In this issue
“I hadn’t worked for four months, so I needed some coin in the bank!” said Robert Palm following his second major win in as many weeks with the “unconventional” ex-eventer Jaybee Vibrant. The eventer-turned-show jumper won his first World Cup qualifier at Sale last month before claiming the $60,000 GDP Classic Grand Prix at Boneo Park.
Indulge me for a moment while I reflect on the success of some of the horses that have passed through our hands at Ryans Horses. Much as I am naturally proud of all these horses, I’m posting their achievements here to illustrate just what wonderful riders, owners and trainers we now have in this country bring out the best in these horses.
A lacklustre coat, lack of energy, loss of muscle tone and weakened immune system were the vague yet worrying symptoms displayed by top show jumper ‘Alan’. Rider Gemma Creighton knew something wasn’t right; however, it wasn’t until a friend mentioned myofibrillar myopathy that the penny dropped.
The emergence of Kaila Simms’ name on the leaderboards recently hasn’t come about by chance – determined and focused, Kaila has steadfastly worked her way up the ranks after a thorough grounding with young horses. Now riding three horses for Anne and Tim Riley, she is really hitting her stride.
Following one last competitive outing at Dressage by the Sea 2025, pony dressage legend Hilkens Denali has been retired from the competition arena – fit and healthy and at the top of his game.
Dressage rider, coach, breeder and Equestrian Australian Board Member David Shoobridge shares his opinion, experience, and hopes for the future of EA.
Rhythm, balance, harmony – three vital elements to good riding... and dancing. Just ask Jye Thurgate, the German-based Aussie expat who has been invited to make a special appearance at the NSW Young Horse Championships as part of the Sydney CDI at the end of April.
When Gary Lung first rode Friesian stallion Durk Fan Oostenburg as a six-year-old in the Netherlands, he says it was much like slipping on a well-worn slipper. “I could have ridden him all day,” he recalls. As they now embark on their journey to Grand Prix, Gary says Durk is a horse that puts a smile on his face every day.
Para dressage rider Kelly Ffrost is no stranger to setbacks, but that hasn’t stopped her from achieving impressive results at international level. Most recently, she’s enjoyed a competitive partnership with a special off-the-track horse.
The 2025 Peel River Produce NSW State Indoor Show Jumping Championships took place from 20-23 February at the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC) in Tamworth, with competitors keen to get their year into gear with a high-calibre event.
Horses, like any other mammals, can and do succumb to cancer and therefore it is important to examine our horses regularly for evidence of abnormalities that can’t be explained.
Now that the initial and most important tool of all the lateral work is installed – leg-yield – it’s time to move on to the next step in Part 2 of my guidelines on training the lateral work.
Twelve years ago, Scott Miller hadn’t even heard of tentpegging. Now, he’s gearing up to represent Australia again on the international stage after a whirlwind year of success.
'Nope' is a horse movie that straddles several genres – science fiction, modern day western and horror. It’s a movie about movie making and how horses are treated in them, and it’s creepy.