H10 Horse Grooming

Frightening Thoroughbred Goes WIld at Race Track

2010-03-17T14:49:00.000+11:00

I have a very special book offer with forty percent off the following titles
HORSE TACK BIBLE
HORSES HEALTH PROBLEM SOLVER
HOW YOUR HORSE WORKS
INJURY-FREE HORSE
RIDING FOR PLEASURE
SOUND HORSE BIBLE
YOUR HORSES HEALTH:LAMENESS

All of them are around the thirty five dollar region with the first two at forty nine and fifty four respectively so the forty percent off is a good one. I haven't used figures otherwise this newsletter would not reach you!
If you are interested then email me at geoff@h-10.com.au and I'll send you details but be quick because my supplier does not expect them to last.

This week's newsletter is all about horsey videos and I hope you enjoy them...even 'er indoors raised a chuckle!

Horse Mishaps on Video....click to see Video. This is a cleverly narrated collection of absolutely hilarious horse mishaps.
Courtesy of The Equinest.

Here's a frightening clip of a thoroughbred that went crazy at the start of a race and made off into the crowd. There's no conclusion so I wonder how they got it back.........

A rebellious horse is sick and tired of the way his people have been oppressed. Long live the Equine Revolution! Courtesy of Break.com. Perhaps they should have fixed the bridle adjustment first?

Watch the chicken in the bottom left of the video pecking the ground for food when suddenly the horse gives him a swift kick to the head sending him about thirty feet to the top of a barn roof. Who'd be a chicken with bad tempered horses around....eggceptional video though.

Here's Virtual Horse - Create colored virtual horses, play horse games online, build a ranch, train your online horses, manufacture horse tack, breed horses and play with the breed of your choice. Great for kids....no cost either.

Now, let me tell you. In future you won't have to run after your horses to catch him. Just use your dog and it'll do it for you. Don't believe me? Just watch this. Courtesy of sevenload.com

Here's some truly amazing horse jumping for you. Some of the antics I thought were 'manufactured' but apparently the only thing manufactured is the music....which of course you can turn off. I did.

Have a great week

Freak Accident Kills 3 Arabians

2010-03-10T09:21:00.000+11:00

We had a charity raffle last Saturday and 'your truly' was auctioned as an item. OK, don't die laughing. I did put on a tuxedo and looked pretty good, or so I thought with my recent weight loss and I was expecting to make quite a bit for the worthy cause. I was 'sold' for $60 and now have to cook dinner for the lucky recipients. Um.
'Er indoors remarked that she thought at $60 I was definitely overpriced. There's no justice is there?

Three horses were killed Friday morning in a tragic accident on Highway 211 north of Colton, Oregon USA, according to Oregon Department of Transportation. Very sad event...they were Arabians too.

Here's Horse Link Magazine...an online equestrian mag worth a good look.

Olympic veteran and top international three-day eventing coach Jim Wofford helps you start your horse jumping ditches confidently and safely. What is a ditch, anyway? At eventing's entry levels, it's no more than three feet wide and 12 inches deep. It doesn't need to be huge, however, to pose an enormous psychological barrier for you and your horse. But here's how to do it.

George Morris Horsemastership Training Program Links - for the last four years Practical Horseman has given you a ringside seat at the George Morris Horsemastership Training Session. Here are links to all of the online postcards, videos, blogs and more. There's all sorts of good stuff here.

Bad horse riding moments! Some VERY interesting ones! These horses need a good trainer...and as for the ones trying to jump. Well, inane comes to mind but you'll get a laugh out of it so don't take it too seriously. It's obvious from their comments that they've had their fair share of feedback........music's ok though.

You might remember we showed a Hummer Jeep changing from a huge engine to horse power...literally. Here's the finished version and I'd be proud to attach horses to it. Masterful conversion this......and yet some people have questioned as to whether this is 'art'? Who cares....it looks great and the horses will love pulling it.

The Stallion and the Foal - some lovely video and photography of native American horses from Pam Nickoles and music extracts from 'The Man From Snowy River'. Nice.

Collection of girls falling from their horses in barrel racing competitions. The moral...wear a helmet!

If you haven't checked the 'complimentary' section of the H10 web siite then you should.
Have a great week.

Warning - Dangerous Miniature Horse On The Loose.

2010-03-03T09:04:00.000+11:00

Spent the weekend in Darling Harbour at the Chinese New Year dragon boat regatta and us 'ancients' won a second prize trophy in the regional teams final. We were going to fill it with champagne but then found out that the 'crystal' was in fact 'plastic'...rather took the gloss off that! Still, 'Er indoors got a medal from a team 'place' in the Breast Cancer survivors racing too so she was highly pleased. Hasn't taken it off since either.......

Baby miniature horse on the loose! This little fella got loose at a swanky US miniature horse show and didn't he go. Had a great time too by the look of it although I don't think Mum would be too pleased.

A sobering thought for us all......A VICTORIAN horse trainer who became a paraplegic when a horse fell on him while exercising in sand has been awarded $300,000 in damages. That's not all either......

Leszek Stepien, 62, of Skwierzyna, used his farm horse to tow his broken down truck to the garage but had drunk so much he couldn't steer straight. The impromptu carriage ground to a halt when the farmer managed to steer straight into the path of an oncoming car, sending the truck tumbling onto its side. Stepien wasn't about to take the blame for the collision, however. Uninjured, he sprang from the cab and proceeded to berate the poor beast, yelling: "This is all your fault." Yeah, right. Looks like he's in for a pasting too.

RACEHORSE trainer Anthony Cummings is fighting claims he worked horses so hard they were incapable of racing, took sale commissions he shouldn't have and bought horses for a client that were not fit for competition. In documents filed in the NSW Supreme Court, horse breeding and training outfit Patinack Farm, run by mining tycoon Nathan Tinkler, is seeking $6.4 million from Cummings and his companies. Ouch...bet the lawyers get the last laugh though.

Write a caption for this photo of Buggs, a 13-year-old, stock-bred horse trained to paint. The horse, who resides near Iron Ridge, Wisc., has been painting for two years. Um, dare I say that his efforts are a bit better than mine.

You've probably heard of Chance Bye (pun intended I think). According to leading UK racing mags he is (quote) 'An Australian Racing Fairytale'. Michael Tubman was broke and out of a job when he took the gamble of a lifetime borrowing money to buy a race horse. Incredibly, a decision that could have landed Tubman in a whole lot of debt and trouble was the move that turned his dead-end life around. Filly-phenomenon Chance Bye has embarked on a winning streak that is truly the stuff dreams are made of. Now, I'm not a betting man but if you don't have an 'each way' on her to place in the Golden Slipper then don't blame me.

We've had the largest horse in the world featured, so here's Thumbelina - The World's Smallest Horse...and doing great charity work too.

Guinness Horse Surfer Ad. Never seen this? You should.......

Never used H10 ointment on your horse? You should because it's a must for the tack box. See what others say before you take our 2 for 1 offer.

Have a great week!!

Are These Horses Real? You Choose - Then Be Surprised!

2010-02-24T09:44:00.000+11:00

I'm stuffed after a local dragon boat regatta at the weekend. Woke up Monday with aches all over...that despite the fish oil, glucosamine, chondroitin etc, etc. Y'know, age can be a terrible thing!

We are looking towards another book order in a month or two so we'll let you know when the list is ready for you. Those of you who haven't been involved before should have a good look because we're able to get 40 percent off all titles and we share that with you 50:50.

Are these real horses or not?......you choose...then you might well be very surprised.

"The Waterhole Rituals can be thought of as a courtship to win a horse’s trust, affection, loyalty and respect rather than a horse training method. Your communication skills with horses using my Method are meant to evolve organically from the relationship you build with your horse. I will guide you though each step as your relationship matures to a dancing partnership in harmony and unity. Leadership in the moment a horse feels a connection in companionship inspires a horse to follow your lead like music inspires the dancer to dance." This is the first chapter of a new horse book that describes itself as above...NOT as training you understand. I know, I know, I'm a bit of a cynic about these things and frankly I don't believe that I want to 'quick step' with my horse. For a start, his feet are much too big. But, like most things I'm open to change.....

"Are you an equestrian enthusiast? Perhaps you're thinking of buying a horse? If that's the case, we've created this guide to help you groom your four-legged friend." Courtesy of eHow editor, Christy Buena. Pretty comprehensive too and if you click the links you'll have about a days reading as well.

There's a whole lot of extra and interesting content this month on the Horse Channel. Worth a browse I think.

llustrated Guide: Body Condition Score System. Don Henneke's nine-point body condition score scale takes the guesswork out of evaluating equine body fat levels. Courtesy of Equus magazine.

A brief look at what goes into getting the horses ready for a Wells Fargo film shoot. Nice clip.

Remember that video of an unbound horse running alongside bicycles in the Tour de France, featured in Amelie? A runaway Barnum & Bailey zebra paid homage to that yesterday, but on a downtown Atlanta highway. The nimble quadruped escaped from its enclosure and galloped to freedom down a major commuter thoroughfare. A fleet of police closed in on motorcycles, apprehended the runaway, loaded him on a truck, and returned him to a life of tap dancing for pennies with clowns. Shame.

We are thinking of another competition for 2010 so if you've any ideas then please let us know. Rewards of course for good ideas.

Meanwhile - have a great week
Geoff

If You Have A Horse Like This....Look Out!

2010-02-17T09:34:00.000+11:00

Hope you all remembered Valentines Day? If not then you're probably still feeling put out because you forgot (bad), or someone forgot you, (even worse!). I managed a last minute card for 'er indoors...and with her suitably impressed I was allowed to indulge myself in the cricket for the day. Still don't know why I don't get the cards I used to though.......

If you have a horse like this, then you need to do something about it....quick!

Here's a very sad story...and a very puzzling one too.
A retired pregnant race horse was shot and killed, and now lawmen are asking for help in tracking the shooter. Carteret County deputies say someone shot "Breeze" in the head between Sunday and Monday at the owner's property on Taylor Farm Road, outside of Beaufort in Carteret County on the North Carolina coast. The horse's owner, Elizabeth Loftin, says the horse was worth approximately $30,000. Detectives say they believe that the horse was specifically targeted and the person who shot her meant to kill her.

Here's the training clip of the week. Larry Trocha, teaches how to cue your horse to stop. Check it out! Courtesy of my friend Deanna Castro and Larry Trocha.

For those of you who have read the novels of Dick Francis the best-selling British thriller writer and steeplechase jockey, sad news. Dick Francis died in his home in the Cayman Islands Feb. 14, The Associated Press reported. He was 89. More here:

Probably the last word on this controversial topic.... Participants in a Feb. 9 conference organized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) imposed sanctions on aggressive riding, including that which results in hyperflexion of the horse's neck. "The group redefined hyperflexion/Rollkur as flexion of the horse's neck achieved through aggressive force, which is therefore unacceptable," the FEI said in a statement. "The technique known as Low, Deep, and Round, which achieves flexion without undue force, is acceptable." So, how do you tell the difference. Well, I'm not a dressage expert. Courtesy of The Horse.

I've been doing a series of unfortunate crashes lately...this recent one in the US shows just how dangerous the trots can be and how those jockeys/drivers earn their money. Listen to the commentator too...I don't think he would change the pitch of his voice if you dropped a bomb on him.

This poor girl has a rough time....we all know just how slippery horse manure can be, even for a horse. Her horse slips on the mess, and she gets dumped into the ****. Unfortunate but I had to raise a chuckle. Bet she'll be keeping an eye out for it in the future.

Here's a useful little video for those of us that go for jumping. Exercises to Tune Your Eye for Jumps. Watch a video of two exercises Olympic silver medalist Peter Leone uses to help his students tune their eyes for jumps. Courtesy of Equisearch

We have John Pinnell's complete horse training programme including initial training, overcoming horse problems and horse trailering, together with his accompanying book all available in a presentation pack. Have a look

Have a great week.

Dramatic Video - Horse Falls From Trailer and Runs Along Main Highway

2010-02-10T09:41:00.000+11:00

I've given up watching the cricket - there's no competition this year with Aus winning everything and 'er indoors pounced as soon as the words were out of my mouth. What an idiot I am! There's now a list of jobs the length of my arm in front of me. Now, how do I get really interested in fishing again?

A driver captured video of an injured horse running down the northbound lanes of the Southwest Freeway after the animal fell out of a moving trailer. The driver of the trailer did not see that the horse had fallen out, or the resulting traffic jam, and kept driving, Stafford police said. It's a miracle the horse didn't suffer any more than cuts and bruises. BUT, just look at the way they were trying to get the horse into its box to take it to the vet.....eventually deciding that whipping the poor animal would 'help it on its way'. Hah.

Mane Pulling 101: Techniques for Pulling, Shortening and Thinning Your Horse's Mane. Horses manes can easily become tangled in the rider's reins and hands. For many disciplines therefore it is customary to shorten and thin the mane so that it stays out of the way. Courtesy of Stacie Moyle.

Prince Harry was thrown from his horse during a charity polo match in Barbados to raise money for his African children's charity. The royal was making a tight right hand turn when his pony's legs slipped and the animal fell. The prince was thrown clear and rolled a couple of times before getting to his feet uninjured. But he appeared to take the accident as a blow to his pride, throwing his mallet down in disgust and punching his helmet as it lay on the ground. Hope he didn't hurt his royal hand........ Courtesy of Daily Telegraph and Sky news. Here's the video.

"Horse in Training" Classic Super Bowl Commercial. This is a cracker!

We've dealt with the mane....now, the term “mud knot” describes a variety of techniques designed to keep a horse’s tail clear of sloppy footing, trail debris or even his own legs. Mud knots range from intricate braids secured with yarn to quick loops tied at the end of the tail. The method demonstrated in the download below requires no rubber bands or bandages but, if done properly, will stay in place for most activities. Nice one. Courtesy of Equisearch.

In today’s day and age of sophisticated car tuning, there aren’t a lot of tuners that can proudly say that they were able to turn a Hummer H2 into a high-tech, horse-drawn carriage. A Hummer by the way, is a BIG America jeep, about 2 metres wide with a huge engine. Looks much better as a horse drawn carriage though...very clever.....have a look.

There's been a great response to our new video on double lunge and long rein training. You can see a description and watch a great introductory video here.

Now this is one great idea....One of the Republican front-runners in the governor's race is pushing legislation to establish special license plates for horse lovers. We've got a Fed election coming up, do you think any of our pollies might come up with such a scheme? Yeh, right.

Have a good week!

View The Very Latest In Fashion From The Horse Show Catwalk

2010-02-03T09:01:00.000+11:00

'Er indoors has been picked for the N. NSW Dragon Boating squad so she's really pleased. The back deck is now filled with heavy objects referred to as her 'weights' which she has to move in all sorts of directions to get fit and strengthen up. There's also lots of exercises to do with core fitness or something (you as riders would know all about that eh?). She says it will do her the world of good. Me, I'm just confused.....

Horse & Rider’s band of insiders cruised this past season’s biggest, hottest shows, not only to watch the action in the show pen, but also to check out the latest show fashions on the proverbial horse-show catwalk. Just when we thought those show blouses couldn’t get any more bling-ified, it seems bling is here to stay (for now)--and the bigger, brighter and bolder the bling--the better....and how.Wow! Courtesy of Equisearch

“Picaro,” the horse brought last week to the Tufts University's Cummings School’s Hospital for Large Animals with gunshot wounds, is “bright and alert” today following a second surgery Wednesday last in which veterinarians stabilized his jaw and removed fragments of his hyoid. Nice article with a good video showing the nasty damage done to this porr animal....and it looks like a happy ending too.

Now, here's a fascinating video on the use of light to bring a mare into cycle. I really hadn't heard too much about this but the vet interviewed explains it very well and it's really well worth a lsiten and a view. According to the vet, it's about 85-90% successful in bringing a horse cycle in earlier. Courtesy of The Horse web site.

A breakthrough genetic test that can identify the optimum racing distance for individual thoroughbred horses has been launched by Equinome, a University College Dublin biotech company. Now I'm not really into horse racing but this is a first and I thought you ought to know about it because it could translate into lots of other quality testing for ALL types of horses in the future.

We have our brand new video 'Training From Double Lunge to Long Reining' now available. Here are some details and a video preview.
This is a must for anyone learnig, teaching or wanting to try these techniques. You won't be able to source this programme in Aus except from us and you get a reduction on the European cost too.

If you are watching ABC2 tonight, make sure you see this. Can two wild creatures - prisoner and mustang - help each other to a better life? Hardened criminals in the Colorado Wild Horse Inmate Program attempt to tame mustangs as part of their rehabilitation.
Here's more info from the ABC. If you miss it don't worry, they have an on line service called IView so you can see it for the next couple of weeks.

Here's another way to make your horse's coat really shine...by using pig oil. Never heard if it? Well I hadn't either but here's a video showing it in use. Its made for pigs, not from pigs you'll be glad to know! I think it's used to oil them before showing and keep their skin supple and in good condition. I believe it's actually paraffin oil. Worth a look...interesting.

Less than 24 hours after a near-death experience at a local horse track, some of the drivers are already back to racing. The accident happened Saturday night at Sports Creek Raceway Trots at about 9:15. Six people were involved, two were hospitalised. Quite a show.

Have a great week

Hilarious Horses..Have a Laugh On Us

2010-01-27T10:00:00.001+11:00

Here in Australia, we have a bird called a Spangled Drongo....no kidding. The male is big, black and spectacularly noisy...his mates are even louder. More to the point, a male and not one, but two females have taken up residence in the garden. 'Er indoors has given away the shotgun and tells me that we'll just have to live with nature. I'm off to the toyshop today for a high powered water pistol.

Here's a great montage of funny horse pics---I laughed my socks off. Sorry about the chintzy music though.

If you're into barrel racing, then here are a few tips guaranteed to ensure that both you and your horse perform better. Courtesy of Laura Thompson, horseback riding instructor, Houston, Texas.

A 30-year-old horse was rescued from a sinkhole at least 15 feet deep Monday night. Crews worked more than six hours to free the horse, an Appaloosa named Chief. Owners said Chief is one of six family horses they keep on a farm. By 8:45, nearly six hours after the first 911 call was made, Chief was pulled to safety. Crews quickly rushed to cover him with blankets and warm his body. This is the third in my series of horses getting stuck in difficult places.

The Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum was a popular tourist attraction in Victorville for more than 35 years, starting in 1967. But in 2003, five years after Rogers died in 1998 and two years after Evans died in 2001, their surviving family members moved the museum to Branson, Mo. Now, for those of you (probably most of you) who don't know about these 2, they were the first 'TV horse show stars' and they made plenty of Saturday morning movies we all crammed in to see. Roy's horse, Trigger was arguably the most famous horse in the world during his lifetime. Pity it all had to close. The stuffed and mounted body of Trigger, the golden palomino horse that co-starred with Rogers in many of his films, may alone be worth $1 million or more, auction appraisers say.

Very, very sad news here.....the daughter of champion horse racing trainer Derek Shawhas died after falling from a tractor at her family's training yard in Leicestershire, UK. His 15-month-old daughter Ellie Mae Shaw fell at the family's stables in Sproxton, near Melton Mowbray, on Monday. She was flown to hospital by air ambulance but died a short time later. Full story here

Do You Make These Horse Training Mistakes Loading Your Horse ? If you do then read this article and then hurry to our web site where you can see just how it should be done from horse training legend John Pinnell. This dvd had worked for hundreds of people who've had difficulty in the past.

Ever notice differences in how animals move their bodies? Your dog comes running up, his entire rear end swinging back and forth almost as fast as his wagging tail. Then he drops his hips and scuttles up against your legs before rolling belly-up to wriggle at your feet. Your horse’s body, in contrast, seems as solid as a rock as you brush him, and he doesn’t flinch as you place the saddle securely behind his withers and swing onto his back. You feel only a gentle undulation as he moves off. Want to know more? You should......

Dressage mare Blue Hors Matine, whose dressage freestyle at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen became an Internet video sensation, was euthanized after breaking a leg in a paddock accident, Horse and Hound reports. The 13-year-old Dutch mare was ridden by Andreas Helgstrand. She was retired from competition following a tendon injury at the Las Vegas World Cup in 2007. Blue Hors Stud Director Esben Moller told Horse and Hound Matine broke her right forelimb at the knee while out in her pasture. For those of you who have never seen this fabulous freestyle routine...here it is.

For all you 'showies'......How to Plait a Horse's Tail - Kate Baldwin is Laura Bechtolsheimer's head girl. Using a 'Bectholsheimer baby' Kate demonstrates the art of plaiting a tail.

New dvds on using the double lunge and long reining techniques available next week.

Have a great week.

Watch Two Jockeys Trading Punches...During The Race!

2010-01-20T08:48:00.000+11:00

Australia Day coming up and the annual neighbourhood barbie. Nice time of year, good to see all the flags out and a good chance to get to know people better...I should know since we've had new neighbours for 2 months and I haven't even seen them yet! When I've been around there's no-one there so perhaps I'll get the chance over a beer next Tuesday.

"Check out this video of two jockey's throwing some punches at each other as they try to gain the edge on the track. It's dangerous, and probably highly illegal, but this is just the type of thing to draw a crowd and open the doors to a whole new base of fans." Oh Really? Why not give them sabres and just call them cavalry? Anyways, it's an amusing video.

Determine whether your horse’s tack fits well or makes him fit to be tied. By Sharon Biggs. One of the most important things you can do for your horse is to make sure his tack fits properly. Poor fitting tack is comparable to you wearing poorly fitted shoes: too tight and you’ve got squished toes and painful feet; too loose and blisters abound. A horse suffers the same fate when a small saddle pinches his withers or a big saddle rolls around on his back.

A chain-reaction, nine-horse spill during a race in Japan has left one jockey injured. Japanese rider Hiroyuki Uchida broke his left arm after the leading horse veered in at a sharp angle. He and eight other jockeys were thrown from their horses, one after another. The spill occurred in the fourth race Monday at Nakayama Racecourse outside Tokyo. Uchida was aboard Lilac Punch in the 16-horse race. Nasty, and just shows that riding can be dangerous.

How many times can a girl fall her horse in less than 5 minutes? I'm guessing 5 but who knows? How many can you count?

www.HorseTraining.org presents Rumba the Wonder Horse performing tricks. Tricks include: Tamborine, Bike Horn, Coights, Croquet, Soccer, Fetch, Rear, Lie Down, Bow etc. It's clicker training I guess and I've never been a great fan but whatever...quite interesting and amusing to watch.

If you're into horses as a business then this site might be useful for you.

I've just watched (on your behalf of course) a 10 minute video on You Tube showing a large inflatable horse....being inflated. It's ridiculous and doesn't look remotely like a horse. What's the big deal? Why do people post such stupid videos? I've no idea and I'm not going to bother you with it either. Yawn........BUT, if you really want a laugh about inflatables, watch this video of the late lamented Kenny Everett 'taking off ' Rod Stewart....absolutely hilarious!

