The Olympics - Who's Going To Win?

Hi there,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

H10 - New Competition Starts!!

Hi there
Seems like our winter has started early this year...our wattle birds are broody again and I reckon they're are far too well endowed with hormones! Their latest escapade is to try and nest in not just one, but TWO hanging flower baskets on the back deck...all in all about two metres from our outside table! A bird of very little brain I'm thinking!

I've puts lots of new stuff on the web site under the What's New page (where else?!) and this week, at long last we start the NEW COMPETITION!!
It's the idea of Reena who sent in the suggestion that we should run a comp entitled 'Magic Moments'. What we'd like are the magic moments you have shared with your horse. It could be a magic ride you shared, a magic experience, a magic day, a magic result...a magic anything really!!! As before we'll judge the entries monthly and I'm looking forward to the company of the 'tame' vet once again. He's looking forward to the coffee and muffins as usual!

We'll award a great prize to the winner every month and publish the winning entry in this news letter and on the H10 site and H10 blog. Fame at last!!!
We'll also collate the entries and make up an e-book to give away at the end of the competition.
So, don't be shy...give it your best and share your 'Magic Moment' with the hundreds of horse lovers who receive this newsletter!! Here's the link to click on:
http://www.h-10.com.au/competition.asp

Have a great week!
Geoff

Some Great Articles This Week - Don't Miss Them

Terrible events in Burma that may be the worst since the S E Asia tsunami of a couple of years ago. I can only imagine what's it's like and a Burmese friend of mine hasn't heard from her relatives in a few days...very worrying. This isn't a charity site but if you can help then World Vision is helping there too:
http://www.worldvision.com.au/emergency/myanmarCyclone.asp?isource=64

Fibre in Hay - what's the magic amount? Christy West from The Horse, helps us:
http://tinyurl.com/5kkptd

Managing the Changing Needs of Older Horses
Time takes its toll in predictable ways, providing guidelines for managing the changing needs of older horses. This is a great article in Equisearch from Joanne Meszoly who wrote this after her experiences in WA:
http://tinyurl.com/4dqs72

Trimming Tips for Banded Manes by Patty Brumley. Try these tips for a tip-top mane trim.
http://tinyurl.com/6r3pg3

If you follow eventing, you'll know that there have been a spate of tragedies recently. Here are some discussions on proposed changes to make the sport safer from Nancy Jaffer and Practical Horseman.
http://tinyurl.com/4q4c5t

If you're taking your horse on a trip, then here's a great page of tips from The Horse for before, during, and after your trip to help your horses be safe, comfortable, and healthy.
http://tinyurl.com/3n24sk

We've had lots of interest in a CDROM we have on the site with the famous US horse trainer Jesse Beery's 'mail order horse training course' on it. Worth a look and not expensive either!
http://www.h-10.com.au/shopexd.asp?id=78

The wife is away for the weekend, the beer's in the fridge and the lads will be around later in the week. Who needs a shed?!!!
Hope you have a great weekend too!

Enough Rain...Enough!!

Hi there
There's been so much rain that we've got a whole flock of different birds cowering on the deck sheltering from the 'great wet'! I've never seen so many different breeds together actually behaving themselves...they all look soggy & pathetic!!!

Just a couple of interesting links for you this week because the big news is that we have a BIG BOOK sale on now. We're clearing out stock for new books and we're selling the current stock off at 50% discount or more! There are some great titles!
We've attached a price list for you and you can read all the book details and descriptions on the web site at http://www.h10.com.au/.
Please use the attached list or download one from the front page of the site if you'd like to order, or you can use the site and I'll adjust the postage for you but hurry we don't have much stock left!!

