now your secret desire can be fulfilled – we visit Vista Verde in Colorado where they have a pair of chaps waiting for you.
One of the harder decisions we make for our horses is choosing a suitable bit. Snaffle bits, curb bits, gag and combination bits all have a range of variations for different applications. Kerry Mack reminds us that what determines the severity and effectiveness of any bit are the hands that are holding the reins.
Veterinarian Dr Maxine Brain alerts us of the necessity to keep up a supply of good, clean water to horses in hot weather. Exactly how much depends on the horse and how healthy its kidneys are. Electrolytes also greatly influence the health of equine athletes in the warmer weather; young eventer Hannah Klep provide her tips on ensuring your horse is getting what it needs this summer.
Our Lifestyle section has three great summer reads this month. Michelle Terlato talks to Nicole Slater, a horse and animal lover who has finally got around to fulfilling her personal ambition to paint horses – in a big way. Michelle’s lovely photos show why Nicole’s supersized works are in big demand.
Following our widely-read feature last month on Racing Victoria’s progressive equine welfare program – led by an all-women team – Adele Severs meets another team of women doing remarkable work in Ireland. Three horse lovers from Dublin were so dismayed by the underside of equine welfare in a country famous for its ancient Thoroughbreds, they established a rescue service that is now leading the country in education and enforcement.
Finally, your movie to track down this month is Troy. “Bigger than Ben Hur” is a dated phrase for hyping something momentous, but in this case it applies. Hunky stars aside, this $185 million mash-up of the Greek classic features up to 100 horses in endless battle scenes. For authenticity, the horses had to be ridden bareback – “Although there were some historical liberties taken and we all wore underwear!” Eric Bana reveals to Suzy Jarratt!
Happy New Year, EQ
Robert McKay AM
Contributors
-
HEATH RYANNational equestrian personality, international dressage and eventing rider, Olympian, judge, coach and breeder, Heath is never backward in offering his unique insights into the sport and industry.
-
ROGER FITZHARDINGEAs a judge, coach, competitor and commentator, Roger’s passion to tell the real stories behind the horses and horse people shines through in his unique brand of equestrian photojournalism.
-
DR KERRY MACKGrand Prix dressage rider, coach and Mayfield Farm stud principal, Kerry draws on her learning as a qualified psychiatrist to approach training from the cerebral perspective as well as the physical.
-
DR MAXINE BRAINDr Maxine Brain is an equine vet dedicated to achieving optimal equine health and performance with her team at Kilmore Equine Clinic, which she founded.
-
MICHELLE TERLATOMichelle Terlato owns and rides horses and has exhibited her unique photos at Dressage & Jumping with the Stars, Melbourne International 3DE and the Australian Show Jumping Championships.
-
SUZY JARRATTSuzy has a rich background in newspaper journalism and radio broadcasting in NSW and nationally, and last year won an international award for equestrian journalism.
-
PHOEBE OLIVERHaving had horses all her life and ridden in nearly every country she has visited, Phoebe has recently combined her love and travel and horses with her background in PR to launch a new business — The Equine Collective.
-
DANA KRAUSEAn EA judge and FEI-level young rider, Dana Krause is currently undertaking an Arts/Science double degree at Monash University. When she’s not studying, she spends every moment she can with her beloved Prix St Georges level dressage horse, Taittinger.
Published by
EQ Life Pty Ltd
ABN 99142004064
ISSN 1839-034X
Postal address PO Box 1376
Hawksburn VIC 3142, Australia
Phone +61 492 887 961
Email info@eqlife.com.au
Web www.equestrianlife.com.au
Chairman
Robert McKay
Publisher
Sunday Batters
General Manager Content
Adele Severs
In-House Contributor
Amanda Young
Partnerships Co-ordinator
Ellie Jolley
Associate Editor
David Trounce
Account Executive
Kerith Laurie-Rhodes
Subscription Enquiries
info@eqlife.com.au, +61 492 887 961
Photography credits:
Michelle Terlato Photography, Bronwyn Evans, Willinga Park, Roger Fitzhardinge, One Eyed Frog Photography, Stephen Mowbray, Elizabeth Borowik Photography, Shannon Brinkman, Nixonphoto / Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, Cornege Photography, Rodney’s Photography, Brett Goldsmith, Mike Tarr Photography, Rushe Photography, Elaine Wessel/Phelps Media Group, Libby Law, FEI, Britt Grovenor Photography, Landmark Media, Allstar Picture Library Ltd & Alamy Stock Photo.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of EQ Life. To the extent permitted by law, EQ Life disclaims any liability whatsoever in relation to any advice, representation, statement, opinion or other matter expressed in this magazine. EQ Life does not accept responsibility for errors in advertisements, articles, unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. Riding, training or otherwise working with horses and other animals can be dangerous and may result in harm or injury. Readers of this magazine should not engage in such activities unless they do so safely.
© 2022 EQ Life Pty Ltd. Copyright subsists in this magazine. Except as permitted by law, this magazine may not, in whole or in part, be reproduced, published, adapted, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way or in any form, without the prior written consent of EQ Life. All rights reserved.
