december/january2014/15
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December/January 2014/15 - Page 2
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a national riding, training and Horse care Magazine . . . .incorporating the Green Horse -sustainable horsekeeping.
hoofbeats
Equine Veterinarians Australia
Vol 36 No 4Dec/Jan 2014/15Inside
‘Lady Bales’ - page 51
Christmas Gift Ideas - page 66
4 The ImporTaNce of play by Kaye Meynell Researcherslookatthequestionofwhyanimalsplayandthebenefitsand disadvantagesofplayintheyounghorse.Boththeshortandlongtermbenefits haveyettobeclearlydefinedandagreeduponbythosestudyingit.
10 aID or cue? by Anna Marsden While the most important elements of training remain the same for both the aid and the cue, there is a difference and it’s useful to know, especially when training may not be going according to plan.
14 horses ThaT bITe by Wendy Elks A natural behaviour between horses, it is not acceptable behaviour with humans and if horses are not discouraged at an early age it can become a bad habit with painful consequences for handlers.
18 The fuNcTIoNal hoof coNfereNce World leaders in hoof care and sustainable equine management came together with veterinarians, farriers, trimmers, therapists and horse owners to share their expertise at this four day conference in Victoria.
20 Why ThaT NosebaND? Used to help communicate with the horse via the bit and reins, nosebands are available in a number of styles, each designed to achieve a different result. Whentherightoneisselectedandfittedcorrectlytheycanbeanaidto performance.
26 please explaIN Vet Catherine Russell explains the term Dummy Foal; the Show Horse Council of Australasia clarify the difference between Hacks, Show Hunters and Working Hunters; Dublin Clothing Australia outline what to look for when buying a helmet and vet Scott Cumming explains effective management and prevention of infections with worms.
30 combININg laTeral moVemeNTs part 2 by Liz Tollarzo Following on from art 1 in the October November issue, this series of exercises continues to strengthen and build the horse’s muscles to improve their gaits, attentiveness and obedience
34 TraININg - WhaT Does IT meaN? by Felicity Wischer Training means many different things to riders, therefore categorising the class of ridersandhorses,anddefiningthedisciplineorstyleofriding,isthefirststepin developing a successful partnership.
36 paIN ? or JusT behaVINg baDly? by Dr Ian Bidstrup Equine Chiropractic Part 2. Behavioural changes are often just accepted as the personality of the horse, however, when spinal dysfunction is corrected people commonly see what a different, much happier horse they have.
40 proDucT NeWs The latest on what’s new in the market place.
PAIN? Or just behaving badly? - page 36
Training - what does it mean? - page 34
December/January 2014/15 - Page 3
BONUS
* RRP inc GST $7.50 issn 0811-8698
View these in the e-mag, app and free e-preview atwww.hoofbeats.com.auarTIclesarTIcles
Vol 36 No 4Dec/Jan 2014/15
BONUSBONUS
41 beD, baTh aND sTable Going on holiday where your horse is made as welcome as you are is a great way to relax and investigate the countryside at your leisure.
The greeN horse - sustainable horsekeeping 48 Information exchange - bees and allergic reactions 49 grass species -pt2 rye and tall fescue by Mariette van den Burg 50 Weed Watch- box mistletoe by Nicola Field 51 Treat hormonal mares by growing a chaste Tree by Jackie Rive 51 ‘lady bales’- mini round bales by Wendy Elks 52 fencing series pt 2- setting out the fence by Chris Highley 55 pelleted lime - feeding the pasture by Wendy Elks56 WaTer - an important nutrient by Kentucky Equine Research Without water horses cannot survive as many days as they could without feed, yet it is often overlooked in nutrition discussions.
58 equesTrIaN relaTeD rIDer INJurIes Results of a study by doctors at The Alfred Hospital in Victoria has highlighted the type and severity of injuries experienced by patients and the outcome of injuries in terms of continuing pain and disability.
64 broNZe for ausTralIa by Suzanne McGill Jake Hunter (NSW), Australia’s representative in the showjumping at the 2014 Youth Equine Olympics in China, wins Bronze in the Individual competition.
66 chrIsTmas gIfT IDeas For those still searching for the perfect gift there’s bound to be something suitable in this selection of covetable equestrian items.
