Equitana Melbourne

EVENT SCHEDULE

FULL SCHEDULE COMING in 2024

2024 event schedule coming soon

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here's an overview of each day!

PLEASE NOTE: THE EVENT SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE​

immerse yourself in our interactive schedule using the filters and start planning your day in detail

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The Athletic Equestrian

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Thursday November 14th
Godolphin Lifetime Care Theatrette

Exploring the Subconscious – How our Brain Influences Equestrian Success

Understand the hidden influences shaping your equestrian journey. Beyond the surface of rider mindset, lies a realm of subconscious barriers that may be hindering your progress in overcoming nerves, building confidence or even find motivation to ride. The session will examine the interconnected experiences of humans and horses, and how your subconscious impacts on your relationships with your horses and riding.

Delve into the emotions and behaviours that impact our riding and horsemanship, and how they are shaped by past experiences, attachment theory, psychophysiology, evolutionary biology, and play out through our nervous system and subconscious.

By unravelling the ‘why’ behind personal riding challenges, transform the way you connect with your horse. Through heightened self-awareness, participants will start a journey into a more grounded sense of self, ability, and capacity; refined feel and timing in the saddle and ultimately fostering a deeper connection with their self and horse.

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Thursday November 14th
EQUITANA Classroom (Royal Block)

Balancing Performance & Reproduction

Often we see the potential in our horses before they are performing at the top of the game.

How can we breed from these animals whilst also maximising their potential in the competition arena.

Breeding and performing can sometime be a balancing act.

This talk will discuss practical tips for breeding and competing the performance mare and stallion.

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Thursday November 14th
Off The Track Boulevard Arena

Engaging your Horse with Learning

This demonstration will show the audience how to break down lessons and use combined-reinforcement to engage their horse with them.

We know that shying is one of the most commonly seen unwanted behaviours, and getting your horse into the Engagement Zone in this way is the first step to building a safe and happy riding partner.

A horse in the Engagement Zone is focused on the rider/handler, who regulates the horse’s emotional level. The session will explain the importance of the horse’s emotional level, show viewers how to recognise the ideal level for learning and demonstrate how to raise and lower the emotional level to minimize stress and optimize learning and safety for both horse and rider/handler.

The audience will leave the session with a step-by-step plan for getting their horse into the Engagement Zone and an understanding of how lessons are broken down to shape behaviour. Regardless of their experience level, each audience member will have a practical takeaway from the session to implement at home.

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Thursday November 14th
Godolphin Lifetime Care Theatrette

Anxiety, Stress, Behavioural issues: the Role of Nutrition & Supplements

Anxiety, Stress and Behavioural Issues in Horses: The Role of Nutrition and Supplements

It is well accepted that nutrition plays an important role in the behaviour of our horses and ponies. But how exactly does it influence their behaviour and how do we feed them to not only help them be calm and happy, but also ensure we meet key nutrient requirements and promote the best overall health? Are supplements any use for the horse with behavioural issues, and if so, how do we know what makes a good supplement? How long should we give the supplement for? And what else do we need to be aware of when using supplements?

In this insightful talk, Camilla answers all these questions and more. If you’ve ever struggled with a horse with behavioural issues, then you can’t afford to miss this presentation.

Having no affiliation with feed or supplement companies, Camilla presents information in a non-biased, informative and helpful manner.

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Thursday November 14th

Liberty Connection

How to achieve the most harmonious relationship with your horse to be able to achieve the best partnership in any discipline.

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Thursday November 14th
Redbuck Arena (Demo Arena 3)

Welcome to Trick Riding

This educational demonstration will teach patrons about the thrilling sport of trick and fancy riding. In this demonstration, we cover all aspects of the industry, including but not limited to:
– Rider Fitness
– Horse Training, Conditioning and Suitability
– Safety in the Sport
– Correct Equipment & Tack, Costuming, Saddle Walk-Through
– How To Get Started, Finding a Coach, Careers in Trick Riding
– Demonstrations of Basic To Advanced Tricks On Our Trained Trick Riding Horses (At standstill, walk or canter, depending on area size)

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Thursday November 14th
Redbuck Arena (Demo Arena 3)

Taking the Rein out of Rein Back

I explain how developing any training exercise, we need to offer the information in a way that keeps the horse calm and connected.

