Visit Kentucky Equine Research (KER) at this year's New Zealand Horse of the Year Show, to be held March 13-18 at Hawke's Bay Showgrounds in Hastings.

Clarissa Brown-Douglas, Ph.D., and Luisa Wood, nutritionists from KER, will be available for consultation at the NRM marquee. NRM is the only KER Team Member feed manufacturer in New Zealand.

According to the official website, the show is meant "to provide one huge event in which all competitors, young and old, and from all equestrian disciplines, can compete. Being held at one magnificent venue, its aim is to create a true celebration of the equestrian art."

Learn more about the show, including a schedule of specific events.

NRM-sponsored rider Vanessa Way is making the big trip from her home town of Oakura, New Zealand, to London as part of her campaign for the upcoming Olympic Games.

Way and her 14-year-old New Zealand-bred Hanoverian, KH Arvan, had a successful year in 2011, claiming Horse of The Year in Hastings in March and competing in Sydney later in the year to successfully qualify a New Zealand team for London.

The final team will be selected in June. At present, Way is one of the top contenders for a position and is determined to make it a reality. Often called one of the hardest-working people in New Zealand dressage, Way is using all her savings and taking a job in England so she can be trained by Carl Hester.

Hester is sponsored by Saracen Feeds, a Kentucky Equine Research (KER) Team Member in the U.K. Way will be based at his yard in Gloucester and will ride his horses in return for personal dressage training from the elite rider. She will train with Hester right up to the 2012 Olympic Games. KER wishes Way and KH Arvan the best of luck in their campaign.  

Dressage teams from Australia and New Zealand have secured a start at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Shiwon Green and Gosh

Qualification was a two-part process, with the first leg held in Sydney on 28 October and the final leg in Ermelo on the 2 November.

Teams from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa competed for the two slots.

The Australian team, consisting of Rachael Sanna and Jaybee Alabaster; Chantal Wigan and Ferero; Lyndal Oatley and Potifar; and Mary Hanna and Sancette, scored an average of 69.25%, which put the team in first place.

Team New Zealand, which was composed of Louisa Hill and Bates Antonello; Vanessa Way and KH Arvan; Nicky Pope and Fabarchie; and Shiwon Green and Gosh, finished second with an average team score of 64.92%. Team South Africa was a close third with an average score of 63.00%.

Both Vanessa Way and Shiwon Green are sponsored by KER's New Zealand Team Member NRM. While competing in Australia, KER and Australian Team Member Barastoc assisted these riders in formulating diets for their horses, and the horses were fuelled on Barastoc feeds while competing in Australia.  

Dressage rider Vanessa Way and KH Arvan headed off the best of the New South Wales Grand Prix dressage competitors at a pre-Olympic Qualifier event at Clarendon near Sydney with a winning score of 67.8%. Way is from Oakura in Taranaki, New Zealand, and is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research Team Member NRM.

The event, held October 10, was a warm-up for the Australian Dressage Nationals and Olympic Qualifier to be held at the Horsley Park Sydney Olympic venue at the end of October. Way is one of a five-strong NZL team, including fellow NRM-sponsored rider Shiwon Green.

Shiwon and Gosh taking part in a demonstration at Equitana 2010.

Shiwon Green and her mount Gosh have been selected as part of a New Zealand Team that will head to Sydney to contest the Group F & G Olympic Group Team Qualifier. The test will take place on Friday, October 28, at the venue for the 2000 Olympic Games Equestrian events.

Shiwon is sponsored by KER New Zealand Team Member NRM, the largest, most experienced stock feed manufacturer in New Zealand. KER works with NRM to design diets, provide consultancy services, and deliver educational seminars.

Kentucky Equine Research is teaming up with New Zealand horse feed manufacturer NRM to present sport horse seminars featuring KER equine nutritionists Joe Pagan, Ph.D., and Clarissa Brown-Douglas, Ph.D.

The seminars will cover the latest research on optimizing equine performance, understanding omega-3s, managing nutrition-related equine health issues (such as colic, ulcers, tying-up, and more), as well as a special behind-the-scenes presentation on feeding the world's elite equine athletes at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

July 20, 2011
NZB Karaka Sales Complex, Karaka

July 21, 2011
Allely House, Kumeu

Please RSVP by July 15 to Gretel Webber, gretel.webber@viterra.com, or via phone on 021 945 400.

