Highlights from our September 08' magazine We’re hot off the press with all the latest from the Olympic equestrian events in Hong Kong this month; sadly it wasn’t a vintage occasion for our Kiwi team, but all the same we know you’ll enjoy our full and detailed reports on the eventing, teams dressage and the start of the show jumping context. Also this month is a great photo story on how to improve your jumping position, Dr Lucy Tucker explains how nutrition can affect hooves, hair and coat condition, Debranne Pattillo has a step-by-step guide to equine massage, and Annie Studholme meets some riders who prove it’s never too late to get in the saddle. James Hart reports on some of the latest laminitis research, Fiona Cameron looks at truck and float safety, and we meet some of New Zealand’s tallest horses. It’s the start of the breeding season as well, and our special section looks at Rock Star, Salutation, the Waikato Intensive Foal Care Unit, Eastdale Riding Pony Stud, and the growth of embryo transfer. Happy riding. Features for September Read online: Better late than never. Annie Studholme meets some newcomers to the saddle READ MORE Read online: Saving the vulnerable. The Waikato Equine Intensive Care Unit is a godsend for critically-ill foals, as Angela Hawker reports READ MORE Also in this month’s issue Olympic Special Eventing, show jumping and dressage coverage from the Beijing Olympics RIP Tregonning Merran Hain farewells her legendary equine partner Improve your jumping position Tips and techniques from the Photographic Guide to Jumping Shine on Dr Lucy Tucker explains how correct nutrition can improve your horse’s coat and hoof quality Equine massage Debranne Pattillo’s step-by-step guide Laminitis update James Hart reports on some of the latest laminitis research Breeding special: Rock Star, Salutation, Eastdale Riding Pony Stud, Smooth Running Stud, Embryo transfer   PLUS ALL THE USUALS Letters Including One in a Million and Letter of the Month Experts: your questions answers by our experts Jumping Clinic with Dale Pederson Mountain Horse Ones to Watch Pony club AND OUR REGULARS People & Places Jump-off with Claire Wilson Equiscene Showscene with Kevin Cholmondeley-Smith Equestrian diary What’s in store – product news Pony Pals Bulletin board Shop direct

From the Editor's Desk Well, it certainly wasn’t the result we were hoping for from the equestrian team sent to Hong Kong. Billed as possible team medal contenders, the eventers had to settle for fifth, while as we put this magazine to press our show jumping team had bowed out in 14th place, with only Kirk Webby still in contention in the individual standings. I hope that you will excuse the fact your magazine is around a week later than usual in getting to your letterboxes and newsagents this month; we held a big section back to get as much Olympic coverage in there as we could. Despite the fact it wasn’t great news from the Kiwi camp, I’m sure you will enjoy our full and detailed reports on the equestrian events, especially if – like me – you were left frustrated in the extreme by the lack of television, radio and even newspaper coverage from Hong Kong. And if you are all Olympic-ed out, there’s plenty else to enjoy in this mammoth issue, our biggest-yet and with a new perfect-bound format to boot, which will hopefully take care of the falling-to-bits problem!   Fiber Fresh Rider of the Month for September is Kiwi eventing team member Caroline Powell. Caroline and her plucky little grey Lenamore finished 14th and best of the Kiwis in the three-day event at the Beijing Olympics, after a disappointing result all round for our equestrian team. She was harshly marked after what looked like a fluid and accurate dressage test, leaving her in 26th place after this phase, but Caroline put all that behind her on cross-country day and stormed home clear on the twisty-turning course, incurring 21.2 time faults. She added a further four faults for a single rail in the first show jumping round, and finished with a flourish to jump clear for the final round. It’s easy from the sidelines to moan about the judging, but a dressage mark more reflective of her actual performance could have easily seen Caroline in the top six of the competition. Well done anyway Caroline, from every­body here at NZ Horse & Pony; we were all behind you and hope to see you and Lenamore continue your winning ways in the future. And we hope that Lenamore enjoys his Fiber Fresh, once we find a way to get it to him in Scotland!