Equine Support
A beautiful English proverb I read recently stated ‘show me your horse and I will show you what you are’. Over the past eight years I’ve come to know a lot of horses, I’ve also come to know many human characters that through the treatment of their horses tell me exactly who they are. This English proverb serves all too true.
It was a frosty August Morning when I first met Bella; A 14.3hh Buckskin Quarter Horse, Standing in one of the yards at the monthly horse sales. Totally disinterested in all of the attention that she was getting, she stood- emotionless.
It wasn’t too often that one would see such a stunning mare at the saleyards. I was one of the dozens of buyers peering into her yard to have a look, although one by one they all turned their noses up at the mare.
It wasn’t until I made it around to her offside that I saw why. This mare had a skin irritation all up her shoulder and back that made the worse rain rot you’ve seen look mild. Her hooves were splayed out to the point that she couldn’t rest on them for too long without shifting her weight; and her eyes were seeping discharge all down her sweet natured face.
As she was brought into the ring a bridle was knocked into her mouth and she was bare back ridden around the ring. She was terrified. It was me against some other interested buyers.
I’ve never left a sale house without the horse I came for. I knew that this time, Bella was it.
My bid was the final bid and I got her on a truck and home as soon as she left the ring.
Upon getting Bella home to the farm, getting her a proper feed, hoof treatment, rugs on her, worming…I discovered that this sweet little mare would change attitudes completely as soon as I would ask her to do anything for me under saddle. For a horse I was told was 16 years old I would imagine that she knew how to move forward at least…I was so confused. How could such a sweet natured mare in every respect be so uncomfortable with me on her back to the point that she would buck, rear, spin, throw her head- just to get out of the situation?
One the fifth ride, Bella threw me. I was lucky to only have a broken foot from where she had landed on it- the nurse who looked after me had a vested interest in my case. She too was a horse lover and came to know Bella through my stories of her while I was in hospital that night.
A fortnight passed before the dentist could come out to have a look at Bella’s teeth and what he found answered a lot of my questions. First and foremost he informed me that my 16 year old mare was only 10. I sat next to Bella after he had left and apologised to her.
I apologised for all of the people she has ever encountered that could leave her in such a state and treat her kind spirit in such a disheartening way. She stood there next to me, still hazy from the anaesthetic. It’s amazing just how forgiving a horse can be, how they can sense when help has arrived and have the intuition to recognise danger before they see it. The worst ulcers the dentist has seen in years he said, the gloves he was wearing sat on the side of the bin- ripped from the tips of Bella’s teeth, covered in blood.
The following week I rode Bella again. This mare was just as sweet under saddle as she was on the ground. We took everything slowly. She took it all in her stride. She was still very confused with the notion of being ‘Ridden’ but the more she trusted me, the more trust she had in what I was asking her to do.
That same week the nurse who had taken care of me came out to meet the infamous Bella. She too was so taken with the kind eye that this mare would look at you with.
It was over a year later, at the same saleyards, that the man who had previously owned Bella approached me. ‘You buy that bucky mare darlin?’ he croaked at me as he removed the cigarette from his mouth. ‘She needed some serious breakin, just used her as a broody, - hope you did too, real sour mare’ he continued.
I stared at him and could only cringe at the biggest catch 22 I was dealing with- the thought of giving my money to someone who could treat my Bella in such a way.
It has now been 6 years since I picked Bella up that freezing August morning. And 6 years since that same nurse has called Bella a part of her family. I am sent pictures every year of how Bella is going; she’s been to Pony Club, trail rides and gymkhanas of late. I drive past her grazing in her paddock every day on my way out to my farm where it all began for her. Where it begins for many horses; and where, for many of my sale house horses- a dispiriting chapter ends.
By Alexandria Nagy
20/3/14
Read more: Show me your horse and I will show you what you are
In the modern racing world of syndicated horses I am always amazed how powerless the syndicate members are, and how cynical, is everyone else involved.
There are changes in the air however but the situation is a long way from being ideal for the horse or for the syndicate member.
Typically, a group of hopeful punters put up a heap of money on a prospect having very little real information on it. That prospect may have been carefully bred and raised with all the care and passion that experienced breeders can put into them, like my friend Ann Raymond in Scone for example.
It might also have been handled roughly, pumped full or hormones and chemical supplements all in the name of making it look good at the yearling sales. No consideration at all being given to the state of its nervous system, its maturity or its long term structural viability.
The punters have no way of knowing either, what the yearling's upbringing or history was and have no say on how it is handled during growing out and pre-training. They are asked to take the word of the business person selling shares in the horse, who have their own best interests firmly in mind.
The syndicate members find themselves in a business venture with a bunch of partners whom they may not know, and with almost no input into the decisions being taken. They mostly don't get to choose the trainer, or have any input into how the horse is to be prepared.
The horse is put under pressure to race as a 2yr old, the trainer is under pressure to produce an early result and no one is considering the animals long term health and prospects. As problems develop the Vet tells the trainer what treatment is required, which is often of the expensive 'quick fix' variety. The owners have no say in the matter; they just get to pay the bills.
Everything is still focused on the early result to justify all the hopes and promises and money spent along the way. Most of these horses don't make it. They are over fed, over treated and burned out in the first year of their career all in the name of keeping the punters optimistic and prepared to keep spending.
If they (the punters) seem to get a good enough run for their money, they will be prepared to put their hands in their pockets for another prospect next year, when the current one is sacked having;
"Showed signs of real promise but unfortunately broke down"
There are however, changes in the air. Syndicate members are beginning to regain power in the situation through the appointment of professional managers like my friend Angus McPhearson in Sydney.
Angus knows the breeders and keeps an eye on the trainers and the individual horses and represents the interests of the owners. He keeps an eye on the Vet bills and he uses his experience to give advice to the owners about training and health issues as they arise. He also has the financial interests of clients in mind as his first priority, rather than these being completely lost in the system.
For my own part I am providing:
- Free advice to any owner or syndicate member on alternative medical treatments for nervous system, metabolic and physical health issues.
- Safe, simple, inexpensive and healthy herbal preventative and early intervention programs to deal with health problems before they have gone too far, and to heal those that have.
- Healthy managed growing out and agistment programs at my own property where your stock can be on healthy pasture and herbal supplements to ensure their maturity and viability.
- Medical spelling programs where I take on and treat valuable prospects at the earliest signs of breaking down so that they may be rehabilitated and come back fit, sound and healthy to continue their career rather than be written off.
Yours truly,
Robert McDowell
Kelloseheil Park is situated at Mt Rankin, Bathurst NSW Australia.
Kellosheil Park is Bathurst Premier Equistrain facility, located 15 minutes from the Bathurst City centre.
We offer a variety of services. Please visit our web site for more information, or visit us personally. Cath is able to be contacted on 0428 101 105
Member No. 27282
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