What's Your Horse Saying With His Body Language? Lynn Palm explains what this horse is "saying" with the language of his entire body, including the position and movement of his neck, muscles and skin. By Alana Harrison and courtesy of Horse and Rider.

Your horse prone to small accidents, cuts, abrasions and bruises? Have a look here at our 2 for 1 offer and read what others think about H10 ointment.

Have a great Australia Day.

Preview Of Brand New DVDs Now Available

2010-01-13T09:53:00.000+11:00

Phew....it's been warm here on the coast but nothing compared to some of the heat inland. It's important that you get enough water inside to keep hydrated and a good friend of mine sent me this little excel spreadsheet that calculates the amount for you. If you've got a spreadsheet programmes it's worth having a look at.

We've had solar panels installed on the roof as I've said but the local elec company are taking for ever to put in the new meters for them so be warned if you do this. The panels are only half the story. 'Er indoors wants me to camp outside the elec offices in protest...it's far too hot for my liking so a phone call will have to do.

In their October ’09 issue, Team Horse & Rider member Charlie Cole provided safety and etiquette tips for taking your dog to horse shows. Long before you even consider taking a dog that’s not previously been exposed to horses to a show, you need to properly (and safely) introduce him to your horses 'at home'. So heed the following advice. (Courtesy of Equisearch)

Horse Trekking in Iceland. Due to their isolated location, strict import laws and dedicated breeding practices the Icelandic Horse boasts one of the purest bloodlines on the planet. This video shows a group of riders on a trek in Iceland, they are accompanied by a herd of horses which they take turns riding. Icelandic horses are gaited, athletic and known for their happy-go-lucky attitude. This is summer though...and you don't want to be there in winter, believe me.

Horse and pony quiz. Here's some fun for you.....How well do you know horses? Lets find out! (Yes, lets!) This is a quiz about breeds,height,care and riding! Are you an expert or not? Have a go.......

A horse owner has praised firefighters after an elderly steed slipped on black ice while on a walk in Emmer Green, nr Reading in the UK. Bruce Honey was out with two friends on three of the four horses he owns for a 30-minute hack last Sunday afternoon when they came across the slippery patch in Gravel Hill. Great video of the UK fire brigade rescuing this poor animal....'beats rescuing cats from trees', one firefighter was heard to say. Great effort lads.

I mentioned last week that we would have two new dvds available and I have some previews for you.
The first is the Tatjana Fruh double lunge and long reining training dvd. I like the way everything is explained and shown in detail. The preview is available here but don't use the phone number on the screen to buy the dvd...I'll have it available shortly.

The second is the dvd of the famous Marbach stud, Gremany's largest and most famous stud whose founder King Wilhelm started the European Arabian line. Great dvd this that you have to watch 3 or 4 times to get all the info packed into it.

Here's Mutley.... Stephanie Spoerl comforts Mutley, a horse she adopted after reading an article in The Oregonian explaining that he needed a home. Mutley was rescued from a farm southeast of Molalla, where his owner was charged with animal neglect. He's better now and has a name change...from Mutley to Huntley. Um.

Are any of you detectives? Perhaps you can help? A tacked-up horse skeleton has been found in a California state park, sparking a probe into how the animal met its fate. Have a read. Courtesy of Barnmice

Have a great week

New Years Resolutions.....Hah!

2010-01-06T09:38:00.001+11:00

Happy New Year to you...it's got to be better than the last one hasn't it? Had a wonderful rest over the hols with No 1 daughter appearing for nearly 2 weeks. A minor miracle in itself but great to see her although she was unconscious for at least 75% of the time. That girl could 'Sleep for Australia'....'spect some of you've had much the same experience.

All the rain has meant that the back yard is like a jungle and 'er indoors has handed me the list of garden jobs already. It reads like a list of instructions....1 do this, 2 do that, 3 do that again because it wasn't done properly..etc, etc. At that point I made yet another New Year resolution and, no, I'm not telling you what it is.

On Friday evening last at the 2009 USEA Annual Meeting and Convention, eventing legend Lucinda Green joined Freedom Health’s Lyndsey White to discuss theories and philosophies in feeding and horse care habits that keep modern sport horses happy, sound, and performing to their ability. Fascinating insight and a conclusion that 'modern ain't necessarilly best'. Watch both presentations here!

Have you resolved to take better care of your horse’s health in 2010? A free webcast series offered by the Michigan State University (MSU) Extension My Horse University and eXtension HorseQuest can help you stick to it. During the webcasts, which begin Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. EST, horse owners will learn about diagnosing, treating and preventing common horse health problems such as colic, respiratory disease and lameness, and equine emergency first aid.

Here's a new video about the games from the 2010 World Equestrian Games Foundation due in Kentucky later this year. This really is the 'Olympics' of horse riding and thsi trailer is really worth watching.

We've some great new products coming up. One is a new dvd from Tatjana Fruth, an expert German trainer on the use of early work with the double lunge (longeing) and the long reins. I've spent a lot of time reviewing this and it's an excellent programme, wonderful for both teachers and pup0lis and anyone who wants to know how to 'get it right'. This lady really knows how and the way she handles and treats her horses should be a model to all of us.... The other dvd is a 'doco' on the famous Marbach stud, one of Germany's oldest and most famous state studs but the programme covers the whole range of activities there. I was fascinated and captivated by this programme and the hour it runs went like a couple of minutes. Both dvds are professionally produced with stunning photography and soundtrack. More news soon and some clips too.

You'll remember that we posted some news on the dressage 'rollkur' scandal. Well it refuses to go away....tens of thousands of equestrian fans have signed a petition over allegedly 'cruel' training methods that threatens to disrupt the sport ahead of the 2012 Olympics. Some fans are warning they will boycott the Games's equestrian event - due to be held in South London - over what has been labelled 'the blue-tongue scandal'. The British Horse Society has called for an urgent inquiry into the practices being used on some of the world's most expensive competition horses. There's a vid half way down the page.

It seems that 'personalities' are falling off horses regularly. Last year I wrote about Madonna falling off her horse and here's news of Leona Lewis (X factor UK winner) falling off hers. Nice photo but riding lessons in order perhaps?

"We all make them. We all blow them. Most resolutions almost set you up to fail because they are so general that you won’t know if you have succeeded or not. For instance, if you resolve to “ride better this year,” I’m fairly certain your trainer would push you on that vague goal and want to know precisely what movements you were hoping to ride better and what your definition of better is." Well, yes...so hear are some exercises to help. Go on...have a look.

There's a whole lot of related exercises here too. Just the thing for the New Year. Courtesy of Equisearch.

If you're on hols...enjoy them.

I Really Did Hear Santa's Sleigh Bells Once....Honest!

2009-12-23T11:55:00.000+11:00

It's been all go here as no doubt it has been with all of you in the run up to Christmas. I had an uncle, who wasn't blessed with the best sense of humour around, and who always quoted on Boxing Day..."Well, Christmas is as far away as it'll ever be". What a downer for us kids.....little wonder no sane women ever married him!! Bundle of laughs he was.

I'm having a couple of weeks off so this will be the last newsletter until Jan 6th. Yes, I can hear the chorus of 'Oh nos......' or perhaps I'm delusional but then I really did think I heard Santa's sleigh bells one Xmas a long time ago. You can just imagine the comments at the time from 'er indoors can't you?

Anyway, I've uploaded all the H10 competition entries and the pics can be seen here and there are some great pictures so thank you very much, everyone who sent their entries in.

Here's a Christmas Eve Dressage Poem from a dressage tragic. Um...nice but I think she needs to get out more often.

Surgery revives police horse. High profile Duke rushed to treatment in Kennett Square. Lancaster's most recognized four-footed ambassador is recovering from emergency surgery and is expected to come home Sunday or Monday. Duke, the most well-known of the Lancaster city police's four horses, had surgery Wednesday for a blockage in his large intestine. Read on...you'll be really surprised as to the cause. I was.

Here's a good article from Andy Curry. " I get a lot of horse training questions about stopping a horse from kicking. The kicking habits of these horses range from the horse kicking at virtually anyone to kicking at only the husbands. (bad move). It's a daunting problem that lots of people have no idea how to cure. That being so, I want to share some insight to horses kicking."

Actually if you want the Jesse Beery book on CD mentioned go here to H10 though...it's much less costly.

Snow Fight. The Budweiser Shire Horses get to play in the white stuff. This is one of their best and proves bigger is better.

Enjoy the trailer below, which is the first peek at Ridley Scott's take on "Robin Hood," due out in May. It's a film that stars, among others, Russell Crowe. of course PLUS a cast of hundreds of horses. Set in the 'Gladiator' mode, it could be good.

Can I wish you, your family and friends a happy and peaceful Christmas, and thank you all for your support throughout the year. It is, believe me, very much appreciated.

With every good wish for 2010.
Geoff....and 'er indoors of course.

Our Horse Pic Competition Results......

2009-12-16T08:18:00.002+11:00

Well, the judging and the results are in and we'd like to thank everyone who entered the comp for taking the trouble to send in their pics....and there were lots too. As they always say, there has to be a winner and we have one, but before that just a few words about the judging session.

The tame vet actually turned up on time. The new four wheel drive he's purchased recently is not the wonder vehicle he'd imagined and so I had to endure nearly half an hour of technical mumbo-jumbo, finger pointing and tutting, including such phrases as 'viscous coupling', 'full time fwd', 'sat nav update problems', 'leaking gaskets', 'seats that don't fold properly' and 'excessive fuel consumption'....and more and all of this on a vehicle he chose but the company he's with runs and generally looks after. I very nearly took him out the back and gave him chapter and verse on 'er indoors 10 year old Ford Festiva, but it wasn't worth the effort. He was here to judge.

And he did...ok, it took some time and he finished off half a dozen muffins and about a gallon of my best coffee but as I've always said, he has a rare eye for horses. It was no surprise when he chose the winner....I had the same choice in mind too..... honest! 'Er indoors was positively gushing with praise for his choice and even he had the decency to blush at her comments. S'funny, that doesn't happen to me much these days.....

And the moment you've all been waiting for. Well, it was Karen's photo of her little foal 'Pumpkin' that took the prize and here he is. If you can't see the pic, then you can click on this link and it will take you a photo on the H10 web site. Karen gets a equine mirror of her own choosing from Kim at Kimmika Designs

We'll be putting all the pics up on our Picasa album site before Xmas and we'll email you with the web address so that you can all go and have a look. There are some great horse pictures.

It's a short newsletter this week with the comp news as promised but if you want that 'last minute' equine pressie then have a look at the H10 web site and we're sure we can get it to you or your lucky recipient before the great day.

By the way, several of my horsey friends around the world have got together to give away some nice things for horse lovers everywhere. There's no catch....I've already got lots and you should have a good look too.

Have a great week....

What To Do When Your Horse Invades Your House.

2009-12-09T08:45:00.000+11:00

Our horse pics comp ends next week and I contacted the 'tame vet' to confirm his presence at the judging. I hate to admit it but he has a real eye for a horse and that's not the only thing he has a 'eye for' either according to his long suffering wife, a good friend of 'er indoors. So it's apricot muffins and coffee next week for the judging. Should take most of the morning if I plan it right.....
After that, bits of the estranged UK family start arriving for their yearly 'bash' of good weather and of course Aussie red wine....my Aussie red wine. Still, charity begins at home I'm told but not exactly in words like that from 'er indoors. Don't be such a ***** skinflint are her words of choice. Think I'll hide the good stuff.......

What do you do when your horse invades your house? Why, let him in of course. Plain daft I call it.

A horse that fell forty feet down a hill got stuck in heavy brush had to be rescued by emergency crews in Covina, USA on Monday. The horse had apparently broken loose at her owner's home near Via Verde Street and Covina Hills Road and then fell on a steep hill and slid into thick shrubbery. Emergency crews got the call around at 10:43 a.m. and were there within a few minutes. It didn't look good from overhead at first since the horse wasn't moving... watch the video, a bit drawn out but a happy ending.

Here's a little blog entry about the comfort and suitability of Australian saddles....yep, we get a mention at last.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum has never taken a half-hearted approach to anything, and his involvement with horse racing is no different. Bloodstock empires have come and gone since the thoroughbred breed emerged in Britain about 300 years ago, but never one to match the scale and global reach of Sheikh Mohammed's racing and breeding interests. Read this and you'll be gob-smacked, as I was. What's more he spends a small fortune here in Australia. Wonder if he could lend me a dollar or two.....

Fitness Tip of the Month for Riders: Fitness for Mature Riders. Tips to improve flexibility, mobility and strength for the over-40 rider.
By Heather Sansom. Heather says, 'When I do a clinic, participants over 40 often apologize for their age and confess that they wanted to come to a rider fitness clinic because their bodies don’t work like they used to. What’s ironic about the confession is that the majority of my clients and clinic participants are over 40.' Well Heather, join the clan and I'll have a go too.

Learn a little more about the history and importance of the horse wrangler or horsetailer as they're known here in Aus (translation courtesy Fiona Lake). Along the cattle trails, a good wrangler was as important as the cook. Legendary writer J. Frank Dobie talked about the wrangler’s job in the December 1954 issues of the Journal.

Look, we all know we put on weight at Xmas but we can all learn how to minimise that before the great event. It's a short 12 page read that you'll thank me for...hope so anyway.

If you remember your childhood days, then you can surely remember your first Wooden Horse. It was so much fun to be able to sing your rhymes while swinging to and fro on the horse. It is much the same today. Although the design of the wooden horses has undergone a sea change, the pleasure is still the same. You can make your child’s life memorable too by making a wooden horse for him. It requires some kind of mastery over crafting wood but the trade can be learnt easily. So let us learn how to build your own wooden horse in a step by step manner. Got some spare time with the kids this Xmas...this is perfect. Ready?

We never get snow at Xmas, so, if you want to see what it's like, complete with horse drawn sleigh and festive music...here it is.

Have a great week...and don't forget the Xmas lights!

Summers Here - Make Sure You Check All Your Equipment

2009-12-02T08:48:00.000+11:00

Welcome to summer?...hah.

I pruned my nectarine tree with loving care this year to be rewarded with a bumper crop...and every fruit has been 'stung' and ruined by fruit fly despite all my 'green and natural' efforts to control them. Right...no more Mr Nice Guy next year. I got some advice from a fruit farmer and he gave me just the stuff I need. What with that, stink bugs on the citrus and the coming of the fig bird shortly (and have I got a surprise for him) it could be an interesting summer.
'Er indoors commented that I should have known better after last year....she's right as usual.

Beginning Horse Riding : Collection Horse Training Backing Up. Expert: Kathy Kentala. Kathy has been a horse enthusiast since she was six years old. Kathy owns the Bee Cave Riding Center in Texas and specializes in training youth groups. I've posted a video from this lady before and I rate her. You only have to read the comments on the video though to realise that there are many 'experts' out there that 'could do it better'. Yeh...right.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined a horse-bedding manufacturer more than $40,000 for violations the federal agency found. So if you're thinking about going into horse bedding as a business you'd better read this...not pretty.

If you love horses, but hate the cold then steer away fron the Chinese Army. At an outpost in Mongolia, the People’s Liberation Army maintains a cavalry squadron with around 150 horses, pictured. During the winter, six keepers mind the beasts until the weather warms up. It’s hard work. “Most of the soldiers suffer from arthritis, because of the cold and humid weather in [the] prairie,” Global Times reported. Soldier Liu Yuankuan “also said that horses are timid animals that are easily frightened by red plastic bags.” Red plastic bags??????

Soccer stars put faith in placenta juice 'cure'....? The supposed healing powers of the placenta have long been extolled but never proven, writes Eoin Kennedy. Arsenal soccer starr Robin Van Persie last week flew to Serbia to have juice from a horse’s placenta massaged into an ankle injury. What me..... sceptical? Well, the article is from the Irish Times but it isn't dated April 1st.

Watch the Video - A Movie Trailer About the Plight of Horses in The US Economy. Quote from article, "As most of our readers have horses living better lives than most humans, it is important to recognize the work of those who are helping our suffering equines". Equine Destiny is a documentary exposing the mounting issues facing this country's equines." Interesting.

Now remember...you have only 2 weeks to enter the H10 horse pics competition. It will close Dec 16th and the winner will be announced before Xmas with all the pics being posted for you to see after the festive season.
Here's the link for more info.

Susan Boyle seems to be all the rage these days. Her latest CD has rocketed to the No 1 position in about a day. Here's a video of the track 'Wild Horses'. Nice voice.....

A few minutes spent checking the soundness of your trailer goes a long way toward protecting the safety of every horse who rides in it.
Periodic checks of your trailer’s or float's condition are a good idea, particularly at those times of year when you do the most hauling. Such inspections can not only turn up minor problems before they require major, expensive repairs, but they can also keep you from taking to the road with potentially unsafe problems.

Got all your Christmas presents yet?

Fed Up Already Of Xmas - Read This

2009-11-25T09:14:00.000+11:00

'Er indoors is just finishing the Xmas table decs and finalising the pressies. She buys her Xmas cards in the January sales and they've all been sent. I haven't even started yet, I'm a man though.
The Xmas puds and the mince pies are all safely in the freezer and the menus are all decided. If your partner is this organised then it's bliss....most of the time, isn't it? Mind you.......what on earth am I going to get her for Xmas?

Y'know, you can use Photoshop for more or less anything.....

Horse training and drink driving don't mix. Read this since it's a warning to us all particularly at this time of year.

Why train your horse to respect your personal space? For two reasons. First, safety. Your horse weighs about 10 times what you do. When he's standing back with both eyes on you, he can't knock you down, step on you, or try to bite. If he approaches only at your invitation, you're always in control and therefore much safer. Clinton Anderson shows how this is done. Courtesy of Equisearch.

Horses are the opposite of dogs,gratitude-wise. You give a dog something totally wretched to eat, such as a toad part or a wad of pre-chewed Dentyne, and the dog will henceforth view you as the Supreme Being. Whereas if you spend hours grooming a horse and lugging its food and water around, the horse will be thinking, “Should I chomp on this person’s arm? What makes a man think like this? Read on

A high school band spooked a horse pulling a carriage at the annual Legacy Village tree lighting ceremony, and it took off. "We saw the horse. It was like the night of the apocalypse. This horse just, this big white horse took off," said a witness. The horse collided with at least two care before breaking away from the carriage and taking off at a full gallop. Video to the right...sorry about the ad beforehand.

Clip two from Jay O’Jay’s colt starting video entitled Journey to Connection from his series of horse training DVD Videos.
The journey begins with Jay outside the round pen and with an unbroken 3-year-old filly inside. Jay explains how the round pen is the ideal venue to communicate, show leadership and form a connection with your horse. Nice training video in a series worth looking at.

You may not know this site - you can make your own photo montages and videos and then really smarten them up to look really professional. It doesn't cost and here's an example of just one from a horse loving cowboy....actually, girl. Nice music too.

Horse-Based Home Businesses. Do you want to turn your passions into profits? Get inspiration, tips and advice from people just like you who have turned their ideas into horse-based home businesses. This is very dear to my heart since I run one and I work on the committee of a home based business network here in the Hastings. Good read this:

Watch The Video - FEI Young Rider World Cup Bound Kassie Barteau and Raymeister GP Perform at Arabian Nights Dinner Theater in Orlando. Now I don't rate the announcer or the music....lousy choice that would scare most horses stupid, but the action is great to watch. Great horse and rider. Video is half way down the page.

Photo Comp...last days! Get in quick here

Have a great week

The Horse's Tongue Appears To Be Blue.......

2009-11-18T10:10:00.000+11:00

Our house, or rather 'hotel' is now open for visitors until Xmas...and it's already fully booked. If it were left up to me they'd all pay but I'm a misery according to 'er indoors and she says you can't make your friends and relatives pay to come and stay. When I suggested I might as well wear a concierge uniform, her reply was in the form of a hurled object which missed....fortunately for me. I think I might spend the rest of the day hidden in the garden.......

Well, there's been a hell of a row about the video showing a horse being schooled before the World Cup round in Odense on October 18 by Swedish rider Patrick Kittel. The animal, Watermill Scandic, is shown in a hyperflexed position with its tongue flopping outside its mouth. The horse's tongue appears blue. We posted the video with appropriate comments two weeks ago and this isn't the end of it either. Here's the original video.
This article comes from NZ on what's likely to happen internationally and I've also had emails on the subject to the extent of some sites now petitioning horse lovers to stop this practice.
Here's one of them if you are interested:
Thanks to Alice for informing us.

A call centre providing advice and support for UK consumers about European purchases is celebrating its second birthday. Buried in the masses of common complaints on timeshares and transport are bizarre topics such as flowers, lipstick and a horse. Yep, it's bizarre but worth reading if you are contemplating buying a horse from abroad (so what's wrong with buying Australian?)

Most of us probably have other pets besides horses, that is if you count a horse as a 'pet', depends if it's a work animal I guess. Anyways, this article on pet problems is worth a read...it will get you on one side or other of the pet 'fence'. Controversial...of course. I mean, just read the introduction...
Britain's problem with pets: they're bad for the planet. The authors of a provocative new book have bad news for animal-lovers: pets are bad for the planet. They consume vast amounts of precious resources, produce mountains of noxious waste – and they can be a disaster for wildlife. Um...read more

You'll remember we posted a vid on trail riding in South Africa well here's a great video from Horse.co.nz.

Beginning Horse Riding : Horse Riding Balance & Body Mechanics. Here's a nice video for the beginner. Unfortunately, as with some YouTube videos, there are the usual inane comments by idiot viewers, some of whom obviously know nothing about horses apart from the odd riding school lesson in the past, but apart from that it's interesting.

“If you want to know about gold medals, ask David O’Connor. If you want to know about falling, ask me! Nobody has fallen more than I have, in 10 years of riding bad maiden claimers.” That’s how Danny Warrington, steeplechase jockey turned successful upper-level eventing competitor and trainer, sums it up as he tries to spread the word about the importance of knowing how to fall. Every rider should watch this.

The Six Golden Principles of Horse Training - The co-founders of Cavalia share their insights on equine behavior and training in this excerpt from their new book, Gallop to Freedom. Plus, watch a video preview of the book! A fascinating article...you don't need the book, just read the article to get a good grasp. You might not agree with everything but there are some great principles here...if you've got the time. Courtesy of Equisearch.

There are more pictures of horses than you can poke a stick at....so why haven't you entered yours for our comp? Enter here and view the great prize too.

Have a great week!

Amazing Horse Race - You Won't Believe This.

2009-11-11T09:48:00.000+11:00

Washed out again with all the rain over the last week....we've now got so many frogs in the garden that I'm thinking of opening a restaurant.....'The Frogs Leg Feast' or similar.
Went out shopping with 'er indoors on Saturday and she bought another 500 Xmas lights. I reckon the place will look like a Christmas tree this year so I said I'd buy a timer just to make sure that we could save some electricity....then all the lights could go on at 8pm....and then turn off at 8.10 pm. Plenty of time for everyone to get a eyeful eh? Didn't go down too well that.......