I use the “Back-up” to help display this, it helps the rider understand the underlying principle of breaking an exercise down into smaller understandable pieces of information for the horse, and then recombining them together to create the whole picture. It teaches the rider the concept coined by Ray Hunt, Feeling OF their horse, feeling FOR their horse and then the horse and rider FEELING together.

I explain the two opposing principles of using a photo approach to training as opposed to creating a solid picture with a jigsaw puzzle approach. Using the photo principle creates the basics but all too often we use photoshop to gloss over all the important little things and are taking another picture and moving on to the next phase of training, before those basics form a basis for the horse to call on with certainty and no confusion.

It also helps give the rider the concept of consistency in training, that starting from the same point each time helps build confidence in their horse and ultimately trust in the rider.

  • Educators

Details

Thursday November 14th
Off The Track Boulevard Arena

Is your horse a goat? Posture influences

Is Your Horse a Goat? How Trimming and Glue-on Composite Shoes Influence Posture

One of the most common indicators that the horse is compensating poorly in its body is when they stand “goat-on-a-rock”, base narrow like standing on a pedestal. In this round pen demonstration, the audience will learn how to identify goat-on-a-rock posture, what problems it causes for the horse, and through demonstration, learn how we can positively change posture by trimming the horse’s feet to specific parameters and use glue-on composite shoes to further achieve our goals.

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Thursday November 14th
EQUITANA Classroom (Royal Block)

Legal Tips for Buyers and Sellers / Horse deal disasters

Most of us in the horse world are familiar with the process of buying and selling horses. But what happens when things go wrong?

Through real-life stories of horse deals gone awry, participants will gain an understanding of common legal pitfalls, how to avoid them and the potential legal repercussions that can arise in equine transactions. Led by an experienced equine lawyer, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to learn from real scenarios and acquire practical strategies for mitigating risks.

Discover the intricacies of buyer and seller obligations, the importance of clear contracts, and the power of due diligence when it comes to horse deals. Whether you’re a seasoned horse professional or a new entrant in the industry, this workshop equips you with the knowledge needed to navigate the world of equine transactions with confidence and insight.

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Thursday November 14th
Godolphin Lifetime Care Theatrette

The horse’s lymphatic system is unique and delicate

When horses are on box rest, recovering from surgery or have any form of restricted movement, the stress to the lymphatic system if not managed will affect the well-being and management of the horse short and long term.

The horse’s lymphatic system is unique and delicate, without horses being able to move or stimulation of the lymphatic system it can become compromised and has limited capacity to repair.
Swelling occurs in the body to protect the horse, but when the swelling becomes a regular occurrence, or is not treated, the skin not only is damaged but the very sensitive lymphatic vessels in the area are also damaged, that have very limited capability or cannot repair to the same capacity.

Unlike other systems of the body the lymphatic system is not a closed circuit and requires support from the muscular, respiratory, circulatory, immunity, integumentary, digestive, and excretory systems to function, these systems of the body also require the lymphatic system to support them.

If horses didn’t have a lymphatic system they would have very swollen legs, irregular blood pressure, become very unwell with every virus that enters through broken skin.

