PRODUCT SPECIAL 12021 David Ashby Europe

EEA t: +44 (0) 207 205374 t: +44 (0)208 968 8600 EEA e: [email protected] e: [email protected] w: ashbyunderwriting.com CONTENTS 12021

47 40 26/33 24 22 20 14 6 FEATURES 5

Stefano Grasso on Eye Semmieke Rothenberger Horse Health Billionaires to Millionaires A Q and Will Rogers Talking to People and places The ones to Watch nice? everything -And spice and Sugar secrets Open Jan and Johannes Stübben Editorial, the Horse International team to know more about it! about more to know wanted we and horses, giving back to the Foundation is all about Espire up. The starting is he project new a of because eye our caught recently Rogers and rider Will Australian horse trainer WILL ROGERS TALKING TO All about equestrian products

Photo by Fab Foto Roy Fabricious 50 48 45 44 42 34 UPDATES 36 BREEDING

Veterinarian explains of legacy The IJRC news IJRC news FEI JustWorld International news news WSI Legal and business journal Equine gastric ulcer syndrome Totilas 14 Cover photo by Hippo Foto Hippo by photo Cover

3 6 PEOPLE AND PLACES on Gallardo Csi (by Ustinov). seconds. Dutch Doron Kuipers finished in third 35.13 in round aclear Chin) to jump (by Chin Lucashoeve the of Pocus Hocus on counted Prouvé silver. to the rode who Prouvé Tim old 18-year- the of ahead stay him saw 34.86 of (by Larino). time His Apart gelding KWPN his on win CSI2* Prix Grand the took Devos Pieter nation’s host the later, week One Spieveld). ‘t van (by Echo Eigenlo ‘t van Luca riding time four-fault fastest the on podium the The host nation’s Niels Bruynseels completed runner-up. finished I), who Z(by Clinton Chico and Pedersen Soren by Denmark’s was clear other The win. to take the rounds jump-off clear two only of fastest the produced pair the jump-off, the in to go eleven of R). third As (by Namelus Gjb Guan grey big his and Greeve Michael by Dutch won was Park Sentower at Prix Grand CSI2* The The main ring at at ring The main Sentower Park shape again. was in great great in was Opglabbeek, Belgium Opglabbeek,

Park again. at Sentower and compete out to come really happy were The riders Photos: Pegasus Photo Creations - webstore. pegasus-photo.com MIchael Greeve and Guan Gjb. Guan and Greeve MIchael Dutch Prix, Grand CSI2* Park Sentower the in Winners in the CSI2* Grand Prix. Grand CSI2* the in on top finished Devos nation’s Pieter host later, the week One MIchael Greeve -MIchael possible” all it make to Park Sentower of organisation and sponsors owner, team, great our to Thanks Opglabeek! CSI in Prix Grand the wins Gjb Guan “Amazing Photos: Pegasus Photo Creations - webstore.pegasus-photo.com - Creations Photo Pegasus Photos:

Lier, Belgium

At the Azelhof stables in Lier, Belgium, Dutch rider Michael Greeve and Guan Gjb (by Namelus R) continued with another CSI2* Grand Prix win. A second place was for Gilles Thomas and Konak (by Nabab de Reve), with another clear round in 33,92. The podium was completed by another Dutch rider, Sanne Thijssen and Con Quidam Rb (by Con Quidam) in a time of 34,03.

Erika Swartz won the 1,45m Grand Prix at the Azelhof on 13 December.

“Perfect way to finish this year with again a Grand Prix win for Guan Gjb!” - Michael Greeve

Back on top: Michael Greeve (NED) and Guan Gjb came out in winning form again in the CSI2* at the Azelhof.

The main arena at the Azelhof. Michael Greeve was in the winners’ circle for the second time in a row with his big grey Guan Gjb.

