Pony Magazine Australia June 2014

Pony Magazine Australia

JUNE 2014Volume 1 Issue 1

PONYMAGAZINE

AUSTRALIA

FEATURE PONY!Trincada Strike

Carbohydrates in Pasture

Feeding the Insulin Resistant Pony

Thelwell Ponies

Hooves in History

www.ponymagazineaustralia.com

Plus more!!

Pony Magazine Australia~Volume 1~Issue 1

June Cover: Our cover photo is the magnifi-canet Arabian Pony stal-lion Trincada Strike, taken by the extremely

talented Rob Hess

PONYMAGAZINEAUSTRALIA

Pony Magazine AustraliaJune 2014

EditorBrooke [email protected]

[email protected]

Webhttp://www.ponymagazineaustralia.com

Postal Address36 Barney Gordon VC Road, Beaudesert, Queensland 4285

ContributorsJamie MillikenLarissa BilstonICU Photography (Wendy Morphett)

Layout and DesignBrooke Purcell

ABN: 87 845 173 370

Copyright and DisclaimerAll rights reserved.All material appearing in Pony Magazine Australia is subject to copyright laws and remains the property of Pony Magazine Australia, or the individual contributors. No mate-rial may be reproduced or reprinted in any man-ner, way or form without prior approval from the publishers. The opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of Pony Magazine Australia, and while all effort is made to ensure that facts are correct and up to date, to the extent permit-ted by law, Pony Magazine Australia accepts no liability whatsoever in relation to any advice, representation, statement, opinion or other mat-ter expressed in the magazine. Pony Magazine Australia does not accept responsibility for any errors in advertisements, articles, unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. We recommend seeking veterinary advice, or the appropriate health specialist, prior to giving your pony any treatment or change in diet.

Coming in July Issue

Stallions at Stud Feature

Pony Profiles

Stud Profiles

Hooves in History Volume 2

Events Calender

Goods and Services Directory

Feature PonyTrincada Strike

winner of 31 Australian National

Championships

Thelwell Ponies


CONTENTS

Editorial

Thelwell Feature

Business Profile: Snugglebub

Carbohydrates in Equine Pastures

Pony Profiles Massage Therapy: Science behind the touch

FEATURE PONY Trincada Strike

Ponies Out and About - South Australia

Koorana Pony Stud: Celebrating 50 years of breeding

Cardwell Park Ponies

Stud Directory

Feeding the Insulin Resistant Pony

Ponies For Sale

HOOVES IN HISTORYVolume 1

Australia: The Beginning

The Great Greylight*

Formation of the Australian Pony Stud Book Society

Pony Profiles

Koorana Pony Stud:

Celebrating 50 years


Welcome to the very first issue of Pony Magazine Australia. We endeavour to cater for the pony industry here in Austra-lia, providing a media outlet for breeders, owners, business owners and other pony enthusiasts. The first issue has been months in the making, working out which articles to include, sourcing ponies and studs to profile and also sourcing other general interest and health-related content. It has finally all come together and we are pleased to bring you the finished product in our very first issue.

The pony industry in Australia is going from strength to strength. From humble beginnings where the pony was used as a workhorse, a necessity, to now where we have available the best pony bloodlines on offer anywhere in the world. Our ponies are of top quality and can hold their own under any company, many having been exported to other countries where they are success-ful perfomance and stud prospects. We have a huge variety of different breeds and disciplines in this country and this magazine was developed to showcase our ponies not only to the country, but also to the rest of the world.

We aim to cover issues and health topics relevant to ponies. As pony owners, we all know that the general care of a pony can in many cases be different to that of a horse due to their smaller size, as well as their susceptibility to certain metabolic conditions. This issue covers the topics of carbohydrates in pastures, an excess of which can be particularly concerning to pony own-ers, as well as feeding the insulin resistant pony, a common condition in ponies. I was also lucky enough to be able to talk to Karen Addison, who is in charge of the Estate of Normal Thelwell and thus the Thelwell brand. In our research for this particular ar-ticle we were able to source and stock our own exclu-sive line of Thelwell merchandise, which at this stage includes kid’s Thelwell polo shirts and also Thelwell hats. In the future we will be expanding these lines of stock. We are also looking into getting our own Pony Magazine Australia line of merchandise so please stay tuned for more on this.

For our feature pony for June I was lucky enough to be able to talk to Sue Williams about her superb little Arabian Pony stallion Trincada Strike, who has recently won his 31st Australian Championship. This stallion is an absolute superstar and we are thrilled to have him as our very first feature pony. Strike is now 16 years old and showing no signs of slowing down, his progeny are following in his footsteps and carrying on his legacy. We also have some great stud profiles in


Photo: Tracey Bavington


this issue, including Koorana Pony Stud who are celebrating 50 years of breeding top Australian Ponies. Tony and Ann Gavan have bred countless chapions, child’s ponies and Pony Club ponies and this tra-dition looks to continue.

Each issue we will be running a Stud Directory, with 1/4 page and 1/8 page adverts available, as well as a Ponies for Sale section. We would like to be able to showcase our studs to the world, so if you would like to be involved please contact advertising. We would also like to give Societies the opportunity to promote their events and in the next issue we would like to run a Calender of Events. Anybody interested in listing events please contact Advertising.

We are also always on the lookout for ponies and studs to profile, so if you would like to have your stud or pony featured, please send me an email at Editorial, [email protected]

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported this venture and made it possible. I would like to thank our fans and supporters, everybody who contributed articles, photographs and material, and also all of our advertisers, without whom it is not possible to run a magazine. I hope that you will all continue to support the Magazine as it grows bigger and bet-ter, and that people will continue to use this to showcase their ponies and studs. This is only the beginning and we need your support to make this a success. So please enjoy our very first issue!

Brooke PurcellOwner/Editor Pony Magazine Australia

Photo: ICU Photography

Thelwell ponies are iconic in equestrian circles throughout the world. There are few riders who can not relate to the an-tics of Kipper and his small rider Penelope. These beautiful cartoons epitomise a child’s journey with their much-loved but not-so-loyal or obedient mounts, and remain as timeless and relevant as ever.

The man behind the drawings was a Mr. Norman Thelwell, born 3rd of May 1923 in Birkenshire, Cheshire. Norman was 15 when he sold

his first drawings, the sub-ject of which were chickens. At 18 he joined the Army, taking his sketchpad with him. After the war, Norman took evening classes at Not-tingham Art School before

taking a degree course at Liverpool College of Art. By this time he had successfully had work published in such media as the London Opinion and News Review. In 1950 Norman began lecturing on design and il-lustration at Wolverhampton College of Art.

The magazine Punch published their first Thelwell cartoon in 1952, beginning a 25 year long relationship. Punch would eventually pub-lish 1,500 of Norman’s cartoons, including 60 full colour front cov-ers. Norman left teaching and took up full time illustrating in 1956. His first pony cartoon was published in 1953 and a legacy was born. "One day I did a drawing and it was like striking a sensi-tive nerve. The result was instantaneous," (Mr. Norman Thelwell, date unknown). Norman compiled his first book of cartoons, ‘Angels on Horseback,’ in 1957, his in-spiration based on the antics of two small ponies grazing in a neighbouring field. Following the success of another

An Old Friend Makes A Fresh ComebackAll images © The Thelwell Estate 2014.

~FEATURE ARTICLE~


pony-filled book, ‘A Leg at Each Corner’ in 1961, the Sun-day Express commissioned the Penelope strip, featuring Penelope, her pony Kipper and friends. Penelope and Kipper would feature in a number of Norman’s books, including ‘Penelope’ (1972) and ‘Penelope Rides Again’ (1989), as well as in countless other horse related maga-zines, annuals and newsletters. Despite his creation of these iconic characters, Norman only ever rode a horse once. The fact that it bolted on him may have had some-

thing to do with that.

Karen Addison, Agent of The Estate of Norman Thelwell, describes the Thelwell brand’s popularity, "the fact that it has really been low key for the last 20 years is certainly assisting the relaunch today." "People instantly recognise his work with a sigh of delight in welcoming back an old friend," she contin-ues. Karen describes her favourite book as being A Leg at Each Corner, "I was that original Thelwell child, a fat little girl on an unruly grey Shetland pony that had a mind of its own and no matter what happened, it was a great friendship and the pony always got his way," she remembers affection-ately, "I think at the time I thought that Mr. Thelwell had written a book specifically for me!" A feeling shared by many, no doubt.

~FEATURE ARTICLE~

Pony Magazine Australia~Volume 1~issue 1

Other titles of Norman’s featuring ponies and horses include ‘Thelwell’s Riding Academy’ (1965), ‘Drawing Ponies’ (1966), ‘Pony Calvacade’ (1981) and ‘Pony Panorama’ (1988). These titles and oth-ers can sometimes be found on such sites as ebay, Amazon (UK), Abe Books and from the publisher site (Methuen, UK). The Thelwell ponies have also been transferred onto countless merchandise, including sta-tionary, china, glass, jigsaws, socks and doormats, just to name a few. Thelwell pony merchandise can be purchased in Australia through Snuggle-Bub, who stocks towels, gift cards, polo shirts, caps, baby wear and saddle cloths, just to name a few. These can be purchased from www.snuggle-bub.com Hand painted toilet seats can also be pur-chased on the internet, which Karen describes as extremely popular. "My personal favourite are the ceramic ponies lovingly created by Bes-wick, they perfectly capture the spirit of the relationship between

rider and pony," says Karen.

