The Show HuB Equestrian Issue 2 - November 2016 www.uaeshowhub.com
Sheikh Ali Al Nuaimi Olympic hopes & new stallion "Hakuna Matata"
Maitha Al Hajri UAE's Desert Rose
Al Asayl Behind the stable doors
Page 34 with Rachael Gritt Mind Coach
Page 37 Juniors
Page 8 - 10 Sheikh Ali Jamal Al Nuaimi - Olympic hopes.
Contributing editor and freelance journalist Amy Mathieson has been riding and involved with horses her whole life and has worked in equestrian journalism for the past 10 years. She studied English at Exeter University, where she was sports editor on the university paper for two years. Amy moved into a career in journalism shortly after leaving university and took up a role at Redpin Publishing, which produces local monthly equestrian magazines. She was there as deputy editor for nearly two years before joining Horse & Hound on the news desk in January 2008. She worked at H&H for eight and half years, progressing up to become news editor for her final two years at the publication, writing about all areas of equestrianism, with a specialty in racing and show jumping. She left H&H in March to start a new adventure in Dubai.
est October 2014
www.uaeshowhub.com
Page 36 Best App's of the month
Page 4 - 5 Gallery of October
Page 31-33 Al Warsan The Desert Jewel & Cradle of Equestrian Initiatives
Contributing freelance journalist Andrew is new to equestrian sports and the region having only recently moved out to Dubai in Augusts 2016. After completing a degree in Geography at St Andrews University, Andrew worked as an analyst for an investment bank in London. He subsequently studied Engineering and spent several years working in the Oil & Gas industry. He has always had a passion for communication and loves researching and writing, especially about topical issues. Andrew has a great love of the outdoors and spent much of his free time roaming around the farmland and stables near his home in Scotland with his beloved beagle Oscar. Andrew joins The Show Hub as a freelance consultant and bringing a variety of communication and business experiences.
Front cover "Hakuna Matata Image credit Esther Lammers - staldebergkampen@gmail.com
Page 15 - 17 Al Asayl - Behind the stable doors
Page 41 -Arab League
Page 39 El Fares Exhibition
Producer and content director The Show Hub Founder and Executive Director Abby started the UAE Show Hub in October 2014, and it has been built from passion and dedication to the equestrian sport in the Middle East. Enhancing the sport and bringing it to the global audience is her end goal. Abby has ridden show ponies nationally as a young girl in England and trained at Advanced Medium Dressage level. She competed up to Foxhunter back in the UK and has performed for H.H Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the private opening ceremony of Meydan WC 2011 and at the Education for Borders conference at the Burj Khalifa. Her equestrian passion has been ingrained since birth. Contact abbyblom@uaeshowhub.com
Page 6 - 7 Tribute to Page AL HAWAJER QUIDAM'S A LA BONHEUR
Page 18 November Calendar
Welcome to the second edition of The Show Hub - Equestrian. The Middle East's first fully digital equestrian magazine! We will be covering Show Jumping, Eventing, Dressage, Polo and Arabian Showing and larger events in Racing & Endurance. The Show Hub was created back in October 2014, born from passion and dedication for the equestrian sport in the UAE. We provide punctual information to those that seek it whilst providing information to the avid rider looking for competitions and family equestrian days out. We look forward to building on our experience over the year by adding other GCC countries and events to our coverage. The website will be the hub of GCC equestrian with start lists, results photography bloggers, live streams, horses for sale and much more. www.uaeshowhub.com. We look forward to sharing the season with you!
Page 26 Alexandros Georgiou Page - Learning the benefits of equine therapy
The Show Hub
Page 38 Kirkwoods kitchens
Page 44 This months results
Page 45 Classifieds
Page 43 Arab League rankings
Page 24 Anthony Rodia - The Abscess
Page 22 Tracy Wyngard Gill - The Joy is in the journey
Page 12 - 14 Maitha Al Hajri UAE's Desert Rose
Contents:
2.
Page 28 Al Shiraa'as CSI4* Horse Show
Page 20 Olivia Towers Dressage Blog
Dressage
Show Jumping
Gallery by Nour Al Masri Ghareeb (Instagram n.m.gh.photography - nona-sh@hotmail.com) & courtesy of Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club - www.serc.ae
Will you be in the The Show Hub's monthly gallery of events in the UAE and across the region? Send your images to info@uaeshowhub.com
October in Images:
Polo
Misc
Images by Khalil Ahli Instagram- Khalil_Ahli
4.
The news that Al Hawajer Quidam’s A La Bonheur, one of Mohammed G Al Hajri's horses, had passed at the beginning of October shocked the showjumping community. The horse was well-respected, admired and occasion feared on the UAE circuit. He was a force to be reckoned within the arena due to his speed. “He was one of the best horses I have ever ridden,” said Mohammed of the 10-year-old Holsteiner stallion (Quidam’s Rubin x Landgraf 1). Mohammed brought the horse over in 2013 and the pair became quite the dream team. Al Hawajer Quidam’s A La Bonheur had 25 top-six finishes and seven titles in classes from CSI1*YH up to CSIO5* Olympic qualifiers over the space of three years. "I bought him from prime selection sales in Germany just before he went into the auction,” said Mohammed. "I have so many great moments with this horse that it's hard to choose my top memories. "I won more than 20 international and national classes with him, he went well fresh and always seem to win on the first and second day of the shows. "He was so special, although he was the spookiest horse I have ever ridden outside of the arena. He was scared of everything but what made him so good was that the second he entered the ring he would put on a brave face and was with me every step of the way. He always answered what I asked of him; he never said no. "He had the heart of a lion and always fought for me in every instance. I'm happy that our last show together was a successful one [where we came second in the Mini GP in Austria] and a memory to hold onto. It’s always hard to say goodbye to such a great horse, but memories count for everything.” RIP - AL HAWAJER QUIDAM'S A LA BONHEUR
Tribute to AL HAWAJER QUIDAM'S A LA BONHEUR
6.
Image credit - Nicolas Mariton - www.oneshot-online.com
Sheikh Ali Jamal Al Nuaimi's Olympic Hopes
Ali & Celtic in Sharjah on the 6th October 2016
Sheikh Ali Al Nuaimi is a young man with his head planted firmly on his shoulders, and after spending two months in Europe training he has come back to the UAE full of purpose and passion. His goal is to compete in the 2020 Olympics, and with his first two nationals under his belt, we can see how the young rider has grown in maturity and ability. Here at The Show Hub we think his riding is an absolute pleasure to watch.
So that's his horses, but what about Ali himself? Ali has always loved horses and remembers always asking his parents to buy him toys related to the sport. From an early age he nagged his parents for riding lessons. However, to start with it was hard to get his parents support, due to some bad experiences with equestrian accidents in the family in the past. This made them less keen for Ali to follow on this path. However, in the end it was his mother that gave him the push into following his dreams, as his family could clearly see that the youngster had a determination to ride. Ali started riding at Sharjah Equestrian and racing club back in 2001, riding many different ponies. Ali recalls a pony called Leonora, a mare that taught him valuable lessons. How many of us have heard the old wives' tale "you have to fall at least 100 times before you call yourself a rider”? Ali suffered numerous black eyes from this horse, as she threw him into many wings and fences. However, it's safe to say Ali past the test and lived up to the old adage. In the 2009/2010 season he went on to win the title of small tour champion onboard Ulivia, as well as a qualification for the youth Olympics Games in Singapore 2010. Ali has trained with many coaches over the years including Rob Basselink, Jur Vreiling, Markus Fuchs and Cian O’ Connor, but Mohammed Anas is the one that has been most prominent from day one, and Ali has worked with him for more than 12 years now. Shady Ghrayeb, an inspirational competitor on the circuit, has also been a great support to the young rider.
"you don't want to ever look back and say that you didn't try or give it your best shot".
Image credit Tariq Ayoub
8.