7 Sugar and spice - And everything nice?

Text by Jeannette Martens

community will change and Energy and training impoverish, and that is what we want to Training brings change to the way the avoid. Just like, you would not feed a horses use energy; when you train a top level athlete with low quality fast horse, the muscles adapt and become foods, you should pay attention to the more efficient in using other sources of quality and sugar profiles of your fuel. For instance, they get better at using horse’s diet if you want to feed his fat and storing glycogen in their muscles performance. You have to combine and liver. The diet can be adapted various sources of sugars, and not just according to the stage of training the e had the opportunity to speak refined sugars, to avoid deleterious horse is at. Increased levels of to Dr Emmanuelle Van Erck shifts in the microbiota. But if you carbohydrates are adapted to certain Wabout sugar and horses. respect the microbiota by feeding types of exercise such as sprinting, Emmanuelle works at the Equine Sports non-structural sugars that are more whereas endurance training benefits Medicine Practice and is author of more natural, you fuel him with healthy from a fat-enriched diets. Horses have a than 40 scientific articles and regularly energy. Sugars are important for the particular digestive physiology: if sugar is

HORSE HEALTH lectures at international scientific horse’s physiology and function - their an essential source of fast energy, it meetings. She continues to collaborate brain and muscle for instance use cannot be provided under the form of on applied research projects in Equine sugars. Good sources of carbohydrates ‘energy bars’ like in humans. Owners and Sports Medicine and teaches clinical are essential to the horse’s energy riders are right to be cautious about training for the veterinary students and metabolism. feeding too much sugar! They need to practitioners.

Let’s start by righting some misconceptions about sugar and horses. When horses are out in the wild, they eat grass and with the grass, they ingest high amounts of sugar. The horse therefore gains quite a large part of its energy from sugars. However, the typical sports horse does not get access too much fresh grass, so they need to be provided by other sources of carbohydrates. Not all sugars are equal, and if we can provide the horse with enough fibrous-associated sugars, such as good quality hay, or a feed containing structural carbohydrates, that is the best. The more we use refined sugars, like those found in cereals or molasses, the more we are moving away from the horse’s natural sources of sugars.

Shifting the microbiota Refined structural sugars are digested differently by the community of bacteria inhabiting the horse’s gut - otherwise known as the ‘microbiota’. The more the diet is differs from a natural diet, the more the profile of the microbiota

24 The role of the feed companies The feed manufacturers need to help the owners understand what is in their horse’s way we do, or a cow does. The more we gain realise that sugar is already in the horse’s diet feed and how a certain type can better for knowledge from science, the more we can do but under a different form from what they certain horses, depending on their breed, to balance our horse’s diet. expect. Getting familiarized with the type, activity and potential health issues. composition of your horse’s feed is an Horses prone to tying-up for example, require The era of technology important step. It allows you to safely monitor a different diet with lower amounts of starch I also think we have the means now to gain the levels of sugars. Sugars cannot be totally and sugars. The same thing goes for horses more insight on our horses’ requirements. In excluded from a horse’s diet, they can be with metabolic syndrome or ulcers; they all humans, we have smartwatches that record useful to improve the palatability of the meal need specific types of feed, but it does not our heart and metabolic rates. We have quite for the horse, especially if he is under a mean these have to be completely sugarless. a lot of backlogs to catch up on this in horses. high-fibre diet. They just need different types of easily We have not had these systems available for digestible sugars. horses, but now we are starting to, we can Ulcers; a tricky case evaluate training and see if we are under- Horses that have gastric ulcers are often given Things looking sunny this year? training or over-training, for instance. We can feeds that are low in starch and sugar; but if This year, we have had particularly sunny and get objective measurements as to exactly how they are too poor carbohydrates, it poses a warm weather early on, making the grass and much training a horse is doing and adapt the number of problems. Firstly, they do not get the hay a lot richer in sugars and energy. In diet accordingly. enough energy; the horse gets tired quickly addition to looking at your concentrates, it during training because in his diet lacks the can be a good idea to have your hay Behaviour; a big connection! necessary fuel for his muscles. Secondly, these analysed. Try and use the same hay provider Of course, diet has a big impact not only on diets are not particularly tasty to the horse, and balance your feed accordingly. performance, but also on behaviour. Science and they do not feel like eating it. Horses were is just now beginning to discover that by made to eat regularly over the day: if they do Top sport is all about balance balancing a horses diet and moving away not eat on a regular basis, they will develop In a world where in human sports, everything from the traditional oats, horses become more ulcers. Because they produce gastric is about balance, we are just now gaining all much more serene and they work better. They acid throughout the day, they need to have the scientific knowledge to start doing the are less nervous, and nervousness as we know something to digest in their stomachs at all same for our equine athletes. In the past, can be detrimental for achieving peak times. And that needs to be a balanced feed. communication has perhaps not been as performance. There is a definite correlation efficient, but now we have the science to back between a more balanced diet and less stress Get interested! up what we feed our horses. That is so in the horse. This is another reason you need to get important because horses are a specific type interested in the composition of your horse’s of herbivore, they do not function the same Top tips diet; because not all sugars are equal. The My first tip would be that you train your eye to horse can digest certain types of starch very see if your horse is losing or gaining weight; well, and other types not. Starches that are not can you feel the ribs, how is his neck? Belly? digested completely go into the hind gut and Take pictures of your horse regularly, and use are fermented by the local bacteria. These a measuring tape to estimate your horse’s bacteria utilise the undigested starch to weight more objectively. When you call an produce gases and volatile fatty acids which equine nutritionist, weight and body type will are detrimental to the integrity of horse’s be the first things they look at, so if you can digestive tract. So it is important to not just look train yourself to look at that yourself, you will at the feed label for the percentage of sugars already be more precise in giving your horse or starch, but also its origin as not all starches what he needs and adapting it if necessary. If are digested in the same way. it is difficult for you to be objective, send a picture to someone else to have a look at, for instance your vet. They can help you determine if your horse is fit or fat. Avoid making decisions based on something you’ve read on the internet one random day, really educate yourself in the different types of feed and what they do.