While Norman Thelwell will always be associated with the image of a small, determined horse-mad girl and her fat, hairy pony, he also covered many other sub-jects, from gardening and house-hunting to sailing and farming. He also did lifelike landscape portraits in wa-tercolours and oils. Norman loved the countryside and old buildings and in all had over 30 books published all

over the world. Karen describes it as an honour to work on the res-urrection of the Thelwell brand, "I am very pleased at the response I have had from all corners of the world to the enduring affection that is so evidently there for Norman Thelwell’s work. It’s a great platform from which to rebuild a brand." Norman Thelwell’s autobiography, ‘Wrestling with a Pencil- the life of a freelance artist’ was published in 1986 by Methuen.

Norman’s autobiography, as well as his other titles can be purchased through the publisher Methuen ( www.methuen.co.uk ).

Thelwell merchandise can be purchased in Australia through Snuggle-Bub, who are the only Thelwell licensee outside Europe. Visit www.snuggle-bub.com for more information (see also page ).

The official website can be found at www.thelwell.org.uk You can also find them on Facebook.

~FEATURE ARTICLE~~FEATURE ARTICLE~


http://www.methuen.co.uk

http://www.snuggle-bub.com

http://www.thelwell.org.uk

Snuggle-Bub

~FEATURED BUSINESS~


Snuggle-Bub specialises in personalised giftwear and was established in 2004, launching their exclusive Thelwell range in 2011. They remain the only Thelwell licensee outside of Europe.

Catherine Wilson, based in the Yarra Valley in Victoria, is the face behind this unique brand, which of-fers personalised gifts and merchandise as well as the Thelwell range. “We cater for every member of the family,” says Catherine, “from Thelwell and slo-gan bibs for newborns, brush bags, polo shirts, and saddle cloths for the kids, to our range of exclusive Thelwell tow-els.” Snuggle-Bub also offers hundreds of other designs to choose from, there really is something for everybody.

Snuggle-Bub sells and supplies their exclusive range direct to the public as well as through a variety of stockists throughout Australia and New Zea-land. Their customer base is made up of adults who grew up with Penelope and Kipper as a child, as well as a new gen-eration of children falling in love with the brand. “At Snuggle-Bub we aspire to share our passion for our products,

and have a new generation of children growing up lov-ing their Thelwell Penelope and Kipper clothes and equipment.”

“With our online store, and stockists across Aus-tralia and New Zealand, we make our customers’ shop-ping experience as easy and enjoyable as we can, by

listening to their needs and exceeding their expectations wherever possible with our customer service and flex-ibility,” says Catherine, “what can I say? We love Penelope and Kipper!”

In the future, Catherine aims to con-tinue to expand her prod-uct range, as well as to bring Penelope and Kipper into every horsey house-hold in Australia. “It seems everybody has had or known a ‘Kipper.”

Snuggle-Bub’s exclusive Thelwell range, as well as their other giftwear, can be purchased from their website, www.snuggle-bub.com or by emailing [email protected] or calling 03 59646802 or 0417 396 381. For a list of Snuggle-bub stockists please visit the website.

Pony Magazine Australia are proud to be a stockist of Snuggle-Bub’s ex-clusive Thelwell range, to purchase please visit our website, or email [email protected].

http://www.snuggle-bub.com

Carbohydrates are the major en-ergy source for ponies. They are not all created equal, however. Understanding the difference is the first step towards the pre-vention and management of such nutrition-related disorders as laminitis, insulin-resistance and obesity, to which ponies are par-ticularly susceptible.

Plant-derived carbohydrates can be sep-arated into two major groups; structur-al and non-structural. Structural car-bohydrates, also known as the fibrous component of feeds, make up the cell wall and are found in higher quantities in roughages such as hay, straw, silver beet pulp and also in mature pastures. Because of their complex bonds, struc-tural carbohydrates are more difficult to digest (equines do not possess the required digestive enzymes). Ponies contain a large microflora population in their hindgut and these are able to break the bonds in structural carbo-hydrates and thus they are available for absorption and use as energy in the form of volatile fatty acids.

Non-structural carbohydrates include all of the non-fibre carbohydrates. These are more easily digested than structural carbohydrates but vary in their site of digestion. Non-structural carbohydrates include those digested

CARBOHYDRATESIN EQUINE PASTURES

HOW THEY AFFECT YOUR PONY

~NUTRITION FEATURE~

in the small intestine, such as starch and the simple sugars, as well as those rap-idly fermented in the hindgut, such as fructans. Non-structural carbohydrates provide the pony with more energy, and high quantities in a feed tend to make it more palatable to ponies.

Ponies evolved as selective grazers, eat-ing little and often and choosing a vari-ety of grasses, shrubs and weeds to meet their energy needs. This resulted in a constant trickle of food moving through the digestive tract, generally consisting largely of low energy, high fibre mate-rial. Native ponies are adapted to harsh conditions and poor grazing and would generally spend around 70% of their day grazing. With many owners using improved pastures or grazing ponies on pastures developed for other livestock such as sheep or cattle, the quality of feed is greatly increased in regards to energy content. This is particularly true during the high growth seasons.

Pastures can be separated into temperate (or cool season) sub-tropical, and tropi-


Photo: iStock/Yuri

cal species. Temperate species tend to predominate in southern Australia, sub-tropical species in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland, and tropi-cal in the northern tropics of Australia. Temperate species include Ryegrasses, Fescue, Phalaris, Timothy and Clovers, just to name a few common pastures (im-proved pastures tend to be a mix of a grass species and a legume such as clover). Temperate species grow actively in autumn, winter and spring, with peak quality occurring in late autumn, winter and early spring.

Sub-tropical species, such as Couch, Kikuyu and Paspalum prefer warm to hot climates. These will tolerate some frosting and cooler temperatures, whereas true tropical species will not tolerate frost at all. Sub-tropical species grow actively through spring, summer and autumn, with quality peaking in late spring and early summer. Tropical species have very high growth rates throughout summer, with quality peaking in early to mid-summer, but rapidly declining in late sum-mer. Tropical pastures tend to be lower quality than sub-tropical and temperate pastures, particularly in the later growth stages.

Temperate species can be of particular con-cern in excess as they store the carbohydrate fructan. Fructan is not digested in the small intestine, but rapidly fermented in the hindgut and excess can cause disruptions in the bacte-rial population, due to increased acidity, and cause laminitis. These species should be limited in times of high production. Sub-tropical and tropical species do not store fructan but do store starch as a carbohydrate reserve. This is still an issue as excess starch will bypass the small intestine and also ferment in the large intestine, again resulting in hindgut acidosis which is claimed to be a cause of laminitis. The capacity for digestion of starch in the small intestine is about three grams per kilogram of body weight.

It is not only the stored non-structural carbo-hydrates that can cause nutritional problems, simple sugars are also an issue for ponies. Sugars are digested in the small intestine and cause a glycaemic response as they are absorbed into the bloodstream. Insulin resistance is the equine equivalent of Type II diabetes, with af-fected ponies not able to regulate blood glucose levels. Insulin resistance may also predispose ponies to laminitis. Excess sugars also result in unwanted weight gain and fizziness.

Non-structural carbohydrate concentrations

~NUTRITION FEATURE~


in plants varies throughout the day, as well as being seasonally affected. Concen-trations rise during the morning, reach maximum in the afternoon and decline overnight, being at their lowest between about 3.00am and 10.00 am. We can use this information to restrict grazing at times of high carbohydrate concentra-tion, thus decreasing intake for at-risk ponies.

Understanding carbohydrate dynamics in pastures and plants mean that we can better manage ponies at risk of develop-ing, or affected by, nutritional disorders such as obesity, laminitis and insulin re-sistance. With good grazing management procedures and preventative measures, these conditions can in most cases be avoided or controlled.B.Purcell. © 2014.

For those at risk there are a number of strategies to imple-

ment during high growth periods in order to limit non-structural carbohydrate in-

take:

• Restrict grazing to early morning to avoid the highest con-

centration of non-structural carbo-hydrates.

• Avoid grazing susceptible ponies during times of high light intensity and low temperatures.

• Maintain short, leafy grasses by grazing or mowing to encour-age utilisation of non-structural carbohydrates for growth rather

than storage.

• Graze susceptible ponies in shaded or partially shaded pad-docks, as these will have lower

sugar levels.

• Use a grazing muzzle, which limits intake to the tops of the leaves, which will have a lower

non-structural carbohydrate con-centration than the stem.

• Top up diet with hay to en-sure that dry matter requirements are met and that pony is supplied

with constant supply of food. Hays can also be high in non-structural carbohydrates, late cuts tend to

contain lower quantities. Hay can also be soaked prior to feeding

(soak for an hour or so, then drain water), as simple sugars and fruc-tans are water soluble and will be

partially removed.

~NUTRITION FEATURE~


http://www.allbarewithnaturalhoofcare.com.au

PONYMAGAZINEAUSTRALIA July Issue

Stallions at Stud FeatureDont miss out on this opportunity to showcase your stallion to the

rest of Australia

1/8 page $15

1/4 page $25

1/2 page $45

Please contact Advertising to book your spot [email protected]


Kylie Dooley of Cleoranee Shetlands pur-chased Millbrae Shannon as a “naughty two year old.” This stunning Shetland stallion had won a number of awards prior to her purchasing him and she fell in love with him as soon as he walked off the truck.