Result
1st Shk Ali Al Nuami - Celtic 2nd Salim Khamis Al Suwaidi - Feline S 3rd Shk. Ali Bin Abdulla Al Qassimi - 3 Saga De La Roque
Image by Esther Lemmers staldebergkampen@gmail.com
Ali's second horse is Celtic, a 2007 Bay KWPN (Indoctro x Nimmerador). This is a horse you can see Ali has a soft spot for, telling us that he is "an absolute sweetheart”. Ali has had Celtic also since the horse was five, and they have grown together, training up through the levels. He believes this is extremely important and makes for a better pairing. Celtic is competing at 1.40m grand prix level. Ali will be defending his title in the medium tour championships this season, which the pair won last year. While Ali was away this summer he also took on a new addition to his stable, the four-year-old Hakuna Matata. We have to ask if Ali only buys good-looking horses, as we have to say this one is very handsome! The bright bay stallion (Dakar x Cavalier) came along as a project, so we asked Ali to sum the young stallion up. “He is just correctly balanced, picks up what's asked of him quickly, has a super canter and gives the fences respect,” he says. Hakuna Matata is due to land in the UAE at the end of December and will be working slowly over the season towards the 1.20m classes with the hope of qualifying for the young horse championships in Lanakan next year.
Markus Fuchs - Swiss show jumper who competed at five Olympic Games
During the summer Ali was based at Stal De Bergkampen in Holland, which was a good, central area so he could travel to and compete in the top shows on the European circuit. The first horse we ask about is Casper AJ, a seven-year-old Hanoverian (Cassini II x Escudo), who he has owned since the horse was five. Casper was one of Ali's main focuses this summer. "I needed to get Casper to move up to the 1.40m classes and to gain more experience at that level,” he says. “We set this agenda ahead of the trip to improve the horses." In Casper’s first grand prix he had four faults and one time fault. "Casper was spooky but super careful in the CSI1* Lastrup, in Germany, and I was extremely happy with his performance,” he adds. A super-looking grey gelding, we ask Ali what he was like as a horse. “He is the spookiest horse I have ever ridden, he is the same as elephants are with mice, he’s terrified of everything,” Ali says. "However, we have managed to harness this by using sound-proofing earbuds and once he is worked in he tends to settle a little. He also gets better with age." Ali has high hopes for Casper’s future. Ali tells us that when he trained with Markus Fuchs, he talked to the Swiss Olympic rider about his own Olympic hopes. “Markus said to me, ‘Sure, it’s possible’, which brought me a new enthusiasm,” he adds. Casper will have a structured regime to take the horse as far as he can. “You never want to look back and say that you didn't try or give it your best shot,” Ali says.
Image Credits to Tariq Ayoub - Instagram Tariq.ay_ph & Oneshot - Nicolas Mariton www.oneshot-online.com Hakuna Matata by Esther Lammers staldebergkampen@gmail.com
"My best moment has to be coming back in 2015/2016 and winning the UAE Championships on Celtic, it was the greatest feeling to stand on that podium, when I had missed out the year before. I will be back defending my title this year. “I have the support from Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club, Cavalos I thank them all for being behind me on this journey. Special thank you goes to my parents for their continued support in all aspects of my life, physical Sheikh Ali Jamal Al Nuaimi: keep a close eye on this young rider, as The Show Hub will be following his progress towards his goal of becoming an Olympic hope for the UAE. Thank you to:
But what are the best and worst moments Ali has had so far in the sport?
Ali Al Nuaimi and Celtic VDL CSI3* ADEC -March 2016
10.
“The worst moment was when Celtic had the the last fence down in the UAE Championships in 2014/2015,” he says. “To have all that excitement , but then to hear that pole hitting the ground and the spectators gasp was terrible.". "Stress factors can be extremely high in the sport and I have had to learn how to deal with my emotions. When you are competing at this level, it's not just about fitness, it's also about your state of mind. I know that over the past year I have grown in this area but it’s still been a learning curve.
12.
Image Credit Tariq Ayoub
Maitha Al Hajri on Alaska, riding to a 2nd place in the CSI2* 1.30 in San Giovanni Italy.
Text
Maitha speaks about the surprise: The plan was for the biggest surprise of my life was set in motion. Abdulla had called me in the evening, explaining that he had had a very good offer on Alaska and that he was thinking about it, which made me very sad. This was followed by another call a few hours later saying that he had, in fact, accepted the offer. My heart sunk to the ground. Abdulla said the offer was one he couldn't turn down but it would be the perfect forever home for her and that he was sure Alaska would be happy with her new owners. I tried my best to convince him not to sell her to anyone, as I knew how very special she was. Pulling off this surprise was no easy task, but they were well on their way. On the following morning of 4 April 2014 I headed to Fujairah Royal stables with my mother, still thinking of Alaska being sold. I had no idea that Abdulla and Alaska were already at the stables. They were well hidden out of sight until the big surprise time. After our morning ride out we were all walking towards the main arena when suddenly HH Shaikha Latifa put her hands over my eyes. Still walking I had no idea what was coming next and I thought it was a prank and I was going to get wet! Eyes still covered, we stopped and HH took her hands from my eyes. I was confused, but then she shouted “surprise!” Abdulla was riding Alaska but he was wearing the FRS uniform so he had blended in as normal. But he came closer I could see it was him on Alaska. Then the penny finally dropped. I couldn't hold back the tears. My heart was ready to explode. My surprise was Alaska! The pair then began training under the watchful eye of Abdulla, rising up through the levels and now, three years later, the pair are a formidable team. In 2015 they won the Longines Championship and have had many successes since, including Al Ain CSI2* Mini GP, Fontainbleu CSIAM GP, Blaye CSI2 * Table C, Auvers CSI1* two phase, Sharjah CSI1* 1.35m. Maitha's most recent win was on the Rivera Tour in San Giovanni, Italy, which was a memorable day for her as she also won the CSI1* two phase on her other ride, Randi's Rebel.
She was 10 when she had her first pony, a 30-year-old mare who was a 12.2h Grade A jumper and a schoolmaster who taught her every step of the way. Her second pony was called Missy, and by that point Maitha was already standing out as a good rider. She needed to be, as Missy was a firecracker of a pony, who made Maitha fall in love with speed. Missy was with her for three years and still remains one of Maitha’s favourites. When Maitha was just 16 she took on a four-year-old called Tommy that she bought at auction, but he was “too big and too green”, she recalls. However, Abdulla Al Marri, a professional in the region, noticed her talent and despite the struggle she had with Tommy, saw promise in her. Abdulla began mentoring Maitha and after a time working together offered Maitha the chance to compete his mare Alaska in the D Classes. Maitha says this was “incredibly special” as she had already fallen in love with Alaska. The first time she sat on the horse was after Alice Debany gave Alaska to her while she walked a course, which was a memorable moment for Maitha.
Image Credit - Nicky Le Jeune
Maitha Al Hajri is one of the inspirational young female showjumpers on the circuit in the UAE and competes for her country across Europe during the summer. Sponsored by Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid, Maitha is extremely dedicated to her sport. So how did the rising star, who is now just 21, set off into showjumping? Maitha's love for horses started at a very early age. Her mother, Min, was involved in horses, so Maitha was soon in the saddle. The first fence she jumped was aboard a pony called Bluebell at the Callastown Stables in Ireland, and from that moment Maitha was hooked.
In 2013 sponsorship was quietly discussed with Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid, who offered to buy a horse for Maitha. With the help of her mother, Min, and Abdulla the hunt for a horse began. The search went overseas and finally they found a prospect via YouTube, and Abdulla was sent to see the horse. In the meantime, Sheikha Latifa had been speaking with Maitha's mother, and they came onto the topic of Alaska. They questioned why they were still looking at horses when Alaska was the horse that was right for Maitha.
Maitha Al Hajri winning on Alaska in CSI Fontainebleau
2016/2017 season plans The horses have now arrived back in the UAE and will be started slowly with a scheduled routine. This may vary over the season, once the team has a feel for how they are performing. This will start with nationals this month, getting them fit for the season ahead. The provisional plan is to compete in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, then return back to the UAE for the internationals and gain FEI points. Frederic David is currently ranked at 124 in the world, which with only two horses at the higher levels is an impressive achievement.
