DRESSAGE Olympian Mary Hanna has had a lot of experience at transporting performance horses between hemispheres to big events.
She also has a good understanding of how long-distance travel can affect their performances.
Mary, pictured right, said that after arriving overseas, her champion dressage horses would go exceptionally well if the event was held within a week to three weeks after arrival, but that the horses would then hit a flat spot, which left them tired and prone to viruses.
She said this flat spot could last up to a few months.
Now racing trainers in Australia have begun to take horses overseas to big races, particularly to the UK.
While their first-up performances have often been of the highest class, they have been expected to perform equally well a couple of weeks later, but have finished down the track.
Takeover Target, Scenic Blast and Miss Andretti are examples.
While their trainers are some of the best in our country, until recently, taking race horses to the UK to compete was a rarity.
Mary also questions the wisdom in bringing race horses here to race in our hot months.
"It is easier going from hot weather to cool, I would worry about bringing a horse to our heat and expecting it to perform," she says.
Maybe the racing trainers should discuss overseas travel and strenuous competition with Mary Hanna.
