Sportaloosa QUARTERLYissue 2, 2014

sportaloosa.comPhoto by David Parker

2 of 16Welcome to another issue

This timeCongratulations to the breeders and owners of this year’s $1,000 foal futurity contestants. It was another very classy line up and we’re looking forward to seeing what these super youngsters go on to do. You’ll find full results on the next page.

The 2014 Sportaloosa foal gallery is underway and we can’t wait to see the foals you have arriving this year.

You’ll find the gallery at www.sportaloosa.com/breeding/2014-foals.html and all members are very welcome to load as many photos as they like. Just log into the site and follow the simple instructions and if you need a hand, please just ask.

Who would like a 2015 Sportaloosa calendar? Please register your interest by emailing contact@sportaloosa.com to give us an idea of the quantity to print.

The calendar will be our usual glossy production, featuring winning photos from this year’s photo competition.

The cost will be around AUD20 (posted within Australia) and NZD25 within New Zealand. Price on application for postage to other areas of the world.

Lastly, remember to check out the Sportaloosa stallion showcase at sportaloosa.com.

There’s an outstanding line up of quality stallions throughout Australia and New Zealandavailable at very reasonable stud fees and our friendly breeders are always happy to answer any questions you have. Most have quality progeny available too.

Sportaloosa International - Australia, New Zealand, the world - www.sportaloosa.com

2014 foal futurity resultsJudge - Bryan Lowcay of New Zealand.

Champion - Mighty McShineyBred, owned and entered by Australian Coloured Performance Horses in Queensland. Sire - Shiney and Nu (QH, USA), dam - Appydale’s Lily Infewsion

Judge’s comments “Well conformed colt with good neck, refined head wide set eyes (on corners of head). Great hind quarter well defined and powerful strong through loin and an athletic front end.

Straight action in gaits and trapezoid angles excellent. As a western trainer this colt exhibits a trait that I constantly look for, that is his ability to hold his rear end and turn freely through his front end. He does this naturally with every turn (in video). Always balanced and smooth. A colt with great presence that should do well in what ever field he is destined.”

Reserve Champion - Mighty BewitchingBred and entered by Sparkling Acres Appaloosas, Wellsford, New Zealand. Sire: Mighty Luminous , dam: Cayuse Mighty Enchanting

3rd - Mighty Incandescent - bred by Cayuse Sportaloosas, owned by Sparkling Acres Appaloosas4th - Shoshoni Maximus Thunder - bred by Shoshoni Appaloosas, NSW, Australia5th - CA White With One - bred by Cinco Park Appaloosas6th - Shoshoni Meeko - bred by Shoshoni Appaloosas, NSW, Australia

See all videos @ sportaloosa.com

Mighty McShiney

Mighty Bewitching

4 of 16Diane Johnston joins the 1,000 hour club

Huge congratulations

to Diane Johnston of

Tasmania, our second member

to complete 1,000 hours in the

Sportaloosa saddle.

Diane’s hours have been gained on Yallawa Playful Times (pictured) and Shoshoni Lomasi.

You’ll probably recognise those names from show results and Sportaloosa awards... these horses are living testiment to the effort, skill and most of all, time Diane puts in to them.

Well done Di and here’s to the next 1,000 hours!

Photo by David Parker

Breed a Sportaloosa 2014

Cayuse Chatta Lena - NSW Palousa San Sebastian - frozen semen Wapuzzan - interest in frozen semen invited

From big striding dressage and jumping stallions to working stallions and versatile types that can turn their hand to anything, the Sportaloosa stallion showcase has a sire for every type of mare.

For full information, including photos, videos, height, genetic test results, location and contact details, visit www.sportaloosa.com/stallions.

We have stallions throughout Australia (with many shipping cooled semen), New Zealand and a couple further afield offering frozen semen (or asking for your interest in breeding).