This is The Breeders Cup - a huge horse race in the USA. Zenyatta was last by a long way at the start...then look what happens. I've seen some amazing races in my time but I think this one is one of the very best. Might even look out as to where she's running next and put a few dollars down.

What is believed to be the first prosecution over an obese horse in the UK took place this week, in Blackpool. A married couple from Cleveleys in Lancashire were yesterday banned for keeping horses for five years by Blackpool Magistrates Court.
Have a look at the pic...he is a little fatty but I must admit it's the opposite of the usual 'cruelty' reports we read.

Now excuse my ignorance, but I'd never before heard of 'Horseball' until today. It's a flourishing sport in Europe but I haven't ever seen it mentioned here. Looks a bit like a combination of touch rugby and basketball on horseback. Could be interesting and they already have national teams too. They even have a pic of the 'Horseball Full Monty'...yes, well. Interesting is the best term I could use for this.

Look at this AMAZING video of this man riding his horse through a trail/obstacle course bridleless...What an awesome leader he is for this horse and what a terrific horse!!! Courtesy of Jennifer and her blog...The Prairie House Primitives.

A police horse named Mr. Biggs is at the center of a lawsuit filed against the NY city last week. Allegedly the member of the NYPD's Mounted Unit took a bite out of a New Jersey woman Dineen Rudd last summer, and now that woman is suing. The city has not yet commented on the suit, but Rudd insists that they should have been aware of the horse's "propensity to attack and bite human beings." No word yet on how much she's seeking in the "horse suit." Ask the question...would you like to patrol NY on a horse?
Here's a great video of police officers from the Mounted Unit explaining their day, their training, and their horses.

The horse had been pulling a cart filled with tourists at the pyramids outside the Egyptian capital, when it slipped and fell down a slope on Friday afternoon. It fell flat on its side on the road, and bystanders had to step in to help it to its feet. Once back on its feet, the Egyptian owner repeatedly struck it hard over the head with a stick. The a white knight stepped in..read more. Who'd want to be a horse in Egypt?

Enjoy Your Horse on a Budget. Tightened your belt, but still hungry for fun? Check out these appealing, affordable horsey activities that won't hurt your budget. Some great ideas. Courtesy of Equisearch.

It was a Saturday after the races when Casie Coleman was heating an alcohol-based liniment to warm her horse’s feet. She didn’t think it was melting well enough so she poured alcohol on it. “It just exploded,” said the 29-year-old horse trainer. All she remembers seeing is a little blue flame. Read the remainder of this inspiring story.

Still time to enter our great horse pics comp...root out your favourite pic and send it in here.

Have a great week.

The Melbourne Cup Spectacular...well, nearly anyway

2009-11-04T09:36:00.000+11:00

Well, The women came first and won a big silver cup at the Grafton dragon boat regatta...our mixed team came third. Some work still to go there but at least I didn't fall off the back of the boat this time. Lovely city with the Jacaranda trees in full bloom.
They're coming to install solar electricity panels tomorrow...'er indoors would love to see a negative power bill. I told her she must be dreaming. Shouldn't have done that since she's just arranged to have them start at 7am and guess who'll have to be there to greet them. Lesson learned until the next time no doubt.

How did the Melbourne Cup go for you? Of course if you're reading this from overseas then it won't mean much to you but for Aussies, it's the horse race that literally stops the nation for the afternoon of the first Tuesday in November. I lost my shirt again and I'm supposed to know something about horses. Um.

Here's some comment on the Melbourne Cup parade which took place a couple of days before the race. The horse parade that didn't quite, well, stop a nation. Worth a read and a laugh too.

Pressure is mounting on the FEI to look again at the practice of riding horses in a very deep and round neck frame known as hyperflexion or rollkur. This is in response to a video circulating the internet showing Swedish team dressage rider Patrik Kittel schooling his horse in hyperflexion at Odense, Denmark, 18 October. Have a look at the video - I'm surprised the poor horse can even see where it's going. Pointless exercise from my point of view but what do you think?

Raul de Leon Teaches a Student on the Longe. Watch Master Instructor Raul de Leon explain how he uses the longe line to give the rider a supple seat. Nice video and the sound gets better so persevere a bit. It's worth it. Courtesy of Equisearch.

Quote from Heather Sanson "When I do a clinic, participants over 40 often apologize for their age and confess that they wanted to come to a rider fitness clinic because their bodies don’t work like they used to. What’s ironic about the confession is that the majority of my clients and clinic participants are over 40. Yep, copy that. So what do you do? Read on....and let me tell you, these exercises are not just specifically for riders.

When next you next go to the dentist, and don't we all dread that, spare a thought for this poor horse getting his 'treatment' with what looks like a power drill. Sounds familiar though....that high pitched whine as it approaches your poor defenceless mouth......urgh.

Want a horse trail ride in South Africa? This trailer makes it all look really good...and by the way I have no commercial connection whatsoever with any of this. It looked very nice though...what do you think?

Now I know...this isn't strictly to do with horses although the show does have horses in the title. I guarantee you'll laugh your socks off and that's good therapy for us all.

For those of you into Arabians, then this is a nice video of an exceptional example of the breed. Beautiful horse and worth a good look.

Have a great week

Colt With Severe Deformity Saved From Death

2009-10-28T09:52:00.004+11:00

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!

New Competition Now On

2009-10-21T09:22:00.004+11:00

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

Would You Buy This Service?!

2009-10-14T09:01:00.003+11:00

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!

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

2009-10-07T09:02:00.004+11:00

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

Watch This Disaster At A Horse Show. Horse Experts...Hah!!

2009-09-30T09:49:00.002+10:00

What a week. Dust storms, wild winds...the Saturday of our dragon boat regatta in Coffs was 'blown off' and today we get news of a huge earthquake and tsunami in the Pacific. Couple that with a visit from the 'tame vet' this morning whingeing that he no longer loves the 4 wheel drive he got 6 months ago and wants a BMW. He then asks what do I think he should do about it. A few well chosen words were the result.....anyway, I'm happy with my motor scooter.

Country Pleasure Driving Class Gone Wrong! A complete set of unfortunate events together with a complete set of idiots and a great booming voice from the announcer equals an unmitigated disaster. I've never seen anything quite like it.

There are some hard lessons to be learnt from this post, 'Unplanned Dismount' courtesy of Patricia Reszetylo on her recent blog post. She's always got interesting info and if you're into dressage too then she's a must.

Enjoy a good horse race? If you do (even if you don’t), an IPhone developer Natenai Ariyatrakool has brought his ‘Virtual Horse Racing 3D’ to the App Store… and it’s not half bad. Playing the game is simple and placing bets is easy as can be. I don't have an IPhone but it's a great video.

In the July 2009 issue of Horse & Rider magazine, Team Horse & Rider’s Carol Metcalf gives a six-point strategy to keep her show nerves under control. As Carol points out in the July article, even pros get nervous before showing--here, she offers some essential advice for first-timers, and some general show-better tips for experienced and amateur competitors. Great stuff with the show season coming up.

When your horse goes to five shows in a row and doesn’t win anything, it is time to accept that nothing unfair has taken place, you’re just not competitive. Might be because of your horse’s quality, might be because of lack of training, might be because the two of you just aren’t clicking as a team yet. But it’s not politics.) Have a look at this and see where you think things are wrong.

Forever you and me - a lovely video of one girl's journy through life with her horses. Some gone to the great stable in the sky, some still here...all of them much loved. Well worth watching...don't forget the tissues.

Horses as you've never seen them before - fascinating, creative and thought provoking video. Narrated by photographer Tim Flach showing photos from his book Equus which will be published on October 1.

Just to end up...some pics and music of funny horses. How people find the time to do all this I'll never know but enjoy it all the same.

Have a great week.

You'll Never See Another Horse Like This....Ever

2009-09-23T07:55:00.004+10:00

I had to go to Sydney for the weekend and while I was there I met up with a couple of long standing friends who were en route for the UK with a free night's hotel stay in the city. Very posh place and, like a idiot I said I'd buy a round in the cocktail bar. Never again....they decided after that we'd go out to a pub where they could buy their rounds.If you were in doubt that we were in for an early summer, they've just started spraying locusts in NSW western regions and we'ne now got dust storms.. Ouch.

Ever heard of Dave Allen, the Irish comedian? He loved horses and made this epic video clip. Believe me, you'll love it and it's about a horse you will never see the likes of again.

The Importance of Being a Thinking Rider - Olympic gold medalist Melanie Smith Taylor encourages riders to think independently, learn from others and continually educate themselves. Good article that made even me think. Courtesy of Equisearch

An accident involving a taxi and one of New York's horse-drawn carriages has added more fuel to a campaign to have them banned. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) has long argued for a ban, saying it is not good for the horses and dangerous, given the volume of traffic. I've always thought that the two could peacefully co-exist providing there is awareness and understanding on both sides..as for PETA, well don't ask.

Perhaps one of the most important elements of any stable or barn is a horse first aid kit. Because as we all know, around horses accidents happen.
This handy video will tell you what you need and how to maintain your kit. Courtesy of Equestrian Life but tell me this, what idiot would make a video like this with her sunglasses on.

One of the major misconceptions foreigners often have with regards to the Japanese is that they only eat fish and nothing else. While it is very true that the Japanese love to eat fish, they crave for other animals as well. Yep, you guessed it and it's here if you want to read more.

Just in time for Christmas (well, it's not far away). Amazing Facts About Horses, The Oldest Horse, the Biggest Horse, and Other Horse-related Trivia. Astound your guests with this 'all horse' quiz. Courtesy of Carol Rzadkiewicz and Suite 101.

If you are a trail rider and you haven't joined TrailTown USA as a founder member (at no cost) then you'd better be quick before the doors open on the site on Sep 30th. It looks as if it will be a great site. After that, well......... and by the way I have no commercial relations with them at all.

This clip was from Australias Funniest Video Show. Poor girl....she'll be running for the shower and you can guess the rest.

And finally...if you mistreat a horse then you are likely to have this happen. Serves this idiot right and I hope it hurt.

Have a great week!

Cops Chase Illegal Street Racing....But Equine Culprits!!!

2009-09-16T08:57:00.005+10:00

The 'Tame Vet' dropped in this morning hoping for coffee and cake. No chance. Doesn't he know I have work to do? Anyway, he wanted to know when the next H10 competition was going to start and that's got me thinking about just what we might do this time. I guess he has his uses. More news soon.

The cops are cutting down on illegal street racing and about time too..get a load of this. I think these guys should be gelded.

Being around horses means there is a long list of terminology to remember. The basics list is a mile long, then it’s time to get into the specifics of each discipline.This video goes over the differences between horse trainers and horse behaviorists. Um, things have changed since my day when you had to be a bit of both.

The population of Virginia City, NV, a small town of about 800 people, swells once a year as tourists from all over flock in to race...camels! Just like a horse, the riders put a saddle in between the hump and take them for a spin. But just when you've thought you've heard and seen it all...here come the ostriches. Yes, they race those too and surely, since we breed racing camels in Aus, we should be represented here?

If you ever volunteer to ride a horse in a parade or at a sporting event, don't whatever you do, follow this guy's example.

In the July '09 issue of Horse & Rider, Clinton Anderson and his student Renee Humphries demonstrate how to desensitize your horse to your ground-training tools. That segment is the first in a series of basic groundwork exercises designed to increase your horse's respectfulness and make him a pleasure to handle. Here, Clinton gives a refresher course on exactly why groundwork is so effective, plus offers key tips for getting the most out of every groundwork session. Courtesy of Equisearch.

New shoeing techniques are here. Take a really close look at this "shoe". What looks at first glance like a Natural Balance shoe is actually a urethane hoof application created on the foot by injecting Vettec Adhere material into a mold. There's a video too - what do you think?

Prescott USA is well-known for its proud cowboy heritage. After all, it's home to the World's Oldest Rodeo and is the former stomping ground of Doc Holliday and Big Nose Kate. Today, a new style of riding is capturing the imagination of this Western town. Read more here.

Horse racing can be a dangerous game and these two ladies were very lucky to walk away from this crash with only minor injuries. Ouch.

You'll know the present controversy about jockeys and the use of whips on race horses. Here's an article with a few different aspects and opinions. I'm not sure if it's 'broke' or not or whether it needs 'fixing'. Both views are represented.

Summer coming - your tack box should not be without a tub of H10 ointment. The 2 for 1 we are offering is a great start and you can read what others think of it.

Have a great week!!

An Openly Gay Horse....What?!

2009-09-09T09:46:00.002+10:00

'She who must' has now booked her round the world trip and I'm broke...at least for a few months. I found a few 'different' horsey type stories and videos this week and I hope you enjoy them. I've now got a video camera and am looking at my promise of a video newsletter. I'm hoping that it won't damage my circulation when you see the full 'catastrophe.....'

The First Openly Gay Racehorse To Compete? - yep, you read it here and there's a video to prove it. It could only happen in the US couldn't it, or do any of you know better??

This TV station has a daily series entitled, 'Had a Bad Day?' and then showcases the Top 5 bad days on that date. It's worth watching the video for a laugh and top of the list is what happens when your buggy horse gets spooked and crashes into a police vehicle...what joy...ouch!!

My friend Roger Bourdon has a nice video in his weekly newsletter. It shows the horse in all its relationships to man. Great music too.

If you closely follow a horse around and then clap your hands behind him he's likely to show you his displeasure. Watch this idiot get his just rewards in this video as he does exactly that.

Here's a nice online horse quiz which you might find useful and you could also try it with the kids or, if you teach riding, your pupils.

Vaccines are among the most effective weapons for protecting horses against the ravages of disease. Learn how vaccinations work to protect your horse and view two sample vaccination schedules, for the pleasure horse & performance horse. Courtesy of Equisearch

Nowadays, more and more horse owners are looking beyond the realms of conventional medicine to alternative or holistic therapies when seeking healthcare options for their horses. Here's a short and valuable look at it.

With the warm weather coming and your horses much more active it's worth having a tub of H10 ointment in the tack box for all those scratches, abrasions, cuts and bruises. As I've said before, there's nothing quite like it and if you don't believe me you can read what other people think too. We still have a 2 for 1 offer that's worth a look.

Have a great week!

If You Don't Slow For Horses...This Accident Will Happen

2009-09-02T09:03:00.005+10:00

Strewth - can't believe it's so dry. I use to think that an El Nino was a South American beer until told better but it looks as if we've another one coming. 'She who must' is busy planning a trip away to the UK next year for about a month. I'm planning what to do when she's away...something about the cat being away and the mice out to play perhaps?

This is what happens when you fail to slow down for horses...even when the police are telling you that there are strays about on the road. This is Brazil and this driver is a b***** idiot. The horse did not survive and when you view the collision you'll understand why.

Video: Warm Up Your Horse for a Winning Course. Olympic show-jumper Laura Kraut shares her tried-and-true strategies for loosening up your horse before going into the show ring. Good, practical advice.

A search is under way in the Huron area for a black miniature horse that might have rabies. Click the video link to watch the news item....somehow they fouled it up though with the following title - 'The house may have rabies or west nile'. How do you cure a house? Any ideas?

Have a look at this photo from my friends at Barnmice. The comp has ended but I bet you can think up a 'suitable' caption for this photo. I think the young lad had to have a change of trousers after this.

Westside elementary school was forced to change how parents pick up their children after school. But one mother didn't like the changes. So she opted for another way to pick up her daughter...by horseback. Well, why not? Click on the video to watch the story.

Horses attack rats? This blog entry reports three horses attacking and killing rats in their yard. I've never heard of thie behaviour before although I must admit I would have been in there with a shotgun for the rats. Seems like the horses were pretty effective though. Read more here.

Have you ever been to the Renaissance festivals or faires and seen the amazing glassblowing demonstrations? If you have, this will remind you of the experience. And if you haven’t, you’re in for a real treat! This is a wonderful video of a man glassblowing a beautiful horse and a cat. Watch and be amazed and look, I have to include art and educational content as well y'know!!!

Training a horse to jump for rewards.There are certain commands that need to be in place before proceeding with the training advice given in this article. Have a read and see what you think.

I really ought to tell you about the horse training dvds we've got. Some are very practical, some are historic and are still practical. Have a look because we don't charge you postage.

Have a great week.

Lippy - The Amazing Talking Horse

2009-08-26T09:27:00.002+10:00

Phew - 32.9 on Monday in Lake Cathie. Hope it changes soon. Stayed up late to watch the cricket and we lost The Ashes. For those of you not in 'the know' it's the equivalent of any Grand Final in any sport you'd care to choose here in Aus. 'She who must' says it serves me right for waking her at some ungodly hour when I came to bed. I suggested separate beds (well, you would wouldn't you), and just managed to miss the resulting well aimed missile. Life's tough sometimes.

Lippy Conner, a horse that was recently rescued from a livestock auction. Lippy has tales to tell, here he complains about his sedation shot. Yeh, right...a talking horse?

There's an article and some great pictures for those of you who enjoy looking at different horse breeds. Click the links you'll find about half way down the page - courtesy of Horse Illustrated Mag.

Advanced Equine Dentistry - What Is It? Well, that's good question and the science has come a long way since the rasp and two floats and a bucket techniques. Have a look...it's interesting and poses a good few questions too.

The Queensland Horse Council (QHC) is looking for volunteers to help on a stud property affected by Hendra virus in the state's central region. Interested?

The Budweiser Clydesdale horses are in town and they're a must-see attraction at the U.P. State Fair. I remember seeing the Aussie brewery Clydesdales when they were housed at Olympic Park (sadly they're now moved the Victoria) and they were a wonderful site. Nice to know that teams of these great horses are still valued.

Here's the Bud ad, complete with Clydesdales. Really nice.

This is a 'Hebra' - a cross between a horse and a zebra, bred at a German zoo. Weird but real...I think. What about you?

Need some ideas for a costume? This video has several awesome pictures of costumes for horses and riders! Some great, some weird and some just plain stupid.

I've just joined TrailTown USA - a brand new trail riding site. I thought I'd try it since they are giving away charter memberships so it costs nothing but it's worth having a look. By the way, I have no business interest in this site.

If you have a real problem with your horse...and you can't solve it, then maybe John Pinnell can help you

Have a great week!

How To Destroy A Horse - The Fibreglass Variety!

2009-08-19T09:58:00.003+10:00

We held our Dragon Boat Regatta on Sunday - great success but I'm pooped today. A school friend staying with us volunteered to do the announcing with his 'plummy' English accent. They all loved him and so I'm having to fight off the female visitors that phone or call regularly. Jealous? Not me particularly when I see his wife's face as another hopeful arrives.....

Three young adults who were caught on videotape destroying a fiberglass horse on Broadway in Saratoga Springs almost exactly a year ago have never been caught, despite nationwide media coverage of the vandals. Watch these idiots...clueless and drunk!.

Believe it or not, there is a better way to fall off your horse, if you ever need to do that. Watch this video clip from a recent presentation on balance, fitness and performance given by Danny Warrington and Mike Pilato at one of their Equicision clinics.

Here's the Horse Boy trailer for the film now released I believe. A comment from a You Tube viewer said this: 'Living with a brother with downs syndrome and working with even more people with other disabilities such as autism this movie will be inspiring. Just watching the trailer brought tears to my eyes.' Have a look and see what you think.

Holly Mason - Aussie girl with a Dream. Holly is 24 years old and comes from Samford, Northwest of Brisbane. As with so many Aussie’s the idea of heading over to Germany to experience all that is Dressage only begins as an idea… then becomes the adventure of a lifetime. For Holly, this journey began in early December 2008 when she boarded a plane to Germany to begin the adventure of her life. 2 days after her 24th birthday, the accident that brought her dreams to an end occurred. Read the rest of this moving story here.

Cruel farmer Jamie Gray costs RSPCA £30k a month in horse care. This guy is the UK is one nasty animal. Read more - hope he gets what's coming.

A Wiener Dog Rally was held on Thursday at Seattle Center. The fastest two dachshunds go on to compete at the Wiener Dog Races at the Emerald Downs horse track in Auburn on Friday. Now I know it ain't horses, but if you want a laugh then there's one here. I've seen cane toads run faster than these 'athletes'.

Horse Trailer Safety Checklist - Hauling your horse down the highway? Check these eight vital pieces of trailer equipment and don't leave home without these 10 items.

Have a great week!!

Watch A Horse Trample A Car

2009-08-12T09:28:00.004+10:00

Well, back from hols. The Whitsundays really turned on the sun but as for the sailing...Um. 'She who must' failed to hold on to a big stripey I'd caught and was holding at the back of the boat whilst our 'Captain' yelled at me to pull some rope or other. Sure enough it escaped and so it was tinned tuna for tea. Yuk! I'll never live it down.

Three days after sustaining a life-threatening head injury, USC equestrian team member Victoria Middleton gave her family reason to believe that she is on her way to recovery. This is one of those weird occurences that shows us, yet again, that even our horses are not the calm, equable animal we sometimes believe them to be. This poor girl's experiences could happen to any of us...read and digest.

The Riding Family: The Perfect Children's Horse. When Marla Lowe and her husband bought a scarred and elderly gelding,he turned out to be a perfect horse for their children. Nice story about a nice horse and a nice family. Courtesy of Equisearch.

Ever seen a horse trample on a car? No? Well watch this.

If you are into Dressage, then this could be for you. My good friend Patricia Reszetylo has a new web site www.WinMoreDressage.com. Go and have a look and subscribe (no cost) to hear her wisdom and get a free CD too.

I have the greatest respect for Paraolympians since a good mate of mine has a son who plays 'murder ball' otherwise known as wheelchair rugby for Australia. Here's an interview with ParaOlympian Rebecca Hart and she's a really nice lady.Thanks to onthebit.

Amusing video about a cat and a horse. I've no idea what the song is or in what language but if I ever catch the singer......

You've probably seen this, but it's worth a reprise. Meet Koda, Australia’s smallest horse. As an American miniature, he was always going to be on the small side. But as a dwarf, he’s positively tiny! However, as most small animals, he has his problems. But, he's lovely

Have a great week!

Horse Football - A Growing Sport

2009-07-28T16:38:00.003+10:00

This will be the last newsletter for a week - AHA, I can hear your sighs of relief. Well, 'er indoors and I are off sailing in the Whitsundays with my friend Capn Pugwash and his mate Roger the cabin boy (girl). I have to catch all the fish and have been threatened with dire consequences should I fail. Frankly, my idea of the trip is a slab of cold tinnies in the yacht cockpit, lunch and an afternoon snooze and let someone else sail the thing. Fat chance of that.....

The history of the horse has been one of pain. Maybe that will end. Rolex World Cup Final 2009 winner Steffen Peters, treat trains and he has changed the future for riders who thought aggression based training was tops. Steffen Peters went to the Olympics on the first horse he ever trained. Below is a video of Steffen Peters’ Kur with Ravel 2009 and it is breathtaking. Turn up the volume, this horse can dance!
This courtesy of Aileen Berwick who writes for Philadelphia's Examiner.

Here's the story of Me & Sebastian...well not ME, but this YouTube video. It's a nice story of one plucky young girl's journey with her horse. Well worth a look and you'll like the music too but don't look too closely at the spelling.