70 blIND by Andie Wyatt Loss of sight may seem like the end of the road, but blind horses can repay their owners with trust and affection and can lead contented and active lives.
73 equITaNa melbourNe 2014 ThousandsflockedtowatchtheincrediblytalentedlineupofAustralianand international riders, presenters and educators and to shop-til-they-dropped.
78 horse froNT News, veterinary advances and horse happenings around the world.
80 subscrIbe To WIN a Winteclite saddle or a Weatherbeeta rug pack All subscribers (new and current) can enter and are eligible to win this superb prize. To subscribe, visit www.hoofbeats.com.au or phone us on 08 93970506
Equestrian Related Injuries - page 58
Bed, Bath and Stable- page 41
Why That Noseband? - page 20
Horses that Bite - page 14
The Importance of Play - page 4
The last few days in each issue’s production can be quite hectic, with printer’s deadlines and delivery timetables to meet. This edition presented an extra challenge with the Equitana Melbourne wrap up when the event only finished on November 23rd, mere days before the magazine was due to be packed and sent to thousands of subscribers, newsagents, saddleries and produce stores across the country! As you can see from our Equitana feature on pages 72 to 75, this timetabling challenge was accomplished with a few late nights and a last minute four page section sent direct to our very obliging printers from the hotel in Melbourne! COVERMORELANDS TOTILAS FOALMaking his public debut, the foal (Toto)pictured on our front cover is sired by dressage superstar Morelands Totilas, who needs little introduction to dressage followers with record breaking scores and Olympic and World Championship Gold medals. It’s believed that he is the first Totilas colt born in Australia and BML Performance Horses - Tracey Diederich, Corrie Andrews and the Douglas family - are already mapping out his performance future with Heath Ryan. Toto’s dam, Resplendent R, is by Heath’s successful dressage stallion, Regardez Moi. With Totilas offspring fetching in excess of 100,000euro ($143,000Aust.), this foal is sure to be one to watch in the future! FOAL BRAGHaving one of the best dressage horses of all time as your foal’s sire, however is certainly not a prerequisite to enter our annual Foal Brag competition! Open to all foals bred in the 2014/15 season it’s easy to enter so be sure to check entry details on page 79 or on our website www.hoofbeats.com.au or facebook page. Entry is Free so be sure to get your foal photo in as soon as possible! There are great prizes to be won from our sponsor Kentucky Equine Research and categories include Australia’s Cutest Foal, Best Foal Photo and KER’s Best Foal. CHRISTMASAs the countdown to Christmas is now well and truly underway our Christmas Gift ideas feature on page 66 may provide some ideal last minute inspiration. Whatever your plans this Christmas, we’d like to wish all you all - readers, contributors and advertisers - a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We thank you for your support and look forward to Hoofbeats 37th year in 2015! The Hoofbeats TeamCOVER PHOTO by Jan McQueen aussieplatinumphotography.smugmug.com
T
editorial
Play behaviour in horses is an area that has, until relatively recently, received little attention from the scientific community compared with the study of other
behaviours, such as aggression and feeding habits. Perhaps this is because play was historically considered not ‘serious’ enough to warrant thorough investigation – as opposed to other behaviours that may directly affect body condition/survival rates or breeding success (in feral horses at least). Whatever the reason, how and why horses play has only recently begun garnering significant interest from ethologists (Ethology is the science and objective study of animal behaviour - especially under natural conditions), and there are still many questions to be answered. WHY DO HORSES PLAY?It is common to observe young mammals playing; almost everybody will have, at some point in time, witnessed a kitten, puppy, foal or lamb engage in a bout
The importance ofPlay
Watching a foal gambolling around the paddock - jumping, turning on a dime, giving cheeky nips to herd mates - it is easy to see why foals, kittens and puppies are called ‘time wasters’, as they can be absorbing and a joy to watch; however, exactly why animals play doesn’t tend to receive much thought.