Here's a couple of great links:

In the April 2008 issue of Horse & Rider magazine, bareback genius and reining freestyle phenom Stacy Westfall teaches you how to use saddleless riding to boost your balance and fine-tune your cueing. Use othe super-fun Click 'n Learn stop-action sequence to see exactly how she maintains her bareback position during a rollback.
http://tinyurl.com/3gl44g

You'll remember that we talked about the world's biggest horse last week. Well, sad news comes from New Zealand that the world's tallest horse died recently.
http://tinyurl.com/5zrg7n

I also found this site http://www.thehorse.com/ although you may well already know of it. Very comprehensive and very good on all aspects of equine care.
Well, the sun's out (a monir miracle) and the birds have flown. Don't forget the book sale

H10 At The Royal Easter Show

Hi there
Well, The Easter Show was fun and there were lots of Aussie Stock Horses there which was good to see. We gave away some well-earned prizes and I'm glad to report that Jackie Long, one of our sponsored riders, managed to bag Reserve Champion Ridden Australian Stock Horse Hack.

I missed the Dagwood Dogs (shame!) and most of the funfair rides and the show was pretty packed....this year it cost about $70 and more for a family of 4 just to get in! Add the showbags and the other 'necessities' and it's a big hole in the pocket!!

Did you know that Australia holds the record for the larget horse in the world? The giant five-year-old, from Pakenham, S.E Australia, measures a staggering 20.1 hands, or 2.057m tall. He weighs over 1.3 tonnes (1300kg), about the same as a small car - and is still growing!!
There's a pic of him here:
http://www.anyhorsebackriding.com/myblog/

Is it a Bruise, Strain or Sprain? Here's a complimentary chart from Equus that you might find useful when trying to decide:

http://tinyurl.com/ypl3dw

Many horse lovers are spending more time shoe shopping these days--for their animals. Technology is presenting them with the choice of two different replacements for the old horseshoe:

http://tinyurl.com/3bzdhy

Here's some recent news on Canberra paralympic hopeful Rob Oakley. He says he is confident of making the fifth and final spot in the Australian equestrian team.
http://tinyurl.com/39mdd3

Jan sent me a good horsey (and very irreverent!) blog that you might have a wander over to:
http://www.fuglyhorseoftheday.blogspot.com/

Plenty of bargains on the H10 web site - go on, have a look! http://www.h10.com.au/

Have a great weekend
Best wishes
Geoff

...And The Rain Pours Down!!!

What a week! Firstly the the hard drive in one of our computers decided to quit. Ah, the importance of backing up your info!! If you don't as yet then I can really recommend it! Saves a lot of time and heartache and is definitely good for a marriage....and I have been christened 'Grumpy Old 'Git' because I couldn't find theback up copies!
Second, the rain continues to drop and I hate grey skies.
Third, good news, the Sydney Royal Show has some horse events reinstated and I've attached the link for the show schedule for anyone interested!
http://tinyurl.com/2n4t3e
And finally, the fig tree has ripened and it's me against the birds. I'm using plastic snakes and shiny CDs to keep them off and so far failed miserably! Any ideas??

Here's a timely article from Cyberhorse on getting your horse fit after a lay off - sorry about some of the feed ads in it but the info is pretty sound:
http://tinyurl.com/2fhbxu

Here's how to tell if your horse is fat!! Um, might try it myself!!
http://tinyurl.com/2d9foc

Dr. Joyce Harman explains how to fit a treeless saddle for different types of horses and riders - I didn't know much about this but it's an interesting article:
http://tinyurl.com/2r8s9y

Watch video clips from George Morris' Lessons in Horsemanship DVD as he guides eight young riders through a special training session - these are all U Tube videos so they might take a little time to load if you don't have broadband...worth a look though!
http://tinyurl.com/yrdfor

Thanks to Equisearch for the last 3 article links.
This is your LAST chance for H10 grooming products at COST price...closing soon so stock up for the upcoming seasons:http://www.h10.com.au/

And with the rain thundering down I'll bid you a very good week!

H10 Newsletter - Equine Flu etc

Just back from a visit to the UK - daughter and new grand-daughter are doing fine but I couldn't live there any more. It's nice to visit but it isn't Australia.......and besides, it's far too crowded and cold!!

I returned to read the EI news one month on so to speak. I've signed and sent on all the petitions sent to me and thanks to all of you who sent them. Seems that the racing industry is getting all the care and attention from our State Government. Now isn't that a surprise?! The rest of us wait in the wings for support and it could be quite a wait! EI has certainly decimated the whole equine market. For instance I know of retailers whose turnover has been hit hard. I haven't sold a unit of grooming product in 5 weeks!

