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ASKHQ: NON-DISCLOSURE AND WELFARE, LEGAL LIABILITY AND INSURANCE

ASKHQ: How does non-disclosure affect horse welfare, legal liability and insurance? Answered by Hollard Equipage A: Transparency is a critical part of any successful horse sale, insurance application, or ownership transfer. Yet many challenges arise when important medical, behavioural, or management information is not openly shared. When key details are withheld, intentionally or unintentionally, the consequences…

BylizzieMay 16, 20260Comments

Ask HQ Breeding

ASKHQ: WHEN IS THE BEST AGE TO BREED A MARE?

ASKHQ: When is the best age to breed a mare? A: Most vets and breeding specialists recommend breeding a mare between four and twelve years of age. Why not younger? Physically, a mare reaches maturity around four years old. Breeding younger than this (two to three years) is possible but not advisable: her body is…

BylizzieMay 12, 20260Comments

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ASKHQ: CHOOSING AN EQUINE VETERINARY EXPENSE POLICY WITH EQUIPAGE

AskHQ: What should you consider when choosing an equine Veterinary Expense Policy? Answered by Hollard Equipage Equipage: Owning a horse in South Africa is both a privilege and a substantial financial responsibility. With rising veterinary costs, increased travel for competitions and higher risk exposure in terms of climate change, more horse owners are turning to equine…

BylizzieApril 10, 20260Comments

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ASKHQ: WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO INSURE YOUR HORSE?

HQ: When is the right time to insure your horse, and what is the best approach? With Hollard Equipage Emergency colic surgery can cost an average of R125,000 in South Africa. Could you afford that tomorrow? Owning a horse is a major financial and emotional investment, and like any investment, it needs protection from day one.…

BylizzieMarch 11, 20260Comments

A confirmational image of a chestnut quarter horse standing on a gravel road alert and fully tacked up in brown western tack

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ASKHQ: CONSIDERING QUITTING COMPETING

Q: I'm considering giving up competing because the anxiety isn't worth it. How do I decide if I should push through or quit? A: This is a deeply personal decision that only you can make. Some important questions to consider: Is competing something you genuinely want to do, or are you doing it because you feel…

BylizzieMarch 11, 20260Comments

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ASKHQ: HOW TO STOP REPLAYING WHAT WENT WRONG

Q: How do I stop replaying my mistakes after a show? I obsess over everything I did wrong. A: Post-show rumination is incredibly common and generally unhelpful. Yes, you should review your performance to identify learning points, but there's a difference between productive analysis and destructive obsessing. Productive review follows a structure: What went well? What…

BylizzieMarch 10, 20260Comments

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ASKHQ: HOW TO STAY CALM FOR MY HORSE

Q: My horse picks up on my nerves and gets tense. How do I stay calm for his sake? A: Horses absolutely sense rider tension and often mirror it. Your elevated heart rate, rapid breathing, and tight muscles communicate to your horse that something is wrong. They respond by becoming more alert and reactive themselves,…

BylizzieMarch 9, 20260Comments

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ASKHQ: DOES SAYING I’M NERVOUS MAKE ME SEEM WEAK?

Q: Should I tell people I'm nervous, or will that make me look weak? A: Being nervous doesn't make you weak, it makes you human. In fact, vulnerability often connects people. When you admit 'I'm feeling really nervous,' you often discover others feel the same way but were also hiding it. Suddenly you're not alone;…

BylizzieMarch 8, 20260Comments

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ASKHQ: BRAIN STOPS WORKING UNDER PRESSURE

Q: I make stupid mistakes in shows that I never make at home - forgetting the course and going the wrong way. Why does my brain stop working under pressure? A: This frustrating phenomenon occurs because anxiety genuinely affects cognitive function. When stressed, your brain prioritises immediate survival over complex planning. Working memory (your mental…

BylizzieMarch 7, 20260Comments

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ASKHQ: MANAGING WARM UP ARENA NERVES

Q: What should I do in the warm-up arena to manage my nerves? I feel like everyone is watching me. A: First, the reassuring reality: almost no one is watching you. They're focused on their own horses, their own nerves, and their own warm-up. Everyone in that warm-up arena is managing their own anxiety; they're…

BylizzieMarch 6, 20260Comments

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