November/December 2008 Newsletter

• News from Cynthia
• Solving Behaviour Problems - be a good detective!
• New Light Rider Stockhorse & Western Bitless Bridles
• Barefoot Bits & Pieces
• Equitana Competition - Great Prizes
• News on Bitless Dressage and Experiment
• Product Reviews - Great Christmas Gift Ideas
• Subscriber News & Photos
• Web Site Review - FeedXL
• Book Review - One With The Herd: A Spiritual Journey
• Helping RDA Pony Buddy & Driving for the Disabled
• Events News for Tasmania
• Calendar & Classifieds

News from Cynthia
I've had a pretty hectic couple of months preparing for my booth at Equitana so horse activities have been limited. Still, it's been nice to get out for some trail rides and to play witn the young horses, along with hoofcare and grooming out the last of the winter coats for everyone.

My yearling, Fiera, has grown so much he's passed my two year old filly's height and both babies have been reinforcing their trailer loading while the float has been parked in their paddock with hay stored there. This is the best way for young horses to be introduced to the trailer and to discover it is a source of comfort.
Be sure to have the trailer chocked so it can't roll or tip with weight on the ramp, and remove all dividers and anything the young ones can chew!

I had a lovely visit from a Japanese lady, Keiko, who had been in Tasmania working at an endurance and trail riding property. In Japan, Keiko works on Yonaguni Island (pictured) where there is one of the few herds of Native Japanes ponies. They give rides to tourists and Keiko teaches the local children on them. These ponies live a very natural lifestyle with no fences on the island, and are barehoofed, rarely needing a trim. They are only small with most about 12-13hh but they are tough and strong similar to the Mongolian Ponies. Their foals fun free with the herd and follow mum while she's being ridden and get lots of love and handling from an early age. What a life they have!

Recently I was interviewed by the ABC's rural reporter, Rosemary Grant on Bitless Bridles and the use of GPS collars to track the distance horses travel.
These were aired on Melbourne Cup Day and soon there will be a page on the ABC web site where you can listen to both interviews (about 5 mins each) but in the meantime, the Bitless Bridle interview is available - just click here.

It's not too late to book your tickets to Equitana – the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest trade show and competition event from Nov. 20th to the 23rd at the Melbourne Showgrounds. I will be there at the Head2hoof4horses booth no. 170 in Hall 3 with the Light Rider Bitless Bridle range and all the Natural Horse World Shop products. Come and say hello and enter our fantastic daily competitions (see below for the prizes), that's if you have time between all the events, demos and shopping there is to see!

Until next time you hear from me, enjoy your horses and keep learning and looking for better ways to be with them, Cynthia.

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Solving Behaviour Problems by Cynthia Cooper

How many times has your horse behaved badly? How often have you thought he/she has an issue you must solve with either better discipline or a different training technique?
I am often contacted about problems people have with their horse and I’m happy to help them get to the bottom of the issue.
Over the years of solving various issues, I’ve realised it’s generally not bad behaviour that is the true problem.
A horse will usually only behave in a negative way if there is an underlying cause, so our job is to find out what that is.
There are the obvious things to check like teeth and saddle fit but when you look closely there are so many other aspects of a horse that can be affected and therefore cause behavioural problems as a result.

Click here for the rest of this article including a check list to consider.

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NEW! The Light Rider Stockhorse & Western Bitless Bridles

Check out the Light Rider Bridle page for more information, testimonials and articles on riding with a bitless bridle or go to the Natural Horse World Shop to buy one.

Here is some recent feedback from the happy owner of a Light Rider Bridle:

"I was very pleased to come accross your design and since receiving it my off-the- track thouroughbred has been a dream to ride.
I was given this horse literally straight from the track...one day racing...next day mine.
I have spent the last 2 months retraining him and the biggest and most rewarding changes came about when we started using your bridle. No more jig jogging, no more frantic sweating prior to a ride, he's now relaxed, cool calm and collected.
No more head shaking and a willingness to flex in any direction with hardly any pressure. People often ask me why I went for the bitless bridle and I am passionate about telling them my experiences and about all the reasons why we should treat our horses with respect and dignity and not as a slave to our leisure...at an often painfull cost.

