Flesh Eating Bacteria - page 36 In Search of a Brumby - page 54 * RRP inc GST $7.50 EDITORIAL ISSN 0811-8698 Riding Forward -with Linda Parelli page 76 Starting Under Saddle - page 58 Australia places 3rd in Mongol Derby - page 70 54 READER’S STORY In Search of a Brumby 58 STARTING UNDER SADDLE by Wendy Elks 66 SEPTICAEMIA by Dr Jennifer Stewart Taking part in a Brumby Safari enabled Deb Bloomfield to make a special connection with a wild horse. The age to start a horse under saddle varies greatly with the breed and discipline Is there an ideal age? Or does it depend on the horse? Septicaemia, or blood poisoning, is the underlying cause in the majority of equine deaths. Fortunately the body has a complex defence system that activates before it goes that far. The Mongol Derby holds the record for the world’s longest race - 1000km across harsh Mongolian wilderness. Aussie girl Kirsten Melis took up the challenge. The latest on what’s new in the market place Many behavioural issues can be caused by not riding the horse forward. Riding forward with energy and control can solve many problems. News, veterinary advances and horse happenings around the world. 70 MONGOL DERBY by Carol Willcocks with Kirsten Melis 74 PRODUCT NEWS 76 RIDING FORWARD with Linda Parelli 78 HORSE FRONT IBC SUBSCRIBE TO WIN New and current subscribers are eligible to win a $700 voucher from Spooks Riding Australia. (We wear Spooks at Hoofbeats and love the range) To subscribe, visit www.hoofbeats.com.au or phone us on 08 93970506 BONUS ARTICLES in the e-magazine and App • THE SPORT OF HORSEBALL You can view these An international sport that will be featured at Equitana in a competition between Australia and the UK. articles in the FREE e-preview at www.hoofbeats.com.au Volun-touring in India takes horse-trekkers to local villages that would not normally be in any tour guides. • CARL HESTER AT HARTPURY by Wendy Barker An insightful summary of the clinic with his top students at Hartpury Dressage Festival in the UK. • VOLUN-TOURING IN INDIA by Wendy Elks Spring is the favourite season for many horse owners as the demands of horse keeping in winter ease with fewer rugs being required as the temperatures slowly increase, waterlogged areas in paddocks start to dry out, the warm sunny days are perfect for riding, and the flies have yet to make themselves too much of a nuisance! BUSHFIRE SEASON IS HERE Spring is also the ideal time to take stock and consider what needs to be done around the property to summer-proof it. The bushfire season arrived early in Sydney last month, with a number of homes lost and several firefighters requiring medical treatment. Use this unfortunate situation as a timely reminder to not wait until a fire is in your area but prepare your property now, and ensure your bushfire survival plan is up to date. EQUITANA...see you there? Equitana is now only a few weeks away and while Hoofbeats is not exhibiting at this year’s Sydney event we will have two representatives attending what is undoubtedly the most popular and eagerly anticipated equestrian extravaganza in the Southern Hemisphere. Keep an eye out for our editor Sandy and e-mag manager Di in their Hoofbeats shirts and, thanks to modern technology, you can even subscribe to the magazine when you see them wandering around - as their phones are equipped with mobile payment platforms. The fantastic prize from Spooks Riding Australia, who have very generously offered one lucky winner a $700 voucher to spend on their online store, is a great incentive to either subscribe or renew your subscription. Check out www.spooksriding.com. au to get an idea of what you could be wearing if you’re the lucky winner drawn on 12 November. Be sure to visit the Spooks stand at Equitana and see the products ‘in person’! IN HOUSE Two new members joined the Hoofbeats team last issue and we welcome them to our lineup. Together, Louise and Adrian Redman responded to our call for a graphic designer and web technician and, working remotely from their home in the ACT, they bring a wealth of knowledge and skills to the magazine. In addition to her extensive graphic design experience Louise is also a professional artist, taking commissions of high realism portraits of horses when she is not busy riding her Arabian gelding Ricki, travelling to compete in archery competitions and being mum to their two young children. Adrian is a website designer with a graphic design background and has been involved in harness racing for most of his life. T racy W eaver- S ayer A d vertising Manag er for the H oofbeats T eam COVER A ustralian showj ump er R ory H ovell and Y alambi’ s C arp ino Z , who are currently comp eting in E urop e , were p hotog rap hed at the C S I * * event in A rnas C hamp burcy, F rance. October/November 2013 - Page 3