Equitana

• Equitana Melbourne 2010

  
  
  

  

  
  (Cover Photo Equitana Melbounre 2010 published Jan-Feb 2011)
  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

   
  

  

  
  

  

  
  (First published in Australian Horseman magazine Jan-Feb 2011).
  
   
  

  Story and photos by James Vereker

  EQUITANA Melbourne 2010

  Australia’s largest equine event was held at the Melbourne Showgrounds attracting huge crowds from 18 to 21 November 2010. Exhibitions, clinics, competition and entertainment provide horse enthusiasts in all disciplines a variety of choices over four days.

  Equine experts in a host of specialisations from training-to-nutrition are complemented by international clinicians who share their knowledge and skills. Trainers and breeders showcase their services while riders participate in clinics, demonstrations, parades and high-level competition.

  Plenty of non-stop action is geared to large crowds attending each day’s events from dressage to trick-riding. Daily entry queues are a fact of life at EQUITANA and before the main nightly competition events - with most sold out in advance. However, visitors go home pleased with their education, competition and entertainment experience and are seen leaving carrying shopping bags laden with ‘horse stuff’ gleaned from over 300 trade exhibitors.

  Horsemanship

  Many clinics are devoted to horsemanship in various forms at EQUITANA and one of the leading presenters is Ian Francis. Dubbed ‘Mr Versatile’ for his success in training and performance through cutting, reining and campdrafting, his sessions are well-attended.

  While Francis at sixty-five years of age is still competitive in the saddle, he is devoting more time to sharing his experience and insights conducting clinics. “I’m not a ‘horse whisperer”, declares Ian. “I like my horses to hear me loud and clear.” In respect to dry workouts, he is a firm believer in variety and “…likes to ‘keep them guessing!” His aim is to get the horse to ‘go where you want’ and to cue his feet, shoulder, head and bridle as effectively as possible. Ian cautioned about ‘riding defensively’ expecting problems and conveying ‘indecision’, as it is a much better approach to be ‘authoritarian’ and clearly, ‘the leader’.

  In his ‘Horsemanship’ clinic Francis demonstrated the use of effective groundwork with a halter before any ridden work is contemplated. Attention and control on the ground is important, “You don’t get any more in the saddle”, says Ian.

  He introduced three participants to assess their ridden performance and provided feedback on improving their commands and horse behaviour at the walk, lope and canter.

  A further Francis clinic emphasised “Feel, Timing & Balance”. His goal is always for a horse to react to ‘a suggestion’ by using minimum pressure and/or aids. He looks for signs of relaxation such as the ‘head below the wither’, ‘resting a foot’ or ‘licking the lips’. In the saddle, the aim is to have the horse ‘feel to you’ and ‘to feel to him’. Ian wants to feel ‘lightness in the horse’s mouth’, to ‘soften on the rein’ and then ‘opens his fingers’ to him (the release/gives slack). Importantly, he doesn’t want to desensitise a horse “…the mouth, ribs and feet need to be light.”

  The prime issue is, ‘how much pressure’ is required to achieve the desired behaviour and ‘how much reward’ for compliance? His maxim for the order of pressure is, “Ask. Insist. Enforce!”. He invited everyone to appreciate the mystery of horse training is that “Repetition is the key!”

  His forums always drew plenty of questions from the crowds. Assessing a horse’s personality was a pertinent issue: “’Hair-trigger horses’ need to be treated in a slow manner, while ‘dull horses’ need to be sped-up and energised!”, the horse master volunteered.

  Clinics

  Rob Hodgman provided a clinic on “Cutting Training”. He demonstrated the basic manoeuvres using a fence-mounted sliding ‘Cowcutta’ marker for his horse radio-controlled from his wrist band. Rob emphasised the value of ‘going easily into the stop to be able to power out’. He stressed the necessity to be alert all the time and to ‘do it slowly and well’.

  Rob encourages his horse to ‘think intelligently’ which can pay dividends in competition. If he miscues a command – in cutting a beast –his mount can make a better decision. “I’m a bit rough but my horse makes up for my shortcomings as a rider”, says Rob. “A great horse will carry you and I won the national futurity even though I made a mistake but the horse covered for me.”

  Pete Comiskey gave a clinic on the “Basics of Campdrafting” after his self-titled DVD. He recommends training by doing 95% as a dry workout before using a beast! Pete demonstrates that he directs the horse in straight lines which equates to efficiently cutting a hexagon shape in a square yard. He showed the importance of ‘the stop’ and going slow through ‘the turn’ to power out of it.

  Pete recommended a cross-breed is suitable such as a stockhorse/quarter horse with some cutting ability for the camp and yet able to cover the ground in good stride quickly to run the beast with stamina. His sage advice includes: “Don’t ride a horse you don’t like – get rid of it!”.