AP Double Plaudit - Vic

Breed a Sportaloosa

Lori’s Flashpoint Af Lyn - NSW Oregon Park Aristokat - Vic Kerrinna Kat’s Frosty Moon - Vic

Cayuse Dark Enchantment - VicCayuse Blizzard-O-Lena - NSWKerrinna Sweetin My T - Vic

Breed a Sportaloosa

Cayuse Iron Duke - NSW Bling Du Rouet - NSW Cayuse Bradford - Vic

Heavenly Saint - VicLV Lane Frost - VicCayuse A Grand Illusion - Vic

Breed a Sportaloosa

Cayuse Confewsion - Vic Cayuse Mighty Windstorm - NT Cayuse Mighty Outrageous - Vic

Cayuse Skip O’ The Moon - SAAvenlee Frosty Whiz - VicAvenlee Dualling Thunder - Vic

Breed a Sportaloosa

Mighty Luminous - Wellsford GAB’s Whata Kracka - Whangarei Skip’s Supreme - Wellsford

Moonshadow - New PlymouthDouble A Ariki Pii Hui - AmberleyEnriched - Wairoa

Mighty Windsong - Levin

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Young horses, in particular, often lack the experience and confidence to cope with new challenges or situations in training. Many develop an avoidance routine, or a ‘fear’ reaction, to new or unfamiliar obstacles or objects.

They may hesitate, lose impulsion, whirl sideways, carry out an ‘unauthorised half-pass’ as they attempt to move away as they approach or pass an unfamiliar or a repositioned previously familiar object or even baulk and rear, stop or go backwards.

Others become anxious, ‘nervy’, ‘snorty’, shake and tremble or may even attempt to buck or dislodge the rider if they are faced with a new challenge outside their ‘comfort zone’. Occasionally a horse will slowly accept the shape, colour and position of a new object, but will become suspicious and try to avoid it if its position, size or colour is changed, even though they have been past it a number of times.

Naturally nervy, inexperienced horses may take time to adjust to new objects or situations, but as a rider, there are ways to encourage confidence, in the way you react to the situation, especially if the ‘fear’ scenario has occurred previously.

Fear and hesitation - lack of confidence?Article from Dr John Kohnke BVSc. RDA

Underlying Causes of ‘Fear’, ‘Hesitant’ or ‘Avoidance’ BehaviourThere are a number of factors which can influence or trigger an overreactive, ‘flighty’ or naturally wary or suspicious behaviour in a horse.

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Young, immature horses are more likely to exhibit ‘fear’ behaviour untilthey become accustomed to new surroundings, their rider or presenceof other horses in the same work space. Some horses ‘keep theirmind on the job’ when worked by themselves, but become excitedand attempt to avoid other unfamiliar horses when passing on anarena, compared with an older, more seasoned campaigner.

Breed CharacteristicsIt is well recognised that certain breeds of horses are naturally morealert and anxious when challenged by objects, a new location orunfamiliar horses.

For example, Thoroughbreds have been selected and bred over a couple of hundred years to be impulsive, reactive and athletically fast in their movements. Many ex-thoroughbred racing horses are successfully re-schooled for dressage, recognised as being fast ‘learners’ and willing to be trained to move with a flowing stride. However, due to their ‘flighty’ nature and acute sensitivity to a rider’s pressure and rein tension, in a moment of unfamiliar challenge, they may baulk, over-react with ‘fear and force’ to new situations, grab the bit and may try to escape the situation.

Warmbloods are generally regarded as calmer, analysing types ofhorses. Although they will often have greater ‘brute’ strength andpower, they can be less likely to react quickly or become anxious or‘nappy’ under a similar challenge which would ‘ignite’ a Thoroughbred.Many consider Thoroughbred-Warmblood crosses provide the ‘middleground’ in ‘fear’ reaction, whilst still retaining good movement.

Ponies often have a calmer temperament compared with larger breeds. Pony dressage utilises the even temperament of pony breeds and theircrossbreds to good advantage and both children and adults enjoy thetraining and competitive experience.

