Pioneer Park Arabians & Endurance Horses

Pioneer Park Talieb - from paddock scruff to endurance horse

2012-02-08T14:43:00.000+10:00

Update for January (even tho it is now February!)

Pioneer Park Talieb successfully completed his first endurance social ride of 20km with Louise Miller aboard. Accompanied by Lian Meaney on the legendary Kai Hai Sterling Sha'Kieraa - from the looks of the photos below they had a great ride!

Who is responsible?

2012-01-30T17:07:00.000+10:00

We prefer riding horses to motorcycles for the companionship the horse gives us, for the sheer exhilaration of feeling his responses to our (almost) every command.

No one thinks it strange when we talk to them, hug them and love them. But the fact remains that they are not machines and, as such, at each endurance ride a number of horses do not complete the ride.

The diffcult part is t the metabolic status of the horse. Veterinarians look at recovery rates (using pulse rates as the main parameter) and the horse’s general metabolism (level of dehydration, gut sounds, appearance of mucous membranes, muscle tonus) and have to make a call based on these few parameters. But they are not equipped with bionic vision to see whether all the internal organs are still doing well, or to see whether the mineral (sodium, chloride, calcium, potassium, magnesium) balance in the body is within the acceptable range. Furthermore, veterinarians cannot evaluate the impulsion and general habitus of the horse when under saddle. Sometimes they are put under unnecessary pressure when too few veterinarians do duty at a ride.

Riders, on the other hand, do not have the training to interpret the parameters evaluated by the veterinarians. But they should read the horse and should be able to feel whether the horse is his usual self, or possibly not as strong as expected. This calls for some degree of horsemanship, and the less often the rider rides the horse in training, the more horsemanship is required to still be able to read the horse.

Trainers (or owners) also cannot interpret the veterinary examination. But they know how well the horse was prepared, and what the horse should be capable of doing. They also should be able to assist the rider in interpreting the general signs the horse is showing.

So who is responsible when a horse collapses? Everyone. The trainer, who should guide the rider and not expect miracles when the horse is not really fifi t. The rider, who should read his horse and be willing to call it a day when the horse doesn’t feel well. The veterinarian, who should do a thorough examination at all times and should clearly convey his opinion to the rider. The organising committee, who should make sure enough veterinarians are called upon to do duty at the ride.

Who is to blame? Often no one. Sometimes the rider, who did not heed advice or did not read the horse. Sometimes the trainer, who wanted to win above all else. Sometimes the veterinarian, who rushed through the examination. Sometimes all of them together.

Blaming people does not change the situation. Let’s all rather learn from each unpleasant experience, and improve on what we are doing. Concentrate on your contribution, and set the example!
By Inayat

Pioneer Park Talieb - from paddock scruff to endurance horse

2012-01-19T07:18:00.000+10:00

This weekend we have the 3rd ride in the series hosted by Pure Endurance from the Finch Hatton Show grounds.
Pioneer Park Talieb (Shades of Shagrir x Tareva-Chine) will be making his endurance debut here - starting in his first 20km ride!
Talieb is working really nicely, forward and brave (so long as he's not too far in front of the other horses) and quite sensisble. He has really impressed me with his keeness for work and honesty in what he does.
Have I mentioned how big he is? 15.3 hands - amazing - sire is 15.1hh and dam 14.3hh ...

Louise Miller will accompany Talieb on his first ride on Saturday afternoon, here's hoping the rain holds off for us to host another successful weekend.

Photos to come post event.

Endurance Team for 2012

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000+10:00

Introducing the Team for Pioneer Endurance for 2012:

Pioneer Park Azaylia (Turingal Park Nijinski x Azaria) Endurance Mare - 2*
Pioneer Park Navarone (Lyle x Azaria) Endurance gelding - 3*
Shades of Shagrir (Simeon Shagrir x Naydia-Notova) Endurance gelding - 1*
Pioneer Park Amurra (Maf-Ue El Hossan x Azaria) Endurance Mare - marathon mare
Kai Hai Sterling Sha'kieraa (Ibn Sterling Shaklan x Kai Hai Princess Sairaa (exp Jor) Endurance mare 3*
Pioneer Park Talieb (Shades of Shagrir x Tareva-Chine) Novice gelding
Pioneer Park Wings of Sudan (Chip Chase Sadaqa x Agecroft Sahara) Novice Stallion
Avondale Park Della Cairo (Mahazin Ibn Cairo x Craigdarroch Chandelle Silque) Novice mare

Looking forward to a very busy and tough, but rewarding 2012!