“He was everything I was looking for and more,” says Kylie, “It took Shannon a while to settle in and start eating, but he was on the mend just in time for Barastoc Horse of the Year Show.” Mill-brae Shannon took out Grand Champion Shetland of the Year, and the judges commented that he was the best two year old they had ever seen.

Millbrae Shannon stands at 10.2 hands high and is a registered APSB Shetland stallion. He is by Poplars Farm Pluto and from Millbrae Starlyn.

Kylie showed Shannon with much success for around six years, where he would hardly come home without a Supreme Shetland sash. Many times he competed, and won against, the larger ponies in the open rings. Shannon has won at such prestigious shows as Melbourne Royal, Barastoc Horse of the Year Show and the Victorian APSB Stud Show. His swan song was the APSB National Pony of the Year Show in Sydney, where he was awarded with Supreme Shetland of the Year 2013. “He had nothing else to prove in the show ring,” says Kylie, who was thrilled with the result.

Shannon is now retired from the show ring and enjoys a life of leisure with his ladies. His progeny have followed in his footsteps, with many wins under their belts including Cleoranee Royal Jackpot who won two Grand Champions, four Supreme Champions, Best Junior Exhibit and twelve Champion awards as a two year old, all at just eight shows.

“Shannon means the world to me. He is a one in a million pony, with the most outstanding nature,” says Kylie, “my kids are always out playing with him, he is broken to saddle and harness, and an absolute pleasure to deal with in every way.”

Millbrae Shannon stands at public stud to ap-proved mares.

~PONY PROFILES~


Pony ProfilesMillbrae Shannon

Millbrae Shannon

Photo: Lorelle Mercer

Kawanna Park Solitaire is bred, broken and campaigned by Renae Cook and her fam-ily. This lovely little gelding has done it all, he is a multi Champion in hand and under saddle and also competes regularly in Pony Club events, show jumping and dressage.

Known simply as ‘Sol’ at home, Kawanna Park Solitaire sets a prime example of the versatility of the Welsh Mountain Ponies. “Versatility is his middle name!” says Renae, “We can be cross country jumping one day and winning Champion at a show the next.” Solitaire is by the multi Supreme Champion Llanfairbryn Desert Fox, who is by the Waxwing Herod* son Imperial Cyrus, and from Llanfairbryn Foxtrot, by Twyford Sizzle* and out of Crossways Foxy* (an influential mare who appears in many Llanfairbryn pony pedigrees). Solitaire’s dam Bambury Rose of May is by the lovely imported chestnut stallion Baledon Diplomat*, sire of many fine ponies here in Australia.

The Kawanna Park prefix belongs to Renae’s grandparents Lill and Bert Cooke who have been breeding Welsh Mountain Ponies for over 30 years. Solitaire also has two full sisters, Kawanne Park Madonna and Kawanna Park Scarlet Rose, who have been great producers for the Stud. Solitaire was broken in at three years and then spelled until he was five, and then began his campaign as a show and performance pony.

Kawanna Park Solitaire has demonstrated his trueness to type with many awards in the breed ring. At the 2013 Geelong Royal Show, Solitaire was named Champion Rid-den APSB Pony, as well as Reserve Champion Ridden Wlesh Pony. At the 2013 Southern Pony Classic, he was not only awarded Supreme Ridden Welsh Exhibit, but also Supreme

Ridden Welsh Hunter. At the Gippsland Regional Promotional Group APSB Extrava-ganza, Solitaire was Champion Led Welsh Mountain Pony, and Reserve Champion Rid-den Welsh. He was also named Champion Child’s Pony, Champion Ridden Show Hunter Pony, Best Junior/Child’s Show Hunter Ex-hitbit, Reserve Champion Pony Club Mount and Reserve Champion Pony Club Rider. At the Victoria Stud Show in 2013 Solitaire was named Senior Led Welsh Pony of the Year.

Solitaire is also flying the flag for the pure Welsh Mountain Pony in the open rings. At Barastoc Horse of the Year Show 2010 he won Led Show Hunter 12 hands and Under, and went on to be named Top Ten Junior

~PONY PROFILES~


Pony ProfilesKawanna Park Solitaire

Caption

Kawanna Park Solitaire jumping at BarastocPhoto: Derek O’Leary

Kawanna Park Solitaire Photo: Julie Wilson

Show Hunter 12.2 hands and Under and Top Ten Open Show Hunter 12 hands and Under. At the 2011 Barastoc Show, he again went Top Ten Open Show Hunter, as well as Top Ten Junior Show Hunter Pony and Top Ten First Ridden Pony. In 2009 Solitaire was named Runner Up Intermedi-ate Small Pony at the Show Horse Council Masters, the only non-Riding Pony in the final line up, as well as Top Ten Small Show Hunter. He has also won numerous Champioin and Reserve Champion awards at Agricultural Shows and the last two years has been competing successfully in leading rein, first ridden and child’s pony classes with many broad sashes. “I love watching how gentle he is with child riders, he just loves them,” says Re-nae.

While Kawanna Park Solitaire is mainly cam-paigned as a show pony at present, he also enjoys

trail rides, Pony Club and going to the beach. Throughout his career he has also compet-ed successfully at Show Jumping, Dressage, Pony Club and novelty events.

Kawanna Park currently stands the Welsh Mountain stallions Elargee Two Up, Elargee Tobruk and Osory Mercurio. Ponies usually for sale, enquiries are most welcome.

Pony Profiles~PONY PROFILES~


Kawanna Park Solitaire

Kawanna Park Solitaire: Above: Winning Reserve Champion at Royal Melbourne Horse ShowPhoto: Angie Rickard Left: winning Reserve Champion at Geelong RoyalPhoto:Bridey Lee

Kawanna Park Solitaire Photo: Maren Jones

Judy Aspinall owned the Australian Pony mare Aston Tremae Glory for 17 years and travelled all around Australia with her. As well as the memories, one of the most treasured gifts she gave Judy was a lovely son in Maytime Park Mr Percival.

Known as Percy at home, this sturdy little pony stands at 11.2 hands high and is by the purebred Dartmoor stallion Senruf Mayday*. Percy is registered partbred Welsh (with the W.P.C.S.A.) as well as partbred Dartmoor (with the A.P.S.B.).

Percy was shown successfully as a Working and Show Hunter Pony for three years, winning many awards at Agricultural and Welsh Shows. Percy was bred and broken in by Judy herself, “my most memorable moment would be hopping on Percy for the first time (bareback).”iPercy is now used mainly for pleasure and trail riding but Judy plans to get him into harness in the near future.

Judy has fond memories of Percy’s dam, “You can imagine how special she was. And to have her progeny with the same personality and looks is fantastic. I am so lucky!”

“Percy will never be sold, he will be with me for all of his life,” says Judy.

Pony Profiles~PONY PROFILES~


Pony ProfilesDo you have a pony out perform-ing and flying the flag for their

respective breed, your stud or just out there giving a child/children

joy?

Feel free to contact our Editorial department

[email protected]

Maytime Park Mr Percival

Maytime Park Mr Percival

Equine Massage TherapyThere is science behind the touch.

~HEALTH~


I remember when I first heard of equine massage and sports therapy…..blah, blah, blah, what a hippy notion… I was a skeptic; horses have been ridden for years and didn’t need massaging!!! I don’t think the Romans had their horses mas-saged. I hold a Degree in Applied Science, majoring in Animal Production and Equine Science. I know horses. Massaging? ha!

Fact! I studied science, if it wasn’t proven, I couldn’t see it, I didn’t use it. Then in 2007, I met a horse who changed my way of thinking, a lovely Grey eventer that was told he could never jump again. Six months of equine sports therapy, swimming and other ho-listic therapies and he was back, jumping again I was there when the vet told his rider the results and I was there when he proved them wrong (and also there in between). The science was there, in the results, I just had to look further and at the facts. It was then I changed my career path and I haven’t looked back.

I became an Equine Sports Therapist, graduating after two years of (more) study with a Diploma of Equine Massage Therapy. Seeing proven results and the science behind mas-sage was amazing!!! I was able to utilise my degree in Applied Science and help horses and their owners! I was living my dream.

Equine Sports Therapy uses massage as the main form of therapy, but it is not just mas-sage. Equine Sports Therapy includes the variety of massage techniques and also inte-grates different therapeutic tools, fitness programs and products which are extremely useful to the management, everyday maintenance, performance and/or rehabilitation. It is also used as preventative and therapeutic measures that benefit all types of horses and ponies; from the competitive athlete or the leisure mount to the beautiful retiree in the paddock.

Massage is used to help identify a potential or developing problem of the musculature system before it become chronic. It is a natural pain relief that when applied properly, releases a natural chemical called endorphins. It is also used to prepare the body for exer-cise and reduces muscle fatigue. Healthy, spasm free and fully extensible muscle tissue is less prone to injury. Massage is completely non-invasive and is perfectly wide-ranging to work with the resolution of accidental and sports related injuries. It also promotes good

B.Purcell

~HEALTH~


health and the wellbeing of your equine friend.

