Canter Banter by Horsezone

Johnny Depp Can Buy Me a Horse!

Just when we were all getting excited about Johnny Depp being single, it seems he's already hooked up with former co-star, Amber Heard. To make matters worse (and to make us even more jealous) apparently he's purchased a horse for her so they can ride together. If we'd known Johnny wanted a horsey girl, we could have organised for him to meet plenty of Horsezoners, who are every bit as glamorous as Amber. Well, probably better riders anyway. We hope he found the horse on Horsezone... Here's some eye candy to brighten up your Monday (couldn't find a pic of Johnny with a horse).

Read more about Johnny here

Jo :)

 

Need New Boots? Bling It On!

Are you in need of a snazzy new pair of riding boots? Perhaps these silver leather patent Italian riding boots, by KP Equestrian, are exactly what you're looking for? We think these boots are what Katie Price - founder of KP Equestrian - was thinking about when she created the company's slogan  'put some glamour and sparkle into your riding'! If silver isn't quite your colour, the boots also come in gold, pink and red... View KP Equestrian website for more details and be sure to check out the Spring/Summer range of girly horsewear while you're at it!

Thank You Jodie Schmidt!

Thank you to Jodie Schmidt, of JMS Photography, for her photography tips at the Great South Eastern Dressage Championships and for sending Horsezone so many great photos over past months, for our Gallery. Stay tuned for Jodie's wonderful photos from the weekend, which will soon be uploaded in the Gallery, along with my not so wonderful happy snaps! Read more about the Great South Eastern Dressage Championships here.

Jo Johnson

Just checking the Horsezone sign is secure...

Liz Hurley and Shane Warne visit Melbourne Cup winner Efficient

It's amazing what you can see these days through social media! Case in point - Shane Warne and Elizabeth Hurley visited Lloyd and Nick Williams Macedon Lodge in Melbourne recently.

With the photo Liz, who describes herself on her twitter bio as Mum, Model, Actress, Bikini Designer & Organic Farmer, tweeted: Trying not to look scared feeding Efficient-winner of the Melbourne Cup 2007-a juicy pear at Llloyd Williams' stables.

Efficient is by Cambridge Stud's supersire Zabeel. You can learn more about Zabeel's achievements as a racehorse and sire via his stallion profile on Horsezone's sister site - Bloodstock.com.au!

You can follow Horsezone and some of our team on Twitter - here are the links

Horsezone on Twitter

Haylie Martin on Twitter

Jo Johnson on Twitter

Tim Dreverman on Twitter

 

A bit of a half-time update on the first few days at the NZ Horse of the Year Show…

Largely touted as the best show in the Southern Hemisphere, it provides the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends. It was great to see Catriona Williams, super Kiwi eventer and showjumper who is now a tetraplegic and founder of Catwalk, a charity committed to finding a cure for spinal injuries. Their latest projects include Hoofin It – capitalising on the scrap metal from horse shoes and the Fools and Horses Dinner and Debate in Sydney on Easter Sunday. With big names like Peter Moody, James Bester, Henry Plumtree and Kiwi supermodel Kylie Bax participating in the debate, it’s sure to be a super night, in support of a fantastic cause that should be dear to all riders’ hearts.

While the rest of the trade stands shut shop the Horsezone team and guests enjoy the sunshine and manage to get a sneak peak of what must have been a bit of practice for the coming night’s entertainment thanks to the amazing Wilson sisters from Showtyme Sport Horses.

Last night’s entertainment included the Stallion Parade with plenty of quality on display including the Smith sister’s stunning GT Jake and the lovely grey Irish Sport Horse Northwood Jet Stream.

The Horse of the Year Show is a melting pot of all things equestrian with the likes of quality racing folk including Cambridge trainer Tony Pike whose runner Carrick finished third in the recent NZ Derby at Ellerslie. Wife Kirsten and daughter Molly are both competing in the show section.

Struggling to come up with anything for the ‘Not Hot’ category so far and we’re seriously looking forward to the next few days of fun and excitement at the NZ Horse of the Year Show!