Training Resumes!

2011-12-27T13:11:00.000+10:00

Boxing Day 2011 and for us it means that our holiday is over and training for endurance resumes! Both me and the ponies are very definatly guilty of some over-indulging this festive season and have gone from Fab to Flab (well, the ponies at least could have been considered Fab, not sure about me!).
With a dedicated training buddy we set out yesterday at 7am in the already sweltering heat - probably would have been better off starting somewhere around 3am~
Talieb (Pioneer Park Talieb) is being ridden for a combination of 'legging-up' and general saddle education and has been under saddle around 3 times a week during December. Buddy Louise Miller is riding him today while I start the super mare, Miss K (Kai Hai Sterling Sha'kierra) back into work. This pair work nicely together, Talieb trying in vain to match Kieraa's super marching walk! Today Talieb impresses us both by trotting thru water without blinking an eye and crossing numerous water crossings - his only upset is the nasty palm fronds that try to catch him by the leg (palm fronds like to eat horses :: we all know that right?)
Then we saddle Della (Avondale Park Della Cairo) and visiting mare Tarnya who is on a "working holiday" whilst her owner is on a real holiday! Della is all business and has the best work ethic so not terribly impressed this day being partnered with Tarnya who thinks she should eat her way around the 10km loop.
With good intentions of riding more horses in the afternoon, we call it a day and head to the creek to cool off with hubby and dogs in tow to swim and relax in the cool water - finally some Boxing Day tradition!

2011-10-18T06:37:00.000+10:00

Managing Horses on Small Properties Workshops are being held on 11, 12 & 13 November in Proserpine, Sarina & Mackay, respectively. The aim of these workshops is to promote safety, care & welfare for you, your horse and the environment.

The workshop will be presented by Jane Myers. Jane has been involved in the Horse Industry for over 30 years and is the author of publications including "Managing Horses on Small Properties".

The workshop will cover a range of topics:

Horse characteristics: how horse behaviour contributes to the management of a horse property

Pasture improvement and renovation

Horse and pasture management: how horse health and good property (environmental) care are linked

Manure management: how manure can be detrimental to a property and the environment if not properly managed and how to turn manure into an asset rather than a liability

Water management: importance of clean water, how to manage horses so that they do not pollute the waterways and how to use water responsibly

Vegetation management: the role of trees and plants both in the local and wider environment and the importance of revegetation and protection of trees and plants on a horse property

Property design and planning: what facilities are necessary on a horse's property and where to place them, the importance of planning and how to set about it.

Cost: $20 per person or $30 for two (includes lunch and morning tea)

RSVP: Registration and payment required by 8 November.

For more information please contact the relevant Landcare/Catchment group, depending on the workshop you are interested in.

Proserpine workshop: Friday 11 November, phone Whitsunday Catchment Landcare (WCL) on 4945 0267

Sarina workshop:Saturday 12 November, phone Sarina Landcare Catchment Management Association (SLCMA) on 4956 1388

Mackay workshop: Sunday 13 November, phone Pioneer Catchment and Landcare (PCL) on 4944 1979

SUMMER OF FUN with Pure Endurance

2011-09-21T11:58:00.000+10:00

The small club of Pure Endurance Inc will be hosting a series of events from the Finch Hatton Showgrounds near Mackay.

These events will be of varying distances from 20km to 40km and even 80km. We will also hold TPR training, CS training and assistance as well as Education sessions.

Volunteer's are welcome - come along, you'll be surprised at what you can learn and how much fun you will have! PDF Flyers are available, just email me your interest and I get one straight out to you.

Talieb Update

2011-09-12T07:10:00.000+10:00

This week has been a week of starting to introduce Talieb to becoming a riding horse. He was bought up to the stables and washed, his mane brushed out and trimmed and a rug went on. Daily grooming has been a necessity to assist in removing some of the winter coat he is shedding!

He's looking much improved already.

Sunday Steve was home briefly so the yards went up and Talieb had his first lesson. We've started with lunging, turns, flexion, flexion with hip movement, backing then then bridle and saddle were also introduced.
He's coming along quite nicely.

Pioneer Park Talieb starting under saddle 11.9.11

Pioneer Park Talieb - from paddock scruff to endurance horse

2011-09-05T09:39:00.000+10:00

He has been and still is for sale, but with Absolutely no Genuine interest in this fellow we will simply ride him ourselves!