At least the inquiry has started and already seems to have some firm direction as to where the whole sorry mess started. I'll follow it with some interest.
Time to remove the gloom for a while though.....

The London police are now using horse whispering techniques to soothe their charges after a hard day on the 'mean streets'! A vet commented "We hear a lot about these alternative therapies and I am afraid one gets a bit sceptical." http://tinyurl.com/2yl8zf

Dental problems in horses are often blamed for poor performance, but a recent study in Canada has found that floating the teeth of dressage horses appeared to have no effect on how they performed. http://tinyurl.com/2cw3fy

Here's a link to a video clip showing the training of a 4 year old quarterhorse - it's amusing and fascinating too!! Well worth a look. http://tinyurl.com/ysj3qk

Even horses who receive the best of care may develop the occasional skin problem. There's just no avoiding the host of bacteria, fungi, viruses and insects that can lead to lumps and bumps. This chart, however, may help you spot some of the most common equine skin troubles. Courtsey of Equus magazine. http://tinyurl.com/2qfhdo

Phew, that'll do for now. I feel another episode of jet lag coming on!! We have a new complimantary gift for you shortly....more news soon.

ASH Nationals

Spent the last few days at the ASH Nationals in Camden about 60klms south of Sydney. Had a wonderful time with some great people andsome of the nicest natured horses I've ever been around...same for the people too! The event was huge and shows how the ASH fraternity is growing...they even have a branch in the US now!! We were very happy to sponsor some of the events and the overall level of competition was very high. We'll be back!!
This week we've gone for some good, useful articles for you. Here's a guide and a downloadable file on preventing laminitis :http://tinyurl.com/2mzzlb
I'm not a 3 day event fan but there are some lovely all action event pictures here: http://tinyurl.com/2zhegp
It's tough when your horse passes on...grief can be devastating if you don't know how to handle it. Here are some resources:http://tinyurl.com/2m9eol
Finally, here's a story about what happens when your horse gets back problems: http://tinyurl.com/346rb9
All our articles this week are courtesy of Equisearch..thanks to them!
Nearly forgot - We have 4 copies of 'Chicken Soup For The HorseLovers Soul' available. Just arrived at http://www.h10.com.au/

Royal Easter Horse Show

Just got back from the Sydney Royal Easter Show on Sunday. We'd spent 4 days down there supporting the ASH horse competitions and my grateful thanks go to Jackie Long and her great team for putting up with me! They treated me very well!
The show of course is huge and supposed to bring the country and the city together and I suppose in some ways it does....there's a definite city side and country side to the show though!! The main arena was packed for the motorbike morons, ladies shot from cannons, crazed Ute drivers and stunt men riding motorbikes inside what looked like a small round steel cage, (One fell off and carnage ensued. Not Nice!). When they'd all finished, the arena emptied to the country people watching the various horse competitions....see what I mean about city and country?

Whilst there I looked at other things too and I was amazed at the skill of the cutting horses and their riders...terrific control and 100% concentration from the horses! Kim Durante won Champion Hack at the show for at least the second year running....her horse looking great courtesy of H10 of course but Kim doing a wonderful job to win the Top Show Horse accolade.

I had the pleasure of presenting some awards to ASH competition winners and I have to say that the Show Stewards were superb in their hospitality and friendliness. They do a sometimes difficult job, admirably! Looking around that huge arena I thought how nervous I would have been competiting but I thought that most of the competitions I saw were professional and a credit to horsemanship.

AND, I didn't get to sample a Dagwood Dog, or even a plate of chips but I did buy the required showbags otherwise my welcome home wouldn't have been quite so enthusiastic! I'll have another newsletter at the end of this week with lots of links to interesting 'horsey' articles.

By the way, after some delay we've 3 copies of 'Chicken Soup For The Horse Lovers Soul' in stock. This terrific book is VERY difficult to get hold of in Australia and we're selling them at $25 - the shop price is $32.95 so there's a decent discount and they are brand new. Get one whilst you can, they make great presents! Go to www.h10.com.au. for the details and a description.