My second tip is regarding sugars: with digestive problems, we tend to go for low starch, low sugar diets, and most of the time this is appropriate. But sometimes horses are starving because they do not get enough energy. It can then be better to feed a little more sugars and starch to get the appetite back and avoid secondary problems. If it is well dosed, it won’t make them fat, but keep them more healthy. ■

25 Getting the right vibrations

The training saddle pad comes in various colours.

on physical and mental problems with this form of therapy. “I wish for happy horses and horse owners who have a harmonious relationship with each other,” says Ilga, “In 2019 we started to VETMEDICUM develop this training saddle pad in

Photos by Kik-Beelitz.de collaboration with veterinarians, a biologist, professional riders and horse therapists.” Hanoverians. I wanted to give riders a way to address the individual needs of Unique spectrum ugs or stable boots have been their horses.” The training saddle pad can be used in supporting horses by means of the stable, for lunging, ground work, Rfrequencies for a long time. Prior to Mental and physical trailer transport, in the horse walker and training, during rehabilitation or as a Vetmedicum products are for riding. It gives the horse owner the wellness treatment. Now you can also characterised by the wide range of possibility to individually increase cell benefit directly from these vibrations. No possible applications, and the training activity in precisely defined areas via matter whether you are a dressage or saddle pad can have a positive effect frequency field therapy and to have a jumping rider, the training saddle pad supports everyone with its frequencies. No rug from neck to tail, no cables in the stable aisle and above all; positive vibrations when you need them most, during riding. That is the basic concept of Vetmedicum, a company founded by animal therapist Ilga Bähre.

Addressing individual needs The company was founded in 2017, and back then was only for veterinarians and animal physiotherapists. In March 2019, Vetmedicum also started developing training saddle pads. As a qualified equine osteopath and acupuncturist, Ilga Bähre had seen many problems in horses. Working with a variety of therapy equipment, she developed this user-friendly form of Riding with the pad gives the possibility to individually therapy. “Horses are my passion, I come increase cell activity in precisely defined areas. from a small breeding farm for

