NORTHERN TERRITORY SHOW HORSE ASSOCIATION PO Box 332, Palmerston, NT 0831 www.ntshowhorse.com.au [email protected] January 2015 NEWSLETTER NTSHA Committee “Thankyou NTSHA for awarding me the "Sportsmanship" award for 2014. Flash, President: Tammy Shepherd Elle and I have had a great show season and look forward to next year. Vice-President: Carmen Nowak The commitees hard work is very much appreciated. Cheers” Treasurer/Secretary: Alexx Mudd - Sandy Ennis Committee: Katie Burden Jo Bremner Anna Newlove Sophie Cleveland Sharon Le Mesurier “Thank you for my volunteer of the yr award can't wait for the first show so I can use my products x” - Katie Burden Junior Committee: Catherine Mulvaney Bwhahahahar “Fun Day” NTSHA is looking for juniors to join with the junior committee member, to contribute to the activity planning for the “Fun Day” No Frill BBQ event on the 30th August 2015. If you have some ideas for this event please contact the junior committee member. ARE YOU READY FOR THE WET SEASON? Plan early for cyclone evacuation  First aid kit  Have enough horse feed and water  Know where you are going and the flood conditions of the area Large Animal Rescue is no joke, be ready . www.ntshowhorse.com.au In This Issue  Wow, what a ride  The journey of the washing machine  Logo modernizing design competition  Event calendar and Residency date for NTSHA HOTY “Wow, what a ride” by Tanya Reynolds At the start of this year’s competition, we didn’t have any idea we would end up with the experience of a lifetime competing at Nationals in Melbourne or training with amazing riders like Charlotte Pedersen. We made the decision to compete at Nationals less than a month out from competition. To say the preparation and planning that ensued in that short period of time was electric, was an understatement! The plan was to give the girls an experience of lifetime - combining training with one of Australia’s best dressage riders, learning about large stable management and horsemanship, as well as seeing first hand the competition at National level. The only person we knew in the horse world outside of Darwin was Charlotte Pedersen. The girls had been attending Charlotte’s clinics each month for the 4 months leading up to the Nationals, and Charlotte extended her assistance in a way we’ll never forget. Charlotte assisted us with convincing Kirra to ride a beautiful horse ‘Ralphy’ (aka Don Armani) for the rider class. Owned and ridden by para- equestrian Morgan Webb Liddle, Ralphy was not a typical show horse hack. A warmblood standing at 16.1H, Ralphy is an FEI, Grand Prix dressage trained horse. His makeover, both presentation and rider was a tribute to Charlotte Pedersen as his trainer, Julie Scougall for his show prep, and Kirra for learning to ride a dressage horse of this magnitude and making him ride like he was a Show Horse, in only a few weeks. We had no expectations of anything other than having the opportunity to compete at this level. To obtain a result was, way more than we dreamed.. The roar from all ‘7 of us NT supporters’ when they announced the NT in third place in Kirra’s rider class, and then announced Kirra Reynolds as the winning 3rd place rider, was deafening. When we returned to the Barn, Ralphy’s owner Morgan was so emotional about Ralphy and Kirra’s win , she wouldn’t stop crying. Ally at only 11 yrs of age, also competed with nerves of steel . Her competition was challenging.. she competed in both a Rider class and a Horse Class against a very strong field. Although she and Carni didn't place (placings and points are only awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd) - they completed 2 good workouts amongst a national qualified field of 14 in her Junior Rider Class and 11 in her Large Pony Class. Ally brought home two Nationals finalist ribbons for the NT on top of her sister’s ribbon. There are three key people without whom this wonderful journey would not have been possible: Lisa Mutimer, Jenny Jones and Charlotte Pedersen. Quote from Jenny Jones: "I am so proud of Kirra and Ally who just competed in the EA National Championships in which every state along with NZ sent representatives. Ally did the NT proud and for such a young rider pulled off two beautiful rides and was as good as any other combination out in the arena. Carnie as usual had spunk but Ally held her own and did not let it faze her. Kirra was the last to ride in her class and came out with a near perfect workout something that can't be said for most of the other riders. We were thrilled and exceptionally noisy (for such a small group) when she was awarded 3rd place. We must acknowledge and admire the dedication of these two young riders who had an enormous job which could also not have been done without the support of the following: Morgan for allowing Kirra to ride Ralphy, Carnie for being on his best behaviour, Charlotte for taking the girls under her very experienced wing, Julie for all her help, Tanya who is the most organised person I know and left no stone unturned, Tanya's mother for looking after the girls and Mark for providing anything that was needed (no questions asked) and all the entertainment! Given the enormous stress, long days and hard work I have to say it was an absolute pleasure and some of the best fun I have had in a long time, thanks for the invite " Quote from Kirra Reynolds: “Thank you so much to Jenny Jones and Julie Scougall for making Ralphy look outstanding and to Charlotte Pederson for the extremely intense training these past two weeks to really get Ralphy and I in sync. Also a HUGE thanks to Morgan Webb-Liddle for allowing me to take her precious Ralphy to Nationals. But of course I should finally thank Lisa Mutimer for the year you've spent instructing me! I've learnt heaps about confidence in my riding and not to sook when you make me work hard because it's all worth it in the end!” www.ntshowhorse.com.au The 13600km journey of the “Team KNX” washing machine by Kerry Robertson Kununurra is 850km from Darwin and