Patchwork Park Equine Services

17/09/2024

Another training day at Werribee Park.

Here's the latest on the team:

TORVINA DE MEYER

Well, as you can see, he's really starting to come together. The trot work in particular is really impressive. I'm hoping to do the GP at the Dressage Festival in December, hopefully he'll continue to develop until then!

PATCHWORK STOLEN MOMENTS

After 10 or so months of Mum in the saddle, this horse basically said "enough is enough!" It seems you can't simply ride someone else's dragon and expect it to obey you. No matter how forgiving it is, and no matter how long you've been a Grand Prix rider for! It's no surprise to me that Totilas amongst other horses disappeared off the top end circuit when a new rider took over. Once these horses are wired so meticulously, it seems they are bonded to you for life. I feel very sorry for the horses who are sold and no longer can connect with "their person"
I bred Chimera, broke him in, campaigned him to Inter 1 Level, then handed him over to Mum, who in theory should ride similarly to me... But computer says no! So Chimera has returned to me now, I've had probably 5 rides and he feels like the man I married. Very familiar and we really get each other. So, now we just cruise along and see where we end up. He was very competitive at Inter 1 level with high scores up to 68%, so I'm more than happy to continue on with him. Might make a GP horse out of him yet!

WILKYFURSTMOON

Finally we are seeing some really impressive work from this mare. She is schooling all the Elementary work comfortably and has behind the scenes been working on her flying changes (still a work in progress). Mum and Molly just seem to understand each other, great to see! She's definitely an FEI horse in the making.

PATCHWORK TOTAL DEJA VU

Once an electric kitten, now an old grandma. Aspen was really quiet and straightforward today. I even managed to pull out a few perfect simple changes (I've never trained these, just a free button apparently!) She is a lot more under control with her rhythm now. No longer accelerating into the sun. She is also schooling a lot of the Elementary laterals. Shoulder in, leg yield and travers coming along. I thoroughly enjoy riding her. She is safe and honest and still just 4 years old! Very spoilt indeed!

So yeah, I am now riding 3 horses a day, and also going to gym about 3-4 times a week. Never been this fit before and I feel great!

Thanks Donna Brown for tagging along and filming. It was a lovely sunny day at Werribee today and we thoroughly enjoyed it!

We are gearing up for a big list of competitions starting from next month. Super keen!

Thanks to our sponsors
Rose-Hip Vital Equine
Flexible Fit Equestrian
Equine Images Victoria

14/09/2024

So very sad to hear of the passing of this wonderful little grey mare. Known as Promise with me, and Missy now.

This pony was iconic in shaping me as a rider. She was cunning and clever, moody yet magnificent. In the early days I had a couple of stacks off her. One involving a drain and her stopping but me continuing without her like a projectile (oops) yet by the time we sold her, I could jump on her back wearing just her rug and a halter, then fang up the hill like an absolute bogan kid.

We were never sure how old she was, but the photo under the tree is of me riding her in 2003. I suspected she was at least 10, maybe 12 then... So that would mean she made it to at least 30.

Thank you Kathryn and Ruby for loving her until the very end 💕

12/09/2024

AMELIA HOLMES UPDATE

This lovely mare was started here nearly 2 years ago, following many years in the paddock as a broodmare.

Virginia and Amelia Holmes are a fabulous pair.... And interestingly, this was the career path I quietly thought would suit her!

10/09/2024

Really lovely day today at Werribee with a full team, just a low key outing. Mum took WilkyFurstMoon and I took Torvina De Meyer, Patchwork Total Déjà Vu and.... TOTEM!

De Meyer (Heston) and Total Déjà Vu (Aspen) rode really nicely...as did WilkyFurstMoon (Molly).

This is the first off-site expedition I've had since my knee surgery and honestly I'm feeling really good. Some residual pain here and there but it was a fairly serious full thickness chondral ulcer, so a full recovery is probably not realistic. But as long as I can ride and walk, the rest is no big deal.

Heston felt wicked impressive, all the GP work well under way. Aspen gaining ground too, a little more under control in the acceleration department now.

And dear little Totem hung out in the yard just soaking it up. She was so good; didn't call or stress when the team came and went, self loaded effortlessly, stood like a lamb and even waited patiently in the float in the dark while Princess Aspen unloaded first at home. (Can you believe I trusted the 2yo more than the 4yo?!)