32 The saddle pad is designed in a way that it is easy to use.

THE PROGRAMS - Stressless (tense in riding, bad traveller in the trailer) - Backfit (hardened back muscles, after saddle adjustment) - Regeneration (after physiotherapy treatment, rehab, seniors) - Powerhouse (more energy. willingness to perform, long release phase) - Saddle fit (tensions in the back, fascial adhesions, saddle tightness) - Active hindquarters (ISG and lumbar spine problems, problems taking up loads, horses do not to the bit) The right frequency for every problem - Balance (young horses, emotionally Two pockets are sewn onto the back of the unbalanced, poor concentration) saddle pad, and two frequency pads are - Harmony (emotionally unstable, disturbed positioned there. An MP3 player in a pocket, social behaviour) which is also sewn on, supplies the frequency - Shoulder freedom (after saddle adjustment, pads with the right vibration patterns. They when saddle was too tight before) reach the entire organism via the flank, says - Abdominal discomfort (stomach problems, Ilga. She has given the frequency patterns she and colic tendency) has loaded onto the MP3 player with - Looseness (horses that have difficulty in the meaningful names. From ‘Shoulder Freedom’ topline) to ‘Horse Harmony’, ‘Regeneration’ and - Rosse Harmonie (behavioural problems in ‘Saddle Fit’. In total, there are twelve different estrus, cysts in the uterus) ■ balancing effect on undesirable behaviours. frequency combinations. And yes, ‘Looseness” The broad spectrum of effects of the training is also included. Each programme runs for saddle pad is unique in the horse world is. about 40 minutes, so different programmes There are 12 different settings available. can be combined. After cleaning, you can Behind each of these settings the training put the saddle pad on the horse. “In the test, saddle pad changes its impulses 8-10 times. we also tested the saddle pad on the horse in No additional time is required, as it can be the box. The ‘Stressless’ effect was immediate, fully integrated into daily training. the horses relaxed, let their upper lip hang down and enjoyed. Even horses that were Direct effect restless in the stable aisle or when being Besides osteopathy and acupuncture, Ilga saddled, were clearly more relaxed.” The has also studied the effect of frequency fields saddle pads can be washed. When riding, the within the organism. As a ‘horse woman’, she different programmes (see box) were tried out. quickly realised that many problems ‘normal’ The effect of ‘Rosse Harmonie’ on a mare that riders have with their horses have their origin in was particularly in season, was clear from the the muscular system. Tensions that lead to very beginning. “The other programmes we blockages or even difficulties with organs, have tried out with different horses, to see blood circulation or joints, can be solved by which programme seemed to suit them. The means of frequencies. Why? Because favourite was ‘Shoulder Freedom’, even frequencies have a direct effect on the body. though the horses did not throw their legs like Every cell vibrates and the frequency fields Totilas. Rather, they seemed to become freer www.vetmedicum.com make sure that areas where these vibrations in their shoulder rotation, which was also are no longer harmonious, i.e. as intended by evident on the curved lines, where the horses On 22 April at 7 pm Vetmedium is having the body, are brought back into order. This had to be more on their outside shoulder, a webseminar with general information sounds like looseness at the push of a button, which has to cover a greater distance than about the training saddle pad. You can but it is not quite that simple. However, the the inside shoulder. ‘Balance’ also showed a register for this webseminar free of charge principle it is not that far from it. great effect.” and you can apply via our home page.

33 The legacy of Totilas Text by Pim Koudijs

Convincing As a youngster, Totilas was produced convinced of Totilas’ qualities and by Dutch rider Jiska van den Akker, who decided to invest in the stallion. Gal competed the stallion at the young retained the ride and the rest, as they horse world championships in Verden say, is history. In 2007, the pair made their he most talked about dressage (GER) as a five-year-old. As a six-year- national debut at Light Tour, followed in horse in the world has passed old, he came to ’s stable as 2008 by their international debut, a Taway. Totilas, the stallion who was a sales prospect, but the Dutch top resounding victory at (GER) that already a legend in his lifetime, rider soon found an amazing chemistry put the pair straight on the international succumbed to colic on 15 December with the stallion. Gal and his then map. Not long after, they switched to Big

BREEDING 2020. He was never given the grand sponsors Kees and Tosca Visser were Tour. In 2009, the pair won gold at the farewell he deserved, but he will live on in the hearts of thousands of fans worldwide, as well as in the precious offspring he leaves us. Totilas

Captivated the world Whether you are young or old, a fan of the sport or not, everyone inside and outside the equestrian world knew the legendary stallion Totilas. Wherever he appeared, he sold out the house. At every performance, he captivated the large crowds that had come especially to see him. With his unparalleled presence and enchanting, expressive movements he managed to bring entire audiences to tears. Totilas has changed the sport of dressage. Time and again, the stallion surpassed himself. Under Dutch rider Edward Gal the black beauty broke records wherever he went, and wherever the golden pair competed, the competition had to bow their heads in deference. The top of the dressage world, both domestic and abroad, were unanimous: Totilas was a phenomenon no one could ignore.