A nice video on round penning an unbroken Arabian filly. I'm facinated by the differing methods people use to train their horses. Some are patently bad, some are excellent but each one seems to have an individual approach. This one is called 'Journey to Connection'.

High Tech Saddle Pads
Learn about the benefits of high tech materials, such as closed cell foam, memory foam and gel, and how they work, to help you select the right saddle pad for your horse. Courtesy of Equisearch and I can tell you that I wish some of these had been around some years ago when I was riding.

Controversy continues over Mongolian race. If you hadn't heard about this both sides involved have invoked the memory of Genghis Khan, and both seem as intractable as the mighty Mongol warrior, as the war of words continues over the merits of a 1000km horse race across the Mongolian steppes. Rather them than me...have you ever been to Mongolia? Nice place they say but I prefer Queensland....it must be my adventurous spirit.

Ever done an egg and spoon race on a horse?? Or even a pairs race, you know, when your inside legs are tied together with your partner. Well, have a look at this video of just that. I couldn't do it...could you?

Now I've shown you horses playing football before. Here they are actually having a competitive game. It's Dutch which may account for it and the horses are dressage horses which means that the style is terrific but the talent may be missing. Good laugh though. Courtesy of Lauren and The Examiner

Have a great week!

Beware -The Demon Drink and Horseback Don't Mix

2009-07-22T10:08:00.003+10:00

I'm pooped from watching the Test cricket and the Tour de France. 'She who must', thinks I'm an idiot and that watching paint dry must be an equally rewarding experience, but there's something about both sports that make compelling vision, at least to us sports tragics. So, a week left of the tour and lots more cricket probably means that it will be the spare bedroom for me....again.
I'm tired.....

Riding For The Disabled In Aus is holding a 2009 Asia/Pacific video competition for unclassified riders (classified riders not eligible). Riders need to submit a DVD recording of the two tests in their Section. Tests will be judged by three qualified Judges. Go here for details and also to watch a lovely video.

Fancy a mobile horse grooming service? Seems reasonable considering that many people get their dogs 'done' this way. I always liked to spend grooming time getting to know my horses better...and vice versa. I know they can't talk but they can communucate in other ways. Anyway, I suppose you could use this service but it's a bit of a way for them to come and may cost a bit......

In a dreamlike, two-hour spectacle, Cavalia puts dozens of galloping horses on a massive stage with acrobats, aerialists, dancers, riders and musicians as an impressive multimedia presentation celebrating the bond between humans and horses comes to life. Click on the picture to see the slideshow.

Here's an equine blog that references lots of others. The spread of content is great so if you've got some time it's well worth clicking on....and on.

Join highly respected Australian horse trainer Jason Webb at his Australian Horse Training Centre, Risebridge Farm on Saturday 15th August to enjoy free demonstrations, entertainment and participate in the celebrations for the opening of the exciting new facilities! The event is completely free to attend and to add to the fun Jason Webb will be performing exciting and informative demonstrations throughout the afternoon. Nice to know that we can show the POMS something but it's a long way to go for some of us.

In Late June, Robert Tite was arrested after he drove through his neighbor's yard while drunk. He was driving a bulldozer at the time. The 57-year-old man from Wakeman, Ohio rode back into his hometown last Sunday. This time he was on a horse, drunk again. Beware the demon drink and horseback.

If you go to the UK and fancy some trekking, here's some great news from Rebecca Ritzel. The first thing you need to know about riding holidays in Wales. They are not, like polo, just for the rich and famous. Once you are in the United Kingdom, staying at a horse farm is an affordable way to get out and see the countryside. For a weekend of riding, including all meals and accommodations, Cwmfforest charges 220 pounds, roughly $360 US at the current exchange rate. Have a look. I remember the Welsh Black Mountains as an army reservist ages ago...and they were steep then.

Is this a weird horse...or is it trying to tell us something? Strange video.

If you've never heard of Jesse Beery, then don't worry too much. He was the USA's most famous horse trainer at the start of the 20th century when there were few cars and you literally had to have a horse to get around on. He sold thousands of copies of his horse training course which really did revolutionise horse training. It's still used today and what's more makes very good reading too...real stories and a reflection of how things were then.

Have a great week

Vehicle Drivers and Horses...A Fatal Duo??

2009-07-15T09:06:00.005+10:00

Do you ever get one of those weekends planned for you when it's a constant stream of cleaning, washing and hosing outside the house? No...well you should try it. This weekend is just one of those. Boy am I looking forward to it.....and my nose is growing longer by the second.

Did you know that over feeding your horse and the consequent overweight are prime causes of laminitis? Neither did I but here's a short video from The Horse magazine you might find instructive.

Here's a horse that obviously does not agree with the opinions of her owner....and shows it.

There's a moral in this one....On March 31, a horse being ridden by Jessica Ruppel, one of Canada’s top young equestrians and prospects for Olympic competition,was struck by a pick-up truck and injured. Ruppel suffered a black eye and severe bruising, but Bella, the three-year-old Hanoverian filly bred and trained by Mrs.
Hess, had to be put down by the roadside. Mad drivers. If you have a story like this one, then let us know.

Equine ER? Yes, it really does exist and here's the first exciting episode with lots more to come.

Horse whisperers - fact or fiction? I dislike the term myself but here's a nice article that puts things into perspective.

Life isn't so bad being a wild horse. We've seen lots of clips on other wild animals...done to death most of them, but here's one on wild horses. Very good too...thanks to National Geographic.

Horse Riding is a sport right? Not according to this clip which puts the whole vista of horse riding in another perspective. I've shared some of these moments myself and when you mount one of these animals you're on trial and it's your skill that will be tested. See if you agree...I sort of do (great English that).

For those of you who have never had the pleasure of a ride through the woods in the middle of winter with snow on the ground and in the trees, crisp blue skies and a winter wonderland all around, this is for you. Me, well, I've seen more snow than I'd like to admit to...gimme the beach any time.

If you ever noticed dogs seem wary of going out in the rain, it's not because they're afraid of getting wet. Nope. It's because rain amplifies sound and it hurts
their ears. I knew that...didn't you??

Getting Started in Cutting. Al Dunning gives a Horse & Rider magazine reader the ins and outs on what it takes to get into the sport of cutting--and how to do it
without breaking the bank.

If you're a Western rider then in this short article from Horse and Rider mag World champion trainer Carol Metcalf discusses spacing along the rail in a Western
pleasure class.

Australia to beat New Zealand All Blacks Saturday? Hope so!!!

Britney Spears Equine Video - Nice Horses Rubbish Song

2009-07-07T14:52:00.003+10:00

Well, the financial year ended...and then began again of course. I hope all of you who could added to your super so that Govt can pay you something back. We bought a holiday instead and are off to the Whitsundays cruising on a yacht at the end of this month. Why? You might well ask. The only thing I know about boats is how to use the sweep oar on our local dragon boat so the terms hailliards and sheets etc are terms I learned from Wikipedia and from Hornblower books. As for navigation, I reckon I'll have to hire a GPS.
Strange though, we've had lots of offers from friends who, all of a sudden, are now expert navigators. Wonder why?

Why train your own horse? It's a divided subject but this lady from Horse Care Daily, offers some good reasons for attempting it. Horses for courses I guess (sorry).

Britney Spears has wrangled up a few stallions and a couple scruffy K. Fed wannabes for her new video "Radar" -- I'll let you decide which category actual horses fit into. With more clothes on than normal, Britney has spliced together a fresh music video for her fourth single off of her latest album "Circus."
Nice horses...rubbish song but that's just my opinion.

Those people at Urlesque love their interspecies friendships, and this video - in which a terrier walks a horse on a leash - is no different. It is so nice to see a friend lend a helping hand paw don't you think?

Why have beer commercials nothing to do with beer. Whatever, this is a lovely short video for Bud beer and it's very clever. It's the fourth video down on the page. You might remember the first video here...it's Patches the hamburger eating horse.

Some nice photos here from my friends at Horse Deals on a Dressage & Jumping Event in Mount Gambier. I don't think there's one bloke amongst them. Shame.

After complaints and even injuries at a parade in the Montrose area in the USA, Houston police are talking more about how their mounted patrol is used in crowds. A lot of people will have seen them at Fourth of July celebrations around town. One woman is complaining about her treatment at a recent gay pride parade. I have to say that it's the rider not the horse and as for the news footage of fireworks too...who'd want to be a horse there anyway?

Courtesy of National Geographic Magazine, this is a short video on horse photographer Mark Harvey. He's almost as good as me with a camera......I've just
ditched film for digital so I'm making progress!!

Got kids? Are they horse mad too? Then have a look at this site. It's got lots of resources just for them including 'how to' videos although the intro video is a bit
wonky. Don't let that put you off.

Have a great week

The Greatest Moment Ever For Australian Horses

2009-07-01T08:57:00.005+10:00

You'll probably be relieved that I've nothing to say about Michael Jackson. Life has instead been taken up with daughters problems...both of them. Those of you who are parents will understand, he said with a sigh and a knowing nod. As a distraction we have a crop of lemons that would keep a decent hotel stocked for weeks (fancy ANOTHER gin & tonic?), and gallons of orange juice from a bumper harvest. No shortage of vitamin C here.

This is probably the greatest moment for our Australian Stock Horses. The opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Who will ever forget it. Great viewing but don't bother reading the usual inane YouTube comments. I don't know why they allow idiots to comment anyhow.

The horse boy - video clip. Enlightened horsemanship through touch - Autism Therapy On Horseback. Never seen this before but it's an interesting approach to a very difficult condition. (Patience, takes a little while to load)

JD Wilton slide show. Probably the greatest horse trainer Australia has ever seen, this is an slide show of the methods used by the great man.

On the same site is a nice little video of horse tricks - also this guy says that he can make his horse smile. Wish I could do that with 'she who must be obeyed'.

Beautiful horses made from driftwood - courtesy of Jake Hamilton

Here's Mercy - the painting horse. She's female of course, men are only good for painting sheds, and some of her work has sold for $100. Would you buy it? Make sure you scroll down to view the video.

Mona Ramouni has been blind since birth, but that hasn't stopped her from achieving her goals. Now 28, Ramouni, of Dearborn, has been looking for more independence. Typically, people who are blind use guide dogs to aid them in their daily tasks, however, Ramouni said as a Muslim she is not supposed to have a dog in her home. While fighting boredom one day, Ramouni, came across a topic she found interesting - miniature horses as guide animals. Read on.

I Hate Your Horse - Living the Dark Truth through the eyes of a horse trainer. Uncensored, uninhibited and far from sugar-coated. Exposing the insanity that is the world of horses, their owners, the breeders, and of course the wacked out wannabes...Welcome to my life...This is what I get the joy of dealing with.
Not my words I hasten to add, but a new blog I found. Just read some of the tales from people who bought 'good' horses. There's a lesson or five in there somewhere.

Dunno if you've ever heard of Badminton (no, not the game, the horse trials in the UK). It's the UK home of eventing and I used to go regularly, in fact on one visit there in a suppliers tent I bumped into Pricess Anne (literally!). That's another story. Here's a great video clip form Olivia Haddow and Horse Hero showing the event from the point of view of 4 very different women. You have to register to watch it but it's no cost and a great future resource too.Good stuff.

Married with Horses, is a long running and amusing real life saga on Equisearch. After months of waiting Jeremy and Kimberly finally meet Mandy's new foal, Justin. Read about the colt's arrival, plus view his photo gallery and video!

Here's the photo gallery

The H10 ointment offer (2 for 1) is still on but I'm running stock down so you'd better be quick.

Have a great week

H10 Newsletter On Video Soon??

2009-06-24T09:35:00.002+10:00

A very big thanks to everyone who responded to our small web survey. The answers will be very useful and I am now already looking for video software so that I can become a web star. 'She who must be obeyed', thinks I'm mad but did remark that it was amazing what they can do to videos these days to make people look good.........I did not rise to the bait.

Then came a not wholly unexpected phone call from the tame vet offering his services on video. He's always been that way inclined but when he mentioned that he'd be cheaper than even a minor movie star I decided that enough was enough. The phone has been quiet ever since......

Horses are having a ball trying out the latest equine training technique to hit Wearside in the UK. Spotting a gap in the market, Lisa Bond has begun selling the 44inch high balls from her Washington-based business. As well as being a good way of getting the animals used to moving objects, the balls have also proved to be ideal for horseplay. However, Sprite the horse is a little camera shy when asked to try out the training balls, despite encouragement from reporter Daniel Walker and photographer Corrina Atkinson. Nice thought though.

What NOT to do when grooming someone else's horse. This poor fella was never visited by his owner and a young girl at the facility decided she'd groom him properly. Then she decided his mane needed a trim. Imagine what you'd say if your hairdresser did this to you.

This blog advertises itself as - A place for horseback riders to get equine information: from training & tack to general horseback riding advice and veterinary care, there's no topic we won't touch! There's lots of back articles with info on all sorts of horsey things. Worth a look I think.

Here's a new blog I found - The journey of a 40-something woman and her horses, oh and real life, too. I liked it and there's a good link to an interview with Wylie Gustafson who's a champion Cutting Horse rider. He rides his cutting horse barefoot...the horse, not him. It's an interesting view into a sport I've really admired watching at the Royal Easter Show but have to admit I don't know much about.

How to introduce your horse to water jumps. Nice little video from an expert. Eventer Boyd Martin shows you how to give your horse the best start for conquering cross-country water questions, both mentally and physically.Never done it myself, always got the horse to wade through so it's probably time I learned although I don't think I'll be taking up eventing anytime soon.

This video clip is the famous Indian Horse Movie Slide. The comment from the video poster is, "FYI, I've done some research and no horses were harmed in the filming of that clip. At least no horses were harmed physically. I'm pretty sure the horse's ego took a bruising. He was probably emotionally scarred for quite some time. Casting agents haven't taken him seriously since". I'm not surprised either.

Serious stuff this - thrush on the back of a horse. Nasty eh? What would you do?

From Equisearch and by Sandra Cooke, Trail-Riding Essentials The right gear and gadgets make your trail ride safe and fun. There's nothing like having what you need when you need it to help you feel competent and in control. When you and your horse are ready to leave home and go out on the trail, you can prepare for the changing environment and its challenges with additional clothing and equipment that's simple and affordable. Yep, couldn't agree more.

Finally, a great article on hoof abcesses from Equisearch. EquiSearch's Ask the Vet: Help for a Hoof Abscess How long should it take a hoof abscess to heal? Dr. Joyce Harman offers advice to a Standardbred gelding's owner in EquiSearch.com's Ask the Vet.

Have a great week!

All Your Magic Moments Entries Here Now

2009-06-17T09:28:00.006+10:00

Well, we've finished the compilation of all the recent comp entries and you can download Magic Moments here and now. Hope you enjoy reading them as much as we did putting them all together.

We'll have a new competition soon and so if you've an idea of what type of comp you'd like, then let us know - and thanks to those who have already let us have their ideas.

There are times in your horse's life when his legs experience more than the normal amount of stress. Maybe you worked him a bit harder than you usually do. You could be competing at a multi-day show. Perhaps you moved from a cool, dry climate to a hotter, more humid one. You may want to have a way--with or without liniment--to provide his legs with warmth and promote circulation. Or maybe you just feel that he needs a little protection against stall injury.

Whatever the problem, the solution is a standing wrap--a dry bandage that can provide warmth and support to the tendons and ligaments, cushion against dings and bumps and help to prevent "stocking up"--the accumulation of fluid due to inactivity, often following work. From Equisearch with thanks.

Thousands of people looking for a horse of a different color are in Tulsa for the Pinto World Championship Horse Show. The 12-day competition at Expo Square will showcase horses, ponies and miniatures as they jump, rein, drive and trot their way to winning blue ribbons. Here's some nice video. Some of the outfits, both horse and rider are sensational.

Do you have a puzzling or frustrating problem in your partnership with your horse? Team Horse & Rider's 12 leading trainers and clinicians are standing by to offer
you advice, wisdom, and their professional perspective. Worth a look here - it's complimentary.

If you want a chuckle - and don't we all need that - then here's a YouTube video by Indian Creek Stables with music courtesy of ColdPlay. I laughed my head off and it really made my day. Hope it does the same for you.

Finally, you've got to hand it to this jockey. he was going to place second no matter what happened...and happen it certainly did.

That's more than enough for you from me this week. Oh, by the way, the H10 ointment offer is still on.

Have a great week

Geoff

Watch This Fabulous Musical Ride From The Police

2009-06-10T10:48:00.002+10:00

Gee it's cold. I have to say sorry that we haven't judged the comp for last month yet. The tame vet phoned me on our appointed day last week to say that he'd had a call out to a very expensive horse and that he couldn't make it. We rearranged for tomorrow and he phoned later to say that the horse was ok. It got spooked and ran into some barbed wire fence which didn't do it a whole lot of good. Superficial cuts and bruises only which is a relief on any horse let alone a million dollar champ as this horse was. So, results tomorrow...promise.

VINCENT O’BRIEN, widely regarded as the finest racehorse trainer of the last century, died at his home in Co Kildare on June 2nd. He was 92. During a 51-year career in which he transformed many aspects of thoroughbred racing, O’Brien won 27 Irish Classic races as well as a further 16 in Britain. They included six victories in the Epsom Derby with horses such as Nijinsky (1970), Roberto (1972) and Golden Fleece in 1982. He also won France’s most famous race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, on three occasions including back-to-back successes with Alleged in 1977 and 1978. Must admit that I backed his horses in some of the 'big' races and was seldom disappointed.

These events seldom go in singles. The Stradbroke Handicap meeting at Eagle Farm last Saturday was shrouded in sadness following the death early last week of Queensland's most successful horse trainer, Bruce McLachlan. McLachlan, 67, trained more than 3000 winners in a 40-year career and while he had cut down his workload in recent seasons, his feature winners still flowed.

This amazing piece of horsemanship comes from the UKs Metropolitan Mounted Police Squad. You just have to watch this video and be amazed. From the attitude of the horses they really seem to be enjoying themselves. H10 in the UK supplies the Met with grooming products which is why the horses look so good.

A free 'donkey care' workshop has been arranged by The Donkey Sanctuary at Shuttleworth College in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, UK on Saturday 18th July from 10am to 4pm for donkey owners. It's a bit far to travel but for donkey lovers it's a must. The 'Why Does My Donkey' Summer Tour is designed to help unravel some of myths that surround donkey behaviour. You should read more on this historic event.

There's a new Dressage web site just available. Here is their message: "We are a professional organization committed to bringing you educational tools that exceed your expectations through deliberate learning content. We put our heart into our work and our love of the horse and the sport of dressage drives us to take pride in every video we bring to you. Every rider, trainer and judge featured on this website was purposeful in their participation in this educational effort, knowing that the most dedicated of riders will now have access to something more to further their learning and ultimately grow the dressage community worldwide". If you are into dressage at any stage then you should have a good look at lots of free stuff here but remember that to get the best you'll have to join.

Show Notes for Equestrian Photography -- An Interview with Laura Cotterman and Christina Handley. If you've ever wondered how to take those really good photos that will separate your photos from the 'just ordinary' then you should have a look at this article. It's good. There's a newsletter too.

Horse racing trainer rides zebra to Dorset pub. A former jump jockey and horse racing trainer, Bill Turner, rides a zebra called Zebedee to his local pub in Sherborne, Dorset. Bill Turner, 61, bought Zebedee from a game reserve in Holland for £4,500 and learned to ride the animal in just two weeks. Zebras are much less co-operative and more difficult to ride than horses, owing to their unpredictable nature and tendency to panic under stress. Amazing.

In this video, about half way down thwe page, Julie Goodnight teaches a rider how to use a type of emergency stop with her 17.1 thoroughbred who is all go and no whoa. This is the emergency stopping rein, or pulley rein. Here’s how it works:

In the June 2009 EQUUS magazine feature "Stacking Hay for a Short Haul," hay supplier Daniel Houlihan describes how to safely secure 53 bales of hay into the bed of a pickup truck. What. The following pictures show in greater detail the knots and tying technique he used to strap down that load.

Comp results tomorrow and all the entries will be avaiable as a download for you all shortly. 'Good for a laugh' bedtime reading.
Don't forget H10 ointment 2 for 1 is still on and you shouldn't miss it.

Have a great week...and keep warm.

German National Equestrian Team In Doping Scandal

2009-06-03T10:33:00.004+10:00

The current competition has now closed and thanks to everyone whom took part. We'll be judging last month's entries tomorrow...that is if the tame vet turns up. I imagine he will though. The wafting aroma of great coffee and just baked chocolate muffins acts like a magnet on him. It's only ever out performed by the chance of a test drive in the latest 4 wheel drive to hit the market. Wonder what he'll turn up in tomorrow.

All the comp entries will be available in a pdf file format for you to download next week and you can have a good laugh at them. Now we have to think up another competition subject. Anyone got any ideas? Good ideas will be rewarded.....

Equestrian sports woke up with two black eyes last week. The elephant in the room got loose. German Equestrian Team Suspended as Olympic Doping Scandal Escalates in International Spotlight. Thursday afternoon, the national equestrian federation of Germany, FN Verlag (FN), announced the suspension of all riders who represented Germany at the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong's equestrian events, where Germany won three gold medals. In effect, FN Verlag and the German national sport federation have dissolved, disbanded, and suspended its equestrian teams for FEI-level events. More here and it's not good plus a video they made in their glory days. All a bit sad really. Courtesy of the Jurga Report

Here's a 4 minute video on 'How To Make Your Horse Feel Safe With You'. There's some very sound advice here, in easy steps for both experienced and learner riders and some facts that you may not have thought of. Courtesy of my friend Roger Bourdon's Horse Blog.

This is the weblog of Wesley Fryer. OK, so what, you might ask. Well, the first video clip on this blog is a short history of the US Cavalry horse and some pictures of the same. I used to see them in western films at the kids cinema show on Saturday mornings (many years ago). There are very few, if any, left now and as a piece of history and a personal reminisence, it's a gem.

Next week I'll look for some clips of the UK Household cavalry who look after the Queen. Very impressive horsemen.

I don't usually advertise anyone or anything in this newsletter but here's a bit of fun. It's Equestrian Cupid. What more should I say? It's a no cost sign up and they have lots of equestrian videos but I haven't had the nerve to sign up and look....yet.

Here's Eric Bravo with a great video on how to catch your horse. On the horse forums I visit, this is one of the most discussed topics. OK, he talks a lot and I don't like the way he flings his rope around but it's worth a look if you're having problems.

This short clip from the UK shows a racehorse that doesn't want to work today....or any day for that matter. The jockey must be an acrobat to escape injury from this dangerous mad cap equine. See what you think.

Here, from Australia at last, is a weird story . Trainer David "Butch" Londregan was likened to a Banjo Paterson character at a hearing into comments he made at the height of the jumps racing controversy, earlier this month. Londregan was fined $5,000 of which $4,000 was suspended when the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board found him guilty on Monday of conduct prejudicial to the image of racing over threats to kill his horses if jumps racing was banned in Victoria. Londregan, 54, told various media outlets he would video his horses being shot, have their heads cut off and sent to Racing Minister Rob Hulls, Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) and others. Nice eh?