Her can do nature now really shows how she'll be into the future.

(And, because I think people are going to ask, photo of her injury in the comment section!)

We're planning to do this weekly for a little while if anyone wants to join.

And if riding 3 horses wasn't enough, it's 9pm and I'm now at gym burning off the last bit of energy I have 💪💪

01/09/2024

Happy birthday Mum 🎁🎁🎁

Susan Paix

17/08/2024

🐴 FLOAT TRAINING SUCCESS STORY 🐴

"Hi Heather hope your weekend away is going well….. sooooo yes we did it 🙌👏 in the pouring rain I got the little menace on and we had a good day at Unicorn Park...
..You are amazing and I can’t thank you enough for all your help. I have and will continue to pass on your info."

Words from Danielle, mother of Memphis (in photo) regarding Kaiser the pony who was once very tricky to load.

I did two sessions with Danielle and Kaiser, hands on, learning the skills and process to build confidence in all aspects of self floating. Today Danielle was able to apply these skills herself successfully. This meant they could attend this clinic, (Initially Danielle was worried they would have to forfeit their spot).

I think this is horse 54 I've taught to self load in the last 2 years... But who is counting anyway 🥴

If your horse won't float properly, PM me. Can bring my own float if needed.

P.S: Guaranteed success or no charge 💰

14/08/2024

**AGISTMENT AVAILABLE**

1) Paddocking
- Individual or shared
- Post and rail fencing
- Lined shelters
- Automatic waterers
- Daily checks
- Add on tack room
- Add on use of facilities (Indoor, outdoor, round yard)
- Add on daily feeding / rugs on / off
Priced from $50-100/w

2) Sand Yards
As above.... Sand yard with shelter. 5 available.
$80/w DIY

Located Snake Valley
Contact Susan on 0418601018 for a quote and to book a viewing

06/08/2024

A lovely update on one of our HERO graduates 🎓

This clever chap was snapped up by Jackie before we even got a chance to advertise!

Mister Jet was imported in utero, and was SUPPOSED to be quite prospective as a harness horse.

Interestingly, his breeder, Pat Driscoll, boasted proudly to me how he was "Quite Possibly The Best Bred STB C**t in Australia"

Then added, with disappointment...

"But Heather, he is slower than ME!"

So now, Jackie gets to enjoy him as a lovely ridden prospect.

A great story 💞

A move the country eighteen months ago provided Jackie Parnell with the perfect opportunity to revive her lifelong passion for horses 🥰🐴

Jackie’s been enjoying a range of activities since bringing home Eddie (a beautifully bred gelding from Yabby Dam Farms, registered as ‘Mister Jet’), transitioned from racing to riding by Hero retrainer Patchwork Park Equine Services.

“I love Eddie’s personality and I also really enjoy riding him. The fact I already trust him so much is a big deal, especially as I’m just getting back into things and he’s so green”, says Jackie.

Read this fantastic tale of swinging back in the saddle again, on a ‘clever and funny’ champ with a stamp 👇
https://hrvhero.com.au/news/eddies-steady-start-to-life-after-racing/

04/08/2024

Really impressive new SJ prospect, didn't realise he was this scopey when I first saw him advertised!

In his former years, his record was 1.70m. These days, he just schools quietly at home, though enjoys "trail riding" mostly since retirement from competition.

04/08/2024

TOTEM UPDATE

Today we had a visit from Aunty Ang from Horse Fix.

Totem had a great body work session where Ang worked on her lymphatics. She also relieved some residual tight muscles from her trauma.

I'll post a current photo of her injury in the comments 👇👇

31/07/2024

TOTEM UPDATE

Here's what she thinks about her near fatal injury that happened 3 weeks ago.

23/07/2024

TOTEM UPDATE

2 weeks later...

Today we visited BVP again to see how things are going. Unfortunately some of the skin has died, and the wound has partially degraded. Initially it looked to be healing easily, but now this has extended recovery by a few months.... Although this was always a possibility given how severely damaged she was.

Whilst it's a bit gory, fortunately, all vitals are now covered with proud flesh, and there's a possibility she won't need her leaking salivary gland ablated into the future, as it appears to be healing by itself...maybe. Time will tell. We are expecting eventually, there will only be a thin scar under her throat that may not be particularly noticeable.