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Thursday November 14th
EQUITANA Classroom (Royal Block)

Maximising motivation, learning & enjoyment

Maximising motivation, learning, and enjoyment in your equestrian pursuits: Tips and tricks for spending quality time with your horse

This session will cover a range of tips and tricks to help riders make the most of their time with their horse including:
-Maximising motivation, by identifying both the internal and external factors that fuel a passion for horses.
-Setting goals that align with inner beliefs and values, enabling a strong sense of purpose and fulfilment.
-Cultivating a growth mindset, which is characterised by embracing challenges and learning from mistakes, thereby promoting continuous improvement and keeping motivation high.
-Setting realistic expectations and breaking goals into manageable steps. Thereby facilitating progress and aiding in prevention of frustration.
-Creating a positive learning environment through supportive relationships and a thirst for knowledge and skill set development further enhances the equestrian experience.
-Identifying the inner critic that is getting in our way of development.
These strategies can help equestrians optimise their time with their horse, derive maximum satisfaction, and continually expand their horsemanship skills.

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Thursday November 14th
EQUITANA Classroom (Royal Block)

Hemp, Hype and Horses

Get the truth about how hemp can (and can’t) assist your horse.

There are many novel hemp-based products and feeds currently on the market, but how do you sift through the marketing to work out which hemp products are worth adding into your horses feed routine, and which are either not, harmful, or could even be prohibited. Hemp is highly palatable, and can be fed as a meal, oil, or even as husks and blended with other products. It really is a nutrition powerhouse and can provide a great source of vitamins and minerals. It is also a wonderful source of protein for horses, with an amino acid profile that provides all essential amino acids. Hemp is also a source of essential fatty acids, but as herbivores, it is not the ‘perfect’ ratio that is sometimes advertised.

What are some of the conditions that using hemp may assist with? What is the difference between hemp seed oil and a CBD product, and do these products contain THC? Does CBD have a place in horses’ health/treatment? Hemp products for horses are set to grow rapidly both inside and outside of the supplement market, so it’s a great idea to understand where it fits

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Thursday November 14th
DEG Australia Demonstration Arena

In-Hand work and Biomechanics

In this education session I would like to discuss the importance of understanding horse biomechanics. Having a good understanding of biomechanical function is really important in maintaining a horses’ soundness long term. Unlike ourselves, horses do not have a collarbone, instead their ribcage is suspended within their bodies by the thoracic sling and the attachment of the ribcage at the pelvic girdle.

In-hand work can be extremely beneficial to strengthen a horse before starting them under saddle as well as in rehabilitating horses from injury and soundness issues. In-hand work involves a mixture of simple massage techniques to promote blood flow and healing as well as working a horse on the ground with spinal alignment and core engagement in mind, teaching all lateral movements from shoulder-in to piaffe.

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Thursday November 14th
Godolphin Lifetime Care Theatrette

Observing and understanding herd interactions

The way horses interact with each other can shed dramatic light on how we might best go about interacting with them as well.

There are ways that all horses are the same, these are things we can learn as a foundation to solve any problem. There are also ways that each horse is unique and when we learn these things we have the best foundation for forming a deep and lasting bond with that horse. Observing and learning from the ways horses interact with each other we can gain information on both how they are similar and how they are different.

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Thursday November 14th
EQUITANA Classroom (Royal Block)

Arena Construction: from the beginning through to completion

Covering both indoor and outdoor construction, advice will include tips on choosing your contractor, site selection, design, material choices, surfacing and long term maintenance.

An invaluable guide.

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Thursday November 14th
EQUITANA Classroom (Royal Block)

What do our horses actually eat?

What do our horses actually eat? We feed nutrients not ingredients!

An interactive review of what nutrients horses require and where they get them from. A review of common feedstuffs and some novel ingredients that are being fed to horses.

A simple way to evaluate whether you are balancing your horse’s diet or simply over or under supplying nutrients.

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Thursday November 14th
Redbuck Arena (Demo Arena 3)

Barrel Racing Basics

Barrel racing is a fun and exhilarating sport, but you don’t have to be a speed demon to get started!

Adele will cover everything you need to know to get started in barrel racing; from how to find a club near you, the basic equipment you need through to the basic exercises that will make sure you and your horse have fun and stay safe.