The H10 ointment offer (2 for 1) is still on but I'm running stock down so you'd better be quick.

Have a great week

New TV Series - Humans As Horses? Good Viewing.

2009-05-27T10:50:00.003+10:00

I think that at last we're now open to the outside world after the recent floods. We had to stay indoors for days and there's nothing that aggravates the wife more than that. This morning she's gone like a rabbit out of a trap. I wonder why? I thought she'd got used to me after 38 years.

My Life As a Horse - sounds strange but a UK TV company is making people into animals.
A young London lad lived with horses – as a pony - for four days and nights eating, sleeping and living as the ponies did while Vanessa Bee taught him to behave as a pony using body language to remain safe and ultimately to rise to the head of the herd. Vanessa was a bit doubtful that a completely non-horsey (actually non – animal ) person would do this but on the last afternoon he led the herd up the field as a true leader...there wasn’t a dry eye in the house!! Rebecca said "It was such a fantastic positive experience for us all I do hope that feeling comes over on the show. Both presenters, Terry Nutkins and Rebecca Wilcox, were lovely to work with and the crew were committed and hardworking remaining true to the ethos of our property and our relationship with the ponies – that is to show mutual respect and to keep the whole experience positive for both ponies and people." Very interesting to watch believe me.

Vanessa has a dvd available from us using Kel Jeffrey's unique method of training horses. I think we've even got a clip available here:

Louise Bell is a Champion Hack show rider in the UK. In this video which is a succession of out-takes you see the real woman behind the 'mask' everyone else sees in the arena. Believe me this woman is a scream.......it's on Horse Hero, a great site but you'll need to register (at no cost of course) to see this and lots of other great videos. Then just scroll down the front page and choose 'Editors Choice'. Well worth it believe me. Just to set the record straight, I have no tie up with this site. I just think it's great.

Now how often do you see a horse bossing around a human. In my experience all too often. A TV company decided to film what happens when a real horse trainer gets to work on such a horse. “No horse whisperin’, no nothin’,” said the horse trainer, leaning against the store’s tall wooden counter. “It’s just common sense, and we learn how to communicate.” Interesting.

'I have a fourteen year old gelding that I purchased a few months back. He is very well behaved but I have a problem, when we go out riding he listens well but on the way back home he takes over and starts galloping and I can't stop him; I have no control what so ever. Can you please give me some advice on what I could do to fix this problem? Well I can't but Rick Lamb can and it's worth reading in case this happens to you.

If you follow Parelli training methods then I think you'll find this article very interesting.

Aus seems to be getting it's fair share of rain...be prepared for rain scald, cuts and abrasions and ringworm etc with your horse. H10 ointment has a great track record (read what others say) and we've an offer not to be missed.

Last chance for the H10 competition - it closes on Sunday

A Horse That Rides In Cars And Eats Cheeseburgers?!

2009-05-20T08:38:00.003+10:00

I get a lot of amusing mail from friends around the world. Some of it is repeatable, much of it isn't but here's one short saying that struck a chord with me since, like a lot of men, I spent much of my earlier life working away from home. Apart from that of course I am the ideal husband...just ask my wife (and be prepared for the holocaust that follows).

OFFSPRING
Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favourite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house!
How true is that?

One LAST thing about families. There's a new blog called Awkward Family Photos. Believe me we've all been in one or two in our time. This site just puts them all together. Hilarious. I think you'll really enjoy these 'family shots'

On to more horsey things.

Patches, the Car Riding, Cheeseburger Eating Horse. Yep, it could only happen in the US of A. Lovely horse, idiot owners but you'll laugh at this four legged legend who's a lot cleverer than his minders. He even answers the phone...heaven knows what the callers think.

From Katherine, and posted on Barnmice are these lovely photos. This is a newborn offspring of Taskin, Gypsy Stallion owned by Villa Vanners that was born on April 6/09. the photos were taken immediately after the birth. Beautiful.

Last week we featured an equine photographer and you seemed to like that so this week we feature an equine artist. Here's bit from her bio - Scottish artist Sheona Hamilton-Grant was born in 1969 and is married with two children. She grew up in Europe (Holland, France & Belgium), studied in Brussels, Madrid and London, lived in Belgium, Britain, Germany, France, Holland, Sweden and the USA (New Mexico). Is fluent in 3 languages, worked as a marketing assistant, in real estate, as a home groom and a rider. Has loved and cared for animals all her life. Nice stuff.

You can see lots of other equine artists here - just scroll down the right hand side of the page

Married With Horses is a regular column on Equisearch and gives a real insight into horses and humans. As a horsewoman and her husband try to cope with the passing of a beloved dog, they realise that, in their own ways, their other four-legged family members feel the loss too. Lovely story but make sure your box of tissues is near.

Friends are a good thing for a horse to have. Who wouldn’t want a partner for swatting flies head-to-tail in the field, a fellow scratcher for that itchy spot just behind the withers and a cohort in raising mealtime rackets? And from an owner’s point of view, it’s comforting to know that your horses aren’t lonely when you’re not around. But firm friendships between stable and herdmates can have a downside. When two horses become so attached that any form of separation leads to stress verging on panic, the virtues of companionship are outweighed by the complications it brings. Read how this happens and what to do about it. Courtesy of Equisearch.

And finally...the current H10 comp finishes at the end of this month so you've got just 10 days to get your entry in.

Swine Flu Special - Can Your Horse Catch It?

2009-05-13T11:01:00.003+10:00

How did you do in the budget? Touch and go for private health care perhaps. There are measures for superannuation too but I get too depressed looking at the remnants of what's left of mine.

Can my cat, dog or horse catch swine flu? Had to be asked didn't it? Should there be concern? Why, for example, is the World Organisation for Animal Health currently awaiting test results to determine if the new virus is capable of infecting horses and other livestock? It is unknown whether the new swine flu spreading among people can infect other animals, the American SPCA says, but probably not, said Tom Chambers, PhD, who heads the OIE Reference Laboratory for Equine Influenza at the University of Kentucky's Gluck Equine Research Center in Lexington.
Influenza viruses have an amazing ability to mutate and change their characteristics, so scientists who study them never say "never." But, while it's perhaps not impossible for a horse to get swine influenza, Chambers said he thinks it's unlikely. Let's hope he's right.

I thought that an article on how the para-equestrian dressage tests compare to U.S. Equestrian Federation levels would be fascinating to all of you AND THEN I woke up and decided this would be better. This tiny white donkey, named JB, has been taken in by Panhandle Equine Rescue because his distraught owners were unable to give him the numerous feedings he requires daily. His mother was shot by some idiot who, I'm glad to say has been arrested. Lovely pics but be careful, once seen you'll want to adopt him.

In this video, eventing star Boyd Martin shows you the best way to stay dry as you introduce your horse to these entry-level water jump questions. Useful for any rider in any bush situation I guess particularly here on the East Coast but elsewhere it's fine if you can actually find any water to cross.

Look, I go to the races every now and then and I always have a punt on The Melbourne Cup. Here's an exciting video replay of last week's Kentucky Derby, the US equiv of the MC. The winner came in, no hold that, he cantered in at 50:1. I wish I'd had some of that eh?

Check out this horse photographer. She has the perfect touch and the photos are well worth a look...particularly if you like grey horses.

Having been told that 66 percent of Australians are overweight, now comes a revelation that our horses are overweight too! The Blue Cross animal charity has warned of the dangers of equine obesity as it revealed that 40% of all horses and ponies taken in by its equine centres last year were overweight - an increase of 5% on the previous year.

A reader in Kentucky wrote in to Bob Basler of Reuters with a problem.
“Bob,” she begins, “I would like to put clothes on my horse, but it’s so hard to find stuff that fits. Her lineage is German, so it would be great to have her in traditional garb for Oktoberfest.” Have a look at the pics. Laugh....I certainly did

How to Catch Your Horse When It Runs Away - Some horses long to run free and will break away from you or the stable if they get the chance. If your horse has a wild spirit and is hard to contain, you may want to follow these simple steps for getting your horse back in the stable. This is Shane's way..what do you think?

Our current comp will end at the end of May so get in quick with your entry. Great prizes. We'll publish all of them next month in a big round up.

Have a great week!

Terrible Accident Ends In Horse Death

2009-05-05T11:59:00.003+10:00

Don't forget Mother's day next Sunday...as if you would though. My Mum is not around to scold me any more and she had some very endearing qualities although cooking was not one of them. I remember well that veggies had to be boiled until they were a mush (the veggie water used in the gravy of course) and any meat simply had to be cremated before it was fit to eat. Something about tapeworm or some other nasty. Glad to say that I haven't kept up the family tradition.

Deadly Collision at Pre-Derby Workout - As Derby contenders were on the track prepping for the weekend's race, a 3-year-old filly ran full speed into a 2-year old horse standing nearby. The younger horse was euthanized after the collision. Not nice but shows what can happen when a horse gets spooked. You might have to wait for a short advert before the main clip. Be patient.

Long a folk remedy, cider vinegar has been shown to improve the health of dairy cows, horses, dogs and other animals. It reduces common infections, aids whelping, improves stamina, prevents muscle fatigue after exercise, increases resistance to disease and protects against food poisoning. It also really seems to keep the flies away. Well, every year we get 'miracle cure' claims like this. Me, a cynic? Never. What's more important is what do you think?

Now I thought that you could name a horse with anything you wanted too. But it's not the case. The first rule of naming a horse is that a name may consist of no more than 18 letters, and spaces and punctuation marks count as letters. Eighteencharacters is acceptable (and is, in fact, a registered horse name) but Eighteen Characters is not. You'll need to know more won't you?

Talking about names...You might be surprised to hear that weight loss queen Jenny Craig owned one of the favorites in last weekend's Kentucky Derby. But you'll be even more surprised to hear the name: Chocolate Candy. Does Jenny Craig really want to be using her horse to push temptation? We don't think this is good for obese America or her business.
So they're trying to get the horse's name changed to a more dietetic option before the big race. Your choices are: 1) Inallhissplenda, 2) Lotsa Fiber, 3) Desert Dessert, 4) Cal-O-Wee, 5) Worth The Weight, 6) Results Not Typical. You can vote too

Emaciated horse becomes Michigan racing champion? When Ernest Davenport first met Jasper, he was an emaciated horse on his way to the slaughterhouse. Now, 33 years later, the Arabian horse has beaten the odds, becoming a reserve and grand champion numerous times, winning against horses many years his junior. Great story.

You've just got to visit Horse Hero where you'll find a paradise for horse lovers...on film too. It's a You Tube but for us horse lovers.

Here's an 'out takes video' they have made. Good laugh too.

We only had 4 entries for April's competition but they were of very high class and the tame vet and I had a good laugh at them....that is when he wasn't stuffing his face with the wife's muffins. Our winner was Des who has a horse with a mechanical 'bent' so to speak....she's called Prudence which is a strange name for a budding mechanic. We'll send the winning entry by email in a separate short newsletter. Nice prize off to you Des and thank you to everyone who entered. We'll be posting all the entries in a file on the web site soon so that you can download them yourselves.

Fake Doctors..And Now Fake Vets Too?

2009-04-29T10:55:00.004+10:00

We've had lots of local shows recently including Wauchope and I always go there specifically just to see the different breeds of chooks on show. Wonderful care and attention but some very strange looking breeds. Next project from 'er indoors is a chicken run, some brown birds and some free range eggs. All this despite the fact that we already get our free range eggs from a fellow dragon boat paddler who owns an egg farm. Um.

Y'know, I had the greatest difficulty in my time an actually pricing a horse. How much is it worth and how much does that figure depend on how much you want it. You only have to look at the prices at famous yearling sales to consider the dilemma. OK, so that sort of price won't ever affect you or me, but when it comes to your average hack...well what then?
Here's a great 4 part series that considers almost everything in buying a new horse, together with the questions you must ask. After all it is your money that's changing hands. From citizen horse

Here's an unfortunate event that happened at a recent horse show, happily not here in Australia. A horse has been injured after being attacked by a dog during a show-jumping event in Londonderry, N Ireland. The horse was being led by a young girl at an event in the council-owned Ballyarnett Park on Sunday. The horse was bitten on its neck and hind quarters when it was attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier. Nasty. From the BBC.

Australia’s Lucinda Fredericks wins the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event on Headley Brittania, following her husband Clayton’s 2007 victory. Wonderful achievement and you must read and see more of this famous victory. Courtesy of Equisearch

This month, Equisearch and Horse and Rider have come up with a swag of interesting horse stuff so I'm making no apologies for pointing you there.

The Best Reward is a Built-in One
According to Leslie Desmond, you should train your horse so the entire process is well-understood and pleasing. If you do then that becomes his ongoing reward. Read more.

Managing a Hearing-Impaired Horse. With a few minor adjustments in your training and horsekeeping techniques, you can make sure your deaf horse can get along just fine. Do you know I'd never thought of this but I know lots of us keep older horses and love them dearly. Anyhow, my kids are always complaining I'm going deaf so perhaps this might help me too.

We have had a man posing as a doctor in Queensland and the US now have a man posing as a veterinarian making house calls and operating on a horse, according to Lincoln County Animal Services. "He had no background. He said he had some cows on his farm," said Lincoln County Animal Services Director. Same crime, same punishment I think, don't you?

We have a couple of book titles left including 'Teaching Safe Horsemanship'. That alone is worth a look.
Have a great week.

Royal Easter Show Horse Event Pictures

2009-04-22T10:16:00.004+10:00

I missed the Sydney Royal Easter Show this year which was a pity but economics are economics and unfortunately this year they won and I lost. Better luck next year perhaps. However, my good friend Jackie Long had a good show with 'Heza Star' (Heza Bruce/J Star Classic), winning both the ASH Hack NE 15hh Ridden in a Snaffle and Ridden in a Curb Bit. Heza Star went on to be declared Reserve ASH Hack. Well done Jackie.

Here's a new blog....'I'm just a girl. Who's been taken out of Texas to live on a ranch. A ranch on a Reservation. In the middle of South Dakota.' It's worth a look and this week she's been looking at equine dentistry. I went to the dentist this week and I'm considerably poorer than before. Wish I had a licence to print money too.

If you haven't been to Barnmice then you've missed a real treat. I've kept this as a bit of a secret for a while but it's now time to share this excellent site. Horselovers from 151 countries, videos, blogs etc. I joined a while back and it's a good move to join this growing breed of social sites for horselovers.

One question riders commonly ask is "How can I make my horse go straight?" To tell the truth, this was one of the first questions students ask in Matt Gable's Advanced Rider Program. Here's the answer.

How Do You Train A Horse To Buck On Command? I’m not looking at teaching the horse to throw the rider. The horse is very good natured and very willing to learn. If you fall off this horse, she will turn around and nudge you back on your feet and stand perfectly still as you get on, saddle or bareback. Look, not my words but from a blog that received plenty of feedback as you might think. Want to read the replies?

By the way, Julie Wilson has lots of photos from every day of the Royal Easter Show on the Horse Deals site here.

For those of us mad keen to keep in touch with the stars of this world....Madonna's Saturday equestrian accident in the Hamptons was a real bummer, says her physical trainer. "She fell on her bum," Tracy Anderson told PEOPLE. The accident occurred when the horse Madonna was riding was startled by paparazzi who jumped out of the bushes to photograph the singer. Typical eh?

Joel Means is a natural hoofcare barefoot trimmer, a trainer of horses and an instructor to people located in the Austin, TX area. Joel is an advanced student of Parelli Natural Horsemanship who has been following the program for 12 years, and has been helping others with their horses for 8 years. Here's a video of him with horse Chico that's worth looking at.

Hey, we've had one entry only for the April competition. How do you think that makes our tame vet feel? Unwanted. Come along now, we could do with some more entries please. Don't tell us you've never had a funny or amusing incident with your horse? Share it with 1000 others.

Have a great week.

New Social Sites For Horse Lovers

2009-04-15T09:19:00.004+10:00

Great Easter. Great family get together. Daughter came up from Sydney and slept for the whole three days. I wonder how she does it sometimes.....I got a big egg though......

Ease Mounting Pressures on Your Horse
The way you mount up from ground to saddle at the start of a ride has important implications for your horse's body and mind. By Karen Smith courtesy Equisearch

Here's a new horse blog I found. It's called 'The Long Horse Ride Blog' - From Beijing to London on horseback between the Olympics and details the travels of Megan Lewis from the UK as she treks from there to London in time for the 2012 Olympics. Takes the trail ride to a whole new level eh?

Introducing Horsevine.com - a social networking site by and for the Horse enthusiast! Their words, not mine but it looks like a Facebook for horse lovers. Their advertising slogan, "I heard it through the Horsevine'. Um.
Then there's Horse-Networks, another 'social site' for horse lovers where you can connect with 8000 horselovers and view over 13000 horse photos. Social networking has come a long way in the past few years.

Funny Horse Pictures - You Don’t See That Everyday. Can’t say I agree with all (any) of them, but you have to admit, they make you do a double take. Courtesy of Paige.

10 Fun Arena Exercises. If you've fallen into a riding rut, try our 10 basic arena exercises. By the Editors of Horse & Rider magazine
In the October '08 issue of Horse & Rider they offered 10 arena exercises you can use in your regular training sessions, as a warm up before your classes at a show, or to get the "fresh" out before a trail ride. Here, you can print out the diagrams (along with detailed information about each) and laminate them to make a handy barn-proof cheat sheet.

The worst horse-human combination possible is a green or young or unbroken horse and a beginner/novice rider. he idea that the untrained horse and the new rider will 'grow together' is one of the most believed, but most dangerously wrong ideas that floats around in the horse world. Here's a video that shows what can happen. Courtesy of Phil Tregear.

Hairdressers are used to grooming wayward locks - but Australian artist Julian Wolkenstein set a new standard when he used horses as models. The 36-year-old teamed up with hair stylist Acacio da Silva to turn the beasts of burden into supermodels of the equine world. Um...interesting.

The City of Boston's mounted patrol - the oldest police horse unit in the United States - is to be dismantled because of budget cuts. The unit, which comprises 12 horses and 10 officers, will be closed this northern summer, bringing to an end a service which dates back to the 1800s. About a dozen staff who help tend the horses will be laid off and the 10 mounted officers redeployed to foot duties. Very sad.

I have one copy only each of Storeys Guide To Raising Horses and Teaching Safe Horsemanship . Certainly worth a look since we pass on our savings to you.

Have a great week!
Geoff

Competition Results Here

2009-04-08T08:38:00.006+10:00

Results of the March comp at the foot of this email...and April's comp is now on so why not enter today? We hosted the Australian Ironman comp last weekend and I have to say I have the greatest admiration for all who competed. I've no wish to take years off my life so you won't catch me anywhere near it but congratulations to all who completed the event.

'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. I suppose the nearest equivalent is our Riding For The Disabled organisation. Here's a nice video showing some disadvantaged people and the great relationships they build with horses together with the therapeutic advantages too.

We all need a laugh now and then...there's a joke site that has a category of horse jokes that might raise a chuckle for you. I don't guarantee the quality though...

Here's a small article that debunks the 'myths and legends' we all hear about horses. What to do...and what not to do. It also has a graphic pic of a horse getting his teeth 'floated'. Nothing to do with horse floats but filing down teeth. I'm very glad that my dentist doesn't do this sort of thing. He's expensive enough as it is without all the extra apparatus.

Equine-assisted learning programs are based on the idea that horses can sense what a person is thinking and feeling. If the student is fearful or calm, angry or loving, a horse will react in a like manner. An equine-assisted learning program helps CEOs and other executives overcome business obstacles. Great training for bank managers, prime ministers etc perhaps!!

The UKs Grand National is one of the toughest jumping events in the horse racing calendar and I reckon you have to be either supremely professional or a complete idiot to take on those fences....and that's just the horses. Anyway, this year if you had your money on Mon Mome, well he romped home at 100-1. All that after he'd be beaten by 57 lengths and 42 lengths in his last two races. The bookies had a field day...sorry about the pun.

Many horse owners assume that the rain rot, rain scald, mud fever etc is caused by a fungus. Dermatophilus congolensis is interesting because it shares charastics with both fungus’s and bacterias. They are wrong. Dermatophilosis is in fact caused by an organism called dermatophilus congolensis. In horses the dermatophilus congolensis works by entering the follicle of the horses hair shaft. Once it is in the horses hair shaft it can be seen in the form of a large hive. When these hives are removed from the skin horse owners can easily see several (literally dozens and dozens) of hairs embedded in each large lump. Because the dermatophilus congolensis damages the hair root removing these hives does not seem to bother or pain the horse in anyway. Once the scabs/hives are removed owners can see that the skin under the hives is generally a pink color and oozing a yellow pus.
It can be epidemic in mild, wet weather. H10 ointment is very effective and you can read about the condition here.

"I have a 4 1/2 year old appaloosa mare, very heavy cob type, and she is docile and calm in every way except she really protests when I try and put her bit in her mouth, she is not head shy, but refuses to accept the bit, once it's in she's absolutely fine. I have tried using polos, carrot, even washing the bit in minty fresh mouthwash... I do not force the bit into her mouth, just gently persist, which can sometimes take 10-15 mins. Any suggestions?" Read the answer here

Teaching your horse to sidepass makes him more maneuverable on the trail, in traffic, or when negotiating any tight turn. Use the Click 'n Learn stop-action sequence to see Clinton Anderson use sidepassing to ride his horse through a gate. By the Editors of Horse & Rider magazine.

You all wanted to hear the results of March's competition..and thank you very much for the entries. Judging wasn't easy but the 'tame vet' sat down with a coffee and a plate of muffins and scoffed the lot by the time we'd finished. The winner was Toni but we had great fun judging some very high quality entries and so thank you all for supporting us.

"The funniest thing I have seen is teaching my now hubby about horses, and saying when we went to Melbourne 3DE, that you can tell how fiery a horse is by its bit (we were watching the x country warm up ring) he proceed to go "really???", and walked along for a good few minutes with his head on the side studying the horses. I thought he was just being a bit weird, then he asks "do girl horses run quicker than boy horses because they dont have wind resistance??". "No", I answered amused, then watched him while he watched a horse warming up and when it came past him, he was ducking down and putting his head on odd angles. Curiosity definitely got the better of me and I had to ask what an earth he was doing. "Checking out their bits" was the innocent reply. After having to sit down while crying, I had to go back a step and explain that "a bit" was something that goes in the horses mouth and not slang for what's between their legs."

Nice one!

Have a great Easter.

Do Horses Swim Well?!

2009-04-01T09:31:00.003+11:00

Where has the sunshine gone?
Our forecast for today after 150 mls of rain yesterday - Showers or rain areas with some moderate to heavy falls, isolated thunderstorms in the north. Fresh east to southeast winds, strong on the coast. Damaging surf conditions. I'd love to share our water.
Some north coast areas have had 750 mls over the past 36 hours...can you believe it?