the closest place to participate in clinics, shows and competition. The trip to Darwin is long, we leave at 6am WA time and arrive at 8pm NT time. In 2014 we did the trip 8 times and I have to admit I thought that white line would never end. I really did wish for a bit more padding on my posterior. The day before we leave is always busy with packing up. The kids are only allowed to pack three sets of clothes, no matter how long we are staying. One to wear, one to wash and one spare. With six in the family there is not a lot of room, especially with everyone’s show clothes included. The kids pack a bag of “stuff” each but only one bag is allowed in the truck and they have to share that bag. The horses are all limited too. Only a certain number of rugs, brushes and saddle cloths can fit. The horse feed is all carefully measured so that we don’t need to throw any out when we go through the quarantine station at the border coming back into WA. The washing machine gets loaded onto the back of the truck and the first aid boxes are kept handy in case of emergencies. There is a real art in packing what you will need first, last and not forgetting anything. We don’t have that knack yet! There is always something that is in the wrong spot or is remembered along the road. It is a laugh to see who forgot what this time. I am secretly preying that I have a spare something or it’s something not important, like a show bridle with a special bit or someone’s boots, namely mine! On the morning we leave, we are all excited and running round in circles, hurrying to get on the road. The horses seem to take forever to eat their breakfast. No one ever gets tired of loading the horses up and heading to Darwin. Each time it is like a great adventure for the family. All the rocks and trees that you see along the trip are recognisable like old friends. “There’s that funny ant hill again.” Then there is the graffiti on the road that dad is determined to read. It takes him a few trips before he decides to get mum to video it as he drives over it so that he can play it back later to read it. Dad complains that no one talks to him enough but when he starts asking “What tree is that?” headphones can be seen discreetly being pushed into ears. However, if he offers the reward of a dip in the lolly bag then he gets a more enthusiastic response. The truck can comfortably fit all the family and never misses a beat. Blankets get put up on the windows to keep the heat out. We stop at Katherine on the way to Darwin. Dad has worked out how to park the truck and gooseneck at McDonalds so the kids can break the Macca’s drought. Then we go to a park and let the horses out for a stretch. Someone has to give the horse area a quick clean. This means using a short handled shovel to scrap all the manure into a pile and scoop it out. “No one volunteers for this job but we do try to make sure Dad isn’t always doing it”. When we finally reach Fred’s Pass reserve everyone is grateful to get out of the truck. We are all tired and everyone just wants to go to bed so we all work together, everyone has their own jobs to do. The kids unloaded the horses while I unpack the feed. Brodie helps Lyndon take out the horse dividers so that he can gurney out the back and then Brodie winds the gooseneck up so that we can unhitch later on. The kids feed and rug the horses and then clean out the front of the truck while I sort out inside the gooseneck. The kids count down the days till they get on the road and see their Darwin mates again. It is great fun for them to be riding their horses and competing with their friends. It is the people we have met in Darwin that keep the smile on our faces even though its non stop work with four kids and four horses. It is the way that the Darwin people have been so welcoming and supportive that keeps us doing the drive and coming back again. If it wasn’t for their helpful advice then my kids would not be living the life they do now. Competing and learning with their horses would still be a dream. The kindness of the Darwin people has made this a reality for our family. We love Kununurra and are very proud of the area we live in. We love to represent it and share it with the world but it’s hard to beat the excitement every time we drive out of Kununurra, heading to Darwin and the “I can’t wait to go again” feeling when we are finally home again. www.ntshowhorse.com.au Logo Design modernizing competition The new committee would like to hold a logo competition for a NTSHA logo. Everyone loves a great picture, now is your chance to design a logo for NTSHA to use on club letterhead, event ribbons and trophies along with memorabilia such as rugs and shirts. Closing date for the competition is the 31st January 2015 with a wonderful prize of a $50 gift voucher being awarded to the selected design. Design Criteria:  Have a horse and/or rider pictured  Have the association name in words or to be able to add the wording  Multi-media adaptable, usable on a colour background and/or black and white Current NTSHA Logo Original NTSHA Logo You can enter as many times as you like and you can use elements from the two designs pictured here or you may like to come up with a totally new design. Email submissions to [email protected] Calendar of Events 2015 February 21st No Frills Hacking, Fred's Pass Reserve July 4th NTSHA HOTY, Venue TBC March 16th - 18th Katherine Show 1st Measuring, Fred's Pass Reserve 23rd - 25th Royal Darwin Show 28th No Frills Hacking, Venue TBC August th 28 Measuring, DHPC Grounds April 30th No Frills “Fun Day” BBQ, Fred's Pass Reserve 3rd Residency Date for New Horses to enter the NTSHA HOTY 2015 19th Measuring, Fred's Pass Reserve 26th Sponsored Show, Venue TBC May 15th - 16th Fred's Pass Show 30th Sponsored Show, Venue TBC June 7th Measuring, Fred's Pass Reserve 14th Sponsored Show, Venue TBC Would you like to become a show horse judge or do some volunteer stewarding? contact NTSHA Happy riding, enjoy the new year and stay safe www.ntshowhorse.com.au