A star is born Totilas was born on 23 May 2000 in the stables of breeders Jan and Anna Schuil in the . They bred the Gribaldi son out of their Elite Performance mare Lominka, a daughter of the sire Glendale (by Nimmerdor). Further along in his pedigree we find the stallions Akteur, the thoroughbred Pericles and the Holstein Farn. The dam line springs from the famed Oldenburg Freiminka-line. Although this dam line was build on renowned jumper stallions, it also produced several top dressage horses, Totilas of course being the

absolute highlight. Bronkhorst Arnd by Photo

36 Governor and Adelinde Cornelissen (NED) at the 2018 FEI WBFSH World Breeding Dressage Championships for young horses Ermelo (NED).

European championships in Windsor (GBR), in Foto Hippo by Photos 2010 they won the world cup final and triple gold at WEG in Kentucky (USA). World records were broken as Totilas became the first horse in the world to break the 90% barrier. While everyone was sure Gal and Totilas would be the red hot favourites at the 2012 Olympic Games, rumours quickly spread that the stallion might be sold before that time. Not as planned Progenitor 2012 also did not go as hoped. The pair had to From the very start of his career under Edward The sale withdraw from the German national Gal, breeders had been lining up for Totilas, And those rumours became truth when championships because Totilas was not fit, but even though the son of Gribaldi was German Paul Schockemöhle announced he and they also did not make it to start of the approved by the KWPN in 2009, it took until the had bought Totilas for an astronomical sum in London Olympics. The years after where spring of 2010 before Totilas became available excess of €10 million. The news resulted in a plagued by injuries, and all fell silent around for the breeding world, and in limited amount deluge of disbelief. The equestrian world the million-Euro stallion. But there they were, of frozen semen only. With bated breath the could not believe the golden pair that had on the starting list of the Pfingst-turnier at breeding world looked forward to his first crop brought goose bumps to dressage fans all Wiesbaden (GER), where they delivered a of offspring, born in 2011. Even more exciting over the world on so many different occasions winning performance in the Grand Prix. At the was the 2013 Hanoverian stallion show, where would be broken up. But in October of 2010, CDIO Aachen they also left the competition the first son of Totilas would be presented. Bred the legendary black stallion moved to his new trailing in their wake, and it seemed Totilas was by Herr Schmidt from Naumburg in Germany, home in Germany. There was much back at his old level. This would not last long, the black stallion was approved by the speculation on who would take over the reins, however, as health issues again hindered the Hanoverian committee, which was met with and the rumour mill worked overtime until stallion before the WEG at Normandy (FRA). loud uproar from the crowds, which had finally it was reported that Matthias Alexander gathered in great numbers. The approval was Rath would be the chosen one. Schockmöhle A sad ending solely based on pedigree, the experts had sold the sporting rights of the stallion to It would take until July of 2015 before we see commented. The son of Totilas was bred out of Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff, Rath’s stepmother, Totilas’ name on the starting lists again. Rath a dam of the international Grand Prix dressage while keeping the breeding rights in his own brings his very fit-looking Totilas to Hagen, stallion Desperados, which raised expectations hands. The new pair sadly would never where they win the Grand Prix and Special. to the roof. In the final auction, the stallion was matched Gal’s performances, but Rath’s first The focus was fully on the 2015 European bought by the Glock Horse Performance outings with the black stallion certainly championships at Aachen, where the pair Center in the Netherlands. And so it happened inspired hope. In 2011, they won the Grand Prix would be on the German team. The eyes of that this first approved son of Totilas found his and the Special at Munich, as well as the the world were on the international comeback way to the stables of none other than Edward German national championships at Balve, but of the legendary stallion, but in the first trot Gal. The stallion developed wonderfully under a coveted individual European medal at tour already, the stallion was visibly unsound. saddle, and matured physically and Rotterdam (NED) eluded them. Although the jury did not end their test, this conformationally as well. In 2014, the stallion last public performance would end in an was approved for the KWPN as well after a very undignified goodbye to what once had been successful performance test. the greatest dressage star ever.