To this end I have converted many to bitless bridles...in one of the toughest horse riding towns.....including a friend of mine who is a rodeo pick up rider and rides his horses hard and fast.
Initially he thought I was kidding when I guaranteed him one particular horse would respond better to no bit than with a bit. This horse has the most unbelievable sensitvity to pressure I have ever seen.....and within 10 minutes of riding bitless his owner was won over and has since ordered a number of bridles to start taining his other horses of various disciplines including cutting and reining, roping, pickup and also barrel racing.

So after all that I would like to say thank you for designing such a simple and versatile bridle that I will continue to use as long as I have horses... and expect a few more orders from me in the future and also from those I have influenced up here in the top end. Thanks, Bec." Darwin, NT.

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BAREFOOT BITS & PIECES

TAFE Certificate 3 in Equine Hoof Care Graduates: Congratulations to Glenn Wilson of Tallangatta Valley, NSW.

Next Cert. 3 Hoofcare Course - has been set for April 20 to May1st 2009, Tasmania.
If you are interested in more information or enrolling, please email or phone Loretta on 03 6434 5846 or mailto:Loretta.Satterly@tafe.tas.edu.au

Barefoot Horses doing well in Endurance
Barefoot Endurance horses were well represented at the Weetah Ride on Oct. 4th & 5th .
Tim Potter’s gelding ridden by Erin Gadsby completed the 80km – his 5th 80km ride barefoot and Penny Lasdauskas and Winston, her welsh x arabian pony did the 2 x 80km, the first barefoot and the second with front boots on. A great acheivement for a 13hh pony!

Tammy Miller rode 17yo Angel barefoot to complete her 3rd 80km ride (all barefoot) to become a qualified endurance horse.

Pauline Goodwin rode Royale Cola (pictured left) in boots to also complete her 3rd 80km ride successfully and attain qualified endurance horse status.
Well done to all those riders/owners who are maximising their horse’s long term potential in endurance.

New updates have been posted on the Wild Horse Research Site

To help support research on wild horses Brian Hampson from the University of QLD is selling freeze dried brumby hooves. We have half hooves (sagital sections exposing pedal bone, tendons, etc) freeze dried and fixed permanently. They are very nicely preserved. These hooves are from Queensland Gulf Brumbies from stony country and have a nice classic shape. The price is $150 pick up in Brisbane and adds $10 postage for delivery within Australia. Payment is best by EFT to the research account bank, detail will be provided by on request by return email to b.hampson1@uq.edu.au .
At this stage unfortunately we are unable export oversees but if there is sufficient interest from a particular area we can arrange export.

Brian has prepared a comprehensive response to issues raised about selling these brumby hooves and it can be read in full on the site.

New Product - The 'Wild Knife'
This treasure for your trim kit was designed by Jeremy Ford of www.wildabouthooves.com.au. The Wild Knife is easy to use with the hoofpick as part of the blade, so it optimises your time and efficiency when trimming.

The way the steel is tempered ensures it stays sharp and holds an edge like no other. The shortness of the blade and handle gives you power and precision to tackle the toughest hooves.

The pick serves to clean out the hoof before trimming and also allows you to investigate seedy toe or separation issues in a pathological hoof.
This knife has been designed to suit everyone from beginners to professionals.

Made from high quality premium steel and hand forged, each knife is individually crafted with the handle shaped from magnificent Tasmanian Blackwood.
Available now from the Natural Horse World Shop for $125 plus postage.

Now is the time to set up a track around the perimeter of your pastures to control grazing for overweight horses. This can easily be done with electric tape and tread-in posts for less than the cost of the vet bills if your horse founders or has a hoof abscess the vet attends to out of hours ($600 in one case I heard of!). To read more about tracks and the best way to start, go to this new Paddock Paradise page on the all-natural-horse-care website. You will see how to keep your horses fit and healthy on a paddock paradise track – this is one of the best examples available with maps and photos along with a detailed description.

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Equitana Competition - Great Prizes you can win!

