The Magic Millions is just around the corner, kicking off this Thursday May 25th with the National Weanling Sale. If you’re planning on investing in a horse at this year’s auction, it’s important to carefully consider where you are going to keep it – and where will benefit your horse the best.
The geography of where your horse grows has great effects on its health and wellbeing. A horse’s living environment can affect everything from its mood and immune health, to its stamina and physical strength and fitness.
Builds Balance and Strength
An environment of undulating hills provides an optimal backdrop for your horse’s health, as it provides many benefits for the horse. Firstly, it fosters good core strength. The topography forces the horses to use themselves and take advantage of their own weight. The exertion required to go up pushes the muscles further. When a horse walks or trots up and down the hill, it puts extra force onto their lower leg and thigh, working to build muscle in these areas whilst increasing their general stamina. If they move sideways across the hills, it also acts to improve their stability and agility. This also will improve the horses coordination and dexterity, as it has to work out how to manoeuvre itself up and down. Additionally, it helps to decrease the risk of injury from muscle strain or a fall when footing isn’t predictable. Overall, the terrain creates great balance and strength, and promotes better growth in muscle and bone.
Promotes Mental Relaxation
A widespread, hilly landscape also encourages mental relaxation. Horses who have access to wide, open spaces are less likely to become anxious or show abnormal behaviour. Exercise is essential for a horse’s optimal mental health, and hence the workout provided by the hills assures a calm and happy horse.
Beau Skerrett, manager of Hazelwood Stables, has witnessed firsthand the positive effects of an undulating terrain on horses’ wellbeing. With 20 years’ experience starting horses, Beau explains that spelling and growing out weanlings on this type of topography can provide great benefits for training and re-educating.
“If humans have a bad back or bad posture we do Pilates, or over-extended moves in order to foster in our bodies a better range of movement,” he says.
“Horses might not be able to pull out the yoga mat, but exercising and grazing on this type of terrain acts as a kind of Pilates for the animal.”
Skerrett explains that the terrain helps to prevent injuries in the long term, and gives horses that extra length – which can be the difference between a champion and just another horse.
Hazelwood Stables offers such an environment – its Beechmont location was carefully selected to be able to offer optimal conditions for the horses’ health. Only a 45-minute drive from the Gold Coast, where all this week’s sales take place, the strategic location of the stables offers 60 acres of rolling green hills, incorporating large paddocks over 2000 feet above sea level. Hazelwood Stables are offering six, one acre paddocks and one, 20 acre paddock with hills for any horses purchased at the Magic Millions Weanling Sales on May 25th and 26th.
Be quick to reserve a paddock or position for horses on an early bird deal, get in touch with Beau Skerrett to find out more.
Beau Skerrett 0477 773 267 or bskerrett@hazelwoodgroup.com.au