Maitha's Team
We asked Maitha a few quick questions: What are your goals for this season? “After winning the Longines Championship last year, I have high hopes for taking the title again. We are working towards it.” Do you practice at home during internationals? “No, during internationals we never jump at home, and we always rotate our horses depending on how they feel." If could make a change to the sport, what would it be? "The assumption that the sport is for boys, we don't have enough ladies and would like to encourage more female riders to compete." What advice would you give young riders? "Never loose hope, what’s meant to be will be. I never dreamed I would ever have the chances that others had, yet here I am with my dream horse doing the job I love."
Randi's Rebel Holsteiner 25/05/2006 Age 10 Chesnut - Gelding owned by - HH Shaikha Futaim Bint Mohd Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
AMS Dana KWPN 14/05/2008 - Age 8 Bay - Mare Owned By Abdulla Al Marri
Babs Du Rouet Oldenburg 27/05/2005 - Age 11 Chesnut - Mare Owned by - Alexandra Mulligan
14.
Alaska KWPN 08/07/2005 Age 11 Bay - Mare Owned By - Maitha Al Hajri
Al Asayl Building the future There are many stables and teams in the UAE, and one that is predominant in competitions is Al Asayl. The showjumping team at Al Asayl is patroned by Sheikha Alyazia Bint Sultan Al Nayhan. Frederic David, from France, has been the team’s main rider for the past seven years and competes all over the Middle East, as well as in Europe. The Show Hub was lucky enough to spend the morning at the Al Asayl headquarters in Abu Dhabi with Severine, the stable and team manager. The stables, which are a stunning and professional facility, are nestled in the middle of the desert with oryx crossing your path at every turn. We were greeted by Severine and Frederic who were only too happy to introduce us to their horses and tell us more about their plans for this season.
Baloussini - One of Al Asayl's Stallions
Breeding The Al Asayl team has already established a breeding programme in France. Over the past few years, it has had a handful of homebred foals from stallions such as 2016 Olympic gold medallist Big Star, Baloussini, Kannan, Diamant De Semilly among others. The team keeps a close eye on their development and growth. The youngsters are all given the chance to grow and mature in their own time’ and are accessed at the age of around four to six years old. The Al Asayl breeding incentive is an interesting one to follow, and we look forward to sharing more in depth details in the near future. We hope you enjoy following the Al Asayl team and horses over the season, now you've had an insight into the team.
Levita VD Bisschop - 2011 chestnut mare (For Pleasure x Nabab De Reve). This mare is an eye-catcher with a flaxon mane and tail, and the team sees her becoming a crowd favourite. The mare was born late and will be brought on slowly throughout this season, gaining experience and supporting her development. She is being aimed at the young horse classes during the 2016/2017 season.
Lafitte De Muze
Levita VD Bisschop-
2010 bay mare (Erco Van’t Roosakker x Heartbreaker). This mare has a lot of blood, she is described by the team as a "complete machine with an amazing brain". She was bought as a three-year-old old and her half brother Wido Aliaa competed in the 2008 Olympics. She has already shown amazing form during the European season with four wins in the CSI1* young horse classes in Europe.
2011 bay stallion (Darco x Malito De Reve). Lafitte had a very busy summer campaign in Europe, where, among several shows, he competed in Fontainebleau and Lanakan World Championships. It was decided to give him a break and not to bring him to the UAE for this season. The team believe Lafitte De Muze is worth giving the extra time to grow, develop and mature as he is extremely consistent. He has scored 14 clears out of 16 on the French national circuit.
Karamel D’Espirit
Al Asayl Young Horses
Eldorado
2010 Bay Stallion (Econoom Van Het Linderhof x Caretano Z). This young stallion is full of scope, which they have high hopes for In the future.
16.
Equador Van’t Roosakker
Saxo De La Roque
Season 2016/2017 Meet the Horses
2004 chestnut gelding (Nabab De Reve x Chin Chin). This horse has some serious presence in the box, almost telling us how special he is. It's been said he is one of the best in the region and this big gun only comes out for the internationals. With just under 40 top six placings in international events, his most recent highlight was the Nations Cup title in CSI05* in Al Ain in February for France. He also had a super second in the five-star in Qatar. Keep a watchful eye on this one. 2005 grey stallion (Baloubet Du Rouet x Cassini I) The star of the yard and loved by the team, Baloussini has an extremely clear mind and competes in the CSI3* - 5* grands prix. He's had 25 top placings in internationals and was formally ridden by 2012 Olympic gold individual champion Steve Guerdat of. A top talent, he also has frozen semen in France and Germany. 2006 bay gelding (Capitol x Quidam De Revel) This horse is a hero in the six-bar challenge and won the six-bar in Sharjah back in January, then Sopot in June. Most recently he took the puissance in the CSI04* Mons Chlin in July. Saxo has had more than15 top finishes on the international circuit. The six-bar always draws a crowd in the UAE events and is one of the most thrilling classes to watch.
Baloussini
Click the link for the 2016/2017 Annual Calendar
Endurance
Wed 2nd Nov 2016
80 KM DIEC Qualifier
Dubai
Racing
Thur 3rd Nov 2016
Meydan Racecourse
Flat racing
Fri 4th Nov 2016
Desert Palm
EEF Dressage
Fri 4th - Sat 5th Nov 2016
Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club
CSI2*
Al Ain
Bou Thieb
CEI1* 80KM 40 & 80KM BEV Qualifier
Abu Dhabi
Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club
Pink Polo
Dressage & Jumping
Mon 7th Nov 2016
Emirates Equestrian Center
Dressage & Jumping Training Show
Sun 6th Nov 2016
Abu Dhabi Racecourse
Thurs 10th Nov 2016
40 KM DIEC Qualifier
Arabian Showing
Thurs 10th - Sun 12th Nov 2016
Sharjah Straight Egyptian Show and Arabian Horse Auction
Sharjah
Fri 11th Nov 2016
Jebel Ali Racecourse
Jebel Ali
Fri 11th - Sat 12th 2016
Nationals
Hunter Trial
Hunter trials
Fri 11th - Sat 12th Oct 2016
CEI1* 80KM Al Ain endurance cup - 40 & 80 KM BEV Quaifier
Sat 12th Nov 2016
Al Wathba
CEN 100 KM AL Wathba Cup for private owners/ CEI 1* 80KM Endurance Qualifier
Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club
Dressage Training Show
Sun 13th Nov 2016
Wed 16th Nov 2016
Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club
Thurs 17th - Fri 19th 2016
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Center
Thurs 17th Nov 2016
Fri 18th Nov 2016
Unaffilated Show Jumping
Al Ain Racecourse
Sat 19th Nov 2016
Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club
CEN 100 KM DIEC Restricted to PVT stables/indv
Sun 20th Nov 2016
Fri 25th Nov 2016
National
Wed 23rd - Fri 25th Nov 2016
Mon 28th Nov 2016
Training show
November 2016 Calender
Patience I once heard someone say – ‘The only two emotions that belong on a horse are a sense of humor and patience ‘ and this has stuck with me. Our partners in this beautiful sport are animals and we must remember this. They like us, need to strengthen their muscles, get their heads around new challenges and progress in small, manageable steps. Of course its important to up the game with them to reach higher levels, but we can not expect them to be foot perfect. Horses learn from repetition and this is why it takes a lot of patience. Staying positive Something that always crops up when I talk to people about staying positive is – you feed off the people close to you, so surround yourself with positive people. This is something I have taken into my riding. The horse feeds off your body language, and if you are in a negative mind set they will pick up on this and then become negative themselves. They are extremely sensitive like any animal. So now I always try to be their source of ‘positive energy’. Never Fear Failure Failure is sometimes an inevitable fact of life that we can experience , which can come in dressage too. But we must not shy away from it. Most self development comes from failing and then saying ‘how can I improve on this?. The same applies in Dressage. If we don’t take the risk or put ourselves out of our comfort zone ,then we can’t expect to move forward. It’s extremely rare that things go well first time around, but don’t let this throw you. The key to dealing with failure is having strong self belief and being confident with the level you are currently at but knowing you can and will improve. (This is something that I am hoping to go into more detail about in another blog, as I struggled with this so I feel I have lots to give on the subject after working hard on changing my mind set.)