She also passed her follow up scope. At the time of the injury, there was some concern that she had damaged her larynx (and therefore had the potential to develop into a roarer) however today, squeaky clean 👌👌👌

Today, Totem is allowed to spend time outside; her jail time in the stable is over... No further complicated efforts, confinement, medications, needles, pastes... Just time and rest to sort this injury out.

We are back to BVP next week to reassess how things are going. Updates to come.

19/07/2024

An unexpected and very thoughtful gift arrived in the mail today.

Thank you very kindly, Glenys and Robert from Cathedral Valley Honey for your donation, and for thinking of Totem and myself in this trying time. She is doing well and will be having her stitches removed on Tuesday ♥️

(The honey has already passed the taste test!!) 🍯

Check these guys out here:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063716523447&mibextid=ZbWKwL

16/07/2024

♥️♥️ TOTEM IS HOME ♥️♥️

14/07/2024

A grand total of 26 days on the bench, following my knee arthroscopy...

Either my legs are less supple, or this horse needs a wider gullet than when we stopped.

In any case, looks like we are back!

(Don't tell my orthopedic surgeon!) 🙊

11/07/2024

So, here's the crime scene, for those who have been asking.

I've deliberated hard about posting this. There's always going to be a Karen who tries to say, you should have known, bla bla, but you don't always know until something like this happens. I've decided to put my ego aside and share this, in hopes it'll help someone else.

There are a few reasons why this freak situation happened.

- The post is steel, cemented into the ground. Pretty much every other post on our property is wooden, which means it would have snapped. By cementing posts in, you guarantee that the fence will not break. And honestly, I was begging for it to in that moment, knowing it simply wouldn't

- Totem got chased by her mother and tried to force herself through here. And it was the force that pushed her too far into this corner. I doubt a horse would get itself stuck here on its own accord. It's not a large space, but apparently large enough.

- If by some freak situation, she had got stuck, but the bolt wasn't there, she would have pulled back a little and slid up, probably on her own, and without harm

- If the gap was even an inch narrower, perhaps she wouldn't have been able to slide her neck down as easily. Or an inch wider, she could have got herself out easier.

Hindsight is a wild thing. I look at this space now and think "it's so plain and obvious that this is a hazard" but we have lived on this property for 7 years. Many horses have been in this paddock. None have ever come close to getting stuck. Not to mention, this is the original fencing from the previous owner, who had developed the property in the 1980's. I doubt this ever happened to them either. It was just a freak accident, caused by a few specific circumstances stacking up in one exact moment.

This is the only gate on the property like this. All the other fences have been redone. Mum has already planned with our handyman how to rearrange this space to prevent this from recurring.

Obviously I feel very guilty. Obviously it nearly cost Totem her life. And I've handed over $7000 to the vets so far. A very costly learning experience, but could have been much worse. I was so sure I would watch her die on Tuesday. Every day I'm grateful.

Check your gates people. Please.

11/07/2024

TOTEM UPDATE

Well, we are now 48 hours post "attempted unaliving" and this little lady appears fairly nonchalant about it all.

She is eating, drinking and happily socialising with friends next door. She also was keen to stick her nose in my face, just like she does at home, and honestly, if my eyes were closed, I wouldn't know. Her pain appears quite minimal (and only on Bute, too).

The stitches look fantastic. No bleeding. Some saliva dripping out from underneath, as expected (given the extensive damage, and subsequent removal of her saliva gland), but so far things seem to be progressing far better than expected.

Exemplary efforts from BVP in supporting Totem during this very trying time.

More updates to come over the next few days

09/07/2024

Every horse owner's worst nightmare!!!

This is one of those, "wake up, bolt upright, sweaty and heavy breathing..."
..Except this was real.

⚠️ WARNING. VERY VERY GRAPHIC PHOTOS ⚠️

My spectacular rising 2yo filly, Total Wonder (Total Hope OLD x Wolkentanz 1) tried to unalive herself tonight while I was watching. She managed to get her head between the gate and the strainer post, got horribly, horribly stuck, pulled back and thrashed around violently.