AEBM Inc/CAVALLO HORSE & RIDER Inc in conjunction with HEAD2HOOF4HORSES are proud to announce their Massive ‘MATCH THE LOGO’ COMPETITIONS.

There are 4 ‘DAILY DRAW’ COMPETITIONS – one for every day of Equitana.
First Prize for each day– Cavallo SIMPLE Boots (Value $199)
PLUS many other daily prizes such as a Dr Cook Bitless Bridle, winter rug combos, books, DVD's, Dry Seat Saddle Pad, Art prints, Magazine Subscriptions, Hair Analysis and plaiting caddies.

PLUS a SPECIAL DRAW with a prize pool worth over $1000 that inlcudes a Residential Holiday Camp valued at $585 with the Victorian Equestrian Centre www.vechorse.com.au
And an Inter-species communication camp worth $550 with Jenny Pearce. www.bookswithspirit.com

You can enter on the day at Equitana, booth 170 in hall 3 or prior to the 20th of November at - Head2Hoof4Horses.com.

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Bitless Dressage in South Africa

At the annual National Dressage Meeting in February, 2008, SANEF (South African National Equestrian Federation) approved the introduction of bitless dressage classes (Novice and Pre-Novice initially) at graded dressage shows on a year trial basis starting later this year.
This followed extensive representations to SANEF by a Bitless Dressage Committee over a long period of time. All aspects of bitless riding and dressage competitions were discussed and a proposal was then put to the National Dressage Committee where it was debated at the February meeting. Final details of the rules governing bitless dressage and classes will be announced in due course as well as the starting date.

South Africa should be proud that our Equestrian Federation has been so forward-looking as to be one of the first countries to give bitless dressage an official forum.

Over the years the art of horsemanship has developed and changed as new approaches to equipment and training have evolved. Recently these changes have become more profound as riders and owners of all sorts have embraced modern concepts of horsemanship less anchored in military roots. One of these new directions has resulted in many riders now riding bitless in all manner of 'bridles' ranging from neckstrings through rope head-collars to 'professional' bitless bridles. Riders riding bitless have ranged from novices and happy hackers through to 'serious' classical riders doing Haute Ecole dressage. This has opened up a whole new curiosity as to how well dressage tests can be done bitless.

Any riders who are inspired to do 'formal' bitless dressage, whether they currently ride bitted dressage or don't ride dressage but ride bitless and may be keen to enter dressage, are requested to express their interest by emailing their name, locality and experience to bitlessdressage@webafrica.org.za so that a register of bitless dressage riders can be compiled. Please also state what bitless bridle you are currently using.

Click here to see the presentation to SANEF on bitless dressage.

Bitless Bridle Experiment and Revelation

On 31 October 2008, during the annual conference of the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) held at the Kentucky Horse Park, Dr. Robert Cook, a research veterinarian, gave a demonstration of relevance to the improvement of welfare and safety for horses and humans.

The demonstration took the form of a scientific experiment in front of witnesses. Four volunteers, all of whom were CHA certified riding instructors, rode four horses, offered by owners for the purpose. A four-minute, exercise test was first completed using a bitted bridle (jointed snaffle). Immediately afterwards, the same rider/horse partnership repeated the test using the Bitless Bridle. Prior to the demonstration, none of the horses had ever been ridden in this crossunder design of bitless bridle. The horses’ behavior and performance were evaluated and videotape supplemented the ‘laboratory notebook.’

An independent judge scored the tests on a scale from one to ten, for each of the 27 phases of the test. The average score when bitted was 37% and, when bitless, 64%. It was a revelation for the horse’s owners, riders and spectators that such a significant improvement could be achieved in four minutes by removing the bit and replacing it with a painless method of communication. The experiment also demonstrated that the transition from bitted to bitless was instantaneous. [Copies of the experimental protocol can be provided. The experiment is not difficult to organize and others are encouraged to repeat it]

The results provide further evidence of the need for rule change proposals to be submitted in order that the crossunder bitless bridle, a safer and more humane method of communication than the bit, is made available as an option for competition. In the past ten years, the crossunder bitless bridle has been thoroughly tested on horses of all types, temperaments and stages of schooling; by riders of all ages and ability; in nearly every discipline; and under diverse conditions, worldwide. The scientific and humanitarian justification for providing such an option has not been refuted.

