At the recent Equestrian NSW CCI*** Three-Day Event in Sydney, Australia, Megan Jones was in third place at the end of the dressage phase and maintained that position throughout her cross-country ride. In the stadium jumping phase, her mount Kirby Park Allofasudden knocked down one rail to slip to fifth place out of fifteen riders who completed the event. In an extremely close finish, Jones was only two points behind the eventual champion.

At the same event, Jones claimed a first-place finish on Kirby Park Irish Empress in the Equitak Excel CIC*.

Jones is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research.

To add to her impressive achievements, world-class eventer and KER-sponsored rider Megan Jones was recently named Coach of the Year at Equestrian Australia's 2011 Sport Achievement Awards of Excellence. A well-respected coach, mentor, and role model, Megan has achieved many accomplishments during her career. Megan coaches the South Australian State Interschool's team, and the elite athletes on that squad speak highly of her dedication and passion. A role model of many young Australian athletes, Megan's coaching skills were evidenced when she trained Grace Bowman, who competed in the 2010 World Para-Equestrian Games.  

Adding to her list of accomplishments, the Olympic silver medalist established Kirby Park Stud in South Australia, which focuses on breeding, training, and competing high-quality performance horses. Among the horses at Kirby Park Stud is Kirby Park Irish Jester, named Equestrian Federation (EA) South Australia Eventing Horse of the Year and leader of the FEI World Rankings in 2009.

Megan feeds her horses KER-formulated Barastoc feeds from Ridley AgriProducts, as well as nutritional supplements by KER. Megan is a great supporter of KER products, "Full-fat, no grain, plenty of energy. I can't rave enough about Equi-Jewel! Kirby Park Irish Jester was diagnosed with stress founder from international travel in 2010, but he has now returned to work and competition at the four-star level. He did it on Equi-Jewel and Barastoc Competitor feed. He gets all of the energy he needs from those feeds, and I have no fears of him foundering again."

Victory Salute, the mount of top para-equestrian Georgia Bruce, was inducted into the Equestrian Australia (EA) Hall of Fame at the Sport Achievement Awards of Excellence Gala this month. The EA Hall of Fame honors those who contribute exceptionally to the equestrian sport, from the grassroots to the international level. Victory Salute and Australian rider Brett Parbery are the record holders for highest scores achieved by an Australian combination in international competition in all three Grand Prix competitions. KER-sponsored rider Georgia Bruce rode Victory Salute to two bronze medals at the 2008 Paralympic Games.

The Al Reef-RM Williams Endurance Festival, run by long-time KER clients and supporters Peter and Penny Toft, won the title of Event of the Year at Equestrian Australia's 2011 Sport Achievement Awards of Excellence this month. The Endurance Festival featured the FEI*** National Championships and was the largest endurance ride in Australia in 2011, attracting a record number of entries from multiple countries. In addition to this, the event was designated as a Tom Quilty Cup qualifier and doubled as a qualifier for the 2012 World Endurance Championships.

The Endurance Festival and competition was broadcast to a global audience though a live webcast. International officials were offered a unique opportunity to partake in the Australasian Endurance Forum held in conjunction with the festival and competition. Peter Huntington, B.V.Sc., KER's director of nutrition, presented the latest research in endurance horse nutrition during this forum, and KER nutritionist Clarissa Brown-Douglas, Ph.D., attended the festival and competition to provide on-the-spot nutrition advice for riders.

Coolmore Australia has had incredible racing success with its graduates this week with four individual stakes winners, for a total of 305. All were raised on custom ration formulated by Kentucky Equine Research (KER).

Coolmore has enjoyed a multitude of remarkable accomplishments since commencing operations in Jerry's Plains, N.S.W., in 1996. Not only do they have the number-one sire in Australia, Encosta de Lago, they have raised seven sires with Grade-I-winning foals and eight with the potential to sire Grade-I winners. Some of the stallions standing at Coolmore include Choisir, High Chaparral, Duke of Marmalade, Henrythenavigator, Fastnet Rock, Spinning World, Haradasun, and Uncle Mo. In addition to this impressive list of stallions, champion racehorse So You Think will be added this year.

Recently, outstanding filly Invest (Dehere) became the 33^rd individual Grade-I winner to have been bred at Coolmore Australia. Top race filly Unearthly recently enjoyed success along with top-class performers Gathering, Dariana, Trusting, and One Last Dance.  All were bred at Coolmore and fed by KER.

KER has nearly 25 years of experience in designing nutrition programs for breeding farms that improve health and productivity. KER-formulated custom rations are proven successes.

Lorraine Callows has a much happier, healthier horse on her hands after some dietary improvements were recommended by an Australian-based Kentucky Equine Research (KER) nutrition advisor. At 25 years old, her Clydesdale-cross gelding Morgan had numerous health issues including suspected PSSM, bloating, and difficulty getting up after lying down. These problems have now significantly improved after some time on the suggested diet of KER All-Phase and KERx EquiShure.