Olivia is a Dressage rider based in the UK. She has had a passion for horses from day one and took it up professionally the First day she left school. After working on a professional yard for many years to gain experience and knowledge Olivia Set up her own yard with her Mother. She has since been striving forwards in the sport and now is also as equally passionate about coaching others as improving herself. Olivia fell in love with Dressage at the age of seven and has been riding and striving forward in the sport ever since, to much success. Having started off with the Pony Club, she then went on to BYRD’S which gave her the confidence and knowledge to compete. She then decided she wanted to further her dressage career by stepping up to the Premier Leagues and soon onto the FEI tests (ponies). At 18 she decided to start her own yard with the help and advice from her devoted mother, who has years of experience with horses. Olivia previously trained with Double Olympic Gold Medalist and FEI world number one, Charlotte Dujardin, which furthered her dressage career greatly over the five year period. Olivia now trains with David Pincus and is aiming for the under 25’s Grand Prix with Mercian Alegria, the young horse PSG with Mercian Calisso. As well as competing her other horses.
20.
I want to finish this blog with the best example I could think of. I was recently competing against the incredible Charlotte Duajrdin. She was riding her 7 year old gelding ‘En-Vogue’. This horse is very new to competing and also hot to ride. Although I was warming up for my test it was very hard to not watch her riding. She settled him in the warm up allowing him to absorb his surrounding. As it got closer to her time and the horse was really with her she started to up the game. Even when the horse made mistakes she was totally ‘ un-phased’. I watched Charlotte’s test and there were green mistakes due to the horse not yet being 100% confident in the ring, but she rode him beautifully, guiding him the whole way round and helping him stay in balance. After her test I asked her how she thought it went. She was over the moon with him, saying how well he did and what a great Grand Prix horse his going to be. I truly believe this is a huge reason why Charlotte is the ranked No.1 in our sport. She has every aspect of what I have just spoken about above. So this is why I feel Dressage teaches us so many great life lessons , and pushes us to work on our self development, not just for our selves but the beautiful animals we work with.
November Blog 2016:
Olivia Towers is based in UK at Mercian Dressage. www.oliviatowersdressage.com
Why dressage teaches us so many good life lessons by Olivia Towers
For anyone who has given dressage a go whether it be as a hobby or as a profession, we all know how challenging it can be, not only physically but also mentally. Working with horses can generally take a very strong mind set from dealing with the heart break of injury to maybe dealing with your nerves at a show. This blog is going to be about my ‘personal experience’, and I understand some people may feel differently but I also know from coaching and being in the Dressage world that these are qualities I see grow in people along side their riding skills. I have also noticed that our top riders have these skills down to a tee!
"I was recently competing against the incredible Charlotte DuJardin"
Over the next few months we will be following Olivia's journey and blogs on her day to day experiences as a young Dressage rider and to inspire those aspiring Dressage enthusiasts in the Middle East .
Tracy has also spent three months a year for the past five years (through taking unpaid leave), training at a professional dressage stable in Holland, aiming to learn and absorb skills from inspiring riders and trainers. Starting like all working students, it was a lot of hard physical work, and not a lot of riding initially, but because of Tracy's background with young horses and worth ethic she was soon put to work assisting in the breaking-in, earning her lessons on schoolmasters when opportunity allowed. “When you really want something you have to be prepared to work for it, and that often means quite a bit of sacrifice,” she says. The past few years, Tracy has been taking a small team of Dubai horses with her for training. In both Germany and Holland she found a love for the training systems that the countries offered. So what are some of the things that Tracy liked about the the two long-standing systems? “I really believe in the solid all-round structure of the German system based on the scale of training, it is really integral,” she says. “Schooling and training should be a progressive development based on the scale of training. The aim to improve balance, and progressively strengthen the developing muscle structures of your horse in a correct and supportive way. "Correctly structured, progressive, training of the horse for any discipline ensures prolonged soundness for the horse both physiologically and psychologically.” from the Dutch riding I love training the suppleness and sharper responsiveness which suits me as a smaller rider. I can’t ride with the power some riders have so I need to find a balance of the styles that works for me and each of my horses.” What advise do you give to other riders? Ensure there is a sound basis and understanding to your training. You owe it to your horse that you and/or your trainer knows what they are doing. Never stop learning! Question! Make sure what you are asking of your horse, or being asked to do, makes sense! Try to have structure for your days training. Have a plan, but also a plan A, B & C. Its really beneficial to have a goal for your days training, but if you are not in the right frame of mind or your horse is not feeling himself (maybe he’s stiff, or out of character), change your plan to ensure each days work is positive. Remember; If you aren’t teaching your horse the right thing, you are teaching him the wrong thing. "Be sympathetic, and ride with feeling" Individualize your approach to each horse. They are all different and have different needs. Understanding the different strengths and weaknesses of each as an individual will help you best structure your training for optimal benefit. Trust your gut feeling when it comes to your horses health. No-one knows your horse better than you….. If you think there is something wrong follow it up. Its better to find out there is nothing than ignoring the subtle signs until there is a problem. Try not to be too fast to judge, listen! Around horses you are always learning. Try to be around as many different methods as you can. Be vigilant, everyone has a story to tell, something they have learned along the way. You never know, it may just provide you with an answer or solution to something that comes up in the future. Although, at times the lesson learned can be as simple as “ its not something I want to do with my horse” Lastly, all of us are on the ever seeking path perfection, but remember (I heard this somewhere and its so fitting) “the joy is in the journey”, don’t get stuck on the goals. Remember to enjoy each day and the development of the partnership!
EVITA (Photo credit Anniek De Wit)
Hylke - Photo credit Monica Pinhero
TRIGGER (photo credit Anniek De Wit)
"Correctly structured, progressive, training of the horse for any discipline ensures prolonged soundness for the horse both physiologically and psychologically.”
PIKARDA in the Spinney's Cup (photo credit to Jo MCGowan) PIKARDA in the Spinney's Cup (photo credit to Jo MCGowan)
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Tracy Wyngard-Gill “The joy is in the journey” When you watch Tracy in the arena, you would firstly think that she just has natural talent. However, when you realise what it's taken to get to where she is now, you can only admire her. Tracy started off in Australia with ponies and horses, getting her first pony at four. She soon discovered that “equestrian” sport was not for her, so Tracy chose to pursue her career in racing. She began as a work rider in Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne, where she contemplating becoming a jockey. If you can’t imagine it, here at The Show Hub we have the images to prove it. And it was through racing that Tracy came to the UAE more than 15 years ago. After a year and a half in Dubai, Tracy was promoted to the Dubai Racing Club office and became an integral part of the International Racing Department that managed and developed the logistics of what is now the Dubai World Cup Carnival. But missing riding, Tracy soon found herself looking after a friend’s horse. Realising how important horses and riding still was to her, she shared a lease of a friends horse and quickly moved on taking on an ex-racehorse stallion called Worthily. With Worthily Tracy built up close connections and through him Tracy realised her true equestrian passion — dressage. Worthily trained up to medium with Tracy until he went into well-earned retirement. Tracy also eventide here in Dubai. Pikarda was a client’s horse, with whole she also did some dressage with. She then did some show jumping with Erkan— a horse better known for his dressage as the pair had reached advanced medium. Erkan came a long way from being a horse with serious behavioural issues when she got him as a five-year-old/ Believing in the importance of a solid education and foundation in the sport, the Tracy trained to become an an accredited German A-licensed trainer, specialising in both dressage and jumping. She then spent the next four and a half years travelling to Munster in Germany to gain her qualifications.