Members of pony clubs, national equine federations, the international equine federation (FEI), and administrators of racing are urged to submit the necessary rule change proposals in order that the rules, for all disciplines, embrace this historic advance in welfare and safety for horse and rider. Much suffering, many accidents and a host of diseases could be avoided by such a simple administrative reform.

For additional evidence visit www.bitlessbridle.com or write to Robert Cook FRCVS, PhD, Professor of Surgery Emeritus, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, Massachusetts, USA; Chairman, BitlessBridle Inc.
Email: drcook@bitlessbridle.com

More 'Hot Press' news received this morning from Dr Cook ... the Dutch Federation have approved bitless dressage ... details later.

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Product Reviews - Great Xmas Gift Ideas

Wrangler Jayne’s Floating Can Be Fun DVD

Jayne Glenn consitantly produces high quallity detailed 'How To' DVD's and is presenting 'Floating can be Fun' at Equitana next week.
This wonderful new training tool will Normally be priced at $59, but... you can order it in November and get it for only $45! That's a $14 SAVING.

It's a great DVD, one that you will get heaps out of, and that will definitely get you results. Jayne shows you with Sharif just how it's done ... It's just what you've been waiting for! You CAN Master Float Loading!

To reserve your DVD now, just send an email to mail@wranglerjayne.com.au with 'FLOATING CAN BE FUN!' in the subject line and we will contact you for payment and delivery details!

or go to www.wranglerjayne.com to purchase.

Congratulations to Scilla Sayer - the winner of the Wrangler Jayne Relaxed Riding DVD in the Sept./Oct. competition.

SMART RIDER BREAKAWAY STIRRUPS

Getting your foot entangled and caught up in the stirrup whilst horse riding and being dragged is EVERY riders worst nightmare!!! Countless deaths, serious debilitating and permanent injuries are unfortunately attributed worldwide to horse riding related dragging accidents!!!

Queensland company, SmartRider Pty Ltd invents designs, develops and manufactures breakaway stirrups.
In fact, in July of this year, on the ABC television programme, the New Inventors, they were chosen as the episode winners..

For the typical English style riding there is the SmartRider 'Classic' Breakaway stirrups (above) and for Western style or trail/endurance riding the 100% Australian, manufactured SmartRider 'Escape' Breakaway range (below).
The Escape range comes in a great range of colours and can be ordered with a range of leather coverings to match your saddle or just for looking fancy! (see bottom photo).

As with all products I review, I tried both styles of stirrup out and found them to be very confortable to use, especially the 'Escape' which I used on my treeless saddle. I think all treeless saddles should be fitted with quality safety stirrups such as these because most don't have a slide off stirrup bar. Not that the stirrup bar always releases the leather in a fall either. So really, all saddles should be fitted with safety stirrups for the best insurance possible.

Fortunately, I didn't have to fall off to see the release part in action! I did it while stepping down and going backwards so my toe pushed on the inner bar to cause it to release from the upper bar. This would be useful if you're mounting a horse that jumps away suddenly, leaving you standing with one leg caught up!

Both styles came with easy to follow instructions so they were quick to set up on the saddle. Both stirrups were easy to put back together when 'released' and the Classics have a little clear tube to fit over the release join for those riders putting a lot of pressure on the stirrups (making the stirrups more tolerant or forgiving) in active events such as polocrosse, camp drafting, sporting etc.

I also like the way the Escape stirrup can rotate within itself to hang down allowing easier mounting especially if you have a tall horse. To view the stirrups in action go to www.smartrider.net

Whilst SmartRider Breakaway Stirrups won’t stop you from falling, they will allow you to enjoy the freedom of riding secure with the knowledge that if you do part company with your horse, you'll do just that!!! SmartRider Breakaway Stirrups give peace of mind to all riders and their loved ones so give them as the perfect gift for Christmas.
Smart Rider Safety Stirrups will be available from the Natural Horse World Shop at the end of November, with prices ranging from $99 to $199.
Members of EFA, Pony Clubs, RDA and Horse Safety Australia are entitled to a discount of 20%.