37

Approved under EU and Irish law as Studbook of Ireland Ireland’s modern and progressive International Showjumpers with an Irish Accent studbook focused on all three Olympic disciplines 2020 YEAR IN REVIEW WSI’s genomic selection program We started 2020 on a very difficult note with continued in 2020 with more horses being STUDBOOK OFFICIAL the sudden passing of our friend and tested for the genes associated with colleague Arnold Kootstra. Many WSI osteochondrosis (OC). DAFM provided Dawn Kelly, Ph.D. breeders met Arnold in his role as mare and partial funding that allowed WSI to offer a (Studbook Administrator) foal inspector on WSI’s Mare Inspection free genomic test to every testable foal Committee. Many more breeders in the registered in 2020. Approximately 98% of BREEDING COUNCIL wider sport horse community met Arnold as foals passed the test and were awarded a trainer in events we held across the the D-OC predicate. These results Luke Cafolla (Showjumping) country. At the anniversary of Arnold’s surpassed our long-term pass rate of 92% Mandy Driesch (Eventing) death we remember him and wish comfort for stallions, mares, and young horses. And to his wife Elise. having the D-WFFS1 and D-OC predicates printed in the foal’s passport and WSI MEMBERS IN Later in January the World Health zootechnical certificate are valuable

WSI NEWS Ireland Organisation (WHO) announced a global signals to purchasers of the foal’s genetic Australia health emergency because of the SARS- health. All of the free tests have been used, CoV-2 virus. The next day WSI announced but please contact WSI if you’d like to order Belgium the suspension of all events. When the WHO the DNA-OC test for your Irish Warmblood Brazil declared the COVID-19 pandemic on 12 horse or your Approved Mare or Studbook Canada March, WSI affirmed that no events would Mare. The results of our WFFS1 and OC Dubai, UAE be held until further notice. testing show that the Irish Warmblood population is very healthy, and that our Finland While mare and stallion inspections could breeders produce healthy horses suitable France not be held at equestrian centres, WSI for high level sport and breeding. Germany inspectors performed video assessments of mares that resulted in valuable In June WSI became the first studbook in Great Britain feedback. We also offered guidance to the world to become carbon negative. Italy owners of a dozen stallions based on “Carbon negative“ means that WSI goes Northern Ireland videos of their stallion’s conformation, beyond achieving net-zero carbon movement, loose-jumping, and jumping emissions by actually removing from the Poland under saddle. Based on this guidance atmosphere more carbon dioxide than we Spain several stallions were gelded, several are create. WSI purchased offsets equal to Uruguay not proceeding with the Approval more than four times WSI’s estimated process, and others are being prepared carbon production. So for every tonne of USA for 2021 stallion inspections by carbon WSI’s activities produce our offset undergoing clinical and radiographic programme removes over four tonnes of HOMEPAGE exams, genetic and genomic testing, and carbon. The offsets were used to support www.irish-warmblood.com training under saddle. The 2021 stallion high quality international carbon inspections are scheduled for the first two reduction projects, mostly in developing weeks of March, depending on public countries, that are independently certified SOCIAL MEDIA health restrictions in place at that time. as reducing carbon emissions and FB: WarmbloodStudbookOfIreland contributing to a healthy environment. We WSI’s pro-active WFFS1 policy continues to further reduced carbon emissions by Twitter: @irish_warmblood be the most comprehensive testing and investing in LED lighting and by ensuring surveillance programme of any studbook that all the electricity we purchase is EMAIL in the world. We are pleased to report that sourced from 100% renewable generation the genetic mutation has not been found such as wind and solar. [email protected] in the Irish Warmblood population. In the future, if a breeder with a non-carrier Finally, thank you for providing us with PHONE mare were to use a stallion that is a bright spots by sending us photos of your carrier, there is a fifty percent (50%) foals and updates on your youngsters and +353.87.222.9701 chance that the resulting foal will be a horses in sport. In these challenging times carrier. So it is possible that, in the future, horses remain a constant reminder that WBFSH a carrier will be born into the WSI hope and caring for others (human and WSI is a Full Member of the WBFSH population. But our comprehensive policy equine) endure. We hope to see you at a of determining the status of every foal WSI event in 2021. means that breeders and purchasers can make informed decisions.

44