Frightening Thoroughbred Goes WIld at Race Track

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

View The Very Latest In Fashion From The Horse Show Catwalk

'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

Preview Of Brand New DVDs Now Available

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

Fed Up Already Of Xmas - Read This

'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

Amazing Horse Race - You Won't Believe This.

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.

Lippy - The Amazing Talking Horse

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!

Watch A Horse Trample A Car

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!

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

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

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

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

Swine Flu Special - Can Your Horse Catch It?

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!

Fake Doctors..And Now Fake Vets Too?

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.

PR: wait... I: wait... L: wait... LD: wait... I: wait...

Royal Easter Show Horse Event Pictures

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

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

Do Horses Swim Well?!

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?

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

Close Shave From The Cyclone

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!

The Terrible Equine Toll From Victoria's Fires

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!

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

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