RHYTHM BEADS

Rhythm beads seem to be catching on as a way of enhancing your horse and for adding some interest, joy and rhythm to your ground play or riding.

I tried out two different styles - www.rhythmwithharmony.com beads are made here in Australia from your chosen selection of crystals and lovely antique looking bells that have a soft sound. Mel, who hand makes them to order (you can choose a style from her web site) has presented them beautifully in a pretty pouch that comes inside a gift tin. The two clips allow you to lengthen the nylon cord they are on to the desired length for different sized horses.

Mel also has a range of other products including memory strands that showcase your horse's mane or tail hair, and as an alternative to the long loop of rhythm beads, there are also shorter rhythm strands that clip into the horse's mane.
These rhythm accessories would also enhance the arabian (or any other breed) and be useful for costume events, also looking lovely for a photo session.

The other style I tried were from www.wranglerjayne.com and are made in the USA. Your chosen coloured beads come on a leather thong and have slightly louder (but still sweet sounding) bells. They have a clip to attach to the mane so the beads don't drop down and get trodden on if the horse puts its head down.

The first time I introduced the beads to the horses, I jingled them around without them being attached. Both horses accepted them with no concern but I had them in the roundyard just in case one was spooked.

The bells do make a nice sounding rhythm for you and the horse to focus on and would brighten up the training session or dress up the horse for playdays. They could even be useful on the trail so other users can hear you approaching (unless they're on a noisy machine!). I think they'd make a lovely gift and when not in use on the horse, I hang mine where they can catch the breeze clipped to a curtain.

OZHORSETOYS

Brenda Darley is keen to see horses play so she started her online horse toys business, importing the best quality toys that withstand a lot of horseplay!

Horses can enjoy free-play with the Equine balls and they are ideal for playing the Equine Soccer game. Equine Soccer is becoming a popular equestrian activity away from mainstream disciplines.

The benefits of the Equine Soccer Game are numerous:

PLACIDE + C Magnesium & Calcium Supplement

Recently my friends, Jen and Jeremy were considering selling a mare they had bought for their kids to ride as she was acting nervously, to the point of being dangerous. She would shy, prance and dance, want to be in front and twist her head while grinding her jaw when anxious which was as soon as she was taken out of the pasture.

I suggested trying her on a course of Placide before passing her on as she is a nice mare and has a friendly nature. So we filmed her 'before' behaviour on a short ride around the roundyard and out in the pasture near the other horses where she displayed all the above symptoms. She was then fed her dose of Placide twice daily, mixed in with a handful of damp pellets which she readily ate.

I suggested to the owners they not ride her for a week then try her again to see if her behaviour changed at all. Ten days after starting the Placide I got a message that she was a changed horse. After a starting to show signs of anxiety (which we attributed to habit) she settled down quickly and rode out on the trail happily with other horses. No more shying, wanting to be in front, jigging etc.

So, happily she is staying with her family and will continue on Placide to address the deficiency she obviously had, espceially while the spring grass is producing higher sugars and toxins.

Placide+C is a highly available form of calcium and magnesium (ratio1:1) with boron and essential amino acids. The ideal calcium/magnesium ratio is 2:1, Placide C is 1:1 to allow for horses that are on a multi vitamin/mineral supplement or have other sources of calcium in their diet such as lucerne.
CALCIUM;
Calcium is vital for muscle contraction and stimulation of nerves. Calcium is essential for optimal skeletal growth.
It is important for young horses to get enough calcium in their diet to maintain healthy bone growth. Mares in foal and lactating mares also need to be supplemented with calcium. This is so the foal they are feeding and the mare does not become deficient. It is important that foals do not start off calcium deficient because it will affect their skeletal growth.
MAGNESIUM;
Magnesium is vital for over 300 different functions in the body. The body requires
magnesium in relatively large amounts but does not store much. If it does not get sufficient daily from the diet, then it is forced to steal it from the nerves, the muscles, the brain and the heart. Then the body simply cannot function properly.
Without Magnesium, muscle & nerve functions are compromised and energy is diminished.
Muscular weakness, soft bones, anxiety, heart attacks, even seizures & convulsions can result. Magnesium reduces lactic acid build up, lactic acid causes post exercise pain. Calcium and magnesium work together and the presence of boron is essential for them to operate properly, it reduces the excretion of these minerals by as much as 40%.
Shouldn’t we be careful with supplementing?
Yes, of course, but we should also be careful with not supplementing!! The trouble is the word ‘supplement’. The average interpretation is that if you ‘supplement’ then you are adding to, and therefore may end up with too much in your system and upset balances of other minerals. In this case we are talking about addressing a deficiency, a lack of. We need to make sure we are topped up so that a lack of doesn’t cause major mineral imbalances.
Not only that, but in most cases we are dealing with gross deficiencies, the consequences of which can be very dangerous. Magnesium is impossible to overdose by mouth, it is nontoxic in this organic form and the body spits out what it does not need. This is minor compared to the effects of being deficient.