Talieb is rising 5yo registered pure arabian gelding by endurance horse Shades of Shagrir ex Tareva-Chine. He is 15.2 hands.

Talieb is a big horse with a big action. His sire Shades of Shagrir has super terrific Heart Rate recoveries - about a total of 6 to 7 minutes total gate time for a 3 leg 80km FEI ride.
Hopefully Talieb has inherited this trait!

Follow him from unstarted paddock scruff to endurance horse.

Pioneer Park Talieb

Talieb 1st Sept 2011

Follow him from unstarted paddock scruff to endurance horse.

Photos taken 1st Sept 2011.

Shahzada 400km Endurance Test - SUCCESS

2011-09-03T17:15:00.000+10:00

a couple of weeks ago we packed up the gooseneck trailer with three horses and took a drive down to St Alban's in the Hunter Valley of NSW for the Shahzada 400km Endurance Test.
Horses were Pioneer Park Amurra and Kai Hai Sterling Sha;Kieraa for the 400km and Pioneer Park Navarone for the mini marathon of 125km.

Pioneer Park Navarone and Steve on the mini marathon. Jo Arblaster photo http://www.animalfocus.com.au/

Unfortunatly Wendy and Kieraa took a fall on Boyd's hill on the 5th leg/morning of Day 3 and were eliminated due to lameness. However Melissa and Amurra went on to be successful in the 400km placing 5th overall and 1st Lightweight. Comments recorded in Amurra's logbook were very favourable and encouraging for a long term marathon career.
Navarone and Steve were also successful. The kind of trips we enjoy!

Photo descending THE STEPS leg 7. Photo courtesy of Kieron Power.

Welsh Mountain x Arabian Pony Stallion

2011-08-03T21:14:00.000+10:00

For Sale: Welsh Mountain/Arab pony stallion, 4years old, approx 13hh. In training,but green, needs experienced rider. Excellent herd stallion, good stud, can view last years foals, all mares pregnant again, which is regretful reason for sale. Hubby says 10 horses are more than enough. price $1750.00 phone 49584522.

New Qld Endurance EXPRESS!

2011-07-22T14:51:00.002+10:00

New for Qld Endurance and a first for Endurance Australia!

A fabulous initative brought to you by the talented editor of the Qld Endurance News, Jo Weismann.

The Qld Endurance Express will be delivered *Free* direct to subscribers InBox and will keep you up to date on all the latest information such as ride changes, notices from SMC, results, previews etc.

Subscribers can opt out at any time. Subscribe from anywhere in the country...or World!
An offer will also be made for quarterly or bi-annual sponsorship of this... fantastic opportunity for unrivalled advertising at its best delivered direct to consumers!

Qld Endurance Magazine WINTER Edition

2011-06-17T12:35:00.000+10:00

I have a couple of spare Qld Endurance magazines left over from our initial print - if you did not get one, or are not a member and would like one please PM me your postal address and will send one out. Hope to have these all in the mail over the weekend.

Chip Chase Sadaqa - passing of a legend

2011-06-16T14:35:00.000+10:00

I had not posted in awhile and had intended on posting something on our recent successful ride at the Endurance Festival @ Toorbul.

However today we recived the sad news that a legend has passed, the mighty Chip Chase Sadaqa.

We feel very Privileged to have met Sadaqa a number of times and to have had the opportunity to breed to such a wonderful Arabian - the result is our very cherished young stallion Pioneer Park Wings of Sudan (x Agecroft Sahara).

A photo of Sadaqa taken by Sharon Meyers at the Toft Farm has pride of place in our lounge room.

Rest in Peace mate.

Website ReVamped!

2011-03-08T16:18:00.000+10:00

The website for our farm and training facility has been revamped by freind and artist Nicole Cameron
Am super thrilled with Nic's work and can highly reccomend anyone requiring a new site or wanting an existing site to be refreshed that they speak to Nicole first!

Our site - Pioneer Arabians

Zalman Challenge Ride

2011-02-22T06:07:00.000+10:00

Home from our journey to the Toft endurance event, the Zalman Challenge FEI ride. We left home on Wednesday taking 2 horses for the FEI * ride, seasoned horse Shades of Shagrir and relative newbie Pioneer Park Azaylia.
Arriving Thursday mid-day, Shagrir had a midly swollen leg from a minor surface cut sustained just prior to leaving so the decision was to over-react and treat the leg and therefore with drawing him from entering the ride.
Peter Toft to the rescue - Toft Endurance offered Steve one of their up and coming super stars to ride along with me and Azaylia in the one star event, the Arab cross Appaloose Rupert TE. Rupert is a well built grey gelding with forward moving attitude.