by Kaye Meynell
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December/January 2014/15 - Page 6
Equitation science has begun to shine a light on how horses learn, and why certain methods are more successful than others. As a result, it is now easier to see that a lot of what people do when
training horses is actually a cue rather than an aid. In past centuries, the old masters only talked about aids. They made no distinction between aids or cues. The writers and riders of old all seem to have agreed that aids are the means by which a rider communicates his or her wishes to the horse. Authorities such as Podhajsky and Muesler added the rider’s weight, the voice and a click of the tongue as aids to the usual list of legs and reins. Herbermann describes the aids as signals or influences, as the “words of our riding language.” While few of the old masters made a distinction between aids and cues, some make the important point that aids are a means of physically influencing the horse. And that is an important distinction between these two forms of communication with horses.ThE diffErEncE Aids: These are used fairly consistently across the globe. Pretty much wherever one goes in the world, the rider’s legs are used to make the horse go forward, or to move the hindquarters to one side or the other. The reins, attached to the bit, are used to stop and turn.
The terms ‘aid’ and ‘cue’ are used
with apparent interchangeability
when refering to riding and training the
horse. But is this just a difference in terminology or do they have very different
purposes?
by Anna Marsden
Aid
or C
ue?
To read more click to purchase this issue or subscribe.
December/January 2014/15 - Page 7
December/January 2014/15 - Page 8
Spend enough time around horses and sooner or later one will have to take evasive action from a set of equine teeth. Usually it’s accidental, the horse more interested in finding food than causing harm. Often, nibbling lips lead to nipping teeth, and the result can be unpleasant, and sometimes very serious indeed.It happens to highly experienced people. In Florida recently, show jumper Paul Halpern had the tip of his index finger bitten off while giving his horse a treat. The severed tip was retrieved from the horse’s mouth by a colleague and rushed along with Halpern to an emergency centre. The tissue died, but a local doctor specialising in ‘cross-species transplantation’ persuaded Halpern’s finger to grow back, using the tissue of a pig’s bladder. The painful process took three months. Halpern’s bite was accidental. But when a horse bites deliberately, the results can be traumatic, as happened to a young Victorian woman, who was grooming her horse when it suddenly reached around, latched onto her thigh, picked her up and shook her – all for no apparent reason. Severe contusions and lacerations took many months to heal, and the dedicated owner’s confidence was shattered by her horse’s action, which was totally out of character.
BiteHorses That
Biting may be a natural behaviour for horses but this tendency must be curtailed quickly. There is, however, controversy as to the best method.
nATUrAL EQUinE BEhAViOUrBiting is a natural behaviour for equines. Their play includes biting and other forms of roughhousing. Most are taught at an early age that humans are not there for them to bite or play with, but for some horses biting becomes a habit that can’t seem to be broken. Many nipping habits start from owners allowing horses to be aggressive when food treats are offered or ignoring warnings from a horse that all is not well when the girth is tightened. A few, despite the strongest discouragement, become vicious biters that target anyone, including their owner. Whether it’s a naughty habit or nastiness, biting is a dangerous vice.
Not all biting is agressive as it is natural for horses from a young age to mutually groom each other and to use their lips and mouth in an exploratory manner.
Continued
by Wendy Elks
Tra
inin
g T
IPS
Tra
inin
g T
IPS
‘Training’ is a word heard constantly by horse owners and riders. In every horse magazine picked up there are a myriad of ‘training’ articles to examine. The different training philosophies of those within the same discipline can create confusion, particularly for those first starting out in the equine industry. Add to that the fact
by Felicity Wischer
- WhaT doeS IT mean?
TraInIng
The professional rider
that most equestrian disciplines appear to have their own unique style of training, as there is not much point in training a dressage horse to be a reiner or a galloper to campdraft. BeFore SPeCIaLISIngBut what about before the horse and rider need to specialise in a particular discipline of their choice; is the initial basic training also different for the various disciplines? What if a combination do not want to ride at an elite level or in a specialised discipline but just want to be good ‘all rounders’; how would their training differ to those from the disciplines? This begs the question: how is the young horse starting its saddle career trained?Before moving into the specifics let’s look at what this much ‘bandied about’ word means. The dictionary’s definition is “Training - the action of teaching a person or animal a particular skill or type of behaviour”. Interesting! “…teaching a person or animal…”. So already there has been two fundamental aspects of the meaning of the word ‘training’ presented. There is the training of the horse AND the training of the rider. Both are necessary for a successful and harmonious partnership. The horse does not train itself in the paddock - it would rather hang out with its friends and eat and sleep – and riders and handlers will need to spend many, many hours in the saddle training their mind and body in order to achieve any level of competency, no matter how much they love horses and appear to be a ‘natural’.