Placide and Placide+C are both available from the Natural Horse World Shop.

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WEB REVIEWS

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BOOK REVIEW – One With the Herd - A Spiritual Journey by Liz Mitten-Ryan

This is one truly inspirational book full of beautiful photos and paintings by the author.
Liz Mitten-Ryan lives a life with her horses many (and definately me) would be envious of.
On 320 acres in the big sky country of British Columbia, Liz and her family of people, horses, dogs and cats are surrounded by picture perfect landscapes.
These inspire Liz's art and her writing about her spiritual experiences of communicating with her herd of well bred warmbloods.

Liz says "For me, having horses is not just about riding and training and competition, but about the special relationship we share with them, and the pure joy of smelling, touching, and basking in their presence."

For over six years, Liz lived with her horses, breeding and raising their babies and learning more about horsemanship by studying Parelli, Monty Roberts and other great horseman. But she learned the most from listening to her horses:

"This is what animals have to teach us: the rightness of listening to our intuition, living in the moment, and experiencing true freedom.
We have taken a spiritually evolved creature who's life was choreographed to dance like the wind, and crushed their spirits by our fear, our need to control and capture. Thinking we can own their joy along with their bodies, we try to take it from them, and we crush it in the process. It is no longer theirs to share. They develop all the neuroses that thrive in captivity: cribbing, weaving, kicking and biting their captors. solitary confinement has taken its toll."

The horses, living as they would in the wild, but with the benefit of loving and supportive humans, share their secrets through the concept of 'Equinisity' - the gift of finding the unexpected and truly important perspective through the clear vision of the equine.

This 200+ page beautifully presented hard cover book is highly recommended as a gift for any horse lover and is available from Liz's web site (along with book 2 - the Truth According To Horses) at www.onewiththeherd.com or through www.amazon.com.

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Can you Help Buddy?

Buddy is a 10hh Shetland pony of great value to us at Riding for the Disabled, Oaklands Group in Victoria, Australia. He is used for some of our smallest riders, knows the ropes and has never done anything inappropriate when carrying a vulnerable rider. Recently, he has had some nasal problems and the vet diagnosed Gutteral Pouch Infection, requiring a series of operations. He was a sorry pony.

However help was at hand with some intricate surgical intervention at The University of Melbourne Equine Hospital at Werribee. He is now back on his hooves and giving cheek although further treatment is necessary before he can resume his RDA duties.

We are so happy to see him on the road to recovery although we are now faced with the bill. It’s large and with the drought and the threat of Equine Influenza last year, we find our emergency funds totally depleted. We need some help! We are not asking for sheep stations but if you and your friends could possibly spare a few dollars next pay day we would really appreciate it.
Our Internet Banking Details are: BSB 033118 Account Name: Riding for the Disabled Oaklands Account number: 106274
Alternatively, you could send a donation to RDA @ Oaklands, C/O The Treasurer, 22 License Rd, Diggers Rest, 3427, Australia.

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Riding for the Disabled Association North – at Swan Point

By Linda Jackson - Public Officer, RDA North.

I am in the process of setting up an RDA Carriage Driving Group at my property that will be run on a volunteer basis.

