The Olympics - Who's Going To Win?

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

H10 - New Competition Starts!!

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

Some Great Articles This Week - Don't Miss Them

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!

Top Tips For 2008

Hi there ,
It's hard levering yourself into work in the New Year...all our neighbours are on holiday (most in Queensland....um!!, might be wet there!) and it's strangely quiet!! "Experts" tell us that this is the time to take stock of things for the year and get fit! Urgh! No Thanks! So at the risk of being boring, here's something that's nothing to do with horses...and concerns your financial fitness and not your physical fitness. It's NOT an ad but a guide you might just find useful:http://tinyurl.com/yuyyd5

There's a risk of 'overriding' in all horse disciplines. Here's a good article from David Collins on the risks and looking for the warning signs:http://tinyurl.com/ys6sf5

Pro Joan Schroeder shares her technique for keeping her horses' tails tangle-free--and bagless. You'd use H10 Gloss and detangler for the very best results of course!!http://tinyurl.com/yt998r

Ever heard of the American Cream Horse? No? Neither had I and I didn't know that it was the only American Draft Horse breed to have originated in the US. Here's a short article...lovely looking horses too!
http://tinyurl.com/3xtkvw

Learn how to spot balance in a horse--and how it can affect athleticism by Bob Avila. Nice article with helpful illustrations too.
http://tinyurl.com/2u9l7e

The 'buy it at cost' H10 grooming sale will end at the end of Jan so get in for a real bargain at http://www.h10.com.au/

Have a great weekend and keep dry if you can!!

How To Lose Weight And Get Fit...With Your Horse

Here's an inspirational story about a lady, 100 lbs (about 40kgs) overweight who used her horse and horseriding to get her weight down and her fitness up!! It's well worth a read courtesy of Equus magazine.
Here's the link Losing To Win

I can't ride any longer - bad back injury, surgery etc so I ride a bike. A lot less interesting I can tell you!!