Sad news from the MJET camp

Sad news from the MJET (Megan Jones Eventing Team) camp came through this morning.

"What a roller coaster ride the last couple of days has been!

You may have heard the sad news, but if not…the MJET team is reeling from the devastating report that came today from Megan when she was forced to make the decision to withdraw from her place on the Australian Olympic eventing team due to an injury that Floyd had sustained in the last 24 hours.

This sport is full of unexpected surprises, both good and bad, and the sign of a true professional athlete is the resilience that they show in the difficult times. 

Megan is showing us her true colours remaining strong and resilient and contemplating her options of competing in Europe during the next few months at Burleigh and Pau (France).

As soon as she has formulated a plan I will let you know.

Thank you again for all your support…she has appreciated your messages!

Back with you soon,

Leigh Beissel

megan jones eventing team"

We Wish Floyd a speedy recovery and would also like to wish all the best to Sam Griffiths who will step in to take Megan's place on the Olympic team.

Megan shows her team spirit

Equissage sponsored rider Megan Jones shows her team spirit when interviewed about taking her place in the Australian Olympic team.

www.olympics.com.au, Wednesday, 25 July 2012 (from the EA website)

Shane Rose won’t be physically at the Olympic Games but his name will be.

Rose was forced to withdraw from the Games over the weekend following an injury to his horse Taurus, but the reserve, Megan Jones, who has been outfitted today in London has revealed a special gesture will keep Rose part of the Olympic team.

All competitors have their names displayed on their riding helmets – and Rose presented his to Jones when she formally came into the squad.

Jones has revealed she will keep the name Shane Rose on her riding helmet.

“I looked at it and thought ‘I can take it off’, but then I thought, no, Shane can ride with me in spirit,” Jones said.

“Shane is one of the greatest cross country riders in the world so I might show the horses too."

But while Jones gesture has impressed everyone in the Australian Olympic Team, her generosity won’t extend to medals.

“I won't be cutting any medals in half. He can come around though and have a pat,” Jones laughed.

We look forward to watching another of our Equissage Ambassadors taking to the ultimate international stage when the Eventing starts this Saturday.

Eventing competition times
Sat 28 July: 10.00-16.15   Dressage, day 1
Sun 29 July: 10.00-16.15   Dressage, day 2
Mon 30 July: 12.30-17.30   Cross-country
Tues 31 July: 10.30-16.00   Showjumping and medal ceremonies

Megan steps in to ride for Australia.

Congratulations to Equissage sponsored rider, Megan Jones and her horse Allofasudden who found out this morning that they will be competing in the 2012 London Olympic Games!

Shane Rose’s horse Taurus sustained a soft tissue injury during training and was this morning ruled out of competition, we wish Taurus a speedy recovery! Good luck Team Aus!

EA press release

http://www.aet.equestrian.org.au/default.asp?Page=29737

Shane’s emotional interview regarding his withdrawal.

http://london2012.olympics.com.au/media/063E2C60-D422-11E1-BA8A005056A37760

Megan Jones talking about her preparation ahead of the trip to London, as travelling reserve, little did she know a few days later she would be a part of the team.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHcXgEJNZ88&list=PL27985F8C38848D38&index=4&feature=plpp_video

Megan riding Kirby Park Allodasudden

Our Olympic riders

With the Olympics drawing so close that London locals can smell the sweat from the best athletes in the work training in the air, I thought this would be a good time to have a look at just how many team horses and riders in the Australian and New Zealand Equestrian teams benefit from using Equissage.

Australian Olympic Equissage riders are:
Mary Hanna - Dressage
Shane Rose - Eventing
Megan Jones - Eventing (Team Reserve)
Tim Boland - Eventing (Team Reserve)

NZ riders:
Mark Todd - Eventing

And not to leave out Australian Ex Pat Boyd Martin who will ride for team USA.

The members of the Australian Equestrian team yesterday were kitted out in their uniform as seen here in their first official team photo.

Several of the Olympic team members and reserves are Equissage riders, and we will endeavour to bring you updates as they come on the success of our riders.

Interview with Megan

While in the middle of preparations for the Olympics Megan takes a moment to talk about preparing her horse for the games and the big trip to London.

Equissage for the Rodeo Horse.

Rodeo is a tough sport, where in every event the competitors both human and equine need to be fast, agile, smart and tough, 100ths of a second split winners and losers and a horse that is competing at its best can make all the difference.

Zoe Swain Master Dentist and Australian Rodeo legend cannot speak highly enough of Equissage.

"Since using the EQUISSAGE on a regular basis, we have had amazing results with our horses. We have won more money, more regularly than ever before. We put this down to our horses feeling so much better, hence always competing at their best. We also use the EQUISSAGE on ourselves on a daily and weekly basis and have absolutely no doubt that what this technology can achieve is nothing less than amazing!! Sore muscles and tears and chiropractic problems seem to be almost totally a thing of the past. This applies to both us and the horses. Any time either Peter y myself feel a sore sport or any tiredness coming on, we get a treatment with either the hand unit or by laying on the back pad or Jockey Pad, and not immediately, but within about 4 hours, the pain has dissipated. I find it works immediately on me if I feel a bit dull and need a 'pickup'." Zoe Swain 

The barrel horse is predisposed to numerous musculoskeletal injuries because of the conditions and demands placed upon it (sudden speed, tight turns, and a rapid deceleration to negotiate the course).