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Case study The Show Hub's horse Bobby had an abscess. She recounts the event. "Bobby presented with extreme lameness, which we immediately pointed at as an abscess. After five days of poulticing, we found an abscess. We thought we had solved it, but one month later we were in the same situation. Five days of poulticing but nothing. The horse was still clearly unhappy but sound. Another month later he was crippled lame, however, a test at the hospital and scans showed nothing in the hoof at all. But still we poulticed. Finally after a few different offerings, Philippe Kotfila came on board and at the request of the vet and Caroline Kettle. Phillippe changed the angle to his hooves and found the abscess. But again, a month later the same thing happened. Due to Phillippe's work schedule, he recommended that we move forward with Anthony. Anthony came to help mid-summer, we found the abscess and by this time the infection had gone up his leg. Things weren't looking so good for Bobby, but thanks to Sharjah Equine's Marco Lore's DVM, DACVS & DABVP and Anthony's farriery work we got Bobby back to health. Eight weeks on he was sounds as a bell and moving the best he ever has. Fadi Zabibi a support and friend for the past 2 years requested we try a new product that he believed in. we were willing to give it a go and Equiforce really seemed to help. The product works on the organism itself and had high content of vitamin E, to help grow hair and nails. I've really seen an improvement and would happily suggest others try it after seeing the results on Bobby, though do consult a vet if you have any questions.
Equiforce Foot. A concentrated and easily-absorbed biotin supplement with MSM, vitamins, brewer’s yeast, essential amino acids and chelated trace elements. Aids restoration of healthy and strong horn. Recommended in case of brittle, porous and soft horn, frequent abscesses, poor horn growth, and laminitis. Due to the slow growth of the horn it is recommended to use the product for at least six months. However, clear improvements in the horn quality can often be seen already after one to two months of use Daily dose: horses: 15 g (1 scoop), ponies : 7,5 g (1 /2 scoop). Packaging: 1 kg / 3 kg. Specification per kg per 15 g Biotin 5.000 mg 75 mg Vitamin B1 1.700 mg 25 mg Vitamin B2 3.000 mg 45 mg Vitamin B6 1.700 mg 25 mg Vitamin B12 8,0 mg 0,1 mg Vitamin C 20.000 mg 300 mg lysine 60.000 mg 900 mg Methionine + cysteine 180.000 mg 2.700 mg MSM 40.000 mg 600 mg Zinc (Zn) 15.000 mg 225 mg Cupper (Cu) 4.000 mg 60 mg Selenium (Se) 30 mg 0,5 mg.
Hoof Product Review Equiforce Foot By Havens Sponsored by Mandara
Week - 4
The hoof abscess An abscess is a bacterial infection in the structure of the hoof. Causes * Introduction of a foreign body * Reaction to bruising (if trodden on stone or sharper object) * Laminitis * Contraction of the heels * Shoeing, nail hitting to close to the laminate * Weather, when bruises occur the heat of the sand can warm the area and encourage bacterial growth * Hard hooves also as they don't give an necrotic area a way to escape. Signs * Swelling in the lower leg * Heat in the wall of the hoof * Increased digital arterial pulse in hoof * Attempts to walk on the hoof with a pointed toe (very lame) Treatment * Release pressure by opening the abscess * Clean abscess and remove all necropsy * Clean with antibacterial fluid (ayodine, betadine) Two solutions * Barefoot — bandage with cotton and vet wrap, mix iodine, sugar and annimalintex and make sure you change every 24 hours and repeat. * Shod horses — put a leather pad between the hoof and the shoe with cotton and iodine. Or use an aluminium pad on the shoe with screws with same barefoot treatment as above. When the cavity is clean, without any oozing or necrosis, then you can apply some karatex to harden. The area will then grow until the cavity has completely gone. About Al Bouraq Al Bouraq was chosen due to the story behind it, about a winged horse-like man "Lightning", who was a steed in Islamic mythology. Most notably Buraq carried the Prophets Muhammed from Mecca to Jerusalem and back during the Isra and Mi'raj or "night journey" as recounted in hadith literature. Anthony Rodia has been in the UAE for five years and worked with many top stables. Travelling from France to Germany over the summer months, he set up his company just over a year ago to be more accessible to his clients. He now covers the region and has a pure passion for horses.
Day 1 - After getting to the abscess. 3rd attempt
Anthony Rodia The Abscess
Week - 8
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Ahead of becoming an equine physiotherapist, Alexandros was member of the Greek national equestrian team. He won the young riders championship in Greece three times and competed at the European Championship five times. After leaving Greece he moved to England, and gained more experience by training with coaches including James Fisher and Tim Stockdale. After a stint in Holland with Henk Nooren he took part in several grands prix and World Cups. While he was in Holland preparing for the 2004 Olympics he decided to turn his hand to equine therapy. But, let’s hear from Alexandros for the rest...
Learning the benefits of equine therapy with Alexandros Georgiou, a specialist in the field
Why did you choose to become professionally involved with equine therapy? "I was in Holland for some big international shows and there was a girl there who practiced physiotherapy on horses. I was very impressed by this channel of communication with horses, as well as by the difference I felt when I rode the horse after therapy. I started in Holland before heading to the UK to study equine therapy at Writtle College in Essex. After a year of studying you’re able to practise, but you still must do your research, dissertations, case studies and training. My specialisation is in physiotherapy, equine sports massage and myofascial release, but every year I attend seminars to learn new techniques. Today, my main base is in Germany, but I spend a lot of time in Greece and travelling around the world depending on where the competitions are and what my clients need.” Do you travel anywhere around the world for treatment? "Most of the horses I treat are international competitors so I travel a lot." Which physiotherapy methods do you use? "Firstly, it is important to understand that therapies complement, but never replace, veterinary medicine. Before using any kind of therapy we always get veterinary approval. I always begin with sports massage, which is done manually. By palpating the horse's muscular system we can understand if there is a specific problem; it may be that the horse is feeling pain at a particular part of its body, but this pain is actually coming from somewhere else. For example, the horse is sore on its hindquarters, but the pain actually originates from its shoulder. By massaging the whole body we relax the muscles that are tense. After that, I use myofascial release, which is another method using our hands. This focuses mainly on the fascia, which is the tissue that covers and goes through every muscle, bone, nerve, artery, and internal organ. The fascia, due to a hit or a strain, might shrink, just like a spider’s web or a sweater, so our aim is to exert the appropriate amount of pressure on the right spots to alleviate pain and restore movement." What tools do you use apart from your hands? "I use a device that operates with power as transdermal electrical nerve stimulation, which creates small vibrations that help muscles stimulation. This works very well with back pain. It operates at 80 to 90 megahertz and sends electric pulses to the electrodes, which end up at the subcutaneous nerves. I also use kinesio tape, a method that has been used on humans for some time now. This year, the method was used on horses for the first time at an international conference held in Austria, which I attended. The tape used does not contain any substances, is very elastic, up to 100%, and by placing it on the problematic areas it can stimulate and relax the muscles. It is also helpful for back or sinew problems. We cover the spot we want with a piece of tape and leave it there for 24 hours, or occasionally until it falls off on its own. The tape lifts the skin in a way that is not visible to our eyes, allowing for more oxygen and blood to come to the area. It also helps a lot to bring the fascia tissue back to its correct place. Finally, there is also magnetic therapy, which consists of placing a magnetic blanket on the horse. This helps blood circulation and therapeutic ultrasound. This is something simple that many people use."