I ran over as fast as I could (poor knee) and tried to free her. I was sure she would either break her neck, or suffocate herself, right there in front of me. A steel shed, a gate, a post, cemented in the ground, and a soft, squishy horse....which is the weakest link?

I got underneath her and forced my shoulders into her repeatedly as hard as I could to try and get her free, finally managing to. Unfortunately there was a steel bolt attached to the rail, and consequently, she has done some catastrophic damage to her face and throat. (How on earth is she still alive?) This is by far the worst injury I've seen in person.

Mum and I stood with her for the longest 25 minutes of our lives. Blood on my face, down my hands, shirt, pants, shoes. Everywhere. And plenty more pouring out. Good little Totem stood largely very still, with a halter half around her neck, while Mum and I stood either side and kept her calm. I had her skun cheek skin, which was down around her lips, lifted up with a towel, and her severed jugular vein clamped between my fingers to stop it spraying around like a fire hose.

Ballarat Vet Practice arrived, wrapped her up, and then this very obliging yearling filly self loaded into my float. She has only ever done a few stationary practice loads, never mind actually going for a drive. Big ask, especially in the almost dark too!

A surprisingly uneventful slow drive to the vet... We are now sitting on chairs watching this remarkable veterinary team at work.

So far, there appears to be no fractures, the scope is largely clear, and it's now a game of Tetris to try and reassemble my lovely little "Future Grand Prix Horse".

Despite how morbid this is, I am incredibly impressed with her willing temperament... I've always known she had the brains for it, but there were so many "you couldn't possibly train for this" moments tonight, and she just said "oh, ok!"

Most frighteningly, I know if I wasn't there to get her out, and then there to compress the jugular vein, I'm certain she would be dead. And that terrifies me.

There is a long road ahead, and the expected bill is $3-10k, with room to increase if complications arise. (If you feel like having an extra lesson, PM me 🥴 )

Special thanks to Mum and Jesse for being moral support... Lots of swear words uttered tonight.

I feel I'm in good hands with the expert care of Dr Travis Smyth, and his team of nurses who are currently working after hours to fix my beautiful filly. The left side jugular vein can't be saved... And I just watched them put one of her salivary glands in the bin.

Updates to come.... But honestly, some days I don't know why I do this 🙃

Only look through the photos if you're game... It's pretty gnarly.

06/07/2024

Another Horsham Clinic done and dusted 🤝

Always a great mob of motivated riders, 10 yesterday and 9 today.

Back again at the end of the month, thanks for having me!

04/07/2024

A few months ago, we advertised this ripper mare. And boy, our inbox went wild.

We had a buyer on the hook, but she failed the vet check, which ended up being two nasty foot abscesses on top of each other!

The foot abscesses have resolved, Cobweb is sound and has a full bill of health. Due to these circumstances, she is still available for purchase. She is a lovely, quiet and straightforward youngster who could be brought along by someone half heartedly, or a dead easy job for a breaker to finish her off. Prior to her foot abscesses, she was being ridden by teenagers. Yes, a 3yo breaker with only 10 rides under her belt!

A very well bred young mare with colour, temperament and eligible for registration...what are you waiting for??

03/07/2024

2 weeks post op, and I'm back into it (but teaching on a chair for the first time ever!)

I now service the Muckleford area, currently monthly clinics but aiming for fortnightly. Point of contact is Carla Rotteveel

I also service

Horsham (Jo Lane)
Ararat
Stawell
Geelong (Kate Louise Bull)
Guildford (ARC)
Daylesford
Dunolly (ARC)
Ballarat

If you'd like to coordinate a clinic please let me know, or PM the above people to get on their lists!

27/06/2024

Meydan update!!

“I really wanted a safe horse to get back into things. I was looking specifically for a standardbred, as I’ve always loved their temperament”, says new Hero owner, Jodie Burt.

“I find that the standardbred build and hardiness really suits me, along with their good nature and the fact they’re so reasonably priced.

“Standies are such a gentle, loving breed of horse. They’re more like big dogs really, being so affectionate and loyal”

Read this lovely tale of new friendships here 👉 https://hrvhero.com.au/news/kiwis-meydan-voyage-from-race-track-to-riding-hack/

Patchwork Park Equine Services

19/06/2024

2015 vs 2024

Back again for more patella surgery. Other knee this time. Clearly I don't do things in halves.

See y'all on the other side 👋