Phot
o by
Liz
Tolla
rzo
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There are numerous signs a horse has some form of spinal trouble, with those most commonly noticed by owners
and riders being changes in behaviour and difficulties with resistance as spinal troubles develop. Some of these changes come on suddenly and are quite out of character but most develop gradually over time, with soreness often being more visible if an additional injury occurs that brings the pain or restrictive muscle tension to a critical point. Often the changes are just accepted as the personality of the horse, however, when spinal dysfunction is corrected many people are surprised to see what a different, much happier horse they have. Behavioural changes include not wanting to be caught, not wanting to be brushed, biting when rugs are being done up, looking worried and becoming agitated when saddles are brought out of the tack room and especially when they are put on the horse’s back. When a horse is showing girthy behaviour, resisting leg aids and having trouble taking the correct canter leads, it is often a mixture of muscle pain and tightness resulting in these behavioural responses Frequently, horses that aren’t comfortable do not show a relaxed eye. Active pain will quite often be associated with more open eyes and, where present, the horse may show more of the white surrounds of its eye. With more long term, deep and ‘achy’ pain the horse’s eye may be the opposite; more closed than a horse with a relaxed eye. Often these horses look like
Or just behaving badly?
PA
IN?
Dr Ian BidstrupBVSc(Hons) MACVSc(Equine Medicine), Master Chiro Sc, Cert Acup(IVAS)
A Veterinarian for over 30 years, Ian has a full time practice in Kilmore, Victoria where he concentrates on spinal pain and dysfunction. Additional qualifications include a Masters Degree in Animal Chiropractic and international qualifications in Acupuncture. One of Australia’s leaders in Veterinary Prolotherapy and rated as a Master Saddle Fitter by ASFA, Ian is the President of Animal Biomechanical Professionals Australia, (previously the Australian Veterinary Chiropractic Association). www.spinalvet.com.au
Behavioural changes are often just accepted as the personality of the horse, however, when spinal dysfunction is corrected people see what a different, much happier horse they have.
In Part One the specificity of veterinary chiropractic,
spinal dysfunction and one of the core methods of
treatment was covered.
To read more click to purchase this issue or subscribe.
Continued
December/January 2014/15 - Page 13
Owning horses means something different to every horse owner; for some their equine interest is
their hobby - time spent at a slow pace away from the pressures of life, relaxing with their horse and learning more about others through the sharing of new experiences. For many horse owners though, time spent with their horse means work: a training session book-ended by a quick groom, followed by food preparation and picking up manure, all squeezed in between school or work and home. In reality, the longest pleasure ride many horses and their owners ever take together is walking from the stable to the arena. Riding - outside of training sessions and shows, clinics or rallies - in places of interest or variety is usually confined to their own property, a friend’s property or even occasionally the beach.Some riders are lucky enough to live or keep their horses on land or next to some horse-friendly wide open spaces, but for most urban riders, the opportunity for different experiences is severely limited.
For the majority of modern riders, the days of heading out the gate for a long ramble along quiet lanes or tracks through the bush are gone forever. Inaccessibility or the danger of high-speed traffic discourages many leaving the property on horseback for a ride, and safety conscious parents arrange safe, confined areas in which their children can ride. So-called ‘cotton-wool riders’ and horses are often simply victims of confinement. It’s a shame, as lack of exposure to different sights and stimuli not only leaves holes in the education of both horse and rider, they miss out on the simple joys of going out for a carefree, pressure-free ride. A time for both horse and rider to relax and unwind, which is a necessary ingredient in horsemanship as all-work and no-play can make horses sour and riders overly demanding. While urban riders might not miss what they’ve never known, and are perfectly happy enjoying the luxury of a covered manège, there are those inevitable holes in the education of horses and riders that never venture into the unknown.
Bed, Bath and StableFor many modern riders, the days of riding on quiet roads or along bush tracks are gone forever, so the opportunity to take your horse for a relaxing holiday where you are both welcome and can ride the trails, beach, or train in the peace and quiet, is appealing.