Should we only take our horses to physiotherapy if there is a problem? No, it's not necessary for there to be an issue. Many sports horses have physiotherapy and this helps them improve their movement, performance and endurance. Also, by relaxing the muscles you may prevent a possible strain. Physiotherapy, together with veterinary treatment, helps recovery after possible injury, alleviates muscle pain and helps improve blood circulation by aiding muscle regeneration. In 80% of cases the rider will notice a big difference after the therapy. Even if the rider doesn’t notice, it doesn’t mean it hasn’t helped." How often is physiotherapy recommended? For a sports horse that follows a demanding schedule I would recommend once a month. If there is a problem, it depends on the vet's opinion, but it may be needed two or three times a week. Each session lasts about an hour, apart from the times when there is a need for some extra procedure, in order to deal with a specific problem. How do horses react when you work on them? The reaction depends on the horse's character, just like it would with people. Some enjoy it while others are cautious, especially the first time. Usually, by the end of the treatment even the most difficult horses have relaxed so much that they have closed their eyes and are sound asleep. Even racehorses, which you would expect to be more restless, have proved to be calm. Which types of horses come mostly for physiotherapy? All disciplines. Racehorses to showjumpers and dressage horses. These three are my most common clients but in general equine physiotherapy is suitable for all kinds of horses, regardless of their sport, such as endurance horses, or carriage driving horses. What is the difference between physiotherapy and chiropractic treatment? The chiropractor deals more with the skeletal system and helps with things like displaced vertebrae. Physiotherapy has more to do with the muscular system. I can also help with bone problems in cases where the neck or the pelvis is crooked. I relax the area around the bones using myofascial release and therefore facilitate the restoration of the bones to their correct place. Usually after physiotherapy the horse is ready to be ridden straight away, while after chiropractic it is advised to wait for a day.
Philanthropic Vision Rashid Qubaisi talked about the personal honour he felt about realizing Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza’s ambition and supporting the equestrians in the region for this unique horse sport and philanthropic event. The event will deliver enjoyment, excitement and education for families and all other social groups where equestrianism will unite the world community. It is evident that Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza’s inspirational vision promises to be the highlight of the 2016/2017 equestrian calendar and provide a unique opportunity to showcase Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE community whilst engaging in a positive interaction with the rest of the world. With your support it promises to be a truly special event. Al Forsan International Sports Resort Al Forsan, Abu Dhabi has a wide range of exceptional sports facilities including motorsports, watersports, shooting, paintballing and equestrian sports. The venue has hosted international sports events including the elite Longines Global Championships Tour. In addition to the sports facilities, a wide variety of food and beverage options are available at the multiple restaurants on location.
The First Al Shira’aa International Horse Show Al Forsan International Sports Resort Shangra La Hotel, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 17th October 2016, 11am: The Al Forsan International Sports Resort will play host to the first ever Al Shira’aa International Horse Show on the 11th – 14th January 2017. Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza, a true-hearted and renowned patron of equestrian sports within the UAE is the visionary philanthropist and driving force behind this four day event. The aim of the event is to highlight the development / support of the UAE equestrian community and to instill the value of friendship between countries. The distinguished team leading the preparations and panel that briefed the regional media about this brand new initiative included: Omran Al Owais - Technical Director of the Al Shiraa'a Horse Show Christine Stibi - Event Director and Creative Head of the Al Shiraa'a Horse Show Rashid Qubaisi - General Manager of the Al Forsan International Sports Resort Mohammed Al Owais - Al Shiraa'a Horse Show Sports Director and Al Shiraa'as Grand Prix Rider Ahmed Hammadi - Al Forsan Host and Equestrian Section Head
Community & Social Events In addition to the main sporting events there will be many other opportunities for families and the wider community to engage with the event. Play areas will be provided for children and there will be an exhibition market to showcase goods from the UAE and across the world. During the Al Shira’aa Horse Show, children will have the opportunity to participate in a drawing competition to support the theme of building bridges and international friendship. The winning drawing will be preserved on a special wall for years to come to act as a reminder of how the world and equestrian community united in Abu Dhabi. Even a game of “Horse Volleyball” has been organized to entertain the crowds!
Al Shiraa'a Horse Show 2017
Equestrian Events Over 300 horses and 150 riders will be competing across various classes including international, national and juniors as well as young horses, young riders and tours for children. The sporting highlight of the event will be the CSI4* Grand Prix; a qualifier for the World Equestrian Games 2018. The technically challenging course will include at least four 1.6m fences as well as an open water. The prize for the four star winner is AED 1 million and there will also be an AED 130,000 prize for the one star winner. Due to the philanthropic nature of the event, winners have been invited to donate 10% of the prize money to the Marhaba charity. This worthy charity (based in Visbardent, Germany) supports displaced Arabic families from countries such as Syria and Palestine. Dressage will be showcased on the 13th and 14th of January with five levels of dressage being incorporated: 1. Novice 2. Elementary 3. Medium 4. Medium Advanced 5. Advanced. Thirty riders will be invited to join the competition and a special prize will be awarded to the best horse/rider combination. Three prestigious judges (Neirede Goodman [seasoned UAE judge], Clive Halsall [UK] and Jeanette Wolfs [Netherlands]) will be joining the event to mark classes. Local riders such as Reem Alabbar, Khawla Mohammed and Hala Alhasmi will feature prominently as well as other budding local and expat riders. Reem Alabbar, a local talent and Show Director, has a personal love of the sport and hopes to inspire young riders to follow in her footsteps.
www.alshiraastables.com
Al Wrsan The Desert Jewel & Cradle of Equestrian Initiatives Thanks to the kind invitation of Leigh Young, HARC's Club Secretary, The Show Hub recently had the privileged opportunity to take a tour behind the scenes at Al Wrsan Stables, Abu Dhabi and learn about some of the equestrian initiatives originating from the region. The estate owned by His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is truly grand in scale. In fact ‘grand’ is somewhat of an understatement. The facility, which spans over 40km2 is surrounded by lush green fields and is truly epic in its size and majesty. Al Wrsan is a desert oasis and is home to 600 Arabian horses, show dogs, falcons, and countless other birds and wildlife species. Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s passion for animals and dedication to their welfare is evidenced by the care facilities available and the treatment of all the animals at Al Wrsan. Upon entering the estate, vehicles are required to drive through a chemical wheel dip to prevent the spread of diseases and bacteria – an idea which could be adopted by other stables and estates. In the event that an animal does become ill, there are onsite Veterinary departments with specialist treatments, equipment and quaranteen facilities to provide animals with the very best of care. However, Leigh highlighted that it is not just the physical needs of the animals that are catered for; every animal has value: “All the Arabians at the facility have a job to do. Whether being selected for racing, breeding, endurance or going to Line Moen's section after racing for dressage training or being selected to enter the Bouthieb Riding Academy where lessons are provided free of charge to Emiratis”. Furthermore, Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s passion for Arabians extends beyond the fences of Al Wrsan and is manifested in two innovative initiatives:
The Boutheib Initiative Best Endurance Challenge Award (BECA) The Boutheib Initiative has been developed to ensure the welfare of the endurance horse and is also an attempt to return endurance riding back to its traditional roots. The objective is to develop a format which rewards good horsemanship and sportsmanship with horse welfare at its core and it is an ongoing process based onconstructive feedback received throughout the season. To be considered for the Best Endurance Challenge Award (BECA) competitors are required to remain within the given Speed Parameters (S). Furthermore, points are recorded throughout the competition for Recovery Time (RT) and Cardiac Recovery Index (CRI). Metabolic Criteria (MC) and Gait (G) are assessed after each phase. Although not yet officially recognised, The Boutheib Initiative is gaining international traction. The system has been run in parallel to compliment the traditional FEI classification where competitors get two rankings at the end of a competition. For example, the Bouthieb Initiative was successfully implemented in Europe during the German Nationals and CEI at Marbach and the Persik Trail Ride in the beautiful Cevennes region of France. Both rides were sponsored by His Highness. Furthermore, Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has also been invited to speak about the Bouthieb Initiative at the International Endurance Conference in London in November, so it will be interesting to see how this pioneering breakthrough develops over the coming months and years.