Common recorded problems related to Barrel Racing horses that Equissage can help with are;

· ‘Running up the fence’ not able to turn at the first barrel due to musculoskeletal immaturity or fatigue

· Tension of muscles prior to a race causing anxiety

· Back pain from the twisting and turning action

· Lack of flexion, bend and suppleness to turn sharply

· Loss of take off speed due to hamstring or hindquarter fatigue

The horses used in the team roping event are usually Quarter Horses. This breed is preferred by the ropers because of their exceptional athletic ability, quick acceleration over short distances, their inherent desire to “watch a cow,” and their good mind. With a better understanding of the duties of the team roping horse, it becomes apparent that they experience many of the same problems that of western horses. Problems of the distal joints of the hocks are very common, forcing strain to the hamstrings, glutels and lower back.

Typically, the Roping horses are mature, experienced horses for competitions, so these horses are usually over 10 years old. Many Team Roping horses in their mid to late teens and even early to mid 20s are used by the top ropers. This is an important factor, as age and degeneration related pathologies can effect performance.

Common recorded problems related to Roping horses that Equissage can help with are;

· Repetitive strain injury from explosive starts, stops and turning

· Arthritic and degenerative conditions

· Recovery and Rehydration

· Management of previous injury or illness

To see what Equissage can do for your horse contact info@equissage.com.au to arrange a FREE demo today.

The champ is home!

Black Caviar aka Nelly has returned home to Australian Soil after conquering the UK,

Racing Victoria report she has travelled well and is setteling into Werribee Quarantine Centre where she will spend a few weeks, before enjoying a spell.

An Equissage Testimonial

We recieved this today from a very happy Equissage owner Mia Harris, and thought we would share.

After attending Equitana in 2010 where I got a full demo of Equissage I ummed and ahhed about whether purchasing an Equissage would be right for me. After 2 years I decided to get a demo on my young horse to once again see if the benefits would outweigh the cost. The ride I had after my Equissage session was magic and I had no hesitation in investing in what would be the best piece of equipment I own. I give my horse a 20 minute Equissage every day before I ride and have developed much more suppleness and elasticity in 1 month than I had in the previous 6 months. I also use the Equissage on my 25 year old retired horse who walked out of the paddock quite stiff and slow then had a 20 minute medium Equissage and returned to the paddock at a bullets pace running around his paddock playing with his friends and looking as supple and happy as ever! Equissage works magic on 4 year olds and 25 year olds alike.  Investing in an Equissage was the best thing I ever did I don’t know why it took me 2 years to decide.

Thanks Lynne!

Regards,

Mia Harris BSc.

Nelly's coming home

IRT confirm that Black Caviar will be returning home from the UK leaving Sunday (UK time) to arrive back in Melbourne on Tuesday morning.

Have a nice flight Nelly, we look forward to having you back in Australia again!!!

Congratulations to team moody for their success overseas!

Equissage For the Dressage horse.

Dressage competitions are judged subjectively, on the aesthetic quality of gaits and the expressiveness of the movements.

To accomplish this a horse and rider combination must demonstrate control, accuracy, flexibility and be extremely sensitive to the rider’s aids. The nature of the work involved in this discipline requires great muscle control and co-ordination on the part of the horse. The key to the training and development of the dressage horse from novice through to International Grand Prix is gymnastic exercises that aim to strengthen the muscles, and a care regime that assists to avoid injury to joints and soft tissue associated with increased workload.

The elite dressage horse is expected to perform movements which display rhythm and impulsion at 3 paces.  They must demonstrate collection, power and engagement. The horse is required to show suspension, cadence and elevations in its movement, whilst also demonstrating relaxation, submission and suppleness most dressage movements are performed from the hind quarters, so it is very important that these are sound and powerful.

Common recorded problems related to Dressage horses that Equissage can help with are;

· Engagement and collection of the hindquarters forces strain along the back and hindquarters

· Prolonged sessions decrease energy and cause behavioural disorders due to muscular fatigue

· Increased production of lactic acid compromises the normal muscular function, thereby forcing stress onto tendons, ligaments, joints and bones (increasing the risk of injury)

· Repetitive training of dressage figures causing acute muscle spasms, dysfunction and trauma

· Collection training triggering tension in the horses jaw and neck thus reducing flexion, bend and suppleness

Does your Dressage look more like this?

'

When you would like to achieve something closer to this?

Then maybe Equissage can help! 

Equissage is being used by many top Dressage riders in Australia and indeed worldwide, to ensure that their horses are performing at their peak every day for the gruelling requirements of training for a quality performance.

Riders such as our own Mary Hanna pictured above riding Mary and Umbro to 6th in GP Special at the Hamburg Derby in Germany, find the benefits of daily use of Equissage for their horses, if you would also like to have a look at what Equissage can do for your horse contact us today and we can arrange a FREE demonstration.