To read more click to purchase this issue or subscribe.
December/January 2014/15 - Page 14
Stock Horse Time TrailBreed Village
Photos by Stephen Mowbray Photography and Hoofbeats Magazine
see the hoofbeats magazine for more Equitana photographs and coverage of events.
Equitana MElbournE 2014
Dan Steers from Double Dan Horsemanship
Peter Huntington- KER
Right: At the end of the four days it was time to relax before dismantling the Tuff Rock stall.L-R Louise (Ireland), Nicky (Mornington Peninsular, Vic), Kate (South Gippsland Vic), Isabel (Hunter Valley, NSW) and Steve (Tuff Rock) Hunter Valley (NSW)
Team Driving Minitana
Left: L-R Caroline (Bena, Victoria), John and Claire from John and Claire Stewart Equine Training (Clyde, Vic) and Lyn Beaumont, equine artist ( Main Ridge Vic)
Equitana MElbournE 2014
Katja Weimann
New Zealand visitors L-R Carolyn (Golden Bay, New Zealand) and Shirley (Peak Valley Station,Mackenzie Country, NZ)
December/January 2014/15 - Page 16
David Cameron Couples Challenge Winners Double Dans Demonstration
Equi
tana
MEl
bour
nE 20
14
Charlotte Dujardin demonstration
Breed Village
December/January 2014/15 - Page 17
Double Dans Demonstration Charlotte Dujardin Clinic Heath Ryan Mounted Games
Rose McEvoy
Breed Challenge- Braggo -Friesian Society
Arabian EventsBreed Village
Horse Trekking in the
Land of the MaasaiAwakening to the sounds of the hippo laughing in the Mara River and the gentle call of “Jambo, coffee or tea?” by the crew arriving at your tent, you might think you are on the set for the movie “Out of Africa”. But the calendar says September 2014, so this must be a dream. A dream filled with the night sounds of lions roaring, leopard sawing wood and the melodic voices of the Maasai people singing around your campfire. And of course there must be horses in your dream so add visions of riding across the open plains of the Maasai Mara through herds of giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and elephant only makes it seem more unreal. But this is not a dream!
Wendy Murdoch resides in Washington, VA and is an international riding instructor/clinician. She travels worldwide teaching riders of all levels and disciplines how to improve the horse’s performance by improving their body position. Author of 50 5-Minute Fixes to Improve Your Riding, 40 5-Minute Jumping Fixes and creator of the SURE FOOT™ Equine Stability Program, you can find out more about Wendy and Horseback Safari at www: murdochmethod.com or contact Wendy directly [email protected].
You feel like you have been transported back to British Colonial Kenya, when safari meant “an expedition”. �at’s what it is like riding with Safaris Unlimited, where the number of crew is greater than the number of guests, all your supplies are brought with you, the mobile tented-camp is moved every other day and you ride over 200 km over the course of 9 days through the most varied and abundant game in all of Africa. �is was my ��h trip to the Maasai Mara with Gordie and Felicia Church, owners of Safaris Unlimited. While sometimes it’s hard to believe, each trip has outdone the one before. �eir love for this land (Mara means “spotted”), the indigenous people, their horses and crew keeps me
coming back. �e excitement of galloping across wide open plains through herds of game, an early morning vehicle game drive looking for leopard and lion, p h o t o g r a p h i n g a s t u n n i n g sunset and the heartfelt caring for my safety and comfort by the crew makes me feel like I am returning home rather than going on vacation.
by Wendy Murdoch
sunset and the heartfelt caring for my safety and comfort by the crew makes me feel like I am returning home rather than going on vacation.
September is during the Great Migration, the largest land animal migration in the world. Known as one of the “Seven New Wonders of the World”, over 1.5 million wildebeest travel into the Mara from the Serengeti in Tanzania following the rains. �e young calves are around 6 months old and are sprouting horns. Along with the wildebeest are vast herds of zebra, gazelle and impala. Of course this attracts the predators in search of food including lion, hyena, leopard, and cheetah. �e abundance of game is one of the most amazing parts of the safari especially when viewed from the back of a horse and these horses are amazing!