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Heritage Arabian Racing Club (HARC) The second major initiative championed by Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the Heritage Arabian Racing Club (HARC). HARC aims to utilise the value of racing as a means to preserve the classic purebred Arabian horse and ensure a diversity of bloodlines for the long term future of the breed; continuing the heritage of their ancestors. A HARC horse is any purebred Arabian registered in any WAHO accepted stud book which does not contain the blood of the following stallions in any generation of its pedigree. Stallions excluded include: Amer, Baroud III, Burning Sand, Dragon, St. Laurent and Tiwaiq. However it must be noted that HARC does not imply the superiority or inferiority of any bloodline and it recognises WAHO as the ultimate registration authority. Rather HARC aims to encourage the racing of all Arabians and to preserve the distinctive characteristics and qualities (beauty, athleticism, soundness and versatility) of Arabians as carried out during traditional selection over the centuries and across the world. HARC activities include international promotion and racing for the preservation of “Heritage” Arabian horses through education of the Heritage Horse definition. The HARC website (www.harchorses.com) provides detailed information on HARC and maintains a database of Heritage Horses and their race results which acts as a bank of historical information. There is also a support forum for breeders and information on obtaining sponsorship for HARC member races to encourage breeders of Heritage Arabians to join the grass roots of their sport and broaden the base of heritage Arabian racing worldwide. There are currently 15 countries participating and supporting worldwide, (including the UAE, Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, UK & USA) with an additional 6 countries waiting to join. Thanks to the generosity of Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, significant advances have been made in research, education and awareness which all support the current and future preservation of the Heritage Arabian Horse. It is evident from these two bold initiatives that Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is a true patron of equestrian sports who always has the welfare of horses foremost in his mind. Furthermore, he has shown that the UAE can be a pioneering, inventive and caring nation that supports equestrianism and advocates animal welfare in a manner that is listened to by the rest of the world.
The team at Al Marmoom Initiative have enjoyed their second busy month of the Winter season. Efforts in the Greenhouse have been producing huge quantities of vegetables and salad varieties. Assistant Manager Yana still can’t believe how quickly the plants grow under the watchful eyes of the gardeners and students: “Every time I go to the Greenhouse, it’s like the plants have grown half a metre over night! The staff and students have been patiently waiting to try the vegetables and I can promise you, our home-grown cucumbers, radish and rocket can’t be beaten. They’re selling so quickly to all our volunteers and visitors”. But it’s not just edible plants that the Marmoom students have been growing – their green fingers have created beautiful flowerpots that will attract many buyers looking to dress up their doorways. All the vegetables and pots are on sale daily and there’s plenty to choose from.
Al Marmoom Initiative Volunteers By Annie Haresign
The Al Marmoom Initiative is located in Al Qudra and although surrounded by Endurance yards, the staff and students are very well supported by their Royal neighbours. With the bumper crop of produce from the Greenhouse and the success of the new Pony driving discipline, what better way to say a big ‘Thank you’ than to pop round and say it in person. Bahrain’s Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa was visiting his Royal stable and kindly received the home-grown gifts delivered by pony-power; the Centre’s new carriage horse – Zorro.
Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa receives produce from the Al Marmoon students & new buddy Zorro.
Train your mind for competition
Dubai club for the Disabled have now partnered with Al Marmoom
The new season is up and running. Competitions have started, lessons are underway and the clinicians have arrived. Now is the best time to complement your technical practise with a mental training plan. It is all very well concentrating on developing a strong leg, seat and position but if pressure still has the opportunity to dampen your efforts, then it is time to really get to know yourself.
Pablo with student
The teams and students
October broke more records at the Equine therapy facility with more students than ever. Dubai club for the Disabled have now partnered with Al Marmoom and the first group of students were very excited to start their sessions with the coaching team. With more new students, it’s no surprise to hear that Al Marmoom have welcomed more new horses to the team. Zorro, the miniature Shetland, is 7hh and has melted the hearts of everyone who has met him. He has been the perfect size for our smallest and wheelchair-bound students to learn how to groom and lead a pony. At the other end of the scale is 17.3hh Lennie, a Clydesdale who has just arrived from Scotland. Lennie’s had to have his Scottish-grown winter coat clipped so he can enjoy his new life in the sun. He is a gentle giant who will take the next few weeks to settle into his new role at the Centre. Accompanying Lennie on his flight to the UAE was American Quarter Horse, Pablo. At 15.3hh, this beautiful perlino coloured gelding is another gentle soul who will lap up all the attention the students give during their sessions at Al Marmoom. Both horses were very well looked after at the World Cup Quarantine stables and attracted lots of attention from the grooms. Preparations were in full swing for the Centre’s first certificate week; that marks the end of the first teaching block. For the past 6 weeks students have been mastering the skills of ‘Showmanship’ – a professional horse handler’s discipline. There were rosettes and certificates for all the students and of course, plenty of proud parents, carers and guardians too.
Larrie the gentle giant
Zorro loved by all
Certificate week super well done
RachaelGritt - The Equestrian Mind rachael.gritt@gmail.com
with Rachael Gritt Mind Coach CERT.H, DIP.HYP.PSYCH, Practitioner & Sports Psychology
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle
So where to start? The first step is to identify your strengths and weaknesses – the official term being "cognitive appraisal”. This will help you to begin with the end in mind. What you want to achieve? What are your goals? Think back to a lesson, clinic or competition where things didn’t go according to plan. How did you handle this? How did you respond emotionally? What does this tell you? It is also important to consider stress when developing your plan and how you are affected by it. There are two types of stress – mental tension that occurs in your mind, such as frustration, anxiety and nerves; and tension that manifests in your body via disrupted sleep, headaches or an upset stomach. It is important to recognise both types, because of the intrinsic link between mind and body. Remember, what happens between your ears affects what happens below them. Once you have this information you can start to pull it together to form your plan. You might need to create different situations for different challenges. Write down everything you need to consider physically and mentally, to be able to ride at your best. Here are some tips: Focus on your partnership – you and your horse only See challenges as an opportunity to grow Consider how your plan will help you in your everyday life Stay in the here and now, don’t be distracted by past mistakes Remember to have fun As Aristotle said: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”
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For those that missed the first version, this is a special sequel: a mane braiding horsehair spa salon. Buy and name your own horse and then brush the horse’s mane and follow the tutorial to braid it into different styles. With more than one million downloads, there’s clearly a lot of aspiring horse hairdressers out there.
Dubai Endurance - FOC by Meydan Group
An app for endurance fans as well as those in the industry. This provides in-depth coverage of rides held at Dubai International Endurance City and various venues around the world. The app covers three major phases of endurance ride events. One is the "pre-ride”, allowing trainers and stable representatives to register and manage their entries. The second is the "live ride”, so endurance fans worldwide can track the ride from start-lists and select specific horses meanwhile riders can follow via mobile notifications. The final phase is the “post-ride" where a round-up of all the results and previous rides fact-sheets are accessible. All of this is now available in both Arabic and English.
Click to subscribe
Equestrian App's
Made by equine experts at Aberystwyth University in the UK, this is a former winner of a British Equine Trade Association (BETA) Innovation Award in 2013. This app is designed to help you accurately calculate the amount of feed to give your horse to avoid obesity and all the health problems that go with it. Why not the guess work out of feeding while saving time and money?
Horse Care - Mane Braiding by Girl Games
Show Jumping Strides - 11 AED By Nicola Bettio
This app allows you to estimate the number of strides between two fences in a line in a show jumping course. The number of strides depends on factors including the distance between the two fences, the height of the fences, the minimum speed for the course, and the type of entry and exit fences. To estimate the number of strides, you must enter the distance (in metres) between the two fences, in the first spinning wheel, the height (in metres) of the fences in your course, the prescribed minimum speed (in metres per minute) as indicated by the course designer; the type of entry fence and finally the type of exit fence. You can choose from five different types of fences including ground pole, vertical, oxer, triple-bar and water jump. Though, of course, if you choose a ground pole as an entry and exit fence, the spinning wheel height has no affect on the calculated number of strides. Get ready to see a stride better than ever.
Our Application of the month
HorseRATION 22 AED - iPhone by Aber Trading Limited
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Two Talented Juniors
Kirkwood's Kitchens
Photo credit - Tara Hamilton
Image Credit - Sandra Abdulla
A special well done to seven-year-old Shamsa Al Mheiri, who rides at Desert Palm. Shamsa took one of her first dressage tests at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club with her pony, Quest, recently. We are told that Quest can be a very cheeky pony and that he really tests Shamsa. Shamsa rode beautifully on the day and showed so much courage, especially competing among more experienced riders. "It's funny how she can jump out of bed at 5am on competition day but on a school day it's mission impossible!," laughed her mum, Sandra. Judge Alison Abrahams added: "The juniors certainly kept me on my toes at the show." Huge well done from all of us here at The Show Hub, keep up the great work! We look forward to seeing more of Shamsa and Quest in the future.
