Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Colt With Severe Deformity Saved From Death

We've had 10 entries for the horse pics competition and there are some good ones there too. Thanks to all who have emailed their precious pics but we need lots more too so get on to your computers and email us those horse pictures. There's plenty of time but don't leave it all too late because you know just how busy life will be in December don't you........

Here's some trivia that opened my eyes. We know that cows produce lots of 'wind' - most of it's methane and of course we're told that it's a major greenhouse gas etc etc, but I always thought it came from the 'back end'. Silly me eh....'er indoors put me straight. 'It mostly comes front the front, from the stomach(s), idiot'. Well, good reasons for keeping well clear of both ends I reckon, don't you?

A colt born just 30 days ago has been given a second chance to survive by an East Texas equine rescue group. The people at Safe Haven Equine Rescue went the extra mile to save a little filly named Jewel. Born to a rescued horse, the colt had severe front leg deformity and Jewel had little chance for survival. The video is on the right of the page...nice little colt too.

A DEPUTY stable manager is in training to undertake an epic six month 2,000 mile horseback trek across America. Lisa Waller, 23, will follow the cowboy routes of the 1860s and 70s from 145 miles west of Dallas, Texas to Montana as part of a team of five. “I always thought what an amazing experience it would be to ride across America,” she said. Now here's the best bit..you can join too at a cost of around 800 Aus per week inclusive. Hell, why not?

A man was arrested on Friday for driving drunk after crashing into a horse-drawn buggy. The accident happened on S Ray-Quincy Road near Copeland Road, California, Michigan. The man was airlifted to hospital...of the horse no reports. One hopes it was ok but then it's only a horse eh? Typical.

Equine Health - Skin Conditions. Common Skin Problems in Horses and How to Treat Them
Read more here
I can tell you that for the conditions of ringworm and mud fever/rain rot there's nothing much better than H10 ointment. If you don't believe me then read what other users have said......and you can get two for one.

Former jockey Roy Higgins says the success of Bart Cummings as a horse trainer has a lot to do with the quality of his support staff. You'll find that quality in any good team.... that's what it's all about. Cummins is a about the best they come...and I've immense respect for him. I might even hazard a small wager on his horse in the Cup...daft if you don't eh?

Grooming your horse need not be a stressful practice. If you are new to horse grooming, you will find that it can be difficult at first. You have to be willing to create a trusting relationship with your animal and learn your pet’s quirks. There are some horses that require extra attention and grooming, so it pays to learn early on what your horse needs. This article is 'different' and is worth a good look. I wish my Mum had been as careful and considerate with me......

Finally - Australia's first TV channel for horses and horselovers launched on Oct 16th. I missed it...typical, but here's the link and I know you'll want to have a good look. So far the channels are capital based (and where do most of the horse lovers live?) but the web site is great.

Have a great week!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

New Competition Now On

Well, the week didn't start off too well. I sometimes 'sweep' the dragon boat (that's control the big oar at the back which steers the thing) and Sunday morning our river was angry as usual. It went ok until I got the boat back to the ramp then the oar hit the bottom and muggins went over the side. My fault, and much mirth all round. Good job at my age I've lost most of me pride....but 'er indoors will be dining out on this for a while.

Anyway, the tame vet came around and we decided on a competition based upon your photos of your horses. He's such a big head that he thinks that's he's the best judge of horseflesh around here by far. Why should I disillusion him when he can judge the comp and all it costs me is a cup of coffee and some muffins? Well, it costs 'she who must be obeyed', that anyway.
So, we'd like you to send in your favourite pic(s) of your horse. Please don't send any one else's horse, and please don't just find any old nice looking horse off the web and send that in because we really want to see your horse. We'll judge the pics based upon a number of things including creativity, humour, composition, expression and to a certain extent only, how good looking it might be.
Here's the email address to send it to. mailto:htenaus@gmail.com

I have deliberately chosen a gmail (not a ggmail!) address because I'll also be putting the email address on the H10 web site here and as soon as the spa**ers get hold of it I will be inundated with all sorts of trash mail. Makes me mad.....