Photo courtesy of Lorraine Callows

KER All-Phase was recommended in order to provide Morgan with all the essential nutrients and trace minerals he requires in a convenient, low-dose balancer pellet. Because it was likely that Morgan's bloating and discomfort occurred as a result of a condition known as hindgut acidosis, the time-released hindgut buffer EquiShure was recommended to improve these signs.  

"The diet has been really easy to feed, no bits of this and spoonfuls of that," remarked Lorraine. "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to improve my horse's life, and I'm sure Morgan is also most grateful. I know he is much more comfortable."

Maegan Parij and her horse Kolbeach Fanfare (Colby) have had a fantastic show season so far, with numerous placings and championships in hunter hack classes to add to their already extensive list of successes.

Megan Parij

At the Adelaide Royal Show in September of 2011, the pair found themselves having to go up one height class, as Colby had had a slight growth spurt in the last year! This resulted in a tougher class with a higher level of competition. However, Parij and Colby finished second in the open hack for horses 15-15.2 hands, and fourth in the lightweight hack for horses 15-15.2 hands in a class of 32 entries.
In other shows in the current season, the pair collected champion honors for Small Hack of the Year as designated by the Show Horse Council in October. At the Kapunda Agricultural Show, they won both the small hack and open hack classes in Colby's height division.
Due to Parij being pregnant, Ruth Thompson took over the ride on Colby for the remainder of the season and continued his successful performance record. At the Riding Pony of the Year Show in January of 2012, the pair earned back-to-back Champion Ridden Park Hack of the Year and Open Led Park Hack Champion titles. Two more shows this year also resulted in good outcomes, with Colby winning two Open Hack classes and being designated the Open Hack Reserve Champion at the Bletchley Agricultural Show as well as claiming first place as Lightweight Hack and Reserve Champion Hack at the Show Horse Council Bletchley Show.

Thompson and Colby have one more show in February which will complete all required points needed to qualify for the Melbourne and Adelaide Royals this year.

Parij is a very enthusiastic supporter of Kentucky Equine Research (KER) and Colby receives numerous supplements to assist with maintaining health and achieving optimum performance throughout the season. These include Bio-Bloom, Restore, Equi-Jewel, Hemabuild, and EquiShure.

Mill Park Thoroughbred Stud has been extremely successful at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sales held earlier this year. The South Australian stud farm presented just five yearlings, who were all sold at an average of $267,000.

The star for Mill Park at $360,000 was a Bernardini (USA) colt from Rock on Madonna that was bought by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Mill Park Thoroughbreds are fed the Kentucky Equine Research (KER) products All Phase and Equi-Jewel to ensure optimum growth and development. The farm also uses Cool Command from KER Team Member Barastoc during yearling preparation.

Two prestigious races held in India in late January were won by horses that are fed by Himalayan Horse Feeds, a Kentucky Equine Research (KER) Team Member.

The Grade I Golconda Derby Stakes held at Malakpet Race Course on January 29 was won by Southern Bay, who has had numerous previous successes. Southern Bay is trained by S. Ganapathy and was ridden by Chris Hayes.

Two days prior to this, the Winter Derby at Bangalore was won by Toroloco. This was the second year in a row that a horse from trainer Irfan Ghatala's stable had won this Grade I race.

C. Mano, managing director of MANO Equestrian Services Pte. Ltd. in Singapore, has been chosen to receive the Top 100 Singapore Excellence Award 2011 & 2012 as well as the Successful Entrepreneur Award. Mano was honored at a recognition ceremony held in December.

Mano began to expand his equine business several years ago in order to provide an array of feeds and supplements to local clients and also to several overseas markets. His company deals in a full line of equine-related goods and services but has added feed supplement choices as well as products in the nutritional, animal health, and pharmaceutical lines. As part of this expanded business effort, he sought out and began an association with partner companies that were successful in the fields of research and development of equine health and pharmaceutical products.

To promote the equine industry, Mano has set up sponsorships, participated in exhibitions and seminars, and become involved in community projects and events. He has provided leadership by serving on the Board of Directors of the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry; is a patron and member of the Executive Council of Narpani Pearavai; and is active in the work of the Tamil Language Learning & Promotion Committee. He is also the current chairperson of Woodlands E Terrace Estate.

In his nearly twenty years of association with Kentucky Equine Research (KER), Mano has become one of KER's top international customers. As KER's agent in Southeast Asia, he distributes the company's products to clients in various phases of the equine industry throughout India, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia as well as Singapore. He keeps in touch with the latest research through KER publications and electronic media, and often attends the KER Nutrition Conference to discuss developments in equine nutrition management.

Kentucky Equine Research salutes C. Mano for his entrepreneurial achievements and his commitment to spreading knowledge about equine management.