Bloodline CharacteristicsIt is not uncommon for horses bred from the same stallion/maremating to inherit and display similar ‘stereotypic’ behaviour, including‘fear reaction’ or handling resistance. In many cases, if a mare lacksconfidence, is highly reactive, and hard to handle with a ‘mind of herown’, chances are that her foals imprinted by her behaviour in the first2-3 months of life, will have similar behaviour patterns.

A mare has a great influence on the learned and ‘mimic’ behaviour and psychological development of her young foal. A stallion does not ordinarily interact and does not share the upbringing stage of a foal. A young horse from a neurotic mare may require a longer education and more time to accept discipline in hand or under saddle.

Rider Contact and ConfidenceThis is arguably an important influence and a major factor in a horse’sability to cope with a new situation. An unfamiliar horse usually showssome degree of anxiousness for a new rider and may rush until it becomes accustomed to the rider’s leg aids, rein pressure and style of riding. A confident, experienced or strong rider will often be able to quickly impart confidence in a horse, without resorting to forceful compliance. Even a horse which has a reputation of being reluctant and reactive under saddle with a less

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confident rider, may come onto the bit with good impulsion and controlled energy for a more experienced rider. However, even an experienced rider may have difficulty with an individual horse’s ability to focus and gain confidence for a variety of reasons.

Most commonly, these include, but are not of necessarily limited to:

Discomfort from gastric acid ‘burn’ or gastric ulcers - Manyanxious, ‘worry wart’ and insecure horses develop abnormal regularfeeding patterns, which often leads to gastric irritation from excessfree gastric acid secreted between feeds. When they become excitedin anticipation and during exercise, gastric acid secretion and ‘splash’on the upper wall of the stomach can lead to discomfort and pain,making the horse resist and hesitant in its work. Horses which arenaturally ‘nervy’ and anxious travellers when they are transportedlong distances without hay to chew, are especially prone to gastricacid ‘burn’ and ulceration.

Most dressage horses are fed at regular intervals, however, theincidence of gastric ‘burn’ and ulceration has been shown to be upto 60% in elite dressage horses. It is likely that when ‘collected-up’under saddle, the increased impulsive power in the hind limbs canlead to an elevation in abdominal pressure. This ‘squishes’ and partlycompresses the stomach, which in turn increases internal stomachpressure and pushes free gastric acid up onto the unprotected liningof the upper part of the stomach. Working a horse on an emptystomach early in the day before a ‘breakfast’ meal increases the riskof acid ‘burn’ and gastric irritation. Likewise, competing a horsesoon after travel where it may not have been able to eat and relax,

will increase gastric acid irritation and discomfort.

Other symptoms/issues include:A horse with joint or hoof pain, including navicular syndrome, lowgrade laminitis or a muscle injury.

Discomfort or soreness, such as lower back muscle spasms orsacroiliac pain when working under saddle from a previous fall orpaddock injury. Symptoms include a ‘cold back’, swishing the tailwhen working under saddle, reluctance to turn on one rein, driftingoff the centreline when asked for a balanced trot, over-reaction toa canter aid and holding the head higher, shortened stride in a hindleg with a feeling of a diagonal ‘head bobbing’ lameness on the frontlimb and even attempts to buck when collected up for an extendedtrot or leg aid to canter, as well as ‘nappiness’ and resistance.

Neurological and behavioural hypersensitivity as a result oflow dietary magnesium intake, poor magnesium uptake, andpoor magnesium retention due to urinary and sweating loss. Low orinadequate dietary magnesium intake is now recognised as a commoncause of nervous, hyperactive and unpredictable behaviour in horses.

Mimic Other ‘Bad Behaviour’ - In some cases, horses worked insight of other horses exhibiting hesitant, uncooperative behaviour,may also develop similar behavioural problems. Young inexperiencedhorses in particular often ‘mimic’ the behaviour of other horses asbeing normal ‘manners’ under saddle. Work young horses out ofsight of an anxious ‘nappy’, hesitant horse.