Remember that the prize is a specially designed 'horse mirror' from Kim at Kimmaka Designs with a value of $100 so it's certainly worth the effort and we'll open the comp for entries immediately and it will run for 2 months with the winner being notified in the H10 newsletter of Dec 16th. We'll also make the pics available for all to see on the H10 Picasa album site in the New Year.
So, what are you waiting for...we will acknowledge all pics sent in.

Hello, Tomorrow! Four Areas of Change in the Horse World. Here’s an eye-opening look at how four areas of change--beyond the economy--are transforming the horse world.

Carole Fletcher and the world's smallest trick horse Hercules perform at Romeo Elementary School on Friday in Romeo. The crowd erupted when Hercules made the basket. What basket? Read more.......

If you are going to jump a fence with your favourite boy or girl, this is NOT the way to do it. More pride hurt than anything though.

If you've never seen how the great Australian horse 'educators' of our past worked, then you can see a great example here. Just click on the video link half way down the page.

Have a great week

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Would You Buy This Service?!

Even as I write this, I'm watching the dust storm roll in from the west and 'er indoors is outdoors cursing the wind as she grapples with the washing misbehaving on the Hills hoist. Ah, the wonders of domestic bliss eh? We have our anniversay later this week and I forget it at my peril...you don't want to know the half believe me........

Here's a first class example of an ad for horse training that didn't quite hit the mark. Would you use this person's services?

"I use a jental method of training, i try to get the horse to work with me not against me. the method i use is called join up. I can get your horses for barrels, poles, gaming, i can start your horse in reining, i can get your horses so they are not as spooky on trails. i will even help you with ponies. i charge $25 an hour. my method dose work i have used it on a lot of horses. I can work with you and your horse. i can help you become one with your horse. if you would like pictures or more information please feel free to ask. The first pic is of an AQHA colt that i got in trade for a pony i used the join up method on him, i got him learning leg cues by the age of 2. The second pic is of am APHA mare that cam to me....etc, etc"
Good, innit eh? I'd better keep the source anonymous

Eddie, a horse in Wyoming, survived a 3.3-mile swim through an irrigation tunnel after being sucked into the intake valve. Eddie was found — relatively unscathed — two days after disappearing under water. What a story and they say it's only cats that have 9 lives.

I didn't realise that Canada has a national horse site. Stupid of me when I've watched all those Westerns in my time and half of them must've been filmed there. This site too, gives a unique slant on horses from a Canadian angle.

Here's a great 'tongue in cheek' video of just what happens at a regular horse show. I laughed my socks off. This guy has a slightly sarcastic view of things but you can see from the reaction of his kids that they are now used to their Dad's crazy videos. I loved it. Hope you do too.

The Lumberjack Day Parade in West Point gets under way with banners, trucks, kids and horses. Look, this video has a bit of everything, literally, that you'd find in your local show but US style and it's worth a look....and yep, it does have some lumberjack action towards the end but it ain't anywhere near as exciting as our axeman. I liked the donkey...he (or she) is cute. As for the billy carts....um.

Poor old Buster. He's got a very nasty abcess on his neck and here the local vet is draining it. OK, it's not very nice, certainly not very pretty and some would say gross so you've been warned.....and I promise this is the last time I'll post this type of video. So why did I post it? Well, because Buster is a real champion and hardly moves despite the obvious pain. If you've a horse like this, then he's one in a million. Treasure him.

Matthew Doward, a Henrietta resident, started the “A Horse’s Friend” program four years ago, when looking for a way to curb youth violence in the inner city. He saw horses as a good means to that end, because they bring kids out of the city on a regular basis. Additionally, he said, most city children don’t have the opportunity to be around horses. Nice video.