I had never intended to go on horseback safari to Africa. My friend Mary Robinson, founder of Horsing Around International, is responsible for the fact that I have been a total of seven times, twice to the Okavango Delta with African Horseback Safaris and �ve times with Safaris Unlimited. She asked me in 1997 if I would like to teach on safari. How could I pass up that opportunity?!As a riding instructor and clinician, I o�er my services to my guests as we ride along. �ere are times during the day when it is quiet and someone will approach me with a question. It’s an informal environment where I explain and show them as we ride. Of course I bring my little skeleton, Ned, with me to help teach anatomy
Hippopotomus on the banks of the Mara River
Galloping across the open plains. Photo taken by me from horseback.
to the guests and explain how to ride more comfortably.
However, the game and the environment take precedence, so if we suddenly come across a herd of elephants we stop talking so as not to disturb them. We are after all the visitors! Back at camp we sit around the �re talking about the day’s ride, what the guests in the vehicle saw that day or continuing the conversation started earlier. I o�en wander over to the horses early in the morning to work with them before saddling up for the morning ride. I may even give a guest a mini Feldenkrais® lesson to ease a sti� back or support someone’s knee with
�e horses of Safaris Unlimited are willing and brave. Imagine your horse standing his ground in front of an elephant or riding up to a gira�e �ve meters tall! Under the watchful eye of Felicia and the grooms the horses are well cared for.
It’s not an easy life for a horse in Africa, yet they do everything they can to keep them comfortable while carrying riders from around the world with of all types riding styles. I am in awe of Gordie’s uncanny ability to match rider to horse without knowing the guests I have brought with me on safari.
by Wendy Murdoch
kiniseotape to make her more comfortable. A�er all, I want guests to enjoy the experience as much as I do! If I can make them a bit more comfortable in the saddle I am happy to do it. It is such a magical place and such a privilege to see from the back of a horse that I am always excited to introduce more horse people to the Maasai Mara - the land, the game and its people.As part of the experience we go by vehicle to a Maasai School. �e children are shy yet excited to see us. School is free to boys and girls but there is only one girl in the upper class.
There is no electricity. Water is collected and stored from gutters on the roof. �e children study English, Swahili and also speak their native tongue. �ey want to be lawyers, nurses and safari game guides. �eir smiles are open and genuine and you sense that while they don’t have all the trappings of modern society they have something the rest of us don’t have – a connection to the land and sense of community that we have somehow lost in our on-demand world. On the way back to camp we stop at a Maasai Manyatta (village) to purchase some beads and see what their homes are like. We were invited into one of the huts, a cramped smoky environment. �e young calves are kept in the center at night to protect them from predators. �e children smile shyly while the women sit by their blankets �lled with beads and trinkets. �rough interpreters we haggle over the prices and
proudly walk away with our prizes that will transport us back to the Mara for many years to come. As dawn arrives mid-safari we head out for the “long day”, a ride of over 35 km. Our camp will move from one side of the high plains to the other. We set out heading East into a strong wind. �e morning sun
makes long shadows on the hard packed earth, trampled by millions of hooves from the wildebeest that recently grazed there.
We go for gallops, ride through ravines and lead our horses up a rocky escarpment. We ride past Maasai tending their cattle and gira�e grazing the tops of Whistling �orn trees. We cross through several conservancies created by Maasai landowners who have come together to bene�t from tourism by agreeing to joint land use and leasing agreements with safari camp operators. We
stop for lunch and rest during the heat of the a�ernoon. As we begin to
saddle up we see rain clouds forming overhead. With just enough time to get our rain gear on we ride into camp with a west wind. My le� boot �lls with water. So much for those new rain pants I wore! But I am not worried, as I know my boots will look good as new the next day. One of the crew polishes our boots every night while we are at dinner.�e sta� greets us with warm drinks, port, wine, beer and delicious hors d’oeuvres while we dry out by the �re. A�er hot showers and dry clothes we head to the mess tent for a delicious gourmet dinner cooked on an open �re and in a small oven. �e meals are
Visiting a Maasai village.