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Sharp-edged Molar Teeth - A horse which throws its head orconstantly chews on the bit, could have painful sharp-edged molarteeth, ‘wolf teeth’, or even a poll injury, which may be aggravated bythe bit or rein pressure. If you notice that your horse over-reacts torein pressure or works with its head slightly turned to one side and isreluctant to be collected-up and lacks hind limb impulsion, then it isa good idea to have the molar teeth checked for sharp edges or otherdental abnormalities by a specialist equine dental vet.

Eye Sight - Horses which ‘shy’, exhibit avoidance behaviour at newobjects or become more anxious under early morning or eveninglow light conditions, may have an eyesight problem in one or botheyes. Common causes include corneal ulceration or scarring withloss of visual acuity, reduced central or peripheral vision due tocorneal scarring, and in aged horses, retinal degeneration.

Many dark coloured aged horses are prone to the development of enlarged corpora nigra bodies which hang down into the pupil opening inthe eyes. These act like ‘scalloped’ blind edges to diffuse sunlightto enable horses to graze under high light midday conditions or survey the horizon when the head is lifted. In some elderly horses, the corpora nigra undergo a benign enlargement to partly restrict vision, especially under low light overcast or evening conditions, or when collected up with the head more vertical, making the horse lose visual acuity and result in the animal developing an uncharacteristic anxious demeanour.

An examination by a veterinary ophthalmologist is recommended if a horse has distinct avoidance behaviour on one side or lacks confidence to work or move to one side.

Poor Saddle Fit - A poorly fitted saddle can result in discomfort,making a normally placid, co-operative horse, become unpredictable,‘nappy’ and non-responsive. Many saddles are fitted with expandiblegullets and other adjustments to conform to a horse’s shape. Ifthe horse gains or loses weight, the gullet and padding should beadjusted to retain the most comfortable fit. If your horse develops a‘cold back’ or tenseness when under saddle, then have the fit of thesaddle checked by an experienced, approved saddle fit specialist.

Previous Experiences - Horses are very intelligent animals.They often react with uncharacteristic behaviour when faced withsituations which previously caused them fear, pain or anxiety. This isa potential problem with a new horse which may have associated asituation or remembers a previous bad experience, which caused it toreact when faced with the situation in the future.

Unwillingness - Some horses, become unwilling or ‘resistant towork on the bit’ or more hesitant due to many of the above commonproblems. We have discussed underlying causes for ‘unwillingness’in Talking Dressage Issue 9. Contact Gary at newsletters@kohnkesown.com to obtain issue 9, or download the issue and allTalking Dressage newsletters from www.kohnkesown.com.

Handling a ‘Fearful’ SituationOnce an underlying reason is established to explain anxiety, lack ofconfidence, ‘nappiness’ or other abnormal behaviours or reactions, thenin many cases, rider awareness to avoid a confrontational situation orobject, may impart a steadying influence and give a horse confidence tohandle it and overcome its ‘fear’ or ‘wariness’.

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Be Prepared Before a Known Situation Arises - If you are mountedon a less confident horse, try to anticipate any upcoming ‘fear’ reactionbefore it is likely to occur. Think ahead of the horse and what couldchallenge it. Maintaining even leg pressure and rein tension may transmit a signal to an overly cautious horse that there is nothing to ‘fear’ from an object which has caused previous ‘anxiety’ or avoidance behaviour.

Asking the horse for a lateral movement, such as shoulder-in, cansometimes help a horse bring its focus back to the rider when its attention has started to wander towards something else that it finds ‘spooky’.

Avoid Talking a Horse Past an Object - Although you may betempted to soothe a horse and restore its confidence or ‘bravery’ whenconfronted with an unfamiliar object or a known ‘boogy man’ situation, often talking to a suspicious horse can impart a message that something is wrong or about to happen. Many authorities believe that silence is the best way, sit deep into the saddle with even leg and rein control. By breathing deeply and holding your breath for a few seconds, an anxious horse will often relax and gain confidence.

Resist the Urge to Lean Forward in the Saddle - When approachinga known ‘trouble spot’, sit deep into the saddle and maintain even leg and rein pressure, and do not lean forward. Clamping the legs, pulling back on the reins and leaning forward (lifting your seat off the saddle) may signal that you are preparing for a predictable reaction or ‘hanging on’ more tightly for some reason and transmit the ‘fear’ signal to your horse.