What we’re looking forward to today:

• The Friday Night Extravaganza
• Mitavite Australia vs NZ Test Match
• Dunstan Young Rider of the Year & Pony Six Bar

 

Romance in the Snowy Mountains, NSW

The Lake Eucumbene foreshore was an exquisite backdrop for the recent wedding of Reynella Ride’s tour leader, the accomplished horseman Brendon Warren, and his beautiful partner Natalie Greentree.

Thankfully the weather gods were kind, after a very wet and stormy week in the run up to the big day.

Transport was by horse and cart with the wedding party enjoying a trip down the main street of Adaminaby to the reception at the Snowy Mountains Motel.

 

Brendon and Nat met on Valentine’s Day three years ago at the Cooma Rodeo. Brendon proposed to Nat in the midst of a storm whilst out on a 4 night Reynella Ride. In true Man From Snowy River style, he took her hand, pulled his driza-bone to one side, knelt down on one knee and opened a box to reveal a beautiful diamond. Who says romance is dead?!

Brendon and Nat's horses - Charlie & Regi enjoyed the ceremony as well.

 

Photos - Michelle Armour http://www.maphoto.110mb.com/

 

Check out the Reynella Rides website -

http://www.reynellarides.com.au/index.php

 

Fun for Everyone at Burpengary Pony Club Jumping

Read a report and view results plus more photos in Horsezone News

There were plenty of high flying horses and bouncing ponies at the Burpengary Pony Club yesterday, during their annual Showjumping Event, of which Horsezone was one of the proud sponsors. With three rings, riders, horses and fences of all sizes, heaps of fun and happy smiles were the order of the day. Stay tuned next week for more photos, a report and full results.

I even found time to teach some keen young pony clubbers how to braid their pony's tail! They were very impressed with the 'Horsezone' braid, but I don't think any serious show competitors will be calling me up anytime soon...

View the full photo gallery HERE

By: Jo Johnson

Brett Parbery Riding Lord of Loxley in Poland

Check out this video of Brett Parbery riding Lord of Loxley in the Kur in Poland!

25th Anniversary 2012 East Coast Arabian Championships in Full Swing

The 25th Anniversary 2012 East Coast Arabian Championships kicked off today and will be running Friday and Saturday as well, at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre - a fitting venue for such a prestigious show. And how wonderful that it has such a huge indoor arena as the unpredictable Sydney summer weather continues!!

The quality of horses in the classes that I watched this morning was so impressive - magnificent Led Arabian Warmbloods - with the trifecta of beauty, elegance and HUGE ground covering paces, as well as just gorgeous Anglo Arabian fillies and mares.

Deveron Di Angelo - Seaham-Grange Arabian Warmblood Stud

Aloha Singing in the Rain - Aloha Arabians

 

 

I chatted to Zoe Doutreband who was looking forward to competing in the Arabian Bridle Path Hack ne 15hh with her grey gelding Arabesque Accolade (Laddie)

as well as Jaymee Ferguson who was working her pretty palomino Arabian Pony Kim-Dande Analieze (Paris).

Good luck to all competitors and congratulations to Donna Leak and the NSW Arabian Horse Association for putting on such a brilliant event.  

Jenny Goodwin

 

An Evening With Steve Brady

I was privileged to spend An Evening with Steve Brady, one of Australia's most highly regarded horsemen, at Horseworld in Maraylya recently.

Steve has spent over 25 years educating horses and has started at least 3,500 - so he's got a fair bit of experience! These days, most of his year is spent travelling around Australia as well as overseas running clinics - educating people in how to communicate kindly, simply and effectively with their horses.

The whole evening was captivating - highlights for me were watching Steve teach piaffe and preparing for and teaching flying changes. I loved that he rode so softly in his stock saddle with a double bridle - Aussie dressage style! He moved his horse around so calmly from one lateral movement to another. Dressage is meant to look this easy.

My friend Carla and I were also engrossed by the clear, systemmatic groundwork lessons and the logical progression to float loading - as Steve taught the horses to "discover the right reaction to a cue." 

The liberty work was beautiful - it was moving to watch Steve, his son and his daughter working so harmoniously with their horses.

Respect!!

Steve has DVD's available on his website - well worth checking out

http://www.stevebradyhorsemanship.com/home1.html

by Jenny Goodwin