In the Bates Arena, first up was the Clayton Fredericks Eventing Clinic and Clayton was inspiring. He generously gave away some of the trade secrets that helped him win a Team Silver Medal at the Beijing Olympics. Clay gave great advice to Shamus Marwood on his promising grey eventer.

I made a special point of catching Antoinette Foster from Hi Form Australia who gave a very interesting talk about horse health and feeding related issues. I spoke to her at the end of the event and she said, "Well I was positively overwhelmed with the response from my talks, people were thanking me all weekend, so that was pretty nice. We spoke to so many people and I felt that the feeling in general was so positive and uplifting. I believe that whilst EI was highly damaging to the industry and recovery will still take some time, it has made an impact on horse owners and has really made them think about the health of their horses and how much they can help them to achieve outstanding health and well being. Advice given was welcomed with open arms! Our new product ranges were all received really well, especially the BioEquus (probiotic/prebiotic) and the Leroy’s Choice (named after my beautiful boy) FlyVeil the natural fly repellent and also the new vet packs. It was really gratifying to have so many customers come along and tell us about their success stories and even nicer to meet them in person after dealing with them via email or telephone."

The amazing fully interactive Dressage Simulator was a huge hit on the Horseland stand. A new UK product it replicates the gates of the horse and sensor pads monitor the rider's aids and weight distribution over many points of the saddle. The rider's balance and independent seat can be assessed and Horseland had a "full-house" of spectators all fascinated to try their skill on this kind and reliable mount. Many riders could see the benefit of owning him as he does not cost much to feed! It would be hoped that some riding schools and perhaps even a few city based sports centres will invest in this pro-active help for us riders and help to develop our seat and ultimately improve our riding and the way our 'real' horses perform - thanks Horseland this was fantastic.

Horseland's CEO Geoff Sinclair took a moment to welcome the legendary "Natural Horseman" who started it all - Pat Parelli. Pat and Linda demonstrated their world acclaimed techniques to packed houses at Equitana and Pat said feels 'almost Australian" as wife Linda is from Sydney and "still calls Australia home!" This was Pat's 35h trip to the land downunder.

The pair will return to our shores in March 2009 for a Sydney Clinic and judging by the enthusiasm for Pat and Linda the event will be a popular place for horse lovers to meet. Find out more

Above - Danish Dressage Champion Andreas Helgstrand was a guest that we all longed to get to know. His ride on the talented grey mare Blue Hors Martine at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen is a highlight of the sport for many and more recently, he won a Team Bronze at the Beijing Games on the wonderful black stallion Blue Hors Don Schufro. Andreas gave a demonstration in the Barastoc area in Hall 4 with NSW rider Glennis Barry and Victorian trainer and coach, Reiner Kramer. Reiner rode his rising 5 YO stallion (Bellaire) Cannavaro. This talented young star was imported about 12 months ago and is by Contendro out of Fiorella. Cannavaro has been Licensed and has passed his 70 day test. He will be presented for registration in Australia with the Hanoverian Horse Society of Australia when Dr Wilkins visits for next year's classification tour. The horse was bred by Hans Heinrich Bruning of "Hof Bruning" in Germany and stands at Bellaire Dressage Stables in Tyabb, Victoria.

Above - Reisa Bonetti, Founder of the convenient and popular service ...
DressageTrainingOnline.com which allows you to subscribe and download the best Dressage training information - on your computer. Reisa came all the way from the USA. We welcome her to Australia and thank her for the great service. Reisa chats to her new subscriber Margaret Lamb (mum of the famous showjumping boys). Margaret and her family are dairy farmers and she is a keen dressage rider and ... (of course) showjumping spectator.

Andrew Lamb took part in the World Cup qualifier on Saturday and Sunday on the Bates arena riding his well performed grey Belcam Amada (right)

Thursday - After a full day investigating the trade stands, exhibitions and demonstrations, it was then on to an Evening with Guy McLean. It was hard to imagine that 1 1/2 hours watching the taming and handling of a young basically, untouched horse would be entertaining, but I was mesmerised.

Guy appears to be a 'regular horseman' who just goes about his job. But his quiet, kind, logical and intuitive approach allowed him to take his hot and reactionary charge into their own private place and put aside the atmosphere, microphone, big screen and crowd noise - pretty amazing when you think about it! Guy won the horse's confidence and trust so that he could, put a tarpaulin over its head, tie the same tarp to its tail and have it accept this blue dragon.

He introduced a saddle and rider and we witnessed this horse do it's first few circles under a rider at canter - unbelievable. Yet anyone who saw Guy do exactly the same thing in The Way of the Horse at the 2005 event, know that this is just what Guy McLean does!

Not only is Guy good with horses but he is a 2 time Australian Bush Poetry Champion and he recited two of his own compositions - one about a "bushy" who, pushed by the drought and a seemingly bleak future, talks through his thoughts before taking his life. The desperate farmer realises that family and animals are his love and nothing can take them away ... and so we saw a happy ending in verse - there was not a dry eye in the house.

Guy's other recital honoured the horse who started it all for him - Nugget. It is not hard to see why horses love the man, his compassion, sense of loyalty and 'finding a better way" just shine through and the verse is an insight to what makes this special man, so special!
Guy's web site is full of other information and we should get behind this 'international quality' talent!

After the first two days of Equitana the 'stayers' like myself were exhausted, yet exhilarated and buzzing - this was a feast of experiences and I was hungry for more...