  Whilst he conceded that ‘…lameness can be an issue and there are sore backs after competition”, the best insurance was to ‘have horses fit before they are campaigned’ - doing at least three to four kilometres per day to condition them. He said it was essential to give horses a few days spell after competing but to be really competitive, to have a few horses in training was best. “Use a simple training program”, he advised and wryly added, “Campdrafters are not that smart anyway!”.

  Skill in observing the beast is essential. “Check the ‘hip‘ of the beast (head) to predict its direction”, says Pete. On safety issues: “Don’t get into a position where you can hock the beast as it can kill you, or get too close to markers either. Never spur in front of girth and don’t jerk on bridle either.”

  Choosing a suitable horse for a specific purpose can be a minefield for the uninitiated and even experienced horse people. Veterinarian Dr Graham Jeffrey gave a clinic on “Pre-Purchase Examinations”. Observation and testing are key components of assessing a horse. Monitoring vital signs at rest, after work, resumed rest and through blood and cardiac tests can provide important information. Radiographs and analysis together with checks relevant to the intended use of the horse prospect such as reproductive tests, can confirm suitability or reveal latent health or conformation issues for the potential purchaser. Using these methods, qualified veterinarians can save potential owners unnecessary problems and expenses as well as confirm, a good equine investment. To quote Pete Comiskey, “A good horse is better to feed than a useless one!”

  Training

  “The Way of The Horse” has become  a popular feature at Equitana with three trainers pitted each against an unknown horse in a round yard. The ‘trained horse’ is available for sale at the end. Chad Brady was the first to halter, saddle and ride his horse in only the first session of fifty–five minutes. Steve Halfpenny and Adam Sutton worked on halter and trust issues building a foundation for the second session.

  Chad stated that his horse was ‘sensitive around the pole’ and indeed, it was sweating up even before training started. He patted a rubber pole around the neck and body of the horse to desensitise it as well as rubbing a tarp over it too. Adam laid poles on the ground to encourage his horse to collect its feet as he worked it around through pressure and on a halter lead. Steve roped his horse and used pressure to work it around the yard. He habituated it to the saddle cloth, saddle both tethered and free.

  In the final session of 75 minutes, Chad was again the first to saddle and ride his horse in the halter and negotiate obstacles. Adam fitted a bridle and worked patiently on trust issues before saddling and riding his mount. Steve also fitted a halter and rode his horse to saddle. Steve and Adam advanced their ridden work while Chad again went through desensitising routines before the finale.

  They each had fifteen minutes to demonstrate a trot and canter to the left and right as well as a stop and rollback. A small jump was next, crossing over a tarp and through a slalom course. They had to halt inside a pole square and ride through a pole right angle. Finally, pulling a hay bale with a rope.

  All three trainers impressed with their final effort. Adam Sutton was declared the winner of The Way of The Horse 2010 and was enthusiastically received by the crowd. All three trainers gained new fans and enormous exposure for their efforts to train a horse in a total of 125 minutes!

  Games

  Demonstration games included polo – played with mallets, polocrosse – an Australian hybrid played with racquets and a new one, horseball – using a soccerball bound with straps. Originating in Argentina as a game of ‘keepings-off’ with a live duck, horseball is popular in Europe. It was introduced to Australia in 2009 and requires riders to dip low from the saddle to snatch the ball off the ground and pass to team members with the aim of netting a goal. This fast and skilful game with its ‘trick-riding’ was a crowd-pleaser.

  Championships

  Competition in the “Australian Open Reining Championships” was fierce with Warren Backhaus on ‘Shiney and Nu’ pitted against Martin Larcombe on ‘Smart Like Smart’ and equal on points after two go-rounds. Rather than a ‘rein-off’ they decided to toss for the trophy saddle and share the first prize. Warren also took third and fourth places with ‘Docs Fancy Roy’ and ‘Terminator Whiz’.

  In the “Australian Open Cutting Championships” which finished close to midnight, the clear winner after two go-rounds was Corey Holden on ‘Dove’s Date With Destiny’ one-and-a half points clear of Todd Graham on ‘One Stylish Pepto’. Third was Phil Dawson on ‘Dream Chaser’.

  Stockhorse stallions were prominent in the “Australian Open Campdrafting Championships” with Mark Ruff on ‘Jackpot’ taking the honours. Trish Baxter was one of several women in the top-ten and placed second on ‘Elgrando Arondo–Sam’. Darren Jewel was third on ‘Wandilla Acylip’. Judge Evan C Acton of Julia Creek, Qld, praised the standard of competition remarking on stallions like ‘Classic Doc’ and others with sires with some cutting heritage from ‘Acres Destiny’ as well as stockhorse bloodlines like ‘Rebel’ and ‘Abbey’.

  Equitana was a ‘must-see’ experience for young and old with the best of Australia’s horse industry on show. See more EQUITANA photos at www.horsephotographics.com.au  ©James Vereker 2010

  
  
  (First published in Australian Horseman magazine Jan-Feb 2011).