Repeat an Approach and Maintain your Seat and Push the HorseThrough with Your Legs - This is an alternative approach whichmay work in some horses, as it instils a feeling of confidence that youdo not have the same ‘fear’ which your horse may have and may helpyour horse gain confidence when again faced with a previously ‘feared’object or situation.

If all Attempts Fail, Seek Professional Training - If your horsestill lacks confidence and ‘focus’, despite time spent on training andeven dietary supplementation to help a nervous disposition, then a vet check of the eyes, teeth and common areas of discomfort is recommended. If an underlying cause for the reluctant, ‘nappy’ or resisting behaviour is not found, the best alternative is to seek the services of a well experienced, professional trainer.

Many hours of battling with a difficult horse can be saved by a few days of specialised training by an experienced rider or psychological evaluation by qualified horse psychologist.

Marlene Holahan on Moonshine Jinxy Minx

Jinx and I have only been together for a couple of years, with me not having a lot of experience with green horses, and her not having any real experience at all in anything.

It kinda was a bad choice but who could resist dreams, passion and those spots. Her training started not long after she arrived from Tassie, but an aweful eye trauma put a huge stop to all that.

Her ground work continued but her ridden work was put on hold till she got better. It took almost 12weeks before a saddle was put on her back again, and with that time off, things didnt go so well.

To my dismay, the only choice I had was to either sell her or give her away, both of which I tried without any success. Jinx kept coming back :)

So, the journey started to see what we could do as a team on the ground, and Showmanship at Halter was the answer. I gave up riding and we started having some lessons and trying a lot of

stuff ourselves, until one day not long ago we were offered help by our gorgeous Coach, Chris Gregory.

Jinx and I would have fornightly lessons with Chris and we would go home and practice like mad, everyday.

Things started to happen and we started to win classes and really form a bond. The Appaloosa State Championships have always been a dream of mine, and Chris has pushed me outside of my comfort zone, helping me to make it a reality.

So, this year we set off to Tatura to compete at the 38th Victorian Appaloosa Championships, feeling excited to see everyone and to have all my Appy family finally meet Miss J.

The weekend could not have been more perfect if I had tried to write a script. Miss J’s previous owner had come to see us, my Hubby and youngest daughter were with me, and I was having a ball.

Miss J was behaving like a seasoned pro, even though this is our first real season together in the ring. So, Saturday morning goes by, with Halter classes being won by some beautiful spots, and then our turn for Limited Amateur Showmanship.

The pattern went just brilliantly. I was so very happy and was extremely proud of our performance, so when placings were being called, starting at 6th, and our name hadnt been called by the 3rd place, I was feeling pretty deflated. I never expect to win or place but the pattern felt so good, I was kinda hoping the judge thought so too.

So 2nd place annoucement goes up.... the Reserve Champion for

Limited Amateur Showmanship is.......( and the pause seemed endless ) is, number 29, Moonshine Jinxy Minx and Marlene Holahan!!!!

OMG!! Were they serious??? Yes yes yes, and the tears just flowed. I couldnt help myself, I cried like a girl..lol.

I heard cheers and clapping from the stands and Jinx’s previous owner, I’m sure had a tear also. How absolutely amazing.... We had come to VACS to have some fun and get experience, we came home with a Reserve Champion sash!

All those hours, early mornings, training in all weather, sore feet, frustration, doubt and torture sessions with Chris, all came together in one brilliant moment.

Yes I did most of the training myself, but I have an awesome team of people beside me, without whome none of this would be possible.

Miss J was just divine and I’m so proud to have her by my side, we make a pretty darn good team I reckon. We are by no means finished, we are back in training for next season and are aiming for bigger and better things.

I love a horse that can push you to be a better horsewoman every time we train, I’m so glad she is mine. A huge thank you also goes out to all those who supported us, helped us and believed in us... and so, the work continues....... Marlene Holahan