As homeopathic, holistic and natural rem-edies are quickly becoming the choice for injuries, massage has emerged in the fore-front of modalities being used. Its ben-efits are profound, and almost instantly a difference can be observed as the horse will begin to move more easily. Fatigued muscles, ligaments and tendons all ben-efit from sports therapy – this is due to increasing circulation, range of movement (ROM), improving disposition, relieving muscle spasm/tension, enhancing muscle tone, improving the horses stamina and overall performance. With more than 60% of the horse’s body weight being muscle, massage can aid in injury prevention and health of the muscles.

Horses, like humans, are athletes. So, like athletes, horses are prone to muscle injury, sprains and strains. The musculature system is directly involved in locomotion and move-ment. Tension and spasms can obstruct or prevent maximum movement and will cause problems in the horse’s performance and wellbeing.

Small muscle injuries can take up to 90 days to become apparent (this can be via a change in attitude, decreased performance or lameness) by which time the horse may have caused a more serious injury. Prompt attention to these ‘minor’ muscle injuries not only enhances the horse’s performance but also may prevent future ‘major’ problems. When muscles are tense or tight, the muscle tightening is transmitted from one muscle group to another mainly for compensation; so for example, shoulder tension may be transmitted to the muscles of the forearm, resulting in extra stress being placed on the tendons. Muscle can also enlarge with tension.

There are many ways muscles can be injured, tight or strained. The most common factors that are seen are:

• Overuse of certain muscles and over training• Ill-fitting tack • Over stretching • Result of poor or stressful conformation • Inbalanced rider

When used as a part of a training and management program, mas-sage keeps muscles healthy, builds up those that may have wasted, maintains strength and suppleness, and prevents atrophy (even during a period of box rest or restricted work). After exertion, massage minimises stiffness and speeds repair. Tissue damage is an unavoidable result of physical stress and fatigue. Stretches are also used to help keep or restore joints and muscles to full working ca-pacity.

B.Purcell

~HEALTH~


In helping with injury prevention and rehabilitation, the benefits of this therapy are becoming widely recognized. For years, trainers, owners, coaches and riders to the top equine athletes have been employing these skills in their daily management, thus pre-venting injury or poor performance due to muscle imbalance, pain or tension. Massage can help detect the early indications of discomfort and provides you with information that can enhance performance, health and the prevention of injury.

Qualified therapists can work closely alongside your veterinarian to develop a holis-tic approach to a horse’s rehabilitation and help develop a comprehensive management program. Massage is used along with conventional and alternative health care as well as proper training techniques, enabling a horse to perform at an optimum level and poten-tial.

Note: Therapy is however not a replacement for proper veterinarian care, if unsure that Equine Sports Therapy is for your horse/pony – please call your vet for permission to use a Therapist.

For more information please call or email Jamie Milliken, [email protected] to find your nearest qualified therapist or visit AllEquine Services Facebook page for more information. Jamie has also published a book – The Healthy Horse: Basic Horse Knowledge that every horse should know!!To purchase go to: http://blur.by/1uLZTaPOr email Jamie for a FREE pdf copy of the book.

AllEquine ServicesMaximise Your Horses Potential…

Ms Jamie MillikenBAppSci. (AnimPro & EquiSci), Dip. EMT

Equine Sports Therapist

0424 199 623

[email protected]

Servicing the Scenic Rim (Qld) and surrounds.

Waiaufarmallequine.com By appointment only

Services include:

Equine Massage, Sports Therapy, Muscle Monitoring, Gait Analysis,

Biomechanical Assessment, Exercise Physiology Programmes ,

Rehabilitation and more..

http://www.waiaufarmallequine.com/

~FEATURE PONY~


Photo: Rob Hess

The Arabian Pony stallion Trincada Strike has won the heart of the country. Just recentlty at the 2014 Australian Arabian Championships, this already very accomplished little stallion won his 32nd National Championship. He has won over a range of disciplines and his prog-eny are following in his footsteps.

Trincada Strike was born in 1997, the son of Pinelodge Pride (who is by the great World Champion Ralvon Pil-

grim, and out of Ennerdale Jilla). Strike’s dam Simeon Classic is by another well known Arabian stallion in Simeon Samuel, who was exported to Germany, and from the beautiful Welsh mare Simeon Honeybee. Strike combines some of the most sought after Welsh and Arabian bloodlines in the world. He demonstrates that perfect blend of the pony characteristics contributed by the Welsh lines with that breathtaking beauty and pizzaz that could only come from the Ara-bian.

Strike named himself when he was just three days old. At the time he was pad-docled with a young Anglo colt, “I still remember the day,” says Sue Williams, who is owned by Strike, “he struck at the Anglo and his reach was incredible, his front foot went above the Anglo’s head. From that day I called him Strike. He has always used his front legs like hands and sometimes very, very quickly. You don’t even see them leave the ground.”

Strike has that personality and presence that makes him perfect for the show ring. His first show was the Arabian Feature Show, when he was two months old, and he trot-ted away with Supreme Foal. “I still remember people fol-lowing him back to his box to get a closer look at him. Some

Trincada Strike~FEATURE PONY~


Trincada Strike

Trincada Strike under saddlePhoto: Horse Photography

Photo: Louise Cordina

days I felt like the pied piper with the people following along behind just to get a better look,” says Sue, “Strike jus soaked up all the attention as he has always been and still is a people magnet.”

As a yearling Strike was sent to Ron Males for halter training. Sue recol-lects their conversation, “The first time I spoke to Ron about Strike I told him that I had bred a foal bet-ter than Pinelodge Pride, Ron said

it would have to be good to be better than Pride.” Ron didn’t say much at the time, but the pair would develop an affiliation that would become renown all over Australia. “They just seemed to be on the same page from day one,” Sue says of their bond, “this grew into a great relationship. Ron said that Strike had a very active mouth, and one of Ron’s favourite sayings is, ‘a horse with an active mouth always has an active mind, they are very easy to train as tehy are willing to learn new things.” Ron also broke Strike to saddle and harness.

A show pony needs that something special that can be hard to describe. Famous breeder Lady Wentworth described it as “that indefinable thing called style.” Whatever it is, Strike certainly has it! From the moment he first stepped into the show ring he began amassing his leagues of fans. Trincada Strike has to date won 32 Australian National Championships, and this is at the Australian National Arabian Championships Show alone. He has won these in Halter (14 in a row), Harness, Ridden, Bridle Path Hack and A.O.H.T. As a yearling he was Supreme at Bathurst, winning Best All Breeds Yearling in a huge class. At another major Ara-bian Show, the East Coast Arabian Championships, Strike has been seven times Supreme Champion, as well as Multi Champion in harness and under saddle, as

well as winning nu-merous Best Head and Best Trot awards. He has also been ten times National Stud Show Champion at halter, as well as winning here in harness, best head and best trot classes. This pony has done it all, and walked away with sash after sash.

Strike has even made an impression on the number of Interna-

~FEATURE PONY~


Trincada Strike

A young Trincada Strike

Trincada Strike in harness

Photo: Val Males

tional judges who have had the pleasure of crossing his path. “Many judges go home talking about a certain little grey stallion that made their Australian judging visit very memorable. Judith Forbis (world re-nown judge, pedigree authority and author) just fell in love with Strike and his breath-taking beauty, attitude and faultless con-formation and movement,” Sue says. He is a true showman, “He really loves a crowd, he is a real show off. Every time he steps into the show ring he acts like it is his first show.”

As well as being registered with the Arabian Horse Association of Australia and the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of Australia, Strike is also registered with the Welara Society in America, a society for ponies of Welsh and Arabian breeding. A few years ago he was awarded the Welara Society Pony of the Year amassing an impressive (approximately) 1000 points. The next pony down from him was shown in Canada and came in with about 200 points.

And if Strike’s beauty and presence, impressive show record, or even his breath-taking movement does not win the fans over, his personality surely will. “He is a people’s pony. He loves humans, especially little humans. He has a true love for kids as I think they are smaller than him so he thinks they are so cute.”

Trincada Strike has also made a name for himself as a sire. His progeny are all stamped with a certain look, “I can look across a showground and pick out a Strike progeny, or even his grand-progeny as they all have a very similar look,” says Sue, “it doesn’t matter what the mare looks like, Strike will always put

his stamp on the foal.” His progeny have all acquired his breathtaking movement and look at me attitude. “Strike’s progeny have the same beau-tiful nature, they are so will-ing to learn.” Ten of his sons and daughters have gone on to be Australian National Champions (halter, saddle and harness), and several of his grandget have also gone on to be Australian National Cham-pions. His sons and daughters are now carrying on his tradi-tion and breeding on.

~FEATURE PONY~


Trincada Strike

Trincada Strike

Trincada Strike under saddlePhoto: Lorelle Mercer

Photo: Image Photos

Strike’s successful progeny are too nu-merous to mention, but Strike’s most famous son would probably be Cool Breeze Starstruck, who has only been beaten twice. On both occasions he was beaten by his sire. Another son Trincada Strike Shaklan was Australian National Champion, East Coast Champion and Na-tional Stud Show Champion. Between them, Trincada Strik-ing Cami and Cool Breeze Charm have won multiple Australian National Championships in halter, saddle and harness.

This year’s Australian National Arabian Championships were particularly memo-rable for Sue and Strike. Emma Adams rode Strike for Champion Ridden Stal-lion, followed up with Ron Males driving him for Champion Harness. The next day Anthony Geytemen led Strike to win Champion Halter Stallion. Reserve to Strike was his son. Sue them showed him on the last day of the Championships for Champion A.O.H.T. in a large class. Four from four is not bad! Not many po-nies have demonstrated Strike’s versatility, and to not only compete but to win time after time again.