"You can take the horse out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the horse." Domesticating and stabling horses has radically changed their natural environment and can lead to some serious health issues. Respiratory difficulties are reported to be the leading health problem in domesticated horses. At the first hint of any pulmonary issue, start by immediately consulting your holistic veterinarian for recommendations. From Amy Snow and Nancy Zidonis

Andy Curry is a horse trainer I regard highly. Here's a TV interview of him explaining how much he owes to the methods of training used over 100 years ago when your horse was your livelihood. .
You can have a look at his site and sign up for his newsletter here and watch the second part of the interview here.

In the March 2009 issue of Horse & Rider, trainer John Lyons shares his step-by-step methodology for training a horse to load and unload from a trailer (see "Trauma-Free Trailer Loading" in that issue). But what should you do--and not do--when you encounter a particular problem with your horse as you're working on his trailer-loading training? Here are more of John's expert tips for dealing with five common trailer-loading problems.
To see the 'complete' guide to trailering, then view a short clip of John Pinnell's Australian video here

"She sent pictures of him at a dressage comp and we have spent a number of hours phoning and emailing to ensure that I knew everything about him before buying him. Bad weather and snow prevented me from going to try him out so, foolishly, I bought him without trying." This is how Not to buy a horse...Phil Tragear continues this fascinating story.

If you like horses and musicals then you should not miss this - a very professional short video.

Never heard of Kerry Kuhn? I hadn't either until I came across of column in a US outback newspaper and decided to do a bit of research. Here are some of his methods on short clips. I liked what I saw...hope you do too.

After my plea for entries for the H10 competition last week...we had lots. So thank you everyone who entered. The tame vet and I will be sitting down this week to judge the best entries. More news and the winners very soon. New comp on now though....

An Orlando man is disputing allegations that he hit and shoved two police horses early Saturday. Yep, it's the good old USA and if you hit a police horse then look out for the consequences. Quite right too.

I have always loved heavy horses and Shires too. There's something in their size and their gentleness and here's a great video that captures all that. Courtesy of Northcote Heavy Horse Centre in the UK (sorry about the few Shetlands at the end)

We have a society in Aus too if you're interested.

Have a great week and keep dry!!!

Stealing Horse Tails - Am I Serious?

2009-03-25T10:52:00.003+11:00

Interesting week - sudden infestation of Indian mynah birds prompted action from the local bird catcher. He rounded up the lot in one afternoon. Awesome skill and modesty combined...just for a few beers too. Now is a friend for life.

A Dexter woman says she's furious that someone cut off the tails of three of her horses and wants to warn other horse owners about the problem. This crops up from time to time and here's a short video from 7 news (in the US) about the latest occurence. Weird....why would you want to steal a tail? Are economic times really that bad?

Grooming a horse has a dramatic effect...new research. Stormie Schoolcraft is a seventh-grader at Alta Vista Middle School, the only student from AVMS to be invited to the state science fair. Her interest in rodeo led to a project that got her horse involved. My project was to see what kind of effect grooming a horse had on its heart rate," she said. "Grooming the horse (after exercising) makes the heart rate slow down dramatically. "When I just left her alone and let her relax, it slowed down but not as much," she said Courtesy of Carslbad Current Argus. Now that's something really worth knowing.

Here's a whole load of horse videos posted free on line by Horse.com. There's every subject you could think of including a very comprehensive horse training section. You really ought to have a look.

We've had a few entries for our competition but not nearly enough. There are great prizes so why not have a go. The 'tame vet' who helps me judge the winners is really fed up. I think he's going through a 40 plus crisis but some more entries would aid his ego and give him an excuse to eat more muffins at my expense. You can help him.

Protect your horse’s health with these five tips to reduce trailering stress. They missed out one important one though...exmining hooves for small stones before trailering.

This video clip has nothing to do with horses but I laughed until I cried. What an idiot....

A good friend sent me this link to a short video showing a very young foal trying to find out if his Mum has any food for him and where the dickens is it? Lovely clip...

This is skijoring, where horse racing and skiing collide to form one of the most dangerous sports this side of bull riding. For 60 years, skiers have been testing their abilities against powerful horses and jumps the size of small houses. Daft I call it.

Understanding Horse Personalities, Part 1: The 4 Basic Personality Types. Knowing more about your horse’s personality type can help you ride and train better. By Yvonne Barteau and courtesy of Equisearch.

We have two copies of 'The Riders Fitness Programme' in stock. If you want to keep slim and trim with your horse this season then it's worth a look. The book features more than 85 exercises designed to help new riders get over the aches and pains of getting started and experienced riders hone their skills and technique and prevent injuries.

Have a great week.
Geoff

Horses Playing Football?!

2009-03-18T08:44:00.004+11:00

You won't believe this.
There are some nice, short videos of talented horses playing with footballs of various sizes. We could almost put a team together. From Horse Training Success blog.

We've planted a big crop of veggies in the patch this season to carry us through the winter since vegetables are getting so expensive. I've found a great way to control the birds and caterpillars together...the water pistol filled with pyrethrum mixture. Works a treat.

Some great articles for you this week. Informative and useful..these courtesy of Equisearch. We all know horses can act stupid on occasion, both amusing and confusing their caretakers. But which, if any, of these equine actions are considered normal? One way for horse owners to find out is to study the 11 primary categories of equine behavior as outlined in My Horse University's online Horse Behavior and Welfare Course, based out of Michigan State University.

Click 'n Learn: Flying Lead Change with Clinton Anderson
Control of your horse's hind end is key to overall control of his forward motion. Use the Click 'n Learn stop-action sequence to see Clinton Anderson's flying lead change as it happens.

EquiSearch's Ask the Vet: Horse Allergies. Horses with allergies need help regulating their immune systems. Dr. Joyce Harman explains what to do in EquiSearch.com's Ask the Vet.
Question: My 9-year-old Quarter Horse gelding has many allergies (food/environment). He is allergic to molasses, corn, oats and timothy/orchard mix hay......

A zorse is what happened in a German safari park when a zebra named Ulysses got hot to trot for a horse named Eclipse. To the park keepers’ surprise Eclyse the zorse was born and she is rare. Weird or what....

I didn't know that there was a Miss Rodeo pageant every year... when I viewed these pics I thought it's almost worth the trip.

No, she’s not sinking is she? — or is she just short? Mayflower, a small Shetland pony has become a minor celebrity in her hometown of Southhampton, Hants in the UK. Four times passers by have called emergency rescue services because they thought the pony was sinking into the mud by a river...is she or isn't she? Courtesy of Elizabeth Goldsmith and Equine Ink.

If you've a horse in a boggy field then there's always a chance of him getting ringworm, mud fever or some other nasty fungal infection. Why take the chance? We've a great offer on H10 ointment and spray and you can read what others think too.

Have a great week

Close Shave From The Cyclone

2009-03-11T09:20:00.003+11:00

Our local surfies have been queing up along the beach car parks waiting for the waves from Cyclone Hamish. They seem to be the only people disappointed that the storm is dwindling, thank goodness.
There's been so much rain that I'm fed up with lawn mowing. I've an idea to dig it up and plant fruit trees but that's met with some opposition....

Here's an useful equine expense sheet so that you can calculate all your costs involved in keeping your horse(s). Courtesy of Equisearch. Thanks.

Bad hay is more than unappetizing for your horse. Moldy, dusty or spoiled roughage can trigger respiratory allergies or colic in horses. Buying your hay from a reputable supplier reduces your chances of getting an unacceptable lot, but an occasional bad bale can slip into any shipment. Here's how to test it:

I make no apology for this video...and I hope you laugh yourself silly. I did. It's got all the basic mistakes courtesy of French & Saunders. What skilled riders.

Here's a new blog I found from Katherine Blocksdorf. It's different in that she covers a multitude of topics with some great links to other sites. Worth a look.

The economic impact of the horse industry?. This short letter looks at the impact of the current fiscal crisis in the US on the horse industry. Why print it? Well, I hope things don't get to this stage here in Aus but it's salutary if emotional piece.

The Dubai International Horse Fair (DIHF) 2009 will be held from 19 – 21 March at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hall 5 & 6. This development is in line with the huge growth of the Equestrian Market in the Middle East. New equestrian projects are being developed, driven by the rapid 5% annual growth in population and further propelled by the region's heritage as a culture of horse-lovers. What a show too...if you haven't had a preview you can, here and you can read the 2008 show report too.

Do you watch ER on the TV? Well, here's the equine equivalent together with all the drama and illustrations too.

Some people spend a lot of time and money bathing and conditioning the manes on their horses. Does that really help? Here's a short sound bite from expert Rick Lamb on the importance of looking after
your horses mane and tail.

I've put a big list of all types of horse books you can view here on the H10 site. They're at our usual discounts so it's well worth a look.

Have a great week!

A Horse With 3 Legs On The Ground All The Time!?

2009-03-04T09:25:00.003+11:00

We've got lemons coming out of our ears...the trees in the garden have a bumper crop so I'm thinking of selling it to the local Woolies since they're charging $6 a kilo.
I've changed the format of the newsletter back so that you can access everything from this email although it's still available on the blog and H10 web site

Create a Dancing Partnership with Your Horse
Ride your horse's hindquarters to create impulsion, suspension and balance, without confining his movement and rhythm.

Question: I have a 2-year-old gelding whose disposition turned sour recently. My son was feeding him grain in an over-the-fence feeder and all of a sudden the horse tried to pin him up beside the fence with his rear. Then he ran toward him and tried to stomp him with his front hooves. What's going on??
Here's the answer, courtesy of Equisearch.

Fence Maintenance - Better Safe than Sorry - Common Sense Fence Maintenance by Lori Roets from her website at www.loriroets.com.

The Fjord horse has its own unique conformation, which is a blend of draft horse muscling and bone, with smaller size and greater agility. It has a strong, arched neck, good feet, and a compact, muscular body. Lovely photo here of a really individual horse breed.

We've a little gizmo that teaches you how to measure a horse properly. That's important in a selling situation because you don't want to be arguing over height or size...just the price. It's a liitle download from H10, scanned for virus of course.

We all know that a correct fitting saddle is vital...but how do you go about deciding what's a correct fit. This video might help you. Nice saddles too. From Deanna Castro's blog with thanks

The Peruvian Paso horse has three unique gaits and three feet on the ground at all times, resulting in an unusual but very smooth ride. Great video courtesy of National Geographic with apologies about the short ad.

Most horse owners know how tough it can be just loading an animal onto a trailer. Tim Scarberry's horses will climb up on the roof. All he has to do is ask. Worth a read believe me.

We're still offering a 2 for 1 deal on H10 ointment. Click here to see what others think about it and why it's do darned good.

Have a great week.

How To Measure Your Horse Properly

2009-03-02T10:13:00.004+11:00

Here's a little programme that you can download free from the H10 web site and it will show you how to measure your horses properly.

I read of so many problems and complaints with incorrect horse measurement particularly in the 'For Sale' side of things.

The file will download to your hard disk and then you can open it as usual. It has been checked to be virus free of course

The Terrible Equine Toll From Victoria's Fires

2009-02-25T09:55:00.003+11:00

Well, the fig birds won the battle and the tree is now devoid of fruit. Any ideas for next year? The local lake flooded and so had to be opened...but of course the exposed mudbanks smell awfull at low tide..urgh.
We've been looking at the toll of equine damage from the Victorian fires and it's not pretty. We've got an article for you on that.

A 550 million year old source of minerals and trace elements for your horse or pony. Mined from the vast and ancient Himalayan mountains, transported down steep passes on the backs of Yaks, and providing the mountain people with one of their main sources of income, these Himalayan salt licks must be the purest form of salt available. They cost a bomb...are they really worth it?

One Hour to Rodent Control
Consider these measures to protect your horses and property from the ravages of rats and mice.Barns and stables provide horses with shelter and sustenance--but they provide the same service to rodents who happily nest in any number of tiny spaces in barns or tack rooms, and consume spilled grain, cat or dog food and other feed sources they find.

The best estimate of the equine toll from Victoria's bushfires is in the region of several hundred. About 50 horses are reported to be receiving intensive veterinary care as a result of injuries. There's more news here

Chris Cox’ entire life has been influenced by his relationship with the horse. He moved with his ranching family from Florida when he wasn’t yet two-years-old, to an island off the coast of northeast Australia to raise cattle. Here's a blog radio talk from him.

Deanna Castro has written about 'Legs, Feel, and The Correct Stirrup Length' in her blog this week and it's worth a look to get things right.

There is a degree of horsemanship in almost every country on the planet and I thought it might be fun for horse lovers to see what the word horse looks like in other languages.

Here's a fascinating point of view from an American on the the value of the wild or wilderness, and their decreasing use of, interest in, and value placed on the wild places…um. Interesting to see other people's perspective and compare it with our own.

Courses for old horses. Ex-racehorses should be eased into a career change or good care - I can equate with that!

We're still offering a 2 for 1 deal on H10 ointment. Click here to see what others think about it and why it's do darned good.

Have a great week!

Paddling on the Mid North Coast!

2009-02-18T10:13:00.003+11:00

We've had over 300mls of rain here on the Mid North Coast in the past two days. I have a family of miscellaneous birds sheltering under the back deck - all of them soaked and looking very sorry for themselves but what a mess they leave!! Costs me a fortune in birdseed too.

We have a NEW competition - tell us the most amusing or entertaining story about you and a horse...any horse. Mine might as well be the time I had a 'certain' tip from a horse trainer friend of mine for the Melbourne Cup. The nag is still running! You can think of better than that I'm sure so let us know here. Great prizes for the best entry every month and of course, the 'tame vet' has been roped in to help judge the entries.

Equine charity Project Hope Horse Welfare Victoria (PHHWV) has launched a lost and found registry for horses misplaced during the recent bushfires in the Australian state of Victoria. The registry can be accessed via the PHHWV Web site

Communicating Effectively With Your Horse? Deanna Castro asks that everyone listen to their horses this week, and deepen the communication with your equine parters. Have a look and see if you agree.

Teaching a young horse how to longe is a useful tool to have in your training toolbox. At different stages in his career, you can longe him to increase his fitness and to help him understand new training techniques. But as you train him, you need to be sure he doesn't begin to pull. In this article, I'll share some basic lessons that will keep him light while longeing. Courtesy of Equisearch.

You Know You're a Horseperson if You...
Horse people see the world differently than everyone else, and you know you're a horse person if you do these things.

Here's a nice, short video with a good song attached of two horses running and playing in the snow - courtesy of J Ross on You Tube.

Sue De Laurentis and Allen Pogue live at Red Horse Ranch in Dripping Springs, TX. Their web site is www.imagineahorse.com and here's a video of what they do.
You can make up your own mind....beans bags and all!

Plenty of good horse books still at 20% discount on the web site.

Have a great week!

Brand New 'Jockeys' - The Latest Reality Show For Horselovers

2009-02-11T09:17:00.004+11:00

Hi there,
There's a real mix of articles, videos and blogs this week.

Michael Bragdell talks about young horses bred and started at Hilltop Farm in Colora, Md., and shares a video from the 2008 Breeders Group Class at Dressage at Devon.

You can use this friendly game to get your horse used to you and comfortable with the carrot stick and to being touched all over. But did you know you can also use a friendly game to desensitize your horse to just about anything?

The Horse magazine appears to have had a makeover and there's ton of great info on ALL aspects of horses and horse events. In their Articles index, there are articles about literally every aspect of the horse ...and from contributors all over the Horse world. Well worth a look!

Tips for getting your halter horse ready for the ring. 'America’s Horse Daily recently received the following question, and we were able to answer it with a video our youth members filmed during the AQHYA World Championship Show'. Interesting video for kids and beginners.

In the US, there's been a spate of horses losing tails to thieves! Why?..I don't know and I don't know what a thief would do with a horses' tail either. Read this strange story here.

Move over, Heidi Klum and Paris Hilton. Some of the littlest guys in sports are joining you on reality television. "Jockeys," a 12-episode series taking viewers behind the scenes of the backstabbing, big-money, dangerous world of horse racing, debuts Friday on Animal Planet. Um!

Ex-wife demands $53,000/ week alimony!! What's that to do with horses you might ask? Have a read and see how much she's asking for horse care!!! I take no side in any of this though!

We've put some of the best selling (according to Amazon) horse books on the H10 web site and all at 20% discount. Go on, have a look!

Part of the difficulty of learning horsemanship for anyone is mastering the complex vocabulary that has grown up around riding and horse care. It is that much more complicated if one is only nine years old, and even more complicated when trying to explain to another 9 year old that one's horse has
been gelded. Read this lovely short article.

Have a great week.
Geoff

25 Ways To Have Fun With Your Horse

2009-02-04T09:56:00.002+11:00

Welcome to February...and a heat wave or a drenching depending on where you live! Great info for you this week and some brand new books too!

Have More Fun With Your Horse - In January 2009 Horse & Rider gave you over 25 great ideas on how to enjoy your horse on a budget. Here are the resources promised in that article. Worth a good look since there are plenty of great ideas here.

Here's the wrap up report from last weeks Royal Melbourne Horse Show - goodness knows how they survived the heat...and the tennis fans.

Learning From Wild Horses - The third guest post in a 3 part series put together by Eleanor D. Van Natta. This one is on health and nutrition. Interesting.

The cavesson headcollar or headstall is a simple but strongly made bitless bridle with a low fitting, padded noseband, throatlatch and, in some cases, a browband - if you've never heard of it or seen it,
it's an interesting piece of horse tack.

Here's a blog on natural horsemanship which I found very instructive and practical....and down to earth too unlike some of the wacky horse blogs around. There's some 15+ language though.....Here's great post about 'The Horse training Video from Hell'.

EquiSearch's Ask the Vet looks at a 'Grumpy Horse'.
In this edition of EquiSearch.com's Ask the Vet, Dr. Joyce Harman suggests cutting out sweet feed and checking for pain to help a grumpy horse improve his attitude.

Horse Jobs - Stall Cleaner. This is a position usually found in larger establishments with many animals to look after. It is often a starting point for someone looking to earn experience around horses. Not my ideal job but worth a look if you are heading for a career that way.

Here's the February 1, 2009 edition of 'Carnival of the Horse' from Blog Carnival. This is the second carnival this year and it's a great list of new horse blogs with tons of info on all kinds of horsey things. OK, so I'm not on this one but then it's American - but I will be listing for the next!

Monty Roberts makes the argument that looking a horse in the eye drives him away, that it is interpreted by the horse as a challenge. But is it? There are ways and means to do anything as you'll read here

We have some great new horse books available including two from Mark Rashid - 'Horses Never Lie' and 'A Good Horse Is Never A Bad Colour.' If you haven't heard of Mark then you can read more here.
All our books are 20% off list price of course as I share my wholesaler margin with you 50/50.

Have a great week!

Keeping Your Horse Cool

2009-01-28T10:10:00.003+11:00

Hot...isn't it?! And believe me your horse will feel it too. So here are a couple of important articles dealing with just that - looking after your horse in hot weather.

This from my good friend Roger Bourdon looks at the use of sunscreen with horses

And this, a more in-depth drought approach for horses from David Nash of Agriculture Victoria in Rutherglen
Both are well worth reading, especially for those of you experiencing 40C plus this week.

The year has got off to a great start with the Youth Olympics taking place at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre. Queensland Rider Victoria Welch won Gold in the Dressage

Here's a 'clip of the week' from Deanna Castro's blog. It's trick used when getting your horse into a float or trailer. Clever! BUT, as they say, DON'T EVER try this at home!

Here's something different - an article on barn cats. I'm not a cat person but they always seem to cuddle up close if I'm around. It was definitely a disadvantage when I was young!

This video shows a woman doing the Parelli seven games at liberty in seven minutes. By "at liberty" we mean without any rope or halter on the horse. Pretty nice circle game. The Parelli seven games encapsulate the essentials of groundwork horse training.

Managing a Horse on a Tight Budget - and the budget isn't going to get any better! Great tips here from The Horse magazine.

Have a great week...and keep cool!
Geoff

The Worlds Smallest Horse?

2009-01-21T09:37:00.003+11:00

The Wave of the Future: Shock Wave Therapy?
Though questions remain, extracorporeal shock wave therapy shows promise in helping equine bones and ligaments heal faster.

Here's the worlds smallest horse - according to UTube...and he is...small! Thanks to my friend Roger for the info. Scroll down - it's the second article.

Ultimately the purpose of having a horse is to ride him. And when you feel like riding, you probably don't feel like going through a big groundwork session. I've seen it many times, as fast as people can get the saddle on-they're headed out to the trail. This isn't the best approach to having a safe horseback ride. Have a look

Did you know Madonna has decided to chase her dressage dreams, and is training to become a top horse rider at the FTI Equestrian Festival at Wellington, Florida? Neither did I.

Here's horse joke - about a talking dog!

ESCT Case Study - Rehabilitating a Mistrained Horse. Magic - a troubled horse because of misguided training beginnings benefits from ESCT. Interesting article on Equine Stress Control Therapy

Tips for Training the Young Horse. Successful young-horse trainer Susanne Miesner offers training tips for working with young horses.
"Some of us have the privilege of learning from schoolmasters, and we are taught by the horses. However, if we prefer to work with young horses or have no alternative but to buy an untrained horse, the rider becomes the teacher."

An ongoing debate in the equine community is whether it is better to use boots or bandages when working your horse. While both sides have a point, the right answer is not based on the products themselves, but the purpose for which you are using them. Read More....

We still have a great offer on H10 ointment - an absolute must for the tack box. Forget that yellow, green or purple smeary stuff and use something that really works. Lots of testimonials too!!

Have a great wekk
Geoff

Happy New Year Newsletter

2009-01-14T09:22:00.007+11:00

Happy New Year!

Here's Rick Lamb with a blog entry about 'Natural Horsemanship'. It's an interesting slant and I believe that Jesse Beery and Kel Jeffrey, an American and Australian respectively had the 'art' that Rick is talking about.
Read more here

Straight Talk About Colic - Here's how to reduce your horse's risk of developing serious digestive upset and increase his chances of recovery if he does.

Time Your Cues for a Perfect Showmanship Stop. How to master your stopping cues to stay in-sync with your horse, and up your chances of a dynamite showmanship pattern.

What do horses and all animals have to teach us about discovering our hearts desires and becoming powerful co-creators in the lives of our dreams? Here's the new Natural Horse Network Life Changing Radio Series

When you're off to shows or events, it’s important to hitch up to your horse trailer safely and correctly. Here are some good tips and I want a trailer like this one please!

Here's a pink blog! When riding a horse, it is important to be able to ride the horse straight from head to tail. When riding this way, you will achieve perfect balance. Deanna Castro shows how

Stress-Free Horse Clipping Tips. Follow these tips and you will be on your way to clipping your horse safely, successfully and line-free.

Here's a little extra that might help. If you haven't got Microsoft Office, they do supply a viewer so that you can open and read any messages or emails sent to you with Microsoft Word document attached. Useful huh?