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Thursday November 14th
Think Fencing Arena

Ranch Riding – involvement and requirements

Ranch Riding is reasonably new to this country and it’s popularity and interest is taking Australia by storm. As President of the Ranch Horse Association of Australia, which was formed in October, 2022, we have seen exponential growth, having close to 380 memberships within our first 10 months.

During this presentation, I will touch on the history of Ranch Riding. How and when it started in the USA and subsequently moved to Australia. The requirements sought by horse and rider. The ranch horse should be attentive to its surroundings, display forward movement in it’s working gaits and be ridden with light contact, I will discuss the movement and cadence preferred.

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Friday November 15th
Off The Track Boulevard Arena

Freedom based Training

Freedom Based Training is a contradiction and powerful because of the two opposing ideas.

When we learn to balance Freedom and Training we develop a deeper bond between horse and human than one or the other can not provide independently. If the horse is free to do anything they want, how can they be trained? If the horse is trained as someone we can depend on, how can they be free to do what they choose?

I present a training method that can be used as a complement to almost any other training method in existence, or it can be used independently if someone chooses to take the slowest road of development. Why would we take the slowest road to development? Some of us like smelling the roses along the way. Why would we take a faster road? Some value the destination more than the travel. Any combination of the two ideas is valid, yet I feel there are hundreds of trainers in the world telling you their path is the only path worth taking. I believe freedom of choice is important, and the information to choose wisely for yourself is essential.

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Friday November 15th
Redbuck Arena (Demo Arena 3)

Getting started in Trick Riding

Learn about the thrilling sport of trick and fancy riding. In this demonstration, we cover all aspects of the industry, including but not limited to:
– Rider Fitness
– Horse Training, Conditioning and Suitability
– Safety in the Sport
– Correct Equipment & Tack, Costuming, Saddle Walk-Through
– How To Get Started, Finding a Coach, Careers in Trick Riding
– Demonstrations of Basic To Advanced Tricks On Our Trained Trick Riding Horses (At standstill, walk or canter, depending on area size)

  • Educators

Details

Friday November 15th
Redbuck Arena (Demo Arena 3)

Ranch Riding – an introduction

Ranch Riding is reasonably new to this country and it’s popularity and interest is taking Australia by storm. As President of the Ranch Horse Association of Australia, which was formed in October, 2022, we have seen exponential growth, having close to 380 memberships within our first 10 months.

During this presentation, I will touch on the history of Ranch Riding. How and when it started in the USA and subsequently moved to Australia. The requirements sought by horse and rider. The ranch horse should be attentive to its surroundings, display forward movement in it’s working gaits and be ridden with light contact, I will discuss the movement and cadence preferred.

  • Educators

Details

Friday November 15th
EQUITANA Classroom (Royal Block)

101 Ways to Make Money with Horses

The title of this topic can generally be met with ‘I can show you 1001 ways to lose money with horses’ and similar themes.

But many people in the horse industry just smile. Those that smile are generally the ones who have worked out their niche within the horse industry where they have achieved, maintained, and enjoy a profitable career or profitable business within the horse industry.

In this class, Glenys will show you techniques of preparing for a career within the horse industry or preparation for having a business within the horse industry.

a) the three rules of becoming rich
b) what is more important than becoming rich
c) what you need to prepare your equine career or a profitable horse business.

You will gain valuable insights into preparing for a prosperous equine career or horse business, discovering the strategic elements necessary for success.

From unravelling the nuanced rules of financial success to identify priorities beyond wealth, Glenys imparts practical wisdom, equipping potential business owners and those entering the equine workforce with the tools to navigate and thrive in the diverse landscape of the horse industry.

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Friday November 15th
Godolphin Lifetime Care Theatrette

Harness social media for your equestrian business

We review current social media trends and how you can use these to develop your business, covering what channels to use, trends in paid advertising, types of content and influencers.

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Friday November 15th
Redbuck Arena (Demo Arena 3)

Long Reining (Double Lunging)

Long-reining or double-lunging is an excellent tool when the horse is correctly prepared for the exercise.