“My favourite thing about Strike is the love and plea-sure he has brought to my life. That is so precious, you can’t buy that,” says Sue, “His favourite food is oats and carrots and he will drool like a dog if you ask him if he wants a carrot and you don’t give him one soon after.” Sue attributes Strikes outstand-ing success to his tempera-ment, and the people around him, “mainly myself, Ron Males and Anthony Geytemen for keeping Strike sane in a

~FEATURE PONY~


Trincada Strike

Trincada Strike and Trincada Striker

Trincada Strike in flightPhoto: Tracey Bavington

Photo: Sue Williams

Trincada Strike

very stressful show environment. So many horses just can’t and don’t handle it, they seem to get burnt out. This makes Strike very special, as nothing is too much of a bother to him.” Strike is never and has never been shown with a whip.

Strike’s attitude to showing is unbe-lievable. “Strike is faultless to prepare for the showring,” Sue states, “When he is being plaited I don’t even put a headstall on him, let alone tie him up.

I learnt early that half way through plaiting Strike, he would always go for a drink of water, then park himself back in the exact same spot so I could continue to plait him.” “He is a true showman and a very gentle pony in every way.”

And what of the future? “Strike loves to show, so I have no intention of keep-ing him from the showring. He will be at the Australian National Championships again next year to compete!”

“Strike’s equal will never be born in my lifetime, as he truly is a one in a billion pony,” Sue says affectionately.

Trincada Strike~FEATURE PONY~


Trincada Strike (right) and his daughter Cool Breeze Charm

Trincada StrikePhoto: Rob Hess

Photo: Sue Williams


Sue Williams210 Murray Valley HighwaySwan Hill, 3585, VictoriaP:(03) 50321526 m: +61 429 913 [email protected]

Trincada Strike

PONIESOUT & ABOUT

Port Lincoln Pony Club

Encourage Show

Port LincolnSouth Ausralia

Wendy Morphett from ICU Photography has been in the photography field since 1977, and on top of endless indidvid-ual and pet shoots has covered numerous weddings, music concerts, motorcross, speed-way and has done a number of model portfolios.

Wendy has gone from process-ing films and photos in a dark-room, to working with digital media on her laptop. With over 35 years experience, Wendy can work with you for that perfect shot.

Servicing the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia

Birthdays

Weddings

Sport

Corporate

Model Portfolios

35 years experience

Lipson Show

South Ausralia

http://www.facebook.com/I.C.U.Photography

Stud Profiles~STUD PROFILES~


Koorana Pony Stud is celebrating 50 years of breeding top quality Australian Ponies. Over the years, Koorana ponies have won Children’s Hack and Leading Rein, as well as in hand, at all major Australian shows. They continue to produce ponies of the highest quality which are able to be ridden by children. Koorana po-nies are well known throughout Australia and have built up a reputation as one of the lead-ing Australian Pony studs.

Koorana Pony Stud was founded in 1963 by Tony Gavan. The stud began with the birth of their first Australian Pony Koorana Bid-dy. “This started a love of Australian Ponies which has seen Koorana Ponies win Supreme Australian Pony at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane Royal Shows, “ says Ann Gavan, joint stud owner with Tony. “Koorana Pony Stud has strived to breed ponies that can be ridden by children at Pony club one day and a Royal show the next. We have been breeding Australian Ponies for 50 years and we think our stud plan has worked. Our ponies are still winning Champion Pony classes with children,” says Ann, “our ponies have won Barastock, and Horse of the Year awards with children aboard.” Koorana’s breeding program is based on the famous lines of Lowlynn Silver Chief and the part Arabian Desert Star.

The foundation mare for Koorana was the Desert Star daughter Desert Sky (out of a Dinarth Jim mare, Lilli-bet), purchased from Max Kentwell of Baringa Stud. Desert Star was an outstanding broodmare for the stud, producing (to Lowlynn Silver Chief) Woodford Twinkle, Koorana Desert Chief, Koorana Princess, Koorana Chief, and Koorana Desert Prince, and also (to Mooroduc Park Baringa, a Lowlynn Silver Chief son) Koorana Desert Sky and Koorana Comet. All of the prgeny of this superb mare have gone on to win Champion at the National Stud Pony Show. Koorana Desert Chief’s lines are still ever-

Koorana Pony Stud Celebrating 50 Years

Koorana Final Scene(Koorana Greylight x Cameo Park Simone)Photo: Alicia Birch

Koorana PizzazPhoto: Nicole Diebert



present in the Koorana breeding program, particularly through his son Koor-ana Greylight, as well as through Koorana Presentation, both multi Royal and National Stud Show Champions.

Tony would later purchased Barolin Angwyn (Barolin Feluka x Barolin Am-ber Star) from the Barolin Stud as a foal. Angwyn crossed beautifully with the Stud’s already established foundations. When the next generation was ready for a new outcross, the Keston Royal Occasion (imp) grandson Cher-rington King Midas (Mirinda Sovereign x Congarinni Honeysuckle, by Cham-berlayne Don Juan (imp)) was added to the stud. His bloodline has gone on to produce some outstanding ponies who are performing successfully in the open rings.

Koorana Pony Stud has produced countless Su-preme Champions, Cham-pions and Open winners. Koorana Moon Magic (by Koorana Greylight) was twice Supreme Champion at Brisbane Royal, twice Champion at Syndey Roy-al, and has been Cham-

Koorana Pony Stud

Koorana Millions

Koorana Royal SensationKoorana

Neverland

Photo: SWD Images

Photo: SWD ImagesPhoto: Angie Rickard



pion Stallion/Colt at the National Stud Pony Show an amazing nine times. Koorana ponies have excelled in saddle classes. Ann and Tony have bred the NSW Horse of the Year Show winners Koorana Neverland (Champion at Sydney Royal), Koorana Pizzaz, and Koorana Royal Sensation (winner at Syd-ney Royal), while Koorana Songbird was NSW Pony of the Year as well as Reserve Champion at Sydney and Brisbane Royals.

Ann’s favourite pony is Koorana Final Scene, who won at the 2013 Pony of the Year Show at Sydney International Equestrian Centre, being named Supreme over 120 other top quality exhibits (ponies have to have won a Championship at State or Royal level to qualify). Final Scene has also been Supreme at the National Stud Pony Show and Sydney Royal (she was also Supreme at Sydney Royal this year). Tony’s favourite is a mare called Koorana Princess, who won at Sydney Royal eight times, in the days when there were 20 to 30 plus ponies in a class. “How-ever, there are a lot of ponies over the 50 years and really they are all special,” adds Ann.

Koorana Stud plans to continue to breed and show their ponies. “Our son Mathew is keen to keep showing the ponies, so we hope there is another 50

years of Koorana Pony Stud.”

Koorana Pony Stud

You can find Koorana Pony Stud on the internet:

www.kooranaponystud.com

Tony with Koorana MoonmagicPhoto: Alicia Birch

Left:Koorana Princess- Sydney Royal

http://www.kooranaponystud.com



Cardwell Park is a small stud located on the south coast at Nowra Hill, two hours south of Sydney. Breeding just one or two foals a year, Tessa and Steve Peacock aim to breed horses of quality, rather than quantity, and to meet the strong demand for children’s riding ponies.

Founded in 2007, Cardwell Park stands the stallion Marco-ni Gold Strike, as well as three broodmares. The stud breeds Arabian, Welsh, Part Welsh and Riding Ponies. “Our aim is to breed quality, typey ponies and galloways with temperaments suitable for children to eventually ride, who are conformationally sound, beautiful and with movement to burn,” says Tessa. “(We also want them) able to be shown at halter to the highest level,” she adds, “Each of my mares contributes some-thing different to the breeding program.”

To date the stud has produced five foals, the oldest of which has just started under saddle in Victoria. Amongst Cardwell Park’s impressive line up is the lovely Arabian Pony mare Smurfette FF, a Crave FF daughter who has won many show ring accolades. “We particularly enjoy the Arabian shows above

all other shows,” says Tessa. In 2013 Smurfette FF was awarded Australian Champion Arabian Pony Yearling at the Australian Arabian National Championships, as well as Reserve Champion Arabian Pony Yearling at the East Coast Arabian Championships. As a foal, in 2012, Smurfette FF won a number of Supreme Foal awards, as well as being Best Foal of Show at the Southern High-lands and Tablelands APSB Foal and Youngstock Show. “We value the Arabian horse for beauty,


Resident StallionMarconi Gold Strike

Photo:Tessa Peacock

Smurfette FF

Photo: SWD Images



temperament and show presence, combined with the Welsh for stamina, temperament and hardiness. “

Tessa has had many memorable moments in the show ring with her ponies, “Our proudest show-ing moment was when Cardwell Park Houdini, our first coloured foal, won Supreme Coloured Foal at the New South Wales All Breeds Foal Show against

vert stiff competition.”

Resident stallion at Cardwell Park is the lovely Marconi Gold Strike, who has been with the stud since he was six months old. Gold Strike is a son of Tooravale Picasso and from Bungalilly Cappuc-cino, a Kirreway Kartlyn granddaughter. This stunning buckskin Welsh Pony stallion has won

numerous awards in the show ring, including Champion at Sydney Royal and was recently awarded Supreme Buckskin at Canberra Royal. His progeny are following in his footsteps.