The H10 site is open again and we've some good shampoo offers. If you haven't used H10 Elegance shampoo, then you should and here's a great offer.

Have a good week

Geoff

Last Blog Entry For 2008

2008-11-26T11:14:00.000+11:00

Well, this will be the last newsletter this year becasue we're off for a break and so we wish you all a very happy, peaceful and safe Christmas.

I managed to find something new and I know it's nothing to do with horses but it's a ...pre-Christmas diet. You can download it here and it has lots of fruit in it which is good for us all at this time of year. As I see it, it's better to shed the kilos now and then you don't feel so guilty when you regain your original weight.(but please note that if you take this up it has to be at
your own risk.)

My friend Patricia watched the horse cantering backwards clip in the last newsletter and sent this one in of her own. Camels really can do Dressage. Have a look

A horse loving ranch owner in texas discovered oil on his ranch recently and so decided to add to his income by sinking a few wells and pumping it out. Imagine his feelings when, one night, he
decided to visit the wells in the middle of a storm to check they were ok.....and found this.

Here's a YouTube clip from champion US groom Laurie Pitts. It shows how she prepares a horse for an event. There's lots of great grooming tips here.

The Australian Bicentennial National Trail (BNT) is a 5,330 kilometre self-reliant multi-use route through bush, wilderness and mountain areas. It is suitable for horse riders, walkers and
mountain bike riders. The Trail winds through some of the most magnificent terrain in Australia; unsurpassed views, wilderness valleys and the excitement of the pioneering spirit will keep you
enthralled as you travel along the Trail or any section of it.

Here's the perfect Christmas gift for a horse lover. It comes with a 500 dollar shipping allowance. Curious? So was I, so I had a look.

We still have the great offers on H10 ointment and Elegance Red shampoo but we are closing the shop for christmas at 5pm on Friday so be quick!

Watch A Horse Cantering Backwards!

2008-11-19T09:54:00.002+11:00

We're off for a break in December so there'll be no newsletters in December and all of you will no doubt be flat out preparing for the festive season to come - that's more than enough to be getting along with. We're also revamping the web site and moving our secure credit card payments system solely through Paypal. Why? Because the bank has raised the cost of processing CCs to a level we can't sustain. As far as all our buyers are concerned though, you'll notice very little change and of course the system is 100% secure.

One thing I'll miss, I help a world wide team write Santa letters to kids all over the world who write in with their Chritmas messages to the old man and I can't do it this year. It's a no cost service and believe me, the kids love it! You can access it for them too. Now the site won't open until around Dec 10th but I thought I'd give you the web address now since I won't be around then and so that you can be first in.

What was the first form of public transport used across urban Australia? Yes, you guessed it...here's a video of the first horse trams - it's episode 38
Caution - big file so only try to watch if you have ADSL or cable

Ever seen a horse cantering backwards? No?, well neither had I until Sue sent in this YouTube video. Amazing.

Rider to Rider: Riding While Pregnant. In the November 2008 Rider to Rider column, Practical Horseman readers shared their thoughts about riding while pregnant. Read more letters here.

There are 3 Horse Health newsletters this week and all are on important topics. There's nutrition, respiratory disease and deworming strategies

Here's a very sad story that's becoming all too common in the US and let's hope that it doesn't translate to us here in 'Oz. What happens when you can't afford to take care of your horse any longer?

A farrier with 40 years experience in his trade is writing a book to pass on his advice on keeping safe around horses to younger generations. Though not finished yet, it'll be a book well worth reading

You have just 10 days before we close the 2 for 1 offer on Elegance Red shampoo and H10 ointment. Worth a look.

Have a great week.

Geoff

New Horse TV Now Available

2008-11-12T11:32:00.000+11:00

6 weeks to Christmas. Frightening isn't it. We've already had some cards arrive - some with snow scenes look ridiculous when I look out of the window and watch the sun and the blue sky. I have some friends originally from the UK who turn up the aircon fullblast on the 'great day' to try and recapture some of the 'old UK atmosphere'. We were invited to their festivities once but I inadvisedly told them that I thought the whole thing was crazy and I've never been invited back. I wonder
why....

Here's some info that could help you trailblazers out there. Master trail class lope-overs by learning how to gauge your horse's stride length with this private lesson from Charlie Cole.

Discover how Horse & Rider staffers' horses "type out" on the Parelli Horsenality Profile. Now I have to admit that I'm not an avid follower of this type of personality profiling of a horse. So I'm a bit old school I guess but my methods have always worked well for me. However, I'm not one for denying other methods so have a look:

The Horse Health newsletter is a good one this week with some relevant topics for us all.

The holidays are upon us and it is time to start thinking about what you want to get for the horse lover in your life. This kind person did some research and came up with some of the best gifts she could find online to help get you started. She's even separated them into 4 sections, the essentials, fun stuff, horse gifts for the kid in all of us and something for the guys. OK so it's mainly US stuff but you'll get some great ideas here.

The economic downturn is hitting Britain's paddocks as well as our own. Charities say they are getting more calls than ever from owners who can no longer afford to keep their horses. The Horse Trust says it has received 640 requests to retire animals in the past month - four times the usual amount. Read this BBC article:

I didn't believe it until I saw it. Horsegirl TV takes the classic world of horses and plugs it into the wired generation. Tune in, tack up...their words not mine. Have a look:

Our H10 ointment offer ( 2 for 1) is still on at www.h10.com.au. It's worth a visit.

Have a great week.

How To Learn From Horse Wrecks

2008-11-05T10:51:00.001+11:00

Well - we watched the race that stops a nation at the local RSL. Great race but the only winners were the bookies who must have made a killing. She who must be obeyed won the fourth prize in the sweep and bought me a beer....made my day.
As I write history is being made in the USA and not before time. The last few months have been horrendous and the last year another true 'annus horribilis' as the Queen might put it. It can only get better.

This is the first edition of the Horse Nutrition electronic newsletter - worth a look with an article on feeding to lessen inflammation

Learning from Horse Wrecks - Sometimes a wreck or near-wreck can offer insight for better (and safer) horsemanship. Horse experts tell of their experiences.

Horse Training Success. Horse problems? - Here's a blog about the great and the silly of horse training from Phil Tragear with lots of contributions from ordinary horse lovers like you and I. Good reading too.

The Essentials of Parasite Control - from Equisearch. Here's how to maximize your horse's deworming program.

Here eventing trainer Brian Sabo teaches you three basic cross-country riding positions - classic,rebalancing and jumping.

Don't know how many of you use Wiki - the online encylopaedia but they now have a 'How To' wiki as well with a wealth of info on all things horsey.

Top tips here for all 'showies' from our sister company in the UK.

By the way, we won out Dragon Boat final in Grafton - gold medals all round (ok so they were plastic but they felt good).

We've still got a 'buy one get one free' offer on H10 ointment which should be an essential in any horse lovers tack box but don't just take my word for it. See what others think and then have a look.

Have a great week

How To Vacuum A Horse - Really!!

2008-10-22T12:35:00.002+11:00

Hi there,

The Jacaranda festival is on in Grafton later this week and me and the rest of the Dragons will be battling 29 other teams in the Dragon Boat Races - might have some pics for you next time. Weather looks set for warm so it should be a great day. Jacarandas herald the start of the summer but my miserable Jacaranda effort in the front yard isn't heralding anything other than a eviction order.

Those of you who haven't signed up for Patricia Reszetylo Parade of Breeds audio series should have a look. The Virtual Parade of Breeds is a free teleconference/webinar that you can join, view and listen to for free. Attendees are able to watch and listen to the show online, and it will replay if you aren't able to attend the live event. The full programme is here and covers a multitude of horse breeds with expert coverage. Well worth a look.

Something caught my eye from Equisearch. I rarely ever advertise products but this is something taking the US by storm and I don't know if it's available in Aus yet. Here's some blurb: 'Known by the trade name of ProMotion EQ… it’s a powerful combination of micronutrients designed to have a positive impact on your horses mobility and quality of life… especially in their senior years. The healing and protective effects of the ingredients in ProMotion EQ are well documented. More than 150 research presentations, publications and abstracts have reported on the health benefits of its key ingredients'. Here's the link if you want to have alook - and I have no tie-up with these people whatsoever.

Here's The Horse healthcare latest newsletter

Here's How To Do a One-Rein Stop - with Clinton Anderson.

Purdue University in the US has a short 4 pager on Horse health. Could be useful for anyone including learners.

Karen Armstrong from North Yorkshire has discovered a new way of combining housework with grooming her horse. This short video on the BBC web site is amazing...a horse based carpet shampooer. Brilliant.

We still have great offer on Eleganve Red Shampoo and H10 ointment. See them here

Have a great week.
Geoff

Forget the financial crisis - read this!

2008-10-14T11:09:00.001+11:00

Phew - all this financial mayhem is depressing isn't it? I'm a simple guy and can't understand why the fiscal immorality of some has such an disastrous effect on the savings of ordinary people like us.

Anyway, it's great to see local shows back on the calendar including the horse events at last. We're all a bit depressed here though, we've very reluctantly had to pull out of sponsorship of the Royal Easter Show next year. The EI epidemic flattened our grooming products business so much that we just can't afford it. I'm sure that we'll be back there in 2010 though.

Have a look at this - my friend Patricia Reszetylo has developed a virtual 'Parade Of Breeds' at her web site and they're looking at the world of the American Drum Horse. Now I'd not heard of this breed but I'm going to have a good look. You can too here

Houdini Horses that can escape from just anywhere. It will give you a laugh and perhaps remind you of some of your experiences?

Did you know that horses and rabbits share an important feature? Both can see almost as well backwards as forwards. All this from a blog about Jesse Beery a famous US horse trainer from the turn of the 19th century. You can read about some of his methods here but we can save you heaps on the Jesse Beery course rather than buying there so have a look here

Here's a good clininc - EquiSearch's Ask the Vet: Diagnosing Lameness

Jodi has proudly told us of her new horse - I don't normally advertise like this but a purebred Pecheron is a rare breed in Australia. He is "Kamilaroi Gendarme" by Lasswade Olum out of Kamilaroi Xeres and he carries the bloodlines of the French import "Hermes". He is 8 months old and although currently black he is likely to go a dark grey. He will be standing at stud to selected TB mares and registered Percheron Warmbloods or Purebred Percherons in the 2010 season with a view to breeding quality Hunter/Eventer types. You may like to know that the following horses have Percheron Blood Peppermint Grove - Gillian Rolton, Charisma - Mark Todd, & Merlins Masterpiece (originally registered Kamilaroi Talisman)

Any enquiries can be directed to the website

Horses offer women a reprieve - Despite financial and emotional commitment, women's interest in horses is increasing. Nice article

Are North American mustangs similar to our Brumbies? This Horse Trainers article showcases the value of Mustangs

In your tack box you may have yellow ointment, purple ointment, green ointment or whatever but you'll never get a better treatment for scratches, cuts, bruises and grazes than H10 ointment. If you don't believe me than have a look at what other users have said then you can have 2 for 1 here

It's our wedding anniversary on Thursday - 38 years. Better not forget eh?
Have a great week.

Ever Seen Donkey Basketball?

2008-10-01T09:41:00.001+10:00

Hi there,
Spent the morning glumly looking at my dwindling super fund. Last September I wanted to sell it all and invest the cash - my paid 'advisor' told me that wasn't a good thing. If I could reach him I think I'd shoot him.

Whether you need to know how much dewormer to give your horse or how much you should feed him, knowing how to estimate his weight is helpful. Use Practical Horseman's handy online weight calculator to do the maths for you.
http://tinyurl.com/4cdhgb

Here's a new 'thing' from Equisearch. Use their Click 'n Learn stop-action sequence to see top trainer Cleve Wells demonstrate the type of Western pleasure jog he strives for in his training program.
http://tinyurl.com/3uuob7

Ten tips on how to take good photos while riding your horse - I've never considered this but it makes perfect sense.
http://tinyurl.com/4alycp

Ever seen Donkey Basketball? I kid you not.......this is even better than wheelchair rugby.
http://tinyurl.com/3v94fb

Laying down your horse? - here's how to do it. If you want the full story then have a look at Jesse Beery's training CD on the H10 web site .
http://tinyurl.com/4r5rnj

Here's the latest Horse health newsletter - it talks about the use of glucosamine for joint disease. Dunno about horses but it works for me.
http://tinyurl.com/3zmt3e

You've seen the Christmas decs in the shops already? Well, we'll have a wishlist of horsey books next week that will make great Christmas gifts. In the meantime, in preparation for Spring & Summer you should get your horse some H10 ointment. There's nothing better for cuts, grazes, ringworm (and even mud fever). There's also a great offer on it too.
http://tinyurl.com/3nncee

Have a great warm week.

How A Horse Helped A Man With Autism

2008-09-24T09:51:00.000+10:00

Just been looking at the master plan for the development of our area here on the Mid North Coast. You know, if you don't go and look for these things, no-one will tell you about them and then one day you'll find the bulldozers at the back fence. Beware. This time they'll be building on a marshland. Good luck if you buy one.

Here's a great riding lesson courtesy of Equisearch and the USA's Al Dunning
http://tinyurl.com/4yzoxq

Use these simple checks to evaluate and monitor the state of your horse's vital stimuli and responses.
http://tinyurl.com/4l49ob

Here's a lovely story of how a horse helped a man with autism
http://tinyurl.com/4knkcq

Here's an article for those of us that love to watch Dressage...but don't quite understand what we are seeing sometimes.
http://tinyurl.com/3nk6ba

'If Your Horse Could Talk' has been educating horse owners to a more natural approach to their horses since 1999. Here you can listen to some audio to introduce the concept. No charge of course but scroll down the page to get the full listing
http://tinyurl.com/48aegl

Grooming Jetter - A Horse Story About a Stallion. By Mary Smith-Dinsmore. Nice read too.
http://tinyurl.com/3qw6qc

Horse Rescued From Ravine After Falling 40 Feet - thanks goodness for firefighters and SES.
http://tinyurl.com/4y4r5x

Here's the latest edition of The Horse health newsletter.
http://tinyurl.com/445rp8

Let Emil Spadone on show you how to ride Oxers and Spread Fences. A You Tube video.
http://tinyurl.com/4kkljl

Thunderstorms here this week - makes a great light show especially when the power goes off!!

Have a good week.

Your Horse & Your Personal Space

2008-09-16T11:51:00.000+10:00

I'm a little earlier this week because the rellies are here and I'm on taxi and sightseeing duty. Lovely to see Spring arrive though AND a new Liberal leader both at the same time. What joy!Have you been watching the Paralympics wheelchair rugby? Aus is in the final tonight versus you-know-who (The USA) Time for a gold at last I think.

Here's a great clinic from Clinton Anderson on How To Teach Your Horse To Respect Your Personal Space. My horse was always invading my space. She was just being friendly but you have to let them know who's boss or you'll just get sat on.
http://tinyurl.com/674f3e

Horseshoes are expensive. What keeps horseshoes on, what makes them lose their grip and how to ensure that your horse's footwear stays where it belongs.
http://tinyurl.com/5jfdq3

I've never been to the Western Horseman site before but here's a good article from them. From the moment you enter the corral or pasture, you’re sending your horse messages. Set the tone for a successful training session with clinician Tammy Pate’s advice on catching your horse. Nice.
http://tinyurl.com/574olk

We had mixed results in the Paralympic Equestrian comps - 2 bronze medals I think but we're sure to be building a great future base with such a mix of experience and debutantes.

Horse Care - Boots Vs. Bandages? Lydia Kelly gives us her view.
http://tinyurl.com/6avw2w

Prosthetic limb offers a new life to injured horse - and yes, it's really true. http://tinyurl.com/5bjakg

Practice like you mean it - Simulate competition at home to improve your nerves and your horse’s reactions.
http://tinyurl.com/6o32rj

I've still one copy of the Braiding Manes & Tails book. Someone please buy it?
www.h10.com.au

2008-09-10T09:34:00.000+10:00

Here's a view on Aus from Andy Curry, a well known US horse trainer: "Being American, I'm out of the loop when it comes to knowing various things about countries outside the U.S. Take Kangaroos for instance. You probably already know this, but when the explorers asked the natives what that animal was, they replied... Kangaroo' so the explorers were telling everyone else, 'Hey...that's a kangaroo.' Before long, everyone thought the animal was called a Kangaroo. Trouble is, Kangaroo means 'I don't understand.' In other words, when the natives were asked what the name of that animal is they were saying 'I don't understand what you're asking me'.
True or not? What's it got to do with horses? Search me!

Aus team doing well at the Paralympics but no medals as yet - the Brits got all of them. Plenty of time left though.

What are 'Thumps In Horses' - well, there best described in human terms as hiccups. Does your horse get them?
http://www.practicalhorsekeeping.com/Thumps.html

If you're training youngsters, then this could be very useful for you. A healthy horse check list.
http://horseguardians.com/blog/?p=44

Again, I've emphasised that horses are big and not always friendly- like some people are in the morning! Here are some Safety Rules for Kids Around Horses.
http://tinyurl.com/5em3un

Do your homework before you sell so that you'll know what's a fair price for your foals. Evaluating your foals by Tom Reed.
http://tinyurl.com/64bnqr

I always thought that giving my horse dewormer was just that. Then I read this. Um.
'How To Give Horse Dewormer'
http://www.practicalhorsekeeping.com/HorseDewormer.html

Here's this week's edition of The Horse newsletter with the ongoing debate about joint injections and cartilage health.
http://www.thehorse.com/enews/992008.html

We've just ONE copy of 'Braiding Manes and Tails' by Charni Lewis. It's at the usual 20% H10 discount and it's lonely, needing a good home. Please don't disappoint it.
http://www.h-10.com.au/shopexd.asp?id=96

Have a great week - it's getting warmer thank goodness.Geoff

Australian Equestrians At The Paralympics

2008-09-03T11:32:00.001+10:00

I've a good friend who plays 'Murder Ball', otherwise known as wheelchair rugby, for Australia and of course he's now in Beijing for the 2008 Paralympic Games. I've just sent him some emails and also noticed that Aus has sent a 5 strong Equestrian Team too. The five riders selected are: Grace Bowman (Moonta, SA), Georgia Bruce (Kuranda, QLD), Sharon Jarvis (Donnybrook, WA), Nicole Kullen (Rock Forest, NSW) and Jan Pike (Winston Hills, NSW).
I'll keep this newsletter updated with their acheivements and you can follow their progress:
http://tinyurl.com/6zojgb

The always useful latest edition of The Horse newsletter is http://tinyurl.com/6prfj2

Here's a Personal Blog with a list of 33 useful things about horses, some of which I didn't know about either. I can heartily agree with this fact though "It is not wise to argue with something that outweighs you by 1,000 pounds" http://tinyurl.com/6kzacs

For Girls Only: Tail Care for Mares. Mares have some specific tail-cleaning needs. Get pro-level advice http://tinyurl.com/6rmttd

EquiSearch's Ask the Vet: Horse Welts
Dr. Joyce Harman offers several causes and remedies for welts and hives in this Ask the Vet column on EquiSearch.com. This is particulary relevant with Spring now here and the warmer weather on the way. http://tinyurl.com/6x2wwm

If you've youngsters who are mad about horses then this computer game Let's Ride - Silver Buckle Stables may be just what you, and they, need with school holidays not far away. Create the horse of your dreams from hundreds of combinations - Choose their coats, manes, saddles, bridles, blankets and more then head to the practice corral to prepare you and your horse, then head to the big barrel racing competition to compete in 13 events. http://tinyurl.com/6pnnf2

Finally - we still have a great offer on Elegance Red Shampoo for you.... and your horses. Buy 1 litre and get a 500 ml for no extra charge. A great shampoo and great value too.
http://tinyurl.com/6hvmsx

Now off to plant veggie seeds and pray the warm weather continues.
Have a great week
Geoff

Latest On EI In Australia

2008-08-27T10:27:00.000+10:00

I just got this from Jodi on the EI epidemic and an upcoming important meeting you may want to know about:

AHIC is concerned about comments reported today from Minister Ian McDonald in NSW in support of compulsory vaccination for competition horses.
There is to be a national summit in Sydney on 25 September to discuss future options for Equine Influenza management in Australia. The Minister's comments (if accurate) seem premature, given that the summit has not yet taken place. AHIC surveys and other feedback clearly indicate that the majority of participants in the Australian horse industry, including the racing sector, do not favour ongoing vaccination against Equine Influenza.
EI has been eradicated from Australia by the very successful emergency response to the August 2007 incursion.
You can express your views directly to Minister McDonald at macdonald.office@macdonald.minister.nsw.gov.au

Thanks Jodi

My friend Roger Bourdon has some excellent tips on his blog for hoof care and also for looking after an older horse. HERE

US Asthorities are considering slaughtering thousands of wild horses - it's a budget issue as much as anything else they say. Can't say that I agree with this but have a look for yourself HERE.

Here's a very sensible blog with all sorts of useful info on Practical Horse Care and Horse First Aid. Worth a read. HERE

'Should We Send Our Horses To Slaughter? Why? Well, a 2007 estimate by the American Association of Equine Practitioners showed that there are about 170,000 documented unwanted horses in the U.S. each year'. The great American debate goes on but this article is sensible reading for anyone with a horse HERE .

What's Your Horse's Favorite Flavour? Researchers set out to identify which flavors horses like best. Courtesy of Equisearch. HERE

Quarantine lifted on Brisbane's 'Hendra' clinic. The latest in this disturbing story HERE.

Some good news though. You can now buy at the H10 web site and pay with a cheque, Money Order or Bank Deposit. To celebrate we're giving away a 500 ml bottle of Elegance Red Label Shampoo with every purchase of a 1 Litre size bottle.
Go over and have a look HERE.

It's getting warmer at last. Have a great week.

Geoff

How To Get Corporate Sponsorship

2008-08-21T12:12:00.001+10:00

Hi there,
Just one message in the newsletter this week but it's one close to my heart and one everybody should listen to if they can.

Sponsorship is important to the horse industry at all levels from top to bottom. It's how the industry 'gets along' and yet most of us know precious little about requesting sponsorship and going about it in a way that will give us the best results possible.

My good friend Patricia Reszetylo has produced a broadcast interviewing real expert Linda Hollander on getting sponsorship, and she's been kind enough to make it available to us...but for one week only. So, get your skates on and listen to the broadcast and also download the work book that goes with it so that you can make notes and get yourself in shape for future sponsorship requests. Believe me, what Linda doesn't know about getting sponsorship isn't worth knowing.

Here's the link so that you can download the workbook http://www.h10.com.au/documents/sponsors.pdf

And here's the link for the broadcast - don't miss it!!
CLICK HERE
Have a great week

Olympic Magic For Australia

2008-08-13T12:02:00.000+10:00

Hi there,
Well is was quite a night and I really thought we had a great chance of beating the Germans but just fell short. Still, the silver must have made up for the medal drought over the past 8 years and when you consider the EI problems etc, it was a great effort. I finally clamboured into bed at an unmentionable hour to be greeted by displeased grunts from 'she who must be obeyed' but it was worth it.