This demonstration will show the audience how to correctly perform that preparatory work; habituating the horse to the lines, choosing equipment (including surcingle, bit, saddle and so on), and teaching the horse to travel in frame and be soft in the bridle.

Long-reining is useful for all levels of horses and riders. It is a particularly helpful exercise for horses coming back into work after a break, for horses changing discipline (such as off-the-track), and for horses being started under saddle. It allows the horse to build top-line muscle and learn to travel in frame (including through transitions) without having to carry the rider. It allows the rider to learn to release pressure on the reins when the horse is in self-carriage, develop verbal signals for changes in gait and tempo, and judge whether or not the horse is ready to be ridden – all done safely from the ground.

Spectators will leave the session with the tools to go home and teach their own horses to long-rein.

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Friday November 15th
Godolphin Lifetime Care Theatrette

How to start an Equestrian Podcast: Lessons from Canter Therapy

Do you ever meet someone and think, I’d love to be able to sit down with you privately and ask you all of my questions? Well, when you have a podcast, you can!

In my talk I will unravel the art of starting an equestrian podcast & sharing my unique experience as someone who had never considered the idea before it ‘just happened’.

In 2021 we started Canter Therapy Podcast as two friends recording our conversations and it has grown exponentially since then. I will share our unique philosophy and how starting a podcast has opened up my world to many incredible opportunities . Discover the top 10 invaluable lessons I have learnt, from navigating interviews with experts to building an incredible community.

Canter Therapy Podcast’s journey offers a wealth of knowledge for those eager to embark on their podcasting venture, promising to inspire, educate, and elevate your connection with your equestrian community.

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Friday November 15th
Godolphin Lifetime Care Theatrette

Feeding the Easy Keeper

Equine Nutrition for all Disciplines

Larissa will discuss the what, why, when and how of feeding for weight and laminitis risk management covering:
* How much food does a horse actually need?
* Body condition scoring
* Choosing safe forage
* Do I need to hard feed?
* Which supplements are really necessary?
* Safe weight loss
* Managing body condition at pasture

  • Educators

Details

Friday November 15th

Taking the Rein out of Rein Back

I explain how developing any training exercise, we need to offer the information in a way that keeps the horse calm and connected.

I use the “Back-up” to help display this, it helps the rider understand the underlying principle of breaking an exercise down into smaller understandable pieces of information for the horse, and then recombining them together to create the whole picture. It teaches the rider the concept coined by Ray Hunt, Feeling OF their horse, feeling FOR their horse and then the horse and rider FEELING together.

I explain the two opposing principles of using a photo approach to training as opposed to creating a solid picture with a jigsaw puzzle approach. Using the photo principle creates the basics but all too often we use photoshop to gloss over all the important little things and are taking another picture and moving on to the next phase of training, before those basics form a basis for the horse to call on with certainty and no confusion.

It also helps give the rider the concept of consistency in training, that starting from the same point each time helps build confidence in their horse and ultimately trust in the rider.

  • Educators

Details

Friday November 15th
Off The Track Boulevard Arena

Collar Sizing: Learn the essentials for a precision fit

Collar Sizing: Learn the essentials of fitting a collar to your horse with precision.

Similar to saddle fitting, this guide emphasizes the significance of a proper fit for enhanced comfort and optimal performance.

Covering aspects like shoulder angles and conformation for heavy horses, pull angles & more, it’s a practical resource for conscientious horse owners seeking to ensure their horseswell-being, functionality and to help make knowledge accessible to those breaking into the heavy horse world.

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Friday November 15th
Off The Track Boulevard Arena

Speak Fluent Horse Language

For a successful relationship with your horse all points of view need to be heard and understood. Through intuitive communication you will be able to gain valuable information directly from your horse. This can relate to health and behaviour and/or training and horsemanship. With this two-way communication discover how all these aspects interrelate, and can greatly improve both the depth of your personal relationship and competitive performance.