Tessa aims to keep her stud small and managable, “producing quality foals and showing them before selling them on to performance or show homes. We have added breeding a Royal Supreme winner to our bucket list. Shoot for the stars.”


Cardwell Park Prophecy2013 Arabian Colt Foal

Photo:Tessa Peacock

Cardwell Park Conspiracy Welsh B/Arabian Pony by Marconi Gold Strike

Photo:Tessa Peacock

You can find Cardwell Park Ponies on the internet

www.cardwellpark.com.au

http://www.cardwellpark.com.au

~STUD DIRECTORY~


Stud Directory

Sue Williams

210 Murray Valley HighwaySwan Hill, 3585, VictoriaP:(03) 50321526 m: +61 429 913 [email protected]

Stud Directory

1/4 page advert $251/8 page advert $15

[email protected]

~STUD DIRECTORY~


Stud Directory

Dont miss out on our July Stud

Directory, advertising open now!

1/4 page advert $25

1/8 page advert $15

July Adverts accepted

until 26th June, 2014.

Coming up in July Issue

Stallions at Stud Feature

Events Calender

Goods and Services Directory

Please contact advertising for more information

[email protected]

Some horses and ponies have a body type which is susceptible to the development of insulin resistance, particularly if they become overweight and do not exercise enough. However, this is a condition that can be successfully managed with a lifestyle change – it is a metabolic type rather than a disease.

The Physiology of IR

During normal digestion, carbohydrates and sugars from food are broken down into glucose which is absorbed into the bloodstream from the small intestine. Glucose is the body’s main source of energy and it is transported to all the cells of the body that need to burn energy for maintenance and work. Most body cells do not store glucose so they rely on the blood to bring them a regular supply.

Glucose enters energy hungry cells through a ‘door’ called an insulin receptor. Insulin is a hormone that is released from the pancreas in response to rising blood glucose levels. Insulin ‘opens the cell door’ by reacting with the insulin receptors, allowing glucose to pass from the blood into the cell. In a normal horse, once the glucose moves from the blood into the cells, the pancreas registers the fall in blood glucose and stops releasing insulin.

FEEDING THE INSULIN RESISTANT PONY

~HEALTH~


DEFINITIONS

Insulin Resistance (IR)Horses with a metabolism that can

not utilise blood glucose quickly due to a lack of insulin receptors

at the cellular level. This leads to increased blood insulin levels

which triggers the body to store fat causing the symptoms of fat depos-its on the neck, spine and tailhead regardless of body condition score.

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)

Another name for insulin resistance.

LaminitisInflammation of the laminae, the

structure that joins the coffin bone inside the hoof to the hoof wall. A very painful condition which can lead to permanent changes of the bones inside the hoof and even

death.

Cushing’s Disease A disorder of the pituitary gland which stimulates an overproduc-

tion of corstisol, a stress hormone. The condition is more accurately called Pituitary Pars Intermedia

Dysfunction (PPID) and is gener-ally seen in middle-aged or geriat-ric horses. Symptoms can include a long coarse and/or thick winter

coat that sheds abnormally late or not at all, seasonal laminitis and

weight loss or muscle loss particu-larly over the topline.

Photo: iStock/Country Style Photography

• Is an ‘easy keeper’

• May be laminitic

• Blood tests for insulin, glucose and/or leptin indicate the metabolic type.

Lifestyle Management for the Insulin Resistant Pony

Insulin resistant horses and ponies can-not tolerate more than 5 to 10 per cent

~HEALTH~


However, insulin resistant horses do not have enough insulin receptors to allow blood glucose into the cells at a normal rate, caus-ing a ‘bottleneck’ of glucose in the blood.

When the cells do not take up glucose from the blood, the body switches to utilising another energy source – fat. Fats (lipids) are released from storage into the blood where they can be used by cells as energy. However, at the same time, the high blood insulin lev-els indicate to the body that there is plenty of glucose available, so the body sends the blood lipids back to fat storage. Therefore the body’s energy crisis worsens, completing the vicious cycle of insulin resistance.

The most common type of insulin resistance is Compensated IR, where the blood glucose bottleneck eventually clears as the glucose enters the cells over time and the blood insulin levels fall. A rarer but more serious condition is Uncompensated IR, where the pancreatic cells that produce insulin are damaged from overwork so that blood glu-cose levels remain elevated due to a lack of blood insulin.

There is a link between insulin resistance and laminitis, although the exact cause is not known. It could be due to glucose depriva-tion in the hoof causing weakness in the at-tachment of the laminae or due to inflamma-tion caused by proteins released by body fat deposits. However not all IR ponies develop laminitis, and it can be safely avoided with correct management.

Diagnosing Insulin Resistance

Your vet will be able to diagnose IR based on observations and blood test results. Typical symptoms of insulin resistance include:

• Fat deposits on neck, spine and tail-head (even when at a healthy weight or underweight)

• Often a body condition score of 6 or more

http://www.equinevitmin.com


starch or sugar in their diets, so a major part of manag-ing this syndrome is diet management. Exercise (of non-lame horses) is also important both for weight loss and to trigger the hormones that promote healthy energy metabolism.

The first goal of lifestyle change is to bring your pony to an ideal weight, with a body condition score of 4.5 to 5. This can be achieved by feeding the correct amount of high fibre, low starch feeds. Starving a pony will only worsen insulin resistance. Ponies not working will need to consume dry matter (the weight of feed minus the water contained in the feed) of 1.5 per cent of their existing bodyweight, or 2 per cent of their ideal bodyweight, whichever is larger. This means that a 300 kg pony needs to eat around 4.5 to 6 kg per day. The actual weight of the food will be greater than this, depending on the moisture content.

Once the pony has reached a healthy weight, more roughage and if necessary a small amount of oil can be fed to maintain weight and provide sufficient energy for the exer-cise level.

What to feedSince most IR ponies are easy keepers, and they have finished growing, most are best fed a high roughage, low carbohydrate/sugar diet without the need for additional protein supplementation. Grass hay should be the basis of the diet (it can be soaked in cold wa-ter for an hour to remove excess carbohydrates) and ‘super fibres’ such as beet pulp (no molasses) or soy hulls can be added for a low starch energy source. Speedibeet, Microbeet and Maxisoy are examples of ‘super fibres’ commonly available in Australia.

Insulin resistant ponies must avoid cereal grains, high starch feeds (including fresh green grass, especially in spring), molasses and sweet treats. They need to be fed hay which is less than 12 per cent NSC (non-structural carbohydrates), with only up to 10 per cent of their hay being lucerne. If you buy hay in bulk, it is advisable to send a sample to a labo-ratory for testing (in-ternet search ‘hay test-ing Australia’ to find a provider).

If a pony is working really hard and cannot maintain enough weight on an increased amount of roughage, it is best to use fats such as linseed, rice bran or canola oil to add extra energy where required.

~HEALTH~


Examples of Dry Matter content

Grass hay 80 – 94 %Lucerne hay 77 - 93 %Grain/Pellets 88 - 92 %Beet pulp/Soy hulls 90 – 92 %Pasture 10 – 80 %

Photo: iStock/Michael Weirauch

Insulin Resistant ponies tend to be easy keepers and so

unwanted weight gain can be an issue

Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation

Whilst this diet provides the energy and protein requirements of an IR pony, it will not meet the minimum requirements for all the vitamins and minerals. It is important to choose a supplement that will correct the critical mineral ratios in the whole diet.

Vitamins do not store well in dried feeds and mineral levels (particularly magnesium for energy metabolism, and the antioxidants copper, zinc and selenium) will need to be topped up with a quality vitamin and mineral supplement.

With IR ponies it is important to feed a magnesium supplement but this must be fed in a balanced ratio with calcium (one to two parts calcium for every part magnesium in the diet). Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant which is important for IR ponies - look for a supplement high in Vitamin E but less than 500 mg/kg of iron. Free access to a salt lick, or addition of 20 to 40g of table salt per day depending on pony weight and work load is also advisable.

Omega-3 fatty acids regulate insulin so it is a good idea to feed a little freshly ground lin-seed meal (90g for a 500kg horse) or stabilised oil.

~HEALTH~



ConclusionA lifestyle change to a new high fibre, low carbohydrate, low sugar diet and regular ex-ercise is the key to successful management of insulin resistance in ponies.

Useful References

Getty, J.M. (2009) Feed your horse like a horse. Dog Ear Publishing, Indianapolis, USA.

ECIR Group www.ecirhorse.org provides up-to-date information and educational materi-als.

Your veterinarian and local Department of Agriculture.

~NUTRITION~


Sale YardPonies for Sale

Chicano Park Foxy LadyYearling filly, partbred APSB,mature 12.2hh. Fantastic tempera-ment for children, very quiet young filly.Suit showing, Pony Club, or breeding. $1,500 neg to right homeLesley Froud. CHICANO PARK STUD. Swifts Creek, Victoria. 0457 794 544. [email protected]

Cataraqui Rhiannon

Rising 3 year old,Welsh Cob filly,to Make 14-14.2hh.Kind, sensible nature, fantasic mover.Ready to break in.$3,000 neg.Alex Bethell.Near Shepparton, Victoria.0401 977 044

Have a pony to sell?

July issue Ponies for Sale adverts will be just $5 ( 1/9 page), or upgrade to 1/4 page for $10.

Please include a photo, plus basic information (age, breed, height, rider suitability/ suitable for..., price and contact de-tails, including location).