Horse Treats I tend to vary the contents depending on what’s in the cupboard but here is the basic recipe:
Ingredients 3/4 cup oatmeal or I use muesli or even crushed Wheetabix 1/3 cup molasses or date syrup (cheaper) 1/2 cup water 3/4 cup flour 3/4 cup bran 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 apple chopped finely or grated 2 carrots grated or finely chopped ( I sometimes just add 2-3 apples and skip the carrots) I sometimes add chopped dates I add a couple of teaspoons of turmeric and a pinch of pepper and sometimes garlic powder to keep the flies off and the humans off too! Directions 1. Preheat oven to 180 Deg C 2. Grease muffin tin or some tin shaped like you want your treats 3. Shred apple and carrots 4. Mix apple and carrots with syrup 5. Edd brown sugar, water, flour and oatmeal 6. Scoop dough into muffin tin or a loaf tin works well if you want to slice the loaf 7. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes or until it is the consistency of a flapjack – you can use a skewer to test the centres (like a cake)
A young rider that has stood out in the past two nationals at Sharjah is nine-year-old Layth Shady Ghraeeb, who clearly takes after his grand prix-winning father Shady Ghraeeb in the saddle. Layth, who is a student at Al Khaleej International School ,started riding just 10 months ago and is trained by his father and uncle Mohanad. Even though the trainers are elite professionals, it's still an amazing achievement to have come so far in such a short space of time. Layth is currently jumping the 80-90 cm classes on his pony Okapic Joy. We wish this duo the very best and look forward to seeing what's to come.
Image Credit - Nour Al Masri Ghraeeb
Al Fares Dubai Hall C at Meydan
Al Fares 11th International Equine Trade Fair Dubai 2016 The Al Fares International Equine Trade Fair brought together traders from across the equestrian world at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai last month (5-7 October). The show was set up in 1995, and the 11th edition of this bi-annual event was even bigger and better this year, due to the increasing prominence of equestrianism within the UAE and wider Gulf region. Companies from more than 20 countries— including new additions such as Turkey, Indonesia and South Africa — showcased a wide variety of horse and rider products, as well as equestrian-related services. It was the first time in Al Fares’ history that the fair was hosted at Meydan. This prestigious venue is the visionary concept of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and is home to the world’s richest horserace – the Dubai World Cup, worth a hefty $10m. Event manager Rachid Mbayed also took the opportunity to thank His Highness Sheikh Hasher bin Maktoum Al Maktoum for granting him the opportunity to organise the event and highlighted the significance of the venue. “We believe in the spirit of Meydan and so we decided to organise the 11th edition of Al Fares at Meydan, and thank god we had the luck to attract 22 countries to participate,” he said. It was clear that Rachid, who dedicated two years of his life to planning and organising the event, took immense pride in the successful delivery of it. Rachid outlined some of the recent trends and notable themes at the event. “Therapeutic treatment for horses is something that most companies are focusing on,” he said. "Plus shipping; the quality of horse shipping all over the world is becoming important because of all the activities that the UAE is participating in, and it’s growing.” One innovative treatment showcased during the Fair was therapeutic wave therapy for horses. Reyonex uses bio-resonance technologies to identify balances and imbalances within the body and to analyse the skeleton and muscles of a horse. Wave therapy and/or acupuncture can then be used to complement traditional medicines and help to remediate problematic conditions. In addition to some of the newer alternative therapies, traditional treatments were also being presented. Dr Walid El Sherbiny (DVM, MBA) of Gulf Rider, an Emirati business focused on the provision of veterinary medicines and equipment, was on-hand to advocate local products. “After the show we make a lot of connections; a lot of business coordination; a lot of deals which are done in Al Fares,” he says. In an event that marked many firsts, The Show Hub made its debut appearance at Al Fares. Our very own Abby Blom was there to add her thoughts about the opportunities that Al Fares had to offer. “We launched just a couple of days before the show, so it’s a really exciting time for us at the moment to be here,” she said. “There are lots of friends here at the Fair in the industry. To get our brand out there a little more and to meet new distributors and suppliers in the UAE is extremely positive for us." Al Fares 2016 was a truly international, well-attended and successful event thanks to the support of the Sheikhs and to the hard work of Rachid Mbayed. Similarly, the event would not have been such a success without the significant contributions of time and effort from all of the company delegates who travelled from all over the world to support the event and showcase their products and services. As the equestrian community continues to grow within the UAE and wider GCC, Al Fares promises to be an even better event in 2018. You’d better get back to work Rachid!
40.
5- 7 Jan 2017 - Abu Dhabi UAE - CSI3* - W
2- 5 Nov 2016 - Mostaganem ALG - CSI3* - W
13 - 16 Oct 2016 - El Jadida MAR CSI3* - W Morocco Royal Tour
1 - 3 Jan 2017 - Al Rayyan QAT - CSI4* - W
27-29 Oct 2016 - Hurghada Egypt CSI3* - W
6 - 10 Oct 2016 - Rabat MAR CSI3* - W Morocco Royal Tour
27 - 29 Dec 2016 - Doha QAT - CSI4* - W
26-29 Oct 2016 - Mostaganem Algeria CSI3* - W
26 - 28 Jan2017 - Dubai UAE - CSI3* - W
30 Nov - 3rd Dec 2016 - Riyadh KSA - CSI5* - W
14th - 16th Jan 2017 - Sharjah UAE - CSI3* - W
Example
29 Sept - 2 Oct 2016 - Tetouan, CSI3* - W Morocco Royal Tour
2 - 4 Feb 2017 - Dubai UAE - CSI3* - W
GCC Season 2016/2017 Arab League Calendar
Please click the small cidle buttons for results of the individual events
20 - 22 Oct 2016 - Hurghada Egypt CSI3* - W
CANCELLED
23 - 26 Nov 2016 - Riyadh, KSA - CSI3* - W
21st Oct - Desert Palm Unaffiliated Jumping
FEI Leader-boards - Arab League
13th - 14th Oct - Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club Longines Nationals
42.
7th Oct - Desert Palm EEF Dressage
20th - 21st Oct - Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club Longines Nationals
RANK
PREVIOUS
ATHLETE
COUNTRY
POINTS
1
Sheikh Ali Al Thani
QAT
55
2
3
Ibrahim Hani Bisharat
JOR
44
Ramzy Hamad Al Duhami
KSA
35
4
Ahmad Saber Hamcho
SYR
5
Khaled Abdularahman Almobty
31
6
Bassem Mohammed
30
7
8
Amre Hamcho
29
13
Abdelkebir Ouaddar
MAR
26
9
Abdulla Al Sharbatly
24
10
Samy Colman
23
This Months results
6th - 7th Oct - Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club Longines Nationals
22nd Oct - Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club - EEF Dressage
Course Designer
Clinic
Second hand tack
Classifieds:
Photography
Ghantoot 7 April 2016 Don Junior MFS 1st Ghantoot 7 April 2016
AASJ offers for sale this attractive gelding Don Junior MFS (Don Aqui x Emilion) A 6 yr old gelding half-brother to Diva Rosa MFS, Don Junior is a perfect horse for Juniors/Amateurs having been brought on carefully throughout his career to date. His results attached speak for themselves. He is only for sale to make room for youngstock Interested in this very nice gelding, then send us a message on pm or email: alasaylshowjumping@gmail.com
Don Junior MFS
Horses for sale, lease & loan
Fitness clinics
Jobs
Riding Safari's
8 leather saddles 17.5, never used but some have some minor chips from being transported plus various second hand wintec style saddles (13 in total ) Previously used for a riding school and still have life left in them Contact 0569136327 or email laverty81@icloud.com
Physio
To add your classifieds in the December issue please contact us on classifieds@uaeshowhub.com we will be more than happy to help you.
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