No matter what area of horsemanship, it always involves the relationship between horse and handler. Understanding your horse on all levels will enhance not only greater understanding within the relationship but greater mutual fulfilment and mutual compliance in all areas.

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Friday November 15th
Redbuck Arena (Demo Arena 3)

Classical Dressage, Biomechanics & Liberty Riding

Classical Dressage is a french word meaning “training”.

In this education session I will focus on spinal alignment, the function of the body beneath the surface of what we can see and how we as riders are effecting the functioning of the horse biomechically when we work them. Understanding horse anatomy allows us as riders and horse people to be able to promote correct muscle development. The stronger the structural foundation the more physically able, balanced, therefore willing to perform is the horse.

By achieving strength and harmony within the body biomechanically the horse will also be much healthier emotionally and physically. Dressage movements become more easily achievable as a result of strength and harmony.

A strong healthy horse will be able to travel in self carriage, once self carriage is achieved I begin to explore Liberty riding with the horse.

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Friday November 15th
EQUITANA Classroom (Royal Block)

Arena Construction: from the beginning through to completion

Covering both indoor and outdoor construction, advice will include tips on choosing your contractor, site selection, design, material choices, surfacing and long term maintenance.

So many variables, it’s important to get good advice.

  • Educators

Details

Friday November 15th
EQUITANA Classroom (Royal Block)

If you believe it, you can ride it!

A Mindset Presentation
If you believe it, you can ride it!  So many riders struggle with the belief that they are good enough or worthy enough or anything enough. No matter how hard we train, how dedicated we are or how much money we spend, ultimately it comes back to how much you believe that you can achieve your goals.

So many riders fail. Not because they are not good enough, but because their mind lets them down when things get tough.  I am all about helping riders develop a solid, positive mindset and to do that we first have to overcome the things that hold us back.

Being able to have solid tools will help to go from ‘I can’t’ to ‘I can.’

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Friday November 15th
DEG Australia Demonstration Arena

Exploring the methods of ‘mark’ training

Exploring the methods of ‘mark’ training and its application in working with horses offers a powerful avenue for enhancing communication and understanding between humans and horses.

This method allows for precise communication and reinforcement, enabling horses to understand and respond to cues more effectively.

Incorporating ‘mark’ training into a horse program can significantly improve the clarity and consistency of communication, leading to enhanced learning and performance outcomes.
By using positive reinforcement and clear markers, trainers can facilitate the development of specific skills, shape desired behaviours, and strengthen the horse-human bond.
Additionally, ‘mark’ training provides a means to establish trust, build confidence, and encourage horses to actively engage.
The incorporation of ‘mark’ training into horse work represents a valuable tool for refining communication, deepening the partnership between humans and horses, and achieving positive training outcomes based on mutual understanding and respect and relaxation.

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Friday November 15th
DEG Australia Demonstration Arena

Common Barrel Racing Problems

The common problems that barrel racers face when racing the clock and the easy ways to overcome them.

This demonstration will cover the basic problems that barrel racers face every day. Issues such as horses not going in the arena, knocked barrels and wide turns. Everyone interested in barrel racing, from first timers to experts, will learn about how to be safer and faster when competing.

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Friday November 15th
Godolphin Lifetime Care Theatrette

Your Hoof Superpower: X-ray Vision

We often struggle to know whether our horse’s feet are healthy, even if they are sound.

In this power point presentation the audience will learn to understand and use six Foundation Hoof Types derived from Daisy’s extensive database of hoof photographs and corresponding radiographs collected over the last 20 years of hoof care work. The Foundation Hoof Types illustrate using easily identifiable external hoof landmarks to confidently deduce specific internal anatomy and balance. The audience will be able to identify what is ‘ideal’ vs. what could be problematic for the horse immediately as well as over time, and use this as a communication tool with the farrier and veterinarian.