Send details to [email protected]

http://www.ecirhorse.org


Presents...

HOOVES IN

HISTORYDocumenting the history of ponies in Australia.


~HOOVES IN HISTORY~Volume 1

THE EARLY DAYS

Over the years some of the finest available pony bloodlines have been brought to our shores and today the pony industry in Aus-tralia is flourishing. From humble beginnings, dedicated breeders have left a lasting legacy and set a sound foundation for future gen-erations to come.

The first equines to come to this coun-try arrived with the First Fleet in 1788 and originated from South Africa. Sub-sequent settlers would have no doubt brought with them their most reliable steeds from the mother land to help them start a new life in this new un-tamed countryside. In the early days of the Colonies, Welsh, Arabian and Thor-oughbred blood was common and it is probable that the native ponies were also brought over. Early records men-tion the success and popularity of the crossing of Welsh and Thoroughbred blood, however it is not certain wheth-er Welsh in this case refers to Welsh Pony or Welsh Cob.

The first recorded arrival of a pony was in 1803 with the importation of a Timor pony stallion. Timor ponies came from Indonesia and were common in the early days. In 1824 a large consign-ment of Timor ponies landed at Port

HOOVES IN HISTORYAUSTRALIA: THE BEGINNING

~HOOVES IN HISTORY~ Volume 1

Essington in the Northern Territory and though many of these would eventu-ally go wild, the impression left by this little breed was long lasting. They were originally intended as pack ponies, be-ing well known for stamina, hardiness and resilience. They were able to endure the hard landscapes that the Thorough-breds could not and were found to adapt well to the harshness of Northern Aus-tralia. Another importation of Timor ponies, comprising of 60 ponies, arrived at Happy Valley, South Australia in 1839 aboard the Abeona. Subsequent importa-tions followed. These tough little ponies would spread throughout the Colonies, making ideal pack ponies. They served in the World Wars, being admired for their courage and ability to keep going all day. The usefulness of the blood of these ponies was discovered and they were crossed with the drovers’ horses, which is how the famous Waler came to be. There are a number of early records of Timor pony studs in Australia and there are also records of Timor pony races be-ing held in Western Australia. There are still reasonably pure Timor ponies run-ning in parts of Western Australia, as well as in a sanctuary in South Australia (known as the Coffin Bay Ponies or Cof-fin Bay Brumbies).

A number of Manipur and Batik Hill ponies were imported from Sumatra in 1826 and these no doubt would have been dispersed throughout the colonies. They were reportedly of Mongolian ori-


gin with some Arabian blood. In about the 1880s a Hungarian pony stallion by the name of Bonnie Charlie* was imported, along with another Hungar-ian stallion Bonnie Carlisle*. It was rumoured that Bonnie Charlie* arrived in Australia with a travelling circus (Wirth’s Circus), however this does not appear to be entirely truthful. He was in fact a top show pony, being unbeaten in Europe and winning 17 first prizes. He also won in Victoria and New South Wales. He was a very strong looking taffy with a flaxen mane and tail, a colouring which was passed on to many of his descendants. These stallions were imported by the Hon. T.J. Sumner of Victoria. Sumner presumably also im-ported a number of purebred mares, as a dispersal sale advertisement in the Sydney Morning Herald in October 1886 mentions both of these stallions as well as 30 Hungarian ponies by Bon-nie Charlie* and from pure bred pony


mares. Bonnie Char-lie* was sold to Mr John Bennet who ran a racing stable and a pony stud in New South Wales. As well as Hungar-ian pony bloodlines, Bennett’s stud also comprised of Timor pony, Shetland and Exmoor (through Sir Thomas*) blood. A dispersal sale advert mentions the stallion Tom Thumb, by Bon-nie Charlie*, claim-ing him to be the smallest pony in Aus-tralia, standing at 8 hands high. Bonnie Charlie* spent the last of his days with Sir Samuel Hordern

of Retford Park.

The abovementioned Sir Thomas* was a pure Exmoor pony imported by James Yeo of Moss Vale, New South Wales from the famous stud of Sir Thomas Acland in about 1880. An excerpt from The Syd-ney Mail in November 1881 states that he was the winner of several first and special prizes. Many of his progeny were known to have white spots from the whither to the dock of the tail, some-thing known as cat’s markings. His son Uncle Tom, from an imported mare, Pretty Star*, was sold to Queensland in 1888. Pretty Star* was claimed to have been the best imported pony in Austra-lia. Her dam Starlight was a champion racing pony in England, being undefeat-ed and winning over £2000. Another son was Tam O’Shanter, a steel grey from a mare named Garters. Tam O’Shanter had quite an impact in his day and his lines made it into some of the more influential


The imported Hungarian Pony stallion Bonnie Charlie* spent his last days at Retford Park.

Photo taken by Mrs. A. Winter-Irving at Retford Park, Source: WPCSA Journal 1981.

studs of that era.

Shetland ponies were becoming popu-lar later in the nineteenth century. The first recorded import was in 1859, where two stallions and 19 mares were brought from the United Kingdom by brothers Andrew and William Lyall. Colonel Thomas Small brought over a shipload of Shetland ponies from the United Kingdom sometime after this and bred ponies at his property Shet-land Heights. South West Victoria had a number of Shetland studs, with John Calvert of Irrewara, Colac, and Joseph Ware of Minjah, Hawkesdale breed-ing Shetland ponies in large numbers. Shetland ponies also played a big role in early Western Australian pony breed-ing.

A number of Welsh Cobs and Hackneys were imported at the turn of the centu-ry, with Login Briton* being imported in 1894 by H. Rea of Melbourne, and also the ponies Lingcropper* and Bracken Dewr*, both owned by S. Roberts of New South Wales being imported around this time. Ich Dien*, who had an influence in Queensland, was a Welsh Pony of Cob Type, as was the pony Docken*. Little Jim* was of Hackney breeding but was entered in the Welsh Stud Book in the United Kingdom as a Welsh Pony of Cob Type. He was im-ported in 1909 by Miss M.E. Rouse of Mudgee, New South Wales, purchased from his breeder V.P. Lort. Little Jim* eventually ended up with J.W. Luke of

Tenterfield, whom also purchased the im-ported mare Dinarth Lass*, who was by a Hackney and from a Welsh pony mare.


1910 saw another Welsh Pony of Cob Type imported in Traveller’s Joy*, who went to Sir Samuel Hordern of Retford Park.

The turn of the century also saw an increase in the popularity of the Welsh Mountain Pony. Though Merry Boy*, ac-companied by six purebred Welsh Moun-tain mares, was the first recorded im-ported Welsh Mountain Pony (arriving in 1908), his influence is far surpassed by that of the famous Greylight*. Grey-light* was brought over to Australia by Mr Bill Price Jones in 1911 and exhib-ited at the Melbourne Royal Show. He had already won numerous champion-ships in England and was described as the Champion Pony of Europe, as well as being an established sire. He was as much admired in Australia as he was in his homeland. Greylight* was eventually secured by Mr. Anthony Hordern of the famous Hordern Emporium in Sydney for a world record price of 1000 guineas. This little grey pony saw the beginning of a new era in pony breeding in Australia.


Traveller’s Joy* was one of a number of Welsh Pony of Cob Type imported to Australia in

the late 1800s and early 1900s.

B.Purcell Equine Art2014

The first recorded Shetland Pony importation was in 1859, though no doubt they were here earlier

B.Purcell Equine Art2014

The early 1900s saw the rise of the Welsh Mountain Pony and the Australian Pony in this country. Imports started flooding in, many of these from Great Britain. One of the most instrumental of these early imports was a little grey Welsh Mountain Pony named Grey-light*.

Greylight* was born in 1900, bred by Mr. Evan Jones of Manoravon, Llandilo. He was by the Welsh super sire of that era, the famous Dyoll Starlight, who was described by many pony enthusiasts as the most beautiful pony in the whole world. Dyoll Star-light was bred by Mr. Howard Meuric Lloyd, whom founded his famous Dyoll Stud in 1884 when his father gave him a pony. In 1891 Mr. Lloyd pur-chased a harness pony for his wife, a lovely, refined grey mare named Moonlight. Her parents came from the Glamorganshire hills and her type and quality hinted at her Arabian descent (Arabian stallions were released out into the Brecon Beacons in 1840 and 1850). Moonlight herself originated from the Vaynor Hill area of the Brecon Beacons, and the shepherds in the area would refer to the silky consistence of her mane and tail, in contrast to the coarser hair of the true mountain pony. Moonlight was de-scribed by Mr. Lloyd as, ”full of quality with a lovely head and a good shoulder.” She was driven for a number of years by his wife, before an accident involving savage dogs sadly rendered her unsafe. She was then put to stud.

Dyoll Starlight was her second foal, and bred perhaps by accident. His sire Glasallt was a two year old colt still running with his dam when he served Moonlight and he was subsequently gelded before Starlight was born as Mr. Lloyd did not want a stallion. Glassalt (registered as Dyoll Gla-sallt) was by the Welsh Mountain Pony Flower of Wales, who was sold for the significant sum of 80 pounds. Not a lot is known about Greylight’s* dam Myfanwy.