Last year we inherited RDA North, one of the oldest Tasmanian RDA Groups, when its long serving committee retired and RDA riding sessions ceased at Michelle's Riding School.
Rather than see the group fold altogether, they asked me to take it on. I worked for RDA in the UK full-time before moving to Tasmania 8 years ago and got involved in Carriage Driving there so that I could learn to teach disabled drivers (it was something I had wanted to do for a long time, but took me until age 30 to finally have my own horse).

I feel lucky to have my own driving ponies now and want to share them with others who may not have that opportunity. Whilst re-qualifying under the Australian system for carriage driving instructors (Whips), the assessor commented that my place would be great as a Centre, and so the work began.
With a small committee of volunteers we have put in fencing, leveled off parking and meeting areas, put in tie up rails, built a sheltered waiting area, improved access to and upgraded the toilet facilities and adapted part of our shed as a club room.

We have had my two driving ponies accredited to RDA standard (a miniature Shetland and a 15 hh Percheron cross, both barefoot and living a pretty natural life), and had a carriage purpose built to accommodate wheelchairs. We have altered my small pony's carriage to accommodate small children safely.
We have also had a pony on trial, a 12.2hh Welsh x Arab who has since been donated to us, whom has also been accredited (this pony has been barefoot for a long time and came with an original pair of Old Mac boots as his owner was a friend of the inventor!). We have also been offered the use of another experienced driving pony from next year.

We have a small number of alterations to complete before the site can be accredited but we hope to be up and running on a weekly basis for next year. We are looking for volunteers who could give us time one day per week, we may start a monthly weekend session too if we have sufficient volunteers. We will also need volunteers to help us with maintenance and with exercising the ponies too, so please contact us if you feel we can help. Training will be given and we have roles that do not involve directly working with the horses. One of our volunteers is currently training to become an instructor.
We will be driving in the paddocks to start with but will be applying for funding to build an outdoor arena so we can operate all year round.

We have been fortunate to receive grants from BIS Industries and Commonwealth Bank this year for equipment and alterations and the support of several local business for materials, machinery and discounts.
If you know of anyone with a disability who may benefit from carriage driving, either pleasure driving or learning to drive, please encourage them to contact me.
Every driver needs medical consent from their doctor before commencing driving (as carriage driving is contraindicated for a small number of disabilities).
There is an annual membership to pay to RDA Australia for insurance cover.
I can be contacted on 6394 3443. Please also visit www.rda.org.au and click on Tas on the map of Australia to see information about the five RDA Groups currently operating in Tasmania (only one other offers carriage driving, Kalang near Hobart).

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Subscriber News & Photos

Earlier this year, Kaya Femerling spent some time in Iceland and got to love
the Icelandic ponies.

Lisa with Zintahn Cassanova
Sire: Alliewag Dances with Wolves - Dam: Free Spirit Camelot.

Zintahn Aurora - palomino tobiano filly
Sire: Alliewag Dances with Wolves - Dam: Roxy Hart
More photos can be seen on my website www.zintahn.com.au

Zintahn Orion - chestnut tobiano colt
Sire: Alliewag Dances with Wolves - Dam: Quintally Stardust.

Kieko Sano with her Native Japanese Pony.

14yo Darcy Nicklason with Bindi, quarab mare, in his first endurance season has completed 2x 40km, rides and was 2nd in his first 80km, then 1st & Best Conditioned at Kimberley, then completed 80km at Sassafras. He was also 1st & BC at Orford and finally 1st & BC and Best managed at Pyengana. He completed all rides using the Light Rider Bitless bridle.

12yo Rodney Nicklason riding Bindi’s full brother Lightning Jack.

Monjes Saxon King - the first shire colt for Ruth at Sheffield.

Claire Garden on Apache and Maddison Stanfield on Honey try out their skills with 'Aunty Liz' keep a close eye on them.

Nadeen of Wallbrook Stud captures some lovely photos of her horses - their Friesian stallion, Remus is enjoying a gallop through the spring daffodils and below, two youngsters play. If you'd like to see more pics of beautiful Wallbrook Friesians, click on their website on my links page.