NRM is the largest, most experienced stock feed manufacturer in New Zealand. NRM has strategic relationships with leading research institutions including Massey University and KER. In New Zealand, KER works exclusively with NRM in designing diets, providing consultancy services and delivering educational seminars.

KER-supported rider Brook Dobbin has made a great start to his international partnership with the young showjumping sensation Belcam Advisor.

Following their convincing win in the Pacific League of the FEI World Cup Jumping they were selected to represent Australia at the New Zealand Horse of the Year Show. This was the pair's international debut against a world-class field. They narrowly missed out on winning the prestigious Grand Prix Silver Fern Stakes, coming second to Katie McVean on Daffodil.

Dobbin and Advisor also represented Australia on the International Trans Tasman Test team. Alongside George Sanna, Julia Hargreaves, and Cathy Graham, they edged out New Zealand to take home the prize.

"I am just thrilled with the whole experience and how the horse handled everything that was presented to him, from his first flight to competing against some of the Southern Hemisphere's top horses," said Dobbin. "Due to quarantine restrictions we weren't able to bring Advisor's usual KER feed with him, and we'd like to thank NRM for its outstanding support in arranging all the feed for Advisor throughout his stay. The company's assistance and support were invaluable, allowing Advisor to transition well from KER feeds to NRM and back again."

Advisor took no lower than second place during his entire stay, an excellent showing for the 11-year-old's first trip off Australian shores. Brook has high hopes for the athletic grey gelding, including making the Australian team for the 2012 London Olympics.

KER-supported rider Brook Dobbin has flown across the Tasman Sea with his jumping horse Belcam Advisor to represent Australia at the New Zealand Horse of the Year Show in Hastings. Brook and Advisor were selected following their victory in the Pacific League FEI World Cup Jumping Final. Brook hopes that this will be the first of many international trips for the talented but feisty grey gelding.

On home soil, Advisor's diet consists of Low GI Cube, Hemabuild, Synovate HA, Equi-Jewel, and EquiShure, all products from KER. Whilst in New Zealand, Advisor will be on NRM Horse and Pony Pellets as well as the aformentioned KER supplements. NRM is a KER Team Member feed manufacturer based in New Zealand.

KER will be holding nutrition seminars throughout 2011. These seminars will present the very latest findings in the nutritional management of breeding, sport and racehorses. Be sure to keep checking the KER website for details.

NRM-sponsored rider Shiwon Green and her horse Gosh.

Equitana Melbourne was once again a resounding success. Held November 18-21 at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds, over 45,000 visitors attended the event.

KER and Barastoc played a significant role in the event through sponsorship of the main demonstration arena, Barastoc Arena, a popular trade stand, and several demonstrations. KER-, Barastoc- and NRM-sponsored and supported riders also made everyone proud with some outstanding results and exhibitions.

KER-sponsored rider Caroline Wagner competed in the CDI-W, placing fourth in the Grand Prix and fifth in the Freestyle on her long-time partner WS Nevada. Wagner's horse had been out of work for several weeks leading up to the event, making their results even more impressive.

Barastoc-sponsored Becky Allen placed sixth on RSB Jacana in the Grand Prix jumping.

Jess Stalling, who is the partner of KER-supported rider Rhys Stones, placed second in the Galloway Show Horse Championship aboard Glendon Brae Oscar, a brilliant result for the young rider who was up against seasoned show personalities.

NRM-sponsored rider Shiwon Green and her horse Gosh were clearly the crowd favorites. The pair competed in the CDI-W and placed sixth in the Grand Prix and sixth in the freestyle. Gosh is an interesting mix of breeds, including Thoroughbred, Standardbred, and warmblood bloodlines. This is the pair's first international trip, having made the journey across the Tasman from New Zealand, They will be based in Australia for the next few months to make the most of the upcoming CDI-W competitions with the hope of qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Shiwon and Gosh have gained a great following from taking part in the Steffen Peters clinic and demonstrations throughout Equitana.