Highlights from our February 08' magazine Summer is proving hot and dry for many parts of the country, and unfortunately this means drought for many land owners. In this month’s issue, Neil Clarkson explores how to cope with the big dry, and outlines strategies for keeping horses healthy during a drought. James Hart has herbal help for coping with the challenges of the hot season, while Fiona Cameron has come helpful hints for travelling in safety. US team dressage coach Klaus Balkenhol describes why the halt-halt is the essence of dressage, while Helen Firth finds out why you DON’T need a fancy warmblood to be competitive in equestrian sport. Mark Todd makes his comeback to the Kiwi eventing scene, and we report from the Richfields International 3DE. Annie Studholme looks at the growing field of equine cranial sacrotherapy, and Ray Morris busts some of the common myths about saddle fitting. And don’t forget to fill out our readership survey and be in to win a great prize from Dublin – the survey is in every issue, or you can fill it out on-line. It’s all the in February issue, out now. Read online: The Big Dry. Neil Clarkson looks at strategies for keeping horses healthy during a drought. READ MORE Read online: Precious Cargo Fiona Cameron with some helpful hints for travelling in safety.READ MORE Also featured in this month's issue; Herbal help for summer. James Hart has a herbal approach to coping with the challenges of the hot season. The indispensable half-halt US dressage team coach Klaus Balkenhol on why the half-halt is the essence of dressage. All horses great and small. Helen Firth on why you don’t need a fancy warmblood to do dressage. The ABC of vitamins Vitamins are poorly understood, but essential for good health, as Dr Lucy Tucker explains. Richfields International 3DE. Rowan Dixon reports from Warenga. Hands-on Healing. Cranial sacrotherapy is a growing field, as Annie Studholme reports. The Truth about saddle fitting. Ray Morris busts some myths. Man on a Mission. Virginia Caro profiles up-and-coming event rider Jesse Campbell

From the Editor's Desk We’d like to ask you guys a favour. We want to know a bit more about you, your horses, and what kind of equestrian sports you most enjoy – just so that we can do the utmost to bring you a magazine you will love every single month. So with this month’s issue you will hopefully have found our first readership survey for several years. Please take the time to fill it out and send it back to our Freepost number, or fill it out on-line at www.horse-pony.co.nz, and to thank you for your time and effort we’ll enter you into the draw to win a cool new riding outfit from Dublin, valued at more than $500. It’s a fantastic issue this month. Be sure not to miss Klaus Balkenhol’s explanation of the half-halt on page 22  – it’s the best I’ve read yet on this notoriously confusing concept. And congratulations goes to the Waikato Equestrian Centre, worthy winner of our Millcreek Spin Groomer giveaway, receiving multiple nominations. We’ll have more about the WEC next month. This month’s Fiber Fresh Rider of the Month winner is Waitemata show jumper Sandra Stanford. A popular and extremely hard-working competitor, Sandra has been turning heads this season with her two talented horses, the Dynamit gelding Aero Dynamic, and the Voltaire II mare Lily Vuitton. At the recent Waitemata New Year World Cup Festival, Sandra had a great show with Aero first in the 1.2m speed class, second in the amateur class and second in another 1.2m class; while Lily was first equal in the five-year-old class, fourth in the 1.2m, clear in the 1.2 speed class, and had just one rail in her first 1.25m start. It’s all the more admirable when you consider that Sandra has patiently put in all the work producing her horses by herself, with not much spare cash for lessons. Added to that, Aero was a virtually-unrideable bucker when she purchased him, and has recently made a remarkable comeback from a career-threatening paddock injury. Well done Sandra, and congratulations on your achievements from all of us here at NZ Horse & Pony. We hope to see you continue your winning ways this season, and most of all that Aero and Lily enjoy munching their Fiber Fresh.