Friend Nicole Cameron arrived to stay for a few days and help us strap - lovely catching up with Nic and fabulous to have her on hand to assist us...still recovering from her broken shoulder she was a massive help during the weekend. Thanks Nic! Mid ride Friday night also seen the arrival of Ashley Ross and Carmel Trevorrow also to assist strap. Azaylia is sired by Ashley's stallion, Turingal Park Nijinksi who we used to own. Ash also has a gelding we bred, sired by Shades of Shagrir, so she was interested to see these 2 horses we had brought down.

The ride was great, and we were both successful in completing - Azaylia had terrific recoveries which is really encouraging, I think she's gonig to be every bit as good as her older half brother Navarone and then some.

We were able to bring home something very special - our mare Tractor (aka Agecroft Sahara). Tractor had been with Toft's to visit Sadaqa with the hope of another special foal; but she had other plans and visited not Sadaqa but Sh'Tann! Terrific to have her home, she looks fabulous and looking forward to having her PTIF today.

Pioneer Park Azaylia pre-ride

Revamped Website

2011-02-14T15:50:00.000+10:00

Pioneer Arabians website is being totally revamped again by our good friend and very talented artist Nicole Cameron . With just a few finishing touches to be made and the addition of some professional photos we plan to be able to launch the site in the next week.

Nicole is probably more known for her amazing portrails of animal life, mostly of the equine kind. Her ability to capture the subject's true personality within her work is really spectacular.
We are very fortunate to have a number of Nicole's works here at home, mostly portriats of our beautiful arabian horses.
However she is really starting to make herself known building well desgined, bright, refreshing and functional websites as well - all touched with her artist flair to ensure they are totally unique.

So if you are looking for a website, new or revamped, a team or business logo or a portrait then we suggest you check out Nicole's website to see some fine examples of her work.

Fernvale Zalman Challenge

2011-02-13T13:56:00.000+10:00

Very much looking forward next week to the Oz Endurance FEI Zalman Challenge at Fernvale in the SE corner of Qld. Although it has only been a few short months since we last competed it feels too long!
We have had a better prep than I anticipated tho the horses are still nowhere near being fit but believe they are fit for both the trip, and for the ride.

The horses we are taking - Shades of Shagrir who is now into his third season of endurance. He has previoulsy completed successfully a FEI 80km* and 120km**. Also Pioneer Park Azaylia who is the baby of the family, being only newly qualifed into endurance during 2010 this will be her first FEI* ride. Azaylia is a half sister to our well permormed gelding Pioneer Park Navarone.

Much more exciting is that we will be bringing home our very special horse, Tractor aka Agecroft Sahara. She has been away in the excellent care of Toft's, spending time with a special man called Sh'taan.

Training and Cyclones

2011-01-30T18:49:00.000+10:00

This morning we had the most awesome training session. Steve on Shades of Shagrir and me on Pioneer Park Azaylia we rode 30km around the newly slashed headlands then along the river that winds its way around Cattle Creek and the base of the mountains. The weather was kind, warm with a little wind and then about half way we did get some rain that cooled us and the horses, making them really want to run for home.

Tonight we are waiting for Tropical Cyclone Anthony to cross the coastline about 200km's north of us around the Proserpine/Bowen district. Pretty certain that here although we will still recieve stong>gale force winds and a bunch of rain, that should be the extent of it. TC Anthony is currently a category 1 cyclone which is rated the weakest but may cross as a category 2. Last March, we experienced Tropical Cyclone Ululi in full force and at Category 3 was pretty full on but luckliy for us we maintained little damage compared to others.

However the tracking forecast for later in the week is alarming to say the least. There is a large system that has been formed and is named TC Yasi. THis is still located around the coast of Fiji. Yasi is very large, and apparently extremely destructive with a massive 300km+ storm centre.

From Google Earth. Australia on the right with TC Anthony about to cross
the coast of Qld around Bowen, with TC Yasi the massive white cell to the right.

TC Anthony nearly at the Qld Coast line with the much more impressive TC Yasi on the right. Kinda puts things
into perspective. TC Yasi is huge...nearly 1/3 the span of the Qld coast.