Here's the latest The Horse newsletter for you - with lots of news and some articles on new drug testing techniques.
www.thehorse.com/enews/8122008.html

I found a news Team and Rider newsletter that's full of great tips and training techniques. Well worth a look - no cost of course.
tinyurl.com/5dtckn

For you dressage fans, here's an article from Equisearch and Sally O'Connor - Developing Flying Changes with Counter Canter
tinyurl.com/6xdj6q

Atari has produced an equestrian game to test the knowledge and training techniques of players. The game, for Nintendo DS, is called Equestrian Training, and offers horse and riding fans the chance to learn about the equestrian world and test their knowledge through various exercises and exams. Could be a great training aid for kids and I'll get more details and offer it on the site if I can.
tinyurl.com/6yzswh

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy: Healing Therapy or Just Hype? You be the judge
tinyurl.com/5f9adz

Here's a good article on Navicular Disease and your horse. If you haven't come across it, it's a prime cause of horse lameness and 100% attributable to treatment by owners.
tinyurl.com/6579oj

We've got some great horse books available - the braiding techniques book is almost gone so get in there fast!
tinyurl.com/6kqemq

Finally, for those of you who have asked, I am trying to negotiate for you to source supplies of H10 Gloss with the UK. Should have news soon and sorry for the delay.

Have a great week
Geoff

How A Miniature Horse's Leg Was Saved

2008-08-06T11:00:00.000+10:00

Hi there
Bit the bullet and went for my first dragon boat paddling session this week. The aches and pains afterwards reminded me of my early horse riding days when I hadn't quite got the technique. And I haven't quite got the technique. Ouch! The dragons were very nice to me though.I've heard that the import of stallions for 'duty' during the breeding season is in full swing and that they are currently in quarantine. Sounds to me like a prayer or two is warranted!!

The Horse magazine is now publishing 4 new online newsletters. These newsletters will contain articles, news, video links, tips, and links to downloadable information specific to the topics of nutrition, lameness/laminitis, preventive care, and breeding. I already receive 2 and can recommend them. Go here to subscribe:
http://tinyurl.com/67tdap

Here's an article about 2 woman who started a business from their love of horses.
Well didn't most of us? Their basis - "People are cutting back on vacations and we want to make it affordable for backyard horse owners to be able to go on vacation." Read on here:
http://tinyurl.com/5o7jpa

British Para-equestrian dressage rider Lee Pearson is widely regarded as one of the top riders in the world with six Paralympic golds and numerous world and European titles to his name. Here's an article on his preparation for the Paralympics.
Incidentally, we went to the Paras in Sydney in 2000 as we have a friend who plays wheelchair rugby for Australia. Wonderful sport, a wonderful occasion and for me so much more interesting than the 'real thing'. How do these athletes do what they do?
http://tinyurl.com/5rlteq

Human wound care techniques are helping save a miniature horse's leg. It's a lovely story and she's a lovely little horse too.
http://tinyurl.com/6ozfrx

What should you do if your horse keeps getting his tongue over the bit? Dr. Joyce Harman offers bitting advice in this Ask the Vet column on EquiSearch.com
http://tinyurl.com/66obpz

Here's the link to the official Australian Olympic site - equestrian section, where you can read all the news, developments and of course see the medal tally for our equestrians. A word of caution though, the site takes a while to load up.
http://tinyurl.com/552uuz

Finally, I try to grow veggies to help the dollars do further. I was stunned by these examples from the large veggie show in the UK. They'd feed us for a month.

http://www.h10.com.au/images/cabbage.jpg
http://www.h10.com.au/images/pumpkin.jpg
http://www.h10.com.au/images/leek.jpg

Have a great week.
Geoff

The Olympics - Who's Going To Win?

2008-07-30T13:05:00.001+10:00

Hi there,

Lost a big filling in one of my molars this week - I'm a man and of course the pain was unbearable. My dentist, god bless her, was on hand to replace said metal with more shiny new stuff and after 45 minutes, some discomfort and the loss of $275 I was cured. On the way out I asked her how much a crown would be if I needed one. After she told me it all went dizzy I 'came to' in the waiting room in the horizontal posotion but was ok after a glass of water. Wish I could make money like that!

Now if you're looking towards the equestrian events at the Olympics, just a week away now, here are some winning predictions from equestrian journalist Nancy Jaffer. Interesting reading.
tinyurl.com/6gyeps

Here's the weekly The Horse Newsletter as usual, a mine of information on all things horsey.
tinyurl.com/5cp7kl

Feet are important whether they are the human kind or the horse type. I found this blog about natural horse hoof trimming and the use of Easy Boots. I'm not advertising them but if you have a problem like this it could help.
tinyurl.com/5t9geh

If you haven't visited Horse Problems - John O'Leary's Australian Site, then you really should. He makes a lots of sense and there's a ton of useful stuff here.
tinyurl.com/qdy2s

Here's an article from the US on reining in the costs of running a horse. Their words and their pun, not mine but there are some good points and it's a view that may well affect us too this coming Spring and Summer.
tinyurl.com/67na48

Accra Race Course Squatters Ejected
About 100 policemen drawn from the Accra Regional Command of the Ghana Police Service yesterday supervised a demolition exercise at the Accra Race Course to pave the way for the construction of a five-star hotel on the site. Sign of the times isn't it?
tinyurl.com/6lpdur

I just read a really great article on grooming by Laurie Pitts in the April 2008 issue of Practical Horseman. Hope you'll find it interesting too - there's a video clip as well.
tinyurl.com/5fr3au

Have a look at this book "100 ways to improve your horse's schooling' by Susan Mcbane. It's available on the H10 site at the usual 20% discount.
tinyurl.com/6bgzof

I'm learning how to be a sweep for the local Dragon Boat crew. So far I don't think they're too impressed so I hopw it can only get better.
Have a great week and keep warm
Geoff

What's Your Horse Worth??

2008-07-23T10:35:00.000+10:00

Well, the insulation is in the roof, I'm poorer by several hundred dollars but the place is warmer and just in time by the look of the forecast. Is it a woman's intuituion but the better half has been
busy making and freezing all kinds of soups and stews.
She has long range radar I reckon!!

Here's a new horse orientated blog I found.Some interesting stuff too.
http://crittercarebymarg.com/blog/?cat=4

You'll have probably read about the wild fires (as they call them) currently in the US since some of our fire fighters are helping out there. Well, it's winter here now but it looks to be another dry
summer coming up so perhaps a little bit of preparation could be useful - from my good friend Roger Bourdon.
www.anyhorsebackriding.com/myblog/

Here are some great tips if you are thinking of choosing or employing a horse trainer.
tinyurl.com/6gcqht

Some valuable Q and A's here from The Horse magazine on horse dentistry.
www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=12316

What's Your Horse Worth?
Appraiser Michelle Stalling offers an example of a chart she uses to determine a halter horse's value. You can download the chart too - from Equisearch.
tinyurl.com/vtx5v

Here's the link to the chart
special.equisearch.com/pdfs/appraisalchart.pdf

We support the Australian Stock Horses Society - here's the link to their latest monthly journal
www.ashs.com.au/journal/currentissue.asp

On the Trail Newsletter
Here's the first monthly On the Trail e-newsletter, an online resource to help you enjoy the great outdoors with your horse.
Great idea - and complimentary!!!
special.equisearch.com/newsletters/onthetrail/may08.html

By the way, the H10 competition is still running with some great prizes and the chance to tell us all about your horse!!
www.h-10.com.au/competition.asp

We've got some super new horse books at a great special H10 discount. Limited stock though.
tinyurl.com/6kqemq

Keep warm and have a great week.
Geoff

Brand New Horse Books Now In!

2008-07-16T09:49:00.000+10:00

It's been so cold that the better half has demanded that we insulate the roof.
So, dutifully I did the research, went up into the loft, 'scoped the job and ....immediately called the local insulation company!! With the Govt giving a $300 rebate there's no way I'm doing it!

I'm excited this week because I've managed to lay my hands on some choice new books. I've had to wait for these because 'horse books' are hard to get, so I'm told. Anyway, here they are AND of course I split the 40% discount I get, 50:50 with you.

Braiding Manes & Tails by Charni Lewis - if you interested in braiding then this is THE book for you. Easy to follow step by step instructions and great photos.

100 Ways To Improve Your Horse's Schooling - Susan McBane. I love the '100ways' books. So easy to follow with a different topic on each page and fully illustrated.

In the same light is '100 Ways To Improve Your Horse's Behaviour' - Susan McBane.
Um, I've seen some riders recently that could use this for their ill disciplined horses!!

Finally, 'The Horse Training Problem Solver' from Jessica Jahiel. I like her style of teaching and this book is very comprehensive. If you've a problem of any kind with your horse then this might solve it!

I've posted the books and their full descriptions on the H10 web site so that you can read about them more, here:
tinyurl.com/6kqemq

Here's the latest edition of The Horse health newsletter for you:
www.thehorse.com/enews/7152008.html

Winter's a great time to give your tack room a makeover. Here's a guide for you:
tinyurl.com/677ogm

Go on, have a look at those books!! I'm going to be reading them and supervising the roof insulation...from an armchair!!

have a great week

Competition Results!

2008-07-09T11:44:00.000+10:00

Made it back from my funereal trip to the UK on Sunday and have been wandering around like a jet lagged zombie ever since! The better half has no sympathy since she's got a lousy cold too!! Anyway, we'll be right for the weekend I hope!

I went to see the 'tame vet' this week and we judged the competition entries for June/July and they were terrific. We had real difficulty choosing the best 'Magic Moments With Your Horse' story but finally agreed on the best from Lynne and Zoe and it's posted on the H10 web site www.h-10.com.au/competition.asp
The prizes each month are pretty good so don't delay and get your entry in!!!

What are the signs of pain caused by the saddle? A horse's physical symptoms, behavior problems and performance issues can all give clues. Here's a great article to help from Equisearch:
http://tinyurl.com/6nu68p

Homemade First-Aid Recipes for Your Horse. Recipes for common horse care first-aid solutions from Horse & Rider magazine - H10 bears no responsibility for these if you use them though!!http://tinyurl.com/5dh5us

My UK friend Roger Bourdon recently posted an article and a video clip on the smallest horse in the world...thought you might be interested:
http://www.anyhorsebackriding.com/myblog/

Jodi, one of our supporters has told us about a new Australian web site for stud stallions...and other things. Take a look:
http://www.studstallions.com.au/index.php

Here's the latest The Horse newsletter, as usual packed with all sorts of interesting articles although I have to say that an article on rattlesnake bites isn't quite relevant to us here:
http://www.thehorse.com/enews/782008.html

If you're interested in history and in particular horse training history then we have a CD of Jesse Beery's training booklets available at a fraction of the cost you'd pay on most online sites. It's a fascinating insight on 'how things were' when the horse was the only mode of transport and makes great reading.Have a look here:
http://www.h-10.com.au/shopexd.asp?id=78
Keep warm and have a great week

Last Blog Entry...For A While Anyway!!

2008-06-19T17:03:00.000+10:00

Hi there
I have to make a trip to the UK later this week - a sad event has occured but not one I'm going to dwell upon. At least it's summer there...or so it's rumoured, so there won't be a newsletter for a week or so. Disappointed? I thought so!!!!

'She who must be obeyed' has a birthday tomorrow so it's a restaurant outing for us. Whoopee! First time for ages!

Heaven knows what the wash up will be over the EI report. Class actions will be flying everywhere I suspect and I've already spoken to people who are going to try and get compensation for their losses...who can blame them since it has been only the racing industry that has benefited in any small way so far.

This is NO joke....The first ever successful reverse vasectomy on an endangered species, the Prezewalski horse has been performed at the National Zoo in the USA. Um.
http://tinyurl.com/553yff

Here's The Horse.com front page for you - a wealth of horse info that everyone should read:
http://www.thehorse.com/

There's a brand new horse web site just launched
http://www.goequine.com/
believe me it's worth looking at just for the quality of the pictures on the home page. Wonderful!

Zara Phillips (you know, daughter of Anne, Princess Royal!) has had to withdraw from the Great Britain Olympic three-day event team because of an injury to Toytown, her horse, during training.
Unfortunate and no-one would wish it for her but it may help us there!
http://tinyurl.com/4v96bf

To Show Or Not To Show? Here's a very personal opinion from a dedicated horse lover.
http://tinyurl.com/5yp2ml

Eric Bravo demonstrates leading techniques designed to get your horse to pay attention and respect you. This is a UTube short video.
Interesting. It's the second article down from the top.
http://gentlenaturalhorseman.blogspot.com/

Some of have been lucky enough to have rain so that hay is not a problem...but it isn't the same for all. Here are a few tips if you have to buy the stuff....
http://tinyurl.com/4ceyzr

I will have 2 new dvds to offer very shortly and will let you have full details.
The H10 ointment offer is still on...believe me (and others) when I say that you really shouldn't be without it. http://www.h10.com.au

Dragon Boats, Vitamins for Horsegirls, Washing Tips etc

2008-06-11T11:35:00.001+10:00

Went Dragon Boating over the weekend (well, the better half did!)
to support Dragons Abreast, the breast cancer support group. Rained
all day but lots of keen people turned up and it was a great event.
I supported with lots of pictures and put some up on Face Book for
those of you interested:
http://tinyurl.com/5ma5ph

I found a new web site devoted to the care of foals but it has lots
of useful tools for all horses and is well worth a look:
http://www.foalcare.com

Here's a great washing tip courtesy of the current edition of Horse
and Rider.
When you toss your horse's dirty leg wraps into the washer you end
up with a tightly tangled mess. SO, tuck the wraps into a small
lingerie bag before you wash them. If you do more than one set at a
time, use a separate bag for each set. Result? No more tangles and
your sorting will already be done

In the USA, 'show apparel' is a big thing, particularly at Western
meets. Have a lool at some of the fashions for yourself. Click on
the 'apparel by Diane Olsen' link when you get on to this site but
beware, make sure the bank account is topped up.
http://www.showtimeshowclothing.com/apparel/index.html

Girls will be girls...and we love them for it. Here's a new site
with Vitamins by Horsegirls for Horsegirls. Um!
http://www.horsegirlvitamins.com/

Ron Meredith, a well know horse expert has written a short column
worth looking at and aptly entitled 'Training Mythunderstandings':
http://tinyurl.com/3wjga4

According to Heather Sullivan, deputy director of public relations
for the Humane Society of the United States, horse owners
nationwide are limiting or foregoing basic horse care, including
veterinary and farrier services, thanks to overall cost-of-living
increases. As a result, veterinarians are finding ways to help
owners minimize costs without sacrificing basic care:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=12012
I asked the 'tame' vet about this one...I won't go into details about
his answer...

Lastly, I don't advertise often but with winter coming on now and
horses out and about, scratches, cuts, grazes bumps and bruises can
be a problem particularly if you don't spot them straight away. The
current wet weather in some parts might also see some Mud Fever
outbreaks too so get yourself a tub of H10 ointment.
We have a special this month where we're giving 2 for 1. Have a
look here, http://www.h-10.com.au/shopexd.asp?id=14 but don't just
take my word for it, there are some links there to lots of users
who have written of their great results with H10 ointment.
It's a must for your tack box or stable shelf.

Have a great week...don't forget the competition. We've had some
terrific entries so far.....

Australia's Olympic Equestrian Progress

2008-06-04T12:35:00.000+10:00

Hi there
So much rain...it's weird to watch it advancing on the Weather Bureau's internet radar, a massive blue, green and yellow image heading directly for us! Nature has a great way of warning us too...no birds for a day! They seem to know despite not having weather radar or computers!!

There have been some great entries into the new competition we are running and I think we'll have a free disk full of marvellous 'magic moments' when we finally end it. If you haven't entered your 'magic moment' then go to www.h10.com.au/competition.asp

I've ordered some brand new horse book titles including Braiding Manes and Tails by Charni Lewis. This new book has had rave reviews around the horse world and is now just becoming available here in Aus. I'll post more details when it arrives.

Here's a comprehensive 'check list' you might useful before any trips you might make with your horse:
http://tinyurl.com/5p397j

The Draught Horse Competition and Field Day took place on Sunday as part of Beef Week Family Day in casino - this article has a lovely picture of a Clydesdale...beautiful horses!!!
http://tinyurl.com/5ytxbm

Here's a quote from a battling US father of horse loving daughter, "This is my daughter's horse, Artesima. Feed, stable, grooming, transport, showing, freakin shoes and gear for her, priceless. For everything else in our life, there's Mastercard."
Love it!!!

The Horse newsletter this month has some excellent articles on laminitis both acute and chronic:
http://tinyurl.com/5k3k5f

What's your horse thinking? Bestselling author Temple Grandin offers a window on the equine mind, courtesy of Equisearch:
http://tinyurl.com/24pzf3

Finally, I don't often publicise the Aus Olympic team's progress but here's the latest newsletter from the Equestrian Federation outlining the team progress for Olympic selection. Any of you who watched the ABC last night will have seen first hand some of the sacrifices budding members of the team have made during the horse flu epidemic. But then, so have we all.......
http://www.equestrian.org.au/

Have a great week

H10 - New Competition Starts!!

2008-05-28T10:55:00.000+10:00

Hi there
Seems like our winter has started early this year...our wattle birds are broody again and I reckon they're are far too well endowed with hormones! Their latest escapade is to try and nest in not just one, but TWO hanging flower baskets on the back deck...all in all about two metres from our outside table! A bird of very little brain I'm thinking!

I've puts lots of new stuff on the web site under the What's New page (where else?!) and this week, at long last we start the NEW COMPETITION!!
It's the idea of Reena who sent in the suggestion that we should run a comp entitled 'Magic Moments'. What we'd like are the magic moments you have shared with your horse. It could be a magic ride you shared, a magic experience, a magic day, a magic result...a magic anything really!!! As before we'll judge the entries monthly and I'm looking forward to the company of the 'tame' vet once again. He's looking forward to the coffee and muffins as usual!

We'll award a great prize to the winner every month and publish the winning entry in this news letter and on the H10 site and H10 blog. Fame at last!!!
We'll also collate the entries and make up an e-book to give away at the end of the competition.
So, don't be shy...give it your best and share your 'Magic Moment' with the hundreds of horse lovers who receive this newsletter!! Here's the link to click on:
http://www.h-10.com.au/competition.asp

Have a great week!
Geoff

Australian Horsemaster Special

2008-05-21T12:18:00.001+10:00

Isn't it getting cold?! Since I cycle in the mornings to try and keep fit (don't laugh yet, the joke is yet to come!) the better half got me a new pair of black, lycra sports tights, guaranteed to keep me warm. Well, I was pleasantly surprised since they give me a 'cyclist' look I thought, that is until I saw myself side-on in the mirror the other morning....some 'bodily' improvements are required I think!!

I thought this week that I would give you some Australian horse masters to visit since we have a wealth of talent here outside the usual 'famous 5' or so that everyone quotes.

Wayne Anderson - a free lesson from Eques entitiled 'Handling Horses Softly'.
http://www.eques.com.au/training/previous/softly.htm

Steve Brady - For people who enjoy advancing their horses by educating and improving themselves
http://www.stevebradyhorsemanship.com/

Phil Rodey - here's his website but I couldn't find any up to date info for him there.
http://www.philrodeyhorsemanship.com.au/

The ability to understand life from the horse’s point of view that has made Ross Jacobs and Michèle Jedlicka popular among horse owners who are looking for a willing partnership with their horses.
http://www.goodhorsemanship.com.au/index.html

Here's the latest Horse health E-newsletter - a good read for anyone involved or concerned about horse health topics
http://www.thehorse.com/enews/5202008.html

Next week we start a BRAND NEW Competition with the return of great monthly prizes and the 'tame vet' too. Um!! More details soon!

H10 Horse Lovers Blog - Budget Special!!

2008-05-14T10:39:00.000+10:00

Interesting budget wasn't it? Bang goes my new Ferrari with the car tax increases...I wish!! Nothing in it at all for small business though....
I've added a whole raft of small articles to the H10 web site that I hope you'll find useful. I'll be adding a whole lot more in the upcoming weeks. You can view and download them here:
http://www.h-10.com.au/shopcontent.asp?type=News

Here's a useful Equine Body Language Chart - courtesy of Equisearch
Use this body language chart to understand your horse's mood through his physical clues. I like it!!!
http://tinyurl.com/5dlobu

Learn how to manage a pony with laminitis with attention to grass, supplements, hoof trimming and more in this edition of Dr. Joyce Harman's Ask the Vet on EquiSearch.com.
http://tinyurl.com/5q8hd3

What to Look for in a Dressage Horse??
Find out what to look for in a dressage horse and why a big mover might not be your ideal partner:
http://tinyurl.com/6arekr

I met up with my 'tame vet' the other day. Remember him? He used to help me judge our competition entries and asked me why I hadn't been in contact. Could be that we never agreed on the decisions!!! Anyway I said, no competitions recently!
He suggested I get one, fast...I think he just misses the wife's muffins and the great coffee. Seriously though, I'd like to start a new comp so if you have any ideas for one then let me know...there's a nice prize in it for any ideas that we pick and run with and I will of course acknowledge any suggestions.

We've a special on Elegance Red Label high foaming shampoo this month. If you haven't tried it than you should! Have a look:
http://tinyurl.com/6hvmsx

Some Great Articles This Week - Don't Miss Them

2008-05-07T10:38:00.000+10:00

Terrible events in Burma that may be the worst since the S E Asia tsunami of a couple of years ago. I can only imagine what's it's like and a Burmese friend of mine hasn't heard from her relatives in a few days...very worrying. This isn't a charity site but if you can help then World Vision is helping there too:
http://www.worldvision.com.au/emergency/myanmarCyclone.asp?isource=64

Fibre in Hay - what's the magic amount? Christy West from The Horse, helps us:
http://tinyurl.com/5kkptd

Managing the Changing Needs of Older Horses
Time takes its toll in predictable ways, providing guidelines for managing the changing needs of older horses. This is a great article in Equisearch from Joanne Meszoly who wrote this after her experiences in WA:
http://tinyurl.com/4dqs72

Trimming Tips for Banded Manes by Patty Brumley. Try these tips for a tip-top mane trim.
http://tinyurl.com/6r3pg3

If you follow eventing, you'll know that there have been a spate of tragedies recently. Here are some discussions on proposed changes to make the sport safer from Nancy Jaffer and Practical Horseman.
http://tinyurl.com/4q4c5t

If you're taking your horse on a trip, then here's a great page of tips from The Horse for before, during, and after your trip to help your horses be safe, comfortable, and healthy.
http://tinyurl.com/3n24sk

We've had lots of interest in a CDROM we have on the site with the famous US horse trainer Jesse Beery's 'mail order horse training course' on it. Worth a look and not expensive either!
http://www.h-10.com.au/shopexd.asp?id=78

The wife is away for the weekend, the beer's in the fridge and the lads will be around later in the week. Who needs a shed?!!!
Hope you have a great weekend too!