Greylight* won many prizes and championships during his British show career and was a per-



The Great Greylight*

The famous Greylight*

Greylight*

I am incredibly greatful to the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of Australia, as well as Tina Taylor of Nattai River Stud for allowing me to use their photographs with this article. Please note that all photos are © copyright and property of the WPCSA and Tina Taylor and may not be reproduced in any way without their prior permission. I would also like to thank Mrs. Jean Hill from WPCSA office for her assistance in sourcing these phootgraphs.

sonal favourite of Her Majesty, Queen Alexan-dra, being asked before her on three separate occasions. Greylight* won at the Welsh National Show on an impressive seven occasions. He was undefeated in the show ring in Britain, an honour which he upheld in Australia. He had a successful stud career in the UK, siring a number of show champions and prolific breeders such as Lady Greylight, who had quite an influence on the Wentworth ponies. She was the dam of one of Lady Wentworth’s favourite stallions Wentworth Springlight, as well as the dam of Grove Lime-light.

In 1911 Mr. Price Jones brought Greylight* to Australia and exhibited him at the Royal Mel-bourne Show. Here he was much admired, and was eventually purchased for the world record price of 1,000 guineas by Mr. Anthony Hordern. Greylight* was the second recorded import of a


Welsh Section A stallion, and without a shadow of a doubt the most influential. Mr. Hordern ran Milton Park Stud at Bowral, New South Wales and imported some lovely Section A mares to breed with Greylight, including Topsy*, Towyvale Roanie* and Little Queen*. These mares feature dominantly in Australian pedigrees alongside Greylight*.

To Greylight*, Little Queen* produced such po-nies as Milton Lady Greylight 3rd (dam of Nattai Greylight 2nd, Nattai Lady Comet etc.), Milton Princess (dam of Milton Kitty, who was a top mover and produced some good stock for Nattai when Lady Creswick repurchased her), and Milton Queen (granddam of Nattai Nightlight).

Little Queen* also produced to Greylight* the mare Princess, who was put to Prince Charlie

(by the Hungarian Pony Bon-nie Charlie*) to produce the mare Toddles. When this line was bred back to Greylight*, Toddles produced the lovely Retford Prince. Retford Prince, bred by Sir Samuel Hordern of Retford Park (who was Anthony Hordern’s brother), won several prizes in Sydney and was a popular sire in the Bowral district of New South Wales. He was a versatile stallion, regularly being ridden and driven. He had good limbs and shoulder and true


Topsy* Little Queen*

Milton Kitty (Cream of Eppynt* x Milton Princess, by Greylight*)

action. His progeny include Burradoo Rex (a well known Australian Pony sire), Little Princess (brood-mare at Berrima Stud), and Naroo Smudge.

Little Queen’s* son Flashlight 2nd was born when his dam was 25 years old and he was influential as a sire, producing a number of Retford Park and Nattai ponies, as well as being used by other local studs. He was by Milton Flashlight (Greylight* x Towyvale Roanie*). His progeny included Nattai Searchlight (from Nattai Star, who was by Ceulan Comet* and from Milton Topsy 3rd) and Nattai Starlight (from the aforementioned Nattai Lady Comet). Nattai Starlight was the foundation stallion for the Rhondda Stud of Lady Coles and was a very successful show pony and sire. He won Champion Pony Stallion at Adelaide and Melbourne Royal in 1950 and won Entire Pony in Harness at Melbourne and Sydney Royal Shows in 1950, 1951 and 1952. He also won Supreme Champion Harness Pony, Galloway or Horse at the Equestrian Federation of Australia Show in 1951. Amongst his progeny was the success-ful Rhondda Misty Hue, from Lady Coles’ favourite mare Grey Star, a winner at Melbourne Royal.

Topsy* was the dam of Milton Greylight (by Greylight*), a very influential stallion in New South Wales. Milton Greylight’s progeny include Naroo Goldlight, out of the imported Stanage Estella*, who was another stallion of influence in New South Wales, which at this point in time was the

hub of pony breeding in Australia. Naroo Goldlight stood for a number of seasons at Bereen Stud, be-fore going to View Bank Stud in Victoria, and then



Nattai Honeysuckle (Coed Coch Proffwyd* x Nattai Sunflower), great granddaughter of Milton Greylight

and Milton Kitty

Top Left: Nattai Starlight (Flashlight 2nd x Nattai Lady Comet) with Tom Pallister, double Greylight* and double

Little Queen*, Bottom Left: Nattai Starlight in harness with Tom Pallister

and Lady Coles

Bottom Right: his successful son Rhondda Misty Hue, from one of Lady Coles’ favourite mares Grey Star (by Nattai

Comet).

spending the last of his days at Retford Park. Milton Greylight was used by a number of outside studs, as well as siring a significant number of ponies for Milton and later Nattai Stud, including Nattai Dashlight, Nat-tai Lady Sunlight, Nattai Bluelight, Nattai Lady Grey-light etc.. Nattai Dashlight’s son Nattai Nightlight was a good sire for Nattai, his granddaughter Nattai Telstar (multi Royal and Stud Show Champion) being the dam of Nattai Prophet.

Knighton Prince Starlight, by the imported Section A Knighton King Starlight*, was from Snowflake, a Grey-light* daughter out of Gwalia Eurem*. This stallion was leased by Naroo Stud where he sired some influential stock. His daughter Naroo Bluebird was purchased from

Naroo Stud by Mr and Mrs Bartram of View Bank Stud where she produced for them some out-standing stock including the full brothers (by Burrudoo Rex) View Bank Blue Blood and View Bank Blue Print.

Twilight, by Greylight, produced to Dinarth Jim the mare Hopewood Queenie, who subsequently went on to produce Lowlynn Silver Chief. Lowlynn Silver Chief was one of the top Australian Pony sires of his day and is still found in the pedigrees of many of the best Australian Ponies. He won Cham-pion after Champion in the show ring and his progeny followed in his footsteps.

Although it was over a century since Greylight* was imported to our shores, his influence still domi-nates our homebred stock. During his time in New South Wales, he was responsible for a myriad of lovely little grey ponies which went on to produce generatin after generation of quality ponies. Not only is his bloodline still ever-present in our stock but his legacy lives on through the many studs whom make up the foundation of Australian pony breeding.

B. Purcell 2014.



Nattai Summertime (Nattai Apollo x Nattai May-time), has many lines to Greylight* in her pedigree,

via Milton Kitty, Milton Lady Greylight 3rd and Milton Greylight.

Photo: Julie Wilson

Right: Nattai Grey Lady (Coed Coch Proffwyd* x Nattai Lady Greylight 2nd, by

Nattai Nightlight)

Nattai Moon Fairy (Nattai Prohpet x Nattai Star Fairy (Nattai Moonlight x

Nattai Lady Starlight)

Nattai Star Fairy (Nattai Moonlight (Nattai Nightlight x Nattai Lady

Comet)x Nattai Lady Starlight.

The Australian Pony Stud Book has come from hunble beginnings in 1931, to become the premier Pony Stud Book Society in Australia, representing nine pure breeds plus sections for part bred ponies.

The idea of forming a stud book society to cater for ponies was discussed for many years prior to its founding. Mr E.B. Comans was the man responsible for organising the original meeting, held on Friday 26th September 1931 at the offices of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales. This first meeting was chaired by Mr. An-thony Hordern of Milton Park, Bowral.

A provisional council was formed at this meeting to draft a constitution and laws for the Society. A follow up meet-ing of pony breeders was held on teh 23rd of March 1932 with representatives from Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia. The provisional council’s constitution and rules were accepted and the title Australian Pony Stud Book Society was adapted. Sir Samuel Hordern was the first Patron of the Society, and the office bearers were elected, with Mr. Anthony Hordern as Preseident, Mr. P.L. Grimwood as Vice President, Mr. E.B. Comans as Hon. Treasurer and Col. G.C. Somerville as the Hon. Secretary.

Conditions regarding the acceptance of registrations were set out and it was decided that following a thorough pedi-gree examination, that each pony was to be inspected for type. Inspectors were appointed and instructed to follow the Standards set out by the recognised Hungarian and British pony breeds. The height of Shetland Ponies was limited to 10.2 hands, while all other ponies were limited to 14 hands high. It was decided that from 1934, all entries of ponies into the Stud classes of the New South Wales and Victorian Royal Shows would be required to be registered with the Society.

In 1936 the first volume of the Stud Book was published. It contained 119 stallions and 298 mares over three sections, Hackney Pony, Shetland and Australian (the Australian Section incorporated the British Mountain and Moorland pony breeds).

The original objects as set out by the Australian Pony Stud Book Society in 1931 were as follows:

a) To maintain the purity and promote the improvement of all breeds of ponies.

b) To compile, publish and print, at intervals, a stud book for all breeds of ponies.

c) To promote in any way not mentioned above, the interests of breeders of ponies.

d) To accept any gift or legacy of money or property, whether subject to any special trust or not, for any one or more of the objects of the Society.

e) To establish relations with Societies having similar objects, and encourage exchange with Societies with a like nature.

f) To do all such other lawful things as are incidental to the attainment of the above objectives.

(as printed in Costello, M. (1981). History of the Australian Pony Stud Book Society, Australian Pony Stud Book Society (Vic Branch), Ascot Vale, Victoria.)



Formation of the Australian Pony Stud Book Society



Portraits

Action

Commisions

Logo and Advert Design

Preserve the memory of your best friend forever...

B.Purcell Equine [email protected]

Specialising in high detail greyscale drawings: greylead or pen

Documents

Pony Magazine Australia June 2014