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Friday November 15th
Godolphin Lifetime Care Theatrette

Diet and a horses gastrointestinal tract interactions

How does my horses diet interact and react with horses gastrointestinal tract and where are the nutrients absorbed?

An interactive review of how different nutrients are digested in the gastrointestinal tract and share some simple philosophies that can assist and minimize gastrointestinal issues in the horse. We will also explore some myths and common misconceptions of ingredients and feeding practices.

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Friday November 15th
Off The Track Boulevard Arena

Horse First Aid & Emergency Response

In the realm of horse care, responding adeptly to health emergencies is paramount. The “Horse First Aid and Emergency Response” talk equips horse owners with essential skills and knowledge to meet this responsibility effectively. Focused on preparation, the discussion fosters confidence and competence, guiding attendees to execute timely and appropriate care.

The talk encompasses critical areas:

Distinguishing normal and abnormal horse behavior and vital signs.
Recognizing when urgent veterinary assistance is imperative and when certain situations can wait.
Introducing emergency and first aid equipment to enhance preparedness.
Identifying prevalent emergency conditions among horses.
Offering practical guidance on promptly responding to common emergency conditions and injuries.
Tailored for both novice and experienced owners, this concise talk ensures participants leave with heightened readiness to navigate equine health emergencies, contributing to the overall well-being of their horses.

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Friday November 15th
Off The Track Boulevard Arena

Survival responses – causes & treatments

I specialise in horse behaviour and work to help horses find relaxation and thoughtfulness in their work. This involves identifying a horses survival responses and then assessing whether those responses are caused by physical, chemical or emotional stress within the body. If the issue is emotional, I can correct these issues through good horsemanship and training. If the issues are chemical or psychical, I can help identify the issue in the horse, with many issues fixed through my own massage and stretching techniques or I can recommend professional care for ongoing treatment.

Over the past few years, my speciality has been to pick up on subtle signs of tension within the horse and determine their cause. This has seen me uncover, and in many cases correct, a huge range of behavioural issues in horses including kissing spine, broken pelvis’s, splints, teeth issues, training issues, trauma and PTSD issues, ulcers, saddle issues, body issues and more. In my presentations I am able to quickly assess, identify and in many cases correct the issue in front of the audience at hand, giving spectators a whole new level of understanding of horse behaviours and how to address them.

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Friday November 15th
EQUITANA Classroom (Royal Block)

7000km in the saddle – inspirational learnings

What can 7000km in the saddle, taming wild horses or riding at the top level teach those at home about our own horses? What do they all these things have in common? Chloe shares her experience from all corners of the equestrian world. Touching on methods and lessons she’s learned about horse behaviour along the way that can help develop people’s everyday horsemanship and understanding of horse behaviour.

Can working with other animals cross over into better equine practises and what is it like to hunt with eagles or ride camels through icy -40c conditions? How does riding across a country compare to top level of cross country riding?

Chloe weaves her tales of adventure with amazing cinematography and visual presentations. Her talks are engaging interactive and inspire audiences.

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Friday November 15th
EQUITANA Classroom (Royal Block)

Welfare focussed facility design / property planning

Welfare-focussed facility design and property planning for horses and humans.
The horses’ evolutionary characteristics are at odds with our desire to house and train our horses in buildings. Providing functional and safe equine facilities for all the occupants seems straightforward, however convenience, tradition and hidden problems of our built environment can be detrimental to the horses’ welfare.

This presentation will provide a useful guide to the key aspects of good stables and facility design including: Horse requirements in relation to facilities; Planning and Arrangement (property analysis, orientation, functional requirements and visual connections); Construction and Materials (safety, durability, maintenance, flooring); and Ventilation.

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Friday November 15th
Off The Track Boulevard Arena

Long Ears to Tassel Tails – Donkeys are unique

From Long Ears to their Tassel tails Donkeys are unique and special individuals.

There’s more to this equine than you probably know. Come along and learn about what makes them such a great equine companion.