Hey True Blue

2011-01-22T06:07:00.000+10:00

Pioneer Park True Blue left for his new home last week; what a sad day, was hard having to say goodbye.
3 year old Bluey was sired by the now gelding and endurance horse Shades of Shagrir, and out of Sue Evan's mare Coolmunda Shaneen. Blue has the loviest nature and was alwasys the first to have a chat or come up for some attention. Small in stature he certainly made up for this with his large character!

In his new home his young family will have him started under saddle and then have a lot of plans for him. Dressage, PC, plus clicker training and also trick riding! A nice young family & I'm sure they will be very happy together.

Rain

2010-12-27T06:31:00.000+10:00

And lots of it. Again. Guess thats what it is all about living in the sub-tropics. Over the couple of days surrounding Christmas we reieved just over half a metre of rain (+500mm) - so very glad we live on the side of a hill! So far for 2010 we have recorded 3663mm of rain - over 3 metres year to date. That's a lot of water!

While all the paddocks are wet, the drainage is excellent and constant so the horses are not actually standing in water. Except of course there is the generic mud-pit happening at every gateway of each paddock where the horse stand and meet each afternoon and wait, patiently for dinner.

Riding and training right now has pretty much come to a stand-still, but with the excellent training country and formed rolled roads its generally only a day and we can be out again after rain. Being Christmas figured the horses could have an extra couple of days break but will resume training soon. Keen to get back to riding...and Endurance!

Exchange

2010-12-10T10:48:00.000+10:00

Couple of days ago we came up with the name for the foal, EXCHANGE. Thought about it for a few days and it seems to suit him, and is different so it has well and truely stuck! Pioneer Park Exchange it is.

We've had about 5 days straight now with little or no rain so Azaria and Exchange have been able to enjoy getting out into the paddock during the day and just using the stables of a night time. Have been spending a lot of time watching Exchange trialling his future endurance legs, carving it out in the paddock - running flat out doing laps and circles around his mum - up & down the hill and then shortly after flopping down laying flat out, knackered needing to sleep! Foals are such fabulous creatures to watch grow.

Pioneer Park EXCHANGE

Pioneer Park EXCHANGE 7 days

HE has arrived

2010-12-06T06:11:00.000+10:00

The newest arrival for Pioneer Park has made his entrance to the world! A lovely chestnut (grey) colt born in the early hours on the 2nd Dec. Big blaze, the pre-requiste pink nose and a couple of stockings and one sock, he looks the spitting image to his older bro Navarone when he was born :>) All is well with both foal and dam, this will be Azaria's 8th reg'd foal, with 2 unregistered progeny with a previous owner.
Photos as soon as the rain stops.
Now, for the name............! Suggestions welcome!

Waiting

2010-11-26T18:48:00.002+10:00

Waiting for this foal to arrive! Our mature purebred mare, Azaria (Estashan x Andrianna) is now a couple of days over her due date with the very eagerly awaited foal sired by Cederdell Zanzibar from The Cameo Stud.

Azaria is the dam of some of our well performed endurance horses; Pioneer Park Navarone (x Lyle dec) also sisters Pioneer Park Amurra (x Maf-Ue El Hossan dec) and Pioneer Park Azaylia (x our first stallion Turingal Park Nijinski).

Navarone is the more well known of the siblings, being very well travelled and successfully competing to a WEG short listing.
Amurra is smaller, tougher and the quiet achiever completing & winning the 2010 Atherton based 408km marathon this year.
Azaylia has just completed her first season of endurance rides to become an Open mare - although the youngest sibling we feel she has the most potential as a top performer.

Azaria (Estashan x Andrianna) really due!

Pioneer Park Arabians & Endurance Horses

Pioneer Park Talieb - from paddock scruff to endurance horse

Who is responsible?

Pioneer Park Talieb - from paddock scruff to endurance horse

Endurance Team for 2012

Training Resumes!

SUMMER OF FUN with Pure Endurance

Talieb Update

Pioneer Park Talieb - from paddock scruff to endurance horse

Shahzada 400km Endurance Test - SUCCESS

Welsh Mountain x Arabian Pony Stallion

**New** Qld Endurance EXPRESS!

Qld Endurance Magazine WINTER Edition

Chip Chase Sadaqa - passing of a legend

Website ReVamped!

Zalman Challenge Ride

Revamped Website

Fernvale Zalman Challenge

Training and Cyclones

Hey True Blue

Rain

Exchange

HE has arrived

Waiting

New Qld Endurance EXPRESS!