Here are the major prize winners and their pics from the Australian Oct SHCQ event. Some nice looking mounts too. Courtesy of Horse Deals and Narelle Wockner

Finally, 'Because of a Horse' is a promotional campaign designed to raise awareness and funds for America's Horse Cares, the therapeutic riding program of the American Quarter Horse Foundation. Great video, great music and a great cause and well worth seeing. Reminds me of the Graeme Connors anthem for the Paralympics in SYdney in 2000. 'Er indoors and I were volunteers....wonderful event and if you've not heard Graeme's paralympic anthem 'Being there', then you've missed something. Don't forget the tissues though.

AND...our new comp starts next week with a lovely individually designed, equine themed mirror as a prize from Kim at Kimmika Designs

Have a great week!

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

A New Car Equine Training System...Really??

A truly riveting weekend. 'She who must' had been out in the garden and discovered 'the return of the stink bugs' all over the citrus trees. Yes, you can guess can't you. Armed with spray I set forth only to have her tell me that it was environmentally unfriendly to spray nasty stuff around and I should get some pliers to lever off the disgusting pesky insects. So I did, and there's a certain satisfaction in that knowing that the citrus will remain pristine for 'er indoors to regale the neighbours with. As for the bugs, well so far, Geoff 80 plus, stinkbugs 1 - I got sprayed by one viscious individual who took exception to his/her treatment. I don't think I've seen the last of them though.......

Seems like something from the Year 2020, but this is the Kurtsystems Car equine training system. The car keeps up with the horse and includes features such as oxygen masks and an electrocardiogram machine. Courtesy of Super Punch. Weird I call it but here's video of it in action and guess what? You can also use it to train camels. Well I never.....:

Meet Poe the Clydesdale - The World's Tallest Horse. Yet another record? Poe is 20.2 hands or 81 inches high and weighs in at 3000 lbs. In new money that's 206 cms high and 1364 kilos in weight. Unless you know something bigger of course?

Did you know anything about a breed called 'The Morgan Horse'? I didn't but here are some nice videos for you to see for yourself

"Over the Labor Day Weekend of 2009 the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) bumbled an ill-conceived and mismanage round up of the world famous “Cloud’s Herd” of the Pryor Mountains in Montana. Ignoring their studies and the advice of experts they stampeded horses down 5,000 feet of rocky mountainside in 95+ degree heat only to break apart family bands, pump the mares full of PZP and injure the horses. Despite public outcry, orders from a Congressman and questions from Senators the local BLM office in Billings destroyed this beautiful herd." Sad story and video.

Sending a horse away for training can be pretty stressful, especially if you don’t know what to send with him. Fortunately, it doesn’t need to be all that bad. With some planning ahead, and smart packing, your horse will soon be off to school, and you can relax and know that he’s all packed. Courtesy of Horse Blogs

You are getting ready to ride your horse. You are all tacked up and ready to bridle the horse. You approach the horse with the bridle, and he refuses. The horse lifts his head and clamps his mouth shut. What is the problem, and what should you do? Courtesy of Deanna Castro.

Here's an early Christmas present idea for your horse. I've posted videos of horses and their toys but this seems a great idea ...and no, I've no connection with these people whatsoever. The key to this oversized ball's durability is an inner PVC bladder that's covered with a tough fabric. But the ball can be punctured, and while the ball's casing can be repaired, punctured bladders must be replaced. If your 'boy' loves soccer this might be just the thing...

But I won't stop there. I rarely promote products but I got this email from Kim Ogden:
"I am one of your subscribers and enjoy your “newsletter” each time you send it. It adds interest to get your mind thinking. I like that. I make “Horse” acrylic mirrors and the concept is totally my own, Australian designed and made and thought that your subscribers may wish to think of these as Christmas pressies. If you would consider giving me a plug, I would be happy to donate a mirror to you for a “prize” for your competitions". Well, there's the plug and I couldn't resist it so here's Kim's site. Go and have a look...and remember, it's only 11 weeks to Christmas.

And so...new comp coming up next week. Thanks Kim
Have a great week