Warning - Dangerous Miniature Horse On The Loose.

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!

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

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

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

'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

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.

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

Summers Here - Make Sure You Check All Your Equipment

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

'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

Colt With Severe Deformity Saved From Death

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great week!

New Competition Now On

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great week

Would You Buy This Service?!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great week!

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

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

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!

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

German National Equestrian Team In Doping Scandal

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

A Horse That Rides In Cars And Eats Cheeseburgers?!

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?

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

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.

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

Competition Results Here

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.