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.

How A Miniature Horse's Leg Was Saved

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great week.
Geoff

Winter Here Already?!

Feels like winter here!!

The better half has joined the Dragon Boating fraternity in the newly formed local Dragons Abreast team -they are all breast cancer survivors and supporters and it's a great cause. She gets up at an ungodly hour to go to paddling practice though!!!
We've some great articles for you this week...a real 'cornucopia'(means 'mix' I think!)

Find out how to tell if your horse has an ulcer and how to treat it in this EquiSearch.com 'Ask the Vet' column by Dr. Joyce Harman: http://tinyurl.com/5xmzns

In some cases it's best to fit a horse with shoes fresh off a forge. By Laurie Bonner for EQUUS magazine:http://tinyurl.com/6gue2s

Here's a great practical grooming demo clip from top hunter/jumper groom Laurie Pitts. It's a YouTube video so will load quickly...well worth a look: http://tinyurl.com/5cpyyk

Basic training - Balancing Correction & Praise. Here's a great article from trainer Ron Petracek outlining the common mistakes horse owners make in thinking that affection is the only way to handle your horse. http://tinyurl.com/49ju9p

Clinton Anderson offers training tips on how to make the most of moments you do have to spend with your horse. Courtesy ofEquisearch:http://tinyurl.com/65z7yr

I'm not sure if you knew that ponies had been used in coal mines in years gone by. Here's a fascinating review from a Welsh source where pit ponies were used exclusively before the advent of electrical machinery. The last pony retired as late as 1999!: http://tinyurl.com/5xcwpm

There are still a few books left in the H10 book sale. www.h10.com.au
Finally, Wendy asks this "I cannot find a ring to splice on the end of the rope, (I think it's a neck rope in the Kel Jeffrey training style). Years ago we would have had stuff lying around in the shed. I've looked at halter rings, but they don't look very substantial. Any clues where I could source one?"
If you can help. Drop me a reply.
Have a great weekend!

New Horse training DVD/Book Package

Firstly - thanks to all of you who sent their best wishes...it's much appreciated and I'm now back on my bike again!! Doesn't compare with a horse of course but then my back gave up horses a while ago!!!!
Trolling around the net this week for interesting stuff has been frustrating!! Thank goodness for Equisearch!! Heard a lot on the ABC Country Hour yesterday about the changes in equine dentistry and the consequences of that to all horse owners. It's a concern since it looks as if horse dentistry is about to get a lot more expensive. I'll be looking into that and writing a separatepiece for you.

Follow these five simple rules to increase your horse's chance of living to a ripe old age. http://tinyurl.com/2rusp6

Weaning your horse is always a worrying period. Do you get it right? Here are some tips for a stress free time!! http://tinyurl.com/2moert

I may have mentioned Alphahorse before but it's a great free resource for all sorts of training tips: http://tinyurl.com/2yjmfr

My good friend Roger Bourdon has a newsletter that's always interesting - and aimed squarely at horse lovers. Go on, have a look: http://www.anyhorsebackriding.com/horsesource/070816.html

Finally, we are proud to announce that we have the Des Kirk DVD & Book Package now available!! The dvd shows Des teaching the gentle Kel Jeffrey horse training method and is backed up by his 64 page book fully illustrating and explaining all the techniques used in the dvd. The perfect handbook and a great package at a great price!! Have a look here: http://www.h-10.com.au/shopexd.asp?id=91