Thoroughbred Industry Careers  Did you ever sit on your pony as a kid and pretend to be a jockey, many Aussie kids do just that each and every day. They dream of being a vet, riding a Melbourne Cup winner, being the next Chris Waller.   This year we have seen the National Pony Racing Series come to life, it has highlighted the many employment opportunities available in the racing industry to the next generation, not to mention it has been an absolute blast for not just the kids but the people already involved in racing, who have gotten so much joy from watching these kids sta ..read more

Shockwave Therapy  Shockwave Therapy or Extracorporeal Shock Wave is not a new treatment for horses but has become more common in recent years, it has emerged as a successful alternative way of treating many injuries than more conservative methods of the past.   It involves the use of focused high energy waves to areas that may be suffering from injury. It is noninvasive and stimulates tissue to help enhance healing.  How does Shock Wave work and what are the benefits?  It increases blood flow to treated areas.  Encourages growth of new blood vessels.  Im ..read more

Riding the older horse  As our horses age there is always the question is my horse too old to ride? There is no straight forward answer to that question, each horse is an individual and many contributing factors can determine if, and when, we should retire them. If your horse is happy, healthy, free of disease or injury, there is no reason why you can’t still hop on and go for a ride. Many horses even still compete well into their twenties, you just need to judge what is right for you and your horse. There are many things we can do to help our equine partners transition as they get old ..read more

The Golden Slipper and Ranvet Stakes On Saturday the 23rd March the who’s who’s of the Australian racing industry will have their eyes fixed on Rosehill Racecourse for the running of the 2024 Golden Slipper Stakes, the richest Two-Year-Old race in the world, with life changing prize money of $5 million dollars.  Whilst not as old as some of the other prestigious races on the yearly racing calendar, it has become the pinnacle for two year olds, the race where future stallions and broodmares are made, the race that everyone wants to win.   It was 1957 when the first Golden Slip ..read more

Care and Welfare, what is the difference?  As horse owners we have an incredibly large responsibility to ensure our horse is always at its happiest and healthiest. There are many activities we do to achieve this on a daily basis, predominantly revolving around their physical needs. However, as we continue to learn more and more about horses and their cognitive function, have you considered that you are taking care of their mental needs as well?   These concepts can be broadly described as providing our horses with their care needs, and their welfare needs.   What is ..read more

Bird Catcher Spots Have you ever been curious as to what the small white spots on your horse might be, that just seem to appear out of nowhere, and just as quickly disappear, or move?  They are called Bird Catcher spots. There is little in regards to formal studies into these spots, why they appear and then seem to be gone, what causes them or any treatment, but here are some interesting facts about them.  They aren’t specific to any particular breed but seem to be seen more on Arabians and Thoroughbreds.  Named after the Thoroughbred stallion “Birdcatcher” who was alive dur ..read more

Floating your mare and foal  It’s not something we really like to do but there are times when it is necessary to float your mare and her young foal. Whether it’s for breeding, moving farms or heading to the vet, with careful planning the trip can be a safe, successful and enjoyable experience.  Regardless of whether you are floating your mare and foal yourself or having a professional do it for you there are some things to make sure of before heading off.  It is recommended to not float a foal under 3 weeks of age if it can be helped, unless obviously if it is for medical re ..read more

The Thumps Many off you might have heard the term “The Thumps”, if you have never seen a horse suffering from this, we can help you to know what it is, identify the symptoms and what to do if your horse does get the Thumps.  The proper name for this condition is “Synchronous Diaphragmatic Flutter (SDF)”. It occurs when the diaphragm contracts in sync with the heartbeat. This can result in a thumping like noise or a hiccup. In fact, it is just like when we get the hiccups which is harmless for us, but when a horse develops this it can mean a more serious under lying problem.   ..read more

A Vet Visit: How to be organised As with a lot of things in life the three P’s come into effect when you are having your vet come for visit, Prior Planning and Preparation is key to making it a safe and easy time for you, your horse and the vet.  Here is a list of what you can do to be organised, efficient and prepared for when the vet arrives.  When booking your appointment make sure you explain exactly what you need done and any procedures that maybe required. This is so your vet can be prepared and bring with them everything they may need. Surprising them with an added extra y ..read more

Packing for a competition Whether you attend competitions regularly or it’s been a while and you are just heading back out, having a check list of what to pack is a great help and makes sure there aren’t any of those panic moments when you get there that something has been forgotten. The New Year is also the perfect time to clean those grooming bags, restock travel kits and incorporate your Christmas presents into their new home!  Below is a list of the most important things- feel free to add to it, but it may just help you next time when you are doing a million things at once and thos ..read more