If You Have A Horse Like This....Look Out!

Hope you all remembered Valentines Day? If not then you're probably still feeling put out because you forgot (bad), or someone forgot you, (even worse!). I managed a last minute card for 'er indoors...and with her suitably impressed I was allowed to indulge myself in the cricket for the day. Still don't know why I don't get the cards I used to though.......

If you have a horse like this, then you need to do something about it....quick!

Here's a very sad story...and a very puzzling one too.
A retired pregnant race horse was shot and killed, and now lawmen are asking for help in tracking the shooter. Carteret County deputies say someone shot "Breeze" in the head between Sunday and Monday at the owner's property on Taylor Farm Road, outside of Beaufort in Carteret County on the North Carolina coast. The horse's owner, Elizabeth Loftin, says the horse was worth approximately $30,000. Detectives say they believe that the horse was specifically targeted and the person who shot her meant to kill her.

Here's the training clip of the week. Larry Trocha, teaches how to cue your horse to stop. Check it out! Courtesy of my friend Deanna Castro and Larry Trocha.

For those of you who have read the novels of Dick Francis the best-selling British thriller writer and steeplechase jockey, sad news. Dick Francis died in his home in the Cayman Islands Feb. 14, The Associated Press reported. He was 89. More here:

Probably the last word on this controversial topic.... Participants in a Feb. 9 conference organized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) imposed sanctions on aggressive riding, including that which results in hyperflexion of the horse's neck. "The group redefined hyperflexion/Rollkur as flexion of the horse's neck achieved through aggressive force, which is therefore unacceptable," the FEI said in a statement. "The technique known as Low, Deep, and Round, which achieves flexion without undue force, is acceptable."  So, how do you tell the difference. Well, I'm not a dressage expert. Courtesy of The Horse.

I've been doing a series of unfortunate crashes lately...this recent one in the US shows just how dangerous the trots can be and how those jockeys/drivers earn their money. Listen to the commentator too...I don't think he would change the pitch of his voice if you dropped a bomb on him.

This poor girl has a rough time....we all know just how slippery horse manure can be, even for a horse. Her horse slips on the mess, and she gets dumped into the ****. Unfortunate but I had to raise a chuckle. Bet she'll be keeping an eye out for it in the future.

Here's a useful little video for those of us that go for jumping.  Exercises to Tune Your Eye for Jumps. Watch a video of two exercises Olympic silver medalist Peter Leone uses to help his students tune their eyes for jumps. Courtesy of Equisearch

We have John Pinnell's complete horse training programme including initial training, overcoming horse problems and horse trailering, together with his accompanying book all available in a presentation pack. Have a look

Have a great week.

How To Destroy A Horse - The Fibreglass Variety!

We held our Dragon Boat Regatta on Sunday - great success but I'm pooped today. A school friend staying with us volunteered to do the announcing with his 'plummy' English accent. They all loved him and so I'm having to fight off the female visitors that phone or call regularly. Jealous? Not me particularly when I see his wife's face as another hopeful arrives.....

Three young adults who were caught on videotape destroying a fiberglass horse on Broadway in Saratoga Springs almost exactly a year ago have never been caught, despite nationwide media coverage of the vandals. Watch these idiots...clueless and drunk!.

Believe it or not, there is a better way to fall off your horse, if you ever need to do that. Watch this video clip from a recent presentation on balance, fitness and performance given by Danny Warrington and Mike Pilato at one of their Equicision clinics.

Here's the Horse Boy trailer for the film now released I believe. A comment from a You Tube viewer said this: 'Living with a brother with downs syndrome and working with even more people with other disabilities such as autism this movie will be inspiring. Just watching the trailer brought tears to my eyes.' Have a look and see what you think.

Holly Mason - Aussie girl with a Dream. Holly is 24 years old and comes from Samford, Northwest of Brisbane. As with so many Aussie’s the idea of heading over to Germany to experience all that is Dressage only begins as an idea… then becomes the adventure of a lifetime. For Holly, this journey began in early December 2008 when she boarded a plane to Germany to begin the adventure of her life. 2 days after her 24th birthday, the accident that brought her dreams to an end occurred. Read the rest of this moving story here.

Cruel farmer Jamie Gray costs RSPCA £30k a month in horse care. This guy is the UK is one nasty animal. Read more - hope he gets what's coming.

A Wiener Dog Rally was held on Thursday at Seattle Center. The fastest two dachshunds go on to compete at the Wiener Dog Races at the Emerald Downs horse track in Auburn on Friday. Now I know it ain't horses, but if you want a laugh then there's one here. I've seen cane toads run faster than these 'athletes'.

Horse Trailer Safety Checklist - Hauling your horse down the highway? Check these eight vital pieces of trailer equipment and don't leave home without these 10 items.

Have a great week!!

Keeping Your Horse Cool

Hot...isn't it?! And believe me your horse will feel it too. So here are a couple of important articles dealing with just that - looking after your horse in hot weather.

This from my good friend Roger Bourdon looks at the use of sunscreen with horses

And this, a more in-depth drought approach for horses from David Nash of Agriculture Victoria in Rutherglen
Both are well worth reading, especially for those of you experiencing 40C plus this week.

The year has got off to a great start with the Youth Olympics taking place at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre. Queensland Rider Victoria Welch won Gold in the Dressage

Here's a 'clip of the week' from Deanna Castro's blog. It's trick used when getting your horse into a float or trailer. Clever! BUT, as they say, DON'T EVER try this at home!

Here's something different - an article on barn cats. I'm not a cat person but they always seem to cuddle up close if I'm around. It was definitely a disadvantage when I was young!

This video shows a woman doing the Parelli seven games at liberty in seven minutes. By "at liberty" we mean without any rope or halter on the horse. Pretty nice circle game. The Parelli seven games encapsulate the essentials of groundwork horse training.

Managing a Horse on a Tight Budget - and the budget isn't going to get any better! Great tips here from The Horse magazine.

Have a great week...and keep cool!
Geoff

Happy New Year Newsletter

Happy New Year!

Here's Rick Lamb with a blog entry about 'Natural Horsemanship'. It's an interesting slant and I believe that Jesse Beery and Kel Jeffrey, an American and Australian respectively had the 'art' that Rick is talking about.
Read more here

Straight Talk About Colic - Here's how to reduce your horse's risk of developing serious digestive upset and increase his chances of recovery if he does.

Time Your Cues for a Perfect Showmanship Stop. How to master your stopping cues to stay in-sync with your horse, and up your chances of a dynamite showmanship pattern.

What do horses and all animals have to teach us about discovering our hearts desires and becoming powerful co-creators in the lives of our dreams? Here's the new Natural Horse Network Life Changing Radio Series

When you're off to shows or events, it’s important to hitch up to your horse trailer safely and correctly. Here are some good tips and I want a trailer like this one please!

Here's a pink blog! When riding a horse, it is important to be able to ride the horse straight from head to tail. When riding this way, you will achieve perfect balance. Deanna Castro shows how

Stress-Free Horse Clipping Tips. Follow these tips and you will be on your way to clipping your horse safely, successfully and line-free.

Here's a little extra that might help. If you haven't got Microsoft Office, they do supply a viewer so that you can open and read any messages or emails sent to you with Microsoft Word document attached. Useful huh?

The H10 site is open again and we've some good shampoo offers. If you haven't used H10 Elegance shampoo, then you should and here's a great offer.

Have a good week

Geoff