Horses on their overnight picket line.
amazing with “Full Monty Breakfasts”, delicious soups, �avorful �sh and deserts to die for. Lamb curry with fruit, yoghurt, chapatti and kachumbari (spicy tomato and onion salad) served on the last night is my favorite. From horseback one gets an entirely di�erent view of Africa than the typical safari adventure in a vehicle. On horseback you get a feel for the terrain, the vastness of the land, the expansiveness of the sky and the detail that cannot be experienced inside trundling around in a motorised carriage.
On horseback we ford rivers, ride past pods of hippo, rest under a lone tree in the middle of an open plain at lunch and gallop with the game. Passing herds of impala, gazelle, wildebeest, giraffe and elephant time expands. Days seem like years when re�ecting on all that happened since the sun rose above the curvature of the earth, in this full experience of life on the Maasai Mara. Greeted by Maasai, called to by lion and hyena in the dark and �nding the thunder box with a �ashlight while hoping not to meet the leopard in camp all adds to the meaning of Safari. Colors of pink, gold, blue and white �ll the sky and stars so bright they look like diamonds sparkling in the night. Voices of an ancient people singing their Elephant Song around the camp�re and sharing tender moments with the new-found equine friend who carries you across the distance bravely and unerringly regardless of the rabbit that jumps up in front of her hoof or the smell of lion in the air. �ese are the memories that call to me back to Africa.
Going on horseback safari to the Maasai Mara is a once in a lifetime trip for most of people. My husband says, “It’s not just a place on a map. �e Mara is a living thing. She knows what you need to take away. Each person that experiences the Mara goes home di�erent in some way.” One guest recalls it as a life-changing experience. “A�er my marriage, the birth of my daughter and granddaughter, this was the most profound experience of my life”. Having returned home with another group there is the consensus that this trip “exceeded all my expectations” yet again. I realise that riding with Safaris Unlimited across the plains of the Masai Mara is either a once in a life time experience or an addiction where you are compelled to return time a�er time to renew friendships, purpose, serenity, laughter and joy with the wonders that are Africa. For me, going back is like returning home. �e crew, some of whom are now second generation employees, have become family. My arrival in camp was as if I had never le� with laughter, hugs and smiles all around. �e land, the people, the wildlife, the vast sky and fertile earth all call me back for another adventure. I will head Out to Africa again with another group of riders to share this incredible experience in September 2015. If the Mara calls you, please join me! I will be going back again and again to this land that calls me home.
Left: Riding into a herd of giraffe. Right: Me with my husband, Bradley Schneider, his horse Kamikaze and Mina, our Maasai guide.
December/January 2014/15 - Page 22
Calcium and magnesium, as carbonates, are two essential nutrients added to pastures by top-dressing to neutralise soil acidity – a common problem in horse paddocks. Lime (finely ground limestone) as pure calcium carbonate is an essential component for growth, required by plants for cell formulation in roots, shoots and leaf development. Calcium is also an essential building block for livestock, and best ingested naturally through grazing healthy pasture rather than supplementation. Dolomite (calcium and magnesium carbonate), is another popular and effective way of top dressing horse paddocks.Traditionally, lime and dolomite dusts are generally delivered and spread by a specialist contractor, as bulk amounts are required and the dust can be difficult to apply. The dust lies on the ground until moisture is available to complete the reaction required to be absorbed into the soil and alter the pH. The product may blow away if dusty and it also can be an irritant to grazing animals.
Trials held in the US, Scandinavia and Australia indicate that very fine pellets rebalance soil pH most rapidly and efficiently. In response, German company Omya developed Calciprill®, a lime/magnesium product pelleted into ‘prills’ no greater than 75 microns in size (small enough to pass through a seed hopper). The typical chemical analysis of Calciprill® is very natural: 95% calcium carbonate and 3.5% magnesium carbonate, bound with 1% molasses.
Pelleted lime Makes Feeding the Pasture Easier
Traditional lime spreading shows the dust that causes wastage and possible irritants to animals.
Pelleted lime spreading shows the lack of dust and can be distributed using a hopper attached to ride-on mower or small tractor.
Pelleted lime sits on the ground until moisture is available to complete the reaction required for soil absorption.
by Wendy Elks
Pelleted nutrients are making it easier for horse property owners to top dress their pastures.
Calcium is an essential building block for livestock, and best ingested naturally through grazing healthy pasture
rather than supplementation.
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