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Friday November 15th
Godolphin Lifetime Care Theatrette

Conquering Competition Nerves

Conquering Competition Nerves: Tips and Tricks for Equestrian Riders.

Competition nerves can be a significant obstacle for equestrian riders who love the sport but struggle with overwhelming anxiety and stress. Many riders may feel discouraged or even stop competing altogether due to these nerves. However, it’s important to remember that there are ways to address and overcome these challenges.

This session will cover a range of tips and tricks riders can utilise to help manage competition nerves including:
-understanding how competition stress and anxiety can look
-how adopting a growth mindset can help us view competitions as opportunities for growth and learning, rather than high-stress events. These approaches and techniques thereby help us to embrace challenges and focus on progress, regardless of outcomes. They are grounded in the principle that mistakes are part of the journey, and every experience teaches us something valuable.
In this session we will aim to discuss a range of techniques we can implement, helping us develop strategies to manage nerves effectively.

With the right mindset and tools at their disposal, riders can rediscover their passion for competing.

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Saturday November 16th
Godolphin Lifetime Care Theatrette

The Hidden Behavioural Problem that Starts in the Feet

If you could do everything in your power to set your horse up for a healthy and comfortable life, would you? I want to provide a guide to identifying, understanding and managing the hidden behavioural problem that often goes unnoticed. An astronomical amount of horses exhibit foot soreness often manifested in behavioral issues. Unsatisfactory behavior can indicate unsoundness, even without apparent lameness, making it crucial to interpret horses’ actions as a form of communication.

As a farrier, and frequent horse observer, I am uniquely positioned to identify issues due to my regular interactions with owners. This presentation aims to guide attendees in recognizing, comprehending, and managing subclinical laminitis. Topics include understanding its origins, identifying early behavioral, hoof, and body changes, offering a comprehensive approach to ensuring equine well-being.

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Saturday November 16th
Think Fencing Arena

Bridleless riding and Show Jumping

The ultimate in riding, learning to be able to use body control, mind aids and energy aids to achieve this highest level of partnership with your horse.

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Saturday November 16th
DEG Australia Demonstration Arena

Ground work for Dressage

Lara will work though some of her favorite ground work exercises with her dressage horses.
She uses just three simple principles to become a good leader her horses can trust, build a language of cues and develop those cues into soft dressage aids.

The principles
Move the feet – Become the leader
Build a language of cues – Using pressure and release
Mistakes and opposites – Remove punishment and negativity from your training

Lara applies these take home principles to every level of her training in a way that makes it easy for all levels of rider/trainer.

“All good training begins on the ground and it is amazing how simple foundation cues, translate directly to our ridden dressage work.”
No matter the discipline, no matter the horse these fear free exercises work to improve the connection, timing and confidence for any rider horse combination.

Lara believes that every rider is a trainer, we train to live and live to ride.

  • Educators

Details

Saturday November 16th
EQUITANA Classroom (Royal Block)

Feeding Horses with Metabolic Disorders

Feeding horses with metabolic disorders such as laminitis, equine metabolic syndrome, PPID, and insulin resistance.

I will go over briefly what these diseases are, how they develop, and what we can do to support our horses through nutritional intervention.

I focus on an evidence-based approach, breaking down the current scientific research and what it means for our individual horses. I also will cover common myths and concerns regarding the nutrition of metabolic horses and ponies, and supply practical solutions to help horse owners navigate these complex pathologies.

  • Educators

Details

Saturday November 16th
Off The Track Boulevard Arena

Quality photos for sales and promotion

Selling or promoting our horses is something that we do from time to time, and depending on how our horse looks in the photos, can lead to a successful outcome…or not!

I want to help horse people learn how to photograph their horses. I want to show them how to best prepare their horse and capture photos that will sell or promote their horse in the best possible way, with some simple, straightforward tricks and a little effort on their part. Whether it’s with a fancy DSLR camera or their mobile phone, it doesn’t matter.

Having quality photos is what counts. 🙂

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