Merry Christmas and Highlights of 2012 from the Team at Horsezone!

2012 has almost galloped off into the sunset and the time has come to say a very Merry Christmas to all our loyal customers, to thank you for your support and reflect on a brilliant year here at Horsezone!

The past 12 months have been hugely rewarding with the site growing incredibly, heaps of fantastic horses being listed and sold, many clubs jumping on board, sponsored events galore plus plenty of other horsey action to keep us on our toes.

Jo Johnson & Leah Dale at EQUITANA (Photo: Local Horse Magazine)

Worldwide PB and Jo Formosa competing in London (Photo: Claire Seidl)

It was agreed that one of the most amazing and inspirational people we met this year was definitely Paralympic gold medallist and Horsezone Ambassador Joann Formosa and that EQUITANA, which we all attended and thoroughly enjoyed, was the stand out event.

As we look forward to 2013 and wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year, we thought you might like to get to know the Horsezone team a little better...

Leah Dale - Marketing Manager

Favourite horse of the year?

Worldwide PB – there was nothing like seeing this great horse and Joann Formosa win gold at London 2012.

A personal business achievement for the year?

Taking on the Marketing role with Inglis Digital. After working five years at Inglis it was a great challenge that I had to accept.

Stand out stallion you'd send a mare to?

It’s a toss up between two Warmbloods, Bluefields Floreno (imp) by Florencio and Worldwide PB. They are both stunning with amazing movement.

Personal horsey highlights for the past year?

I’m out of the showing circuit at the moment so my personal horsey highlight would have been educating and preparing my four year old thoroughbred and then selling her on to her new home, where she is going really well.

Best present Santa could bring you or your horse?

I would love Santa to bring my thoroughbred an Antarès bridle.

Plans for the holidays?

Road trip to my mother’s property in Tamworth for a country Christmas, hopefully the weather will be nice and there will be plenty of food and swimming.

Most looking forward to in 2013?

My personal goal is to get my retired racehorse to his first show. My professional goal is to work with our close knit team to continue to improve Horsezone and to ensure all our clients are always happy.

Jo Johnson - Website Content Manager

Favourite event of the year?

NPHA, where the absolute best of the best western show horses gather to battle it out for big money and the prestige of an NPHA Title. Also loved the National Interschool Championships (fantastic bunch of kids), The Qld Festival of Dressage and Ekka (Royal Brisbane Show).

Jo Johnson with judge Joh Bailey and the winner of the Horsezone Warmblood Under Saddle Class at Ekka 2012 (Photo: JMS Photography)

Quarter Horse stallion One Lazy Impulse

Favourite horse of the year?

There are heaps of western horses I covet (can't pick just one), however, after attending many dressage events, I really love watching OO Seven. Whether he's warming up or performing in front of a huge crowd, he is such a calm boy, who is not only stunning looking but always gives his absolute best.

Personal business achievements for the year?

Continuing to provide a comprehensive news service on the Horsezone website, promoting the great horses for sale on our site through the newsletters, attending sponsored events and growing our Facebook page to nearly 12000 likes!

Horse you would love to own?

YLS Custom Maid - a young Quarter Horse mare who is an NPHA Champion and has a huge future ahead of her in showing and breeding.

Stand out stallion you'd send a mare to?

Quarter Horse One Lazy Impulse because he's the only son of Lazy Loper (sensational US western pleasure sire) in Australia.

Personal horsey highlights for the past year?

My show gelding, Suthern Docs Dreamcat (Teddy), had an injury this year, so there wasn't anything on the showing front - he seems fine now! We did have the pleasure of breaking in his two year old half sister, Pure Blonde (Bella) and she's showing a lot of potential.

The best present Santa could bring you or your horse?

A new shelter or two for the paddocks! One from SVE Rural Tech would be just right. Or maybe a couple of Mats By Design mats for the float?

Plans for the holidays?

Catching up with friends and family at the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane, riding Teddy and Bella, seeing 'The Hobbit' on boxing day!

Most looking forward to in 2013?

My personal goal is to get Teddy back into work and start showing again. On the Horsezone front, I'm looking forward to continuing to provide great news, galleries and newsletters; getting to as many sponsored events as possible; and generally helping to keep Horsezone a fantastic website that offers everything equine in one place.

Tim Dreverman & Leah Dale with Gee Gee at EQUITANA

Sharon Slater and Ulixes (photo: Furdography)

Tim Dreverman - Accounts Manager

Favourite event of the year?

Australian Showjumping Championships at Werribee, it was marvellous to see our showjumpers compete at such a beautiful event and have it rival European shows!

Favourite horse of the year?

I want to be the number one member of the CP Ullixes (owned by Sharon Slater) fan club. It has been an absolute pleasure to see this horse improve over the past 12 months. He won in very tough competition the two biggest Grand Prix's - the final round at the Australian Championships and just the other day he won the World Cup at SIEC.

A personal business achievement for the year?

Signing up Southern Cross Horse Transport as our Transport partner for Horsezone. Not only fantastic people but super when it comes to transporting horses and making you feel great about it!

Horse you would love to own?

Celeborn - a wonderful showjumping stallion by Calvin Z who is a real gentleman.

Stand out stallion you'd send a mare to?

Warmblood Cassiago because he is an exceptional showjumping stallion with a first class pedigree.

Personal horsey highlights for the past year?

It's been a tough year in my horse camp with two horses having injuries that has put them out for up to six months each, however, I'd have to say training and competing a young gelding, Retro Groovin, who I bred and started and am now competing confidently around 1.1m courses, has been a massive high.

Best present Santa could bring you or your horse?

A new stable block from Brenton and the team at SVE Rural Tech!

Plans for the holidays?

Busy Busy Busy! Watch this space as I will be running the 6th Annual Snowy Mountains Showjumping Festival in Cooma. 330 riders and 500 horses - the largest showjump event in Regional NSW - running from the 2-5 January. I might try and relax by the beach on Christmas Day.

Most looking forward to in 2013?

Plenty to look forward to! Horsezone is getting huge momentum and growing everyday, to be part of it is super exciting.

Jenny Goodwin with Jo Formosa at EQUITANA

Jenny and her horse Fynn

Jenny Goodwin - Clubs & Sponsorship Co-ordinator

Favourite event of the year?

The Sydney CDI Dressage was a fantastic event.

Favourite horse of the year?

Diamantina IV – she is such a beautiful mare. She looks like she is dancing on air when she trots.

A personal business achievement for the year?

Having clubs embrace the opportunities that Horsezone is offering them to both promote themselves and to fundraise via our Club Contribution Scheme.

Horse you would love to own?

This beautiful black filly by Bluefields Floreno out of a Jazz mare purchased from the Netherlands.

Stand out stallion you'd send a mare to?

Warmblood OO Seven because he is stunning, stunning horse.

Your own personal horsey highlights for the past year?

1. Seeing the hard work of establishing the basics with my very sensitive Warmblood finally starting to pay off.  Thanks to dressage riders/coaches Michelle Baker and Denise Rogan for lessons and for their continuing support.

2. The opportunity to have lessons on Denise Rogan’s very special Grand Prix horse APH Romarn (Remi).

The best present Santa could bring you or your horse?

A Wagner’s double bridle, please Santa.

Plans for the holidays?

Staying at Kangaroo Valley and riding at Wallaby Hill Farm where my horse thought he was having a rest!

Most looking forward to in 2013?

I am really looking forward to getting out and about competing with my horse Fynn.  Horsezone-wise, I’m looking forward to meeting lots of passionate and dedicated horse people through my work with sponsorship and clubs.