Lippy - The Amazing Talking Horse

Phew - 32.9 on Monday in Lake Cathie. Hope it changes soon. Stayed up late to watch the cricket and we lost The Ashes. For those of you not in 'the know' it's the equivalent of any Grand Final in any sport you'd care to choose here in Aus. 'She who must' says it serves me right for waking her at some ungodly hour when I came to bed. I suggested separate beds (well, you would wouldn't you), and just managed to miss the resulting well aimed missile. Life's tough sometimes.

Lippy Conner, a horse that was recently rescued from a livestock auction. Lippy has tales to tell, here he complains about his sedation shot. Yeh, right...a talking horse?

There's an article and some great pictures for those of you who enjoy looking at different horse breeds. Click the links you'll find about half way down the page - courtesy of Horse Illustrated Mag.

Advanced Equine Dentistry - What Is It? Well, that's good question and the science has come a long way since the rasp and two floats and a bucket techniques. Have a look...it's interesting and poses a good few questions too.

The Queensland Horse Council (QHC) is looking for volunteers to help on a stud property affected by Hendra virus in the state's central region. Interested?

The Budweiser Clydesdale horses are in town and they're a must-see attraction at the U.P. State Fair. I remember seeing the Aussie brewery Clydesdales when they were housed at Olympic Park (sadly they're now moved the Victoria) and they were a wonderful site. Nice to know that teams of these great horses are still valued.

Here's the Bud ad, complete with Clydesdales. Really nice.

This is a 'Hebra' - a cross between a horse and a zebra, bred at a German zoo. Weird but real...I think. What about you?

Need some ideas for a costume? This video has several awesome pictures of costumes for horses and riders! Some great, some weird and some just plain stupid.

I've just joined TrailTown USA - a brand new trail riding site. I thought I'd try it since they are giving away charter memberships so it costs nothing but it's worth having a look. By the way, I have no business interest in this site.

If you have a real problem with your horse...and you can't solve it, then maybe John Pinnell can help you

Have a great week!

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!!

Watch A Horse Trample A Car

Well, back from hols. The Whitsundays really turned on the sun but as for the sailing...Um. 'She who must' failed to hold on to a big stripey I'd caught and was holding at the back of the boat whilst our 'Captain' yelled at me to pull some rope or other. Sure enough it escaped and so it was tinned tuna for tea. Yuk! I'll never live it down.

Three days after sustaining a life-threatening head injury, USC equestrian team member Victoria Middleton gave her family reason to believe that she is on her way to recovery. This is one of those weird occurences that shows us, yet again, that even our horses are not the calm, equable animal we sometimes believe them to be. This poor girl's experiences could happen to any of us...read and digest.

The Riding Family: The Perfect Children's Horse. When Marla Lowe and her husband bought a scarred and elderly gelding,he turned out to be a perfect horse for their children. Nice story about a nice horse and a nice family. Courtesy of Equisearch.

Ever seen a horse trample on a car? No? Well watch this.

If you are into Dressage, then this could be for you. My good friend Patricia Reszetylo has a new web site www.WinMoreDressage.com. Go and have a look and subscribe (no cost) to hear her wisdom and get a free CD too.

I have the greatest respect for Paraolympians since a good mate of mine has a son who plays 'murder ball' otherwise known as wheelchair rugby for Australia. Here's an interview with ParaOlympian Rebecca Hart and she's a really nice lady.Thanks to onthebit.

Amusing video about a cat and a horse. I've no idea what the song is or in what language but if I ever catch the singer......

You've probably seen this, but it's worth a reprise. Meet Koda, Australia’s smallest horse. As an American miniature, he was always going to be on the small side. But as a dwarf, he’s positively tiny! However, as most small animals, he has his problems. But, he's lovely

Have a great week!

Horse Football - A Growing Sport

This will be the last newsletter for a week - AHA, I can hear your sighs of relief. Well, 'er indoors and I are off sailing in the Whitsundays with my friend Capn Pugwash and his mate Roger the cabin boy (girl). I have to catch all the fish and have been threatened with dire consequences should I fail. Frankly, my idea of the trip is a slab of cold tinnies in the yacht cockpit, lunch and an afternoon snooze and let someone else sail the thing. Fat chance of that.....

The history of the horse has been one of pain. Maybe that will end. Rolex World Cup Final 2009 winner Steffen Peters, treat trains and he has changed the future for riders who thought aggression based training was tops. Steffen Peters went to the Olympics on the first horse he ever trained. Below is a video of Steffen Peters’ Kur with Ravel 2009 and it is breathtaking. Turn up the volume, this horse can dance!
This courtesy of Aileen Berwick who writes for Philadelphia's Examiner.

Here's the story of Me & Sebastian...well not ME, but this YouTube video. It's a nice story of one plucky young girl's journey with her horse. Well worth a look and you'll like the music too but don't look too closely at the spelling.

A nice video on round penning an unbroken Arabian filly. I'm facinated by the differing methods people use to train their horses. Some are patently bad, some are excellent but each one seems to have an individual approach. This one is called 'Journey to Connection'.

High Tech Saddle Pads
Learn about the benefits of high tech materials, such as closed cell foam, memory foam and gel, and how they work, to help you select the right saddle pad for your horse. Courtesy of Equisearch and I can tell you that I wish some of these had been around some years ago when I was riding.

Controversy continues over Mongolian race. If you hadn't heard about this both sides involved have invoked the memory of Genghis Khan, and both seem as intractable as the mighty Mongol warrior, as the war of words continues over the merits of a 1000km horse race across the Mongolian steppes. Rather them than me...have you ever been to Mongolia? Nice place they say but I prefer Queensland....it must be my adventurous spirit.

Ever done an egg and spoon race on a horse?? Or even a pairs race, you know, when your inside legs are tied together with your partner. Well, have a look at this video of just that. I couldn't do it...could you?

Now I've shown you horses playing football before. Here they are actually having a competitive game. It's Dutch which may account for it and the horses are dressage horses which means that the style is terrific but the talent may be missing. Good laugh though. Courtesy of Lauren and The Examiner

Have a great week!

Beware -The Demon Drink and Horseback Don't Mix

I'm pooped from watching the Test cricket and the Tour de France. 'She who must', thinks I'm an idiot and that watching paint dry must be an equally rewarding experience, but there's something about both sports that make compelling vision, at least to us sports tragics. So, a week left of the tour and lots more cricket probably means that it will be the spare bedroom for me....again.
I'm tired.....

Riding For The Disabled In Aus is holding a 2009 Asia/Pacific video competition for unclassified riders (classified riders not eligible). Riders need to submit a DVD recording of the two tests in their Section. Tests will be judged by three qualified Judges. Go here for details and also to watch a lovely video.

Fancy a mobile horse grooming service? Seems reasonable considering that many people get their dogs 'done' this way. I always liked to spend grooming time getting to know my horses better...and vice versa. I know they can't talk but they can communucate in other ways. Anyway, I suppose you could use this service but it's a bit of a way for them to come and may cost a bit......

In a dreamlike, two-hour spectacle, Cavalia puts dozens of galloping horses on a massive stage with acrobats, aerialists, dancers, riders and musicians as an impressive multimedia presentation celebrating the bond between humans and horses comes to life. Click on the picture to see the slideshow.

Here's an equine blog that references lots of others. The spread of content is great so if you've got some time it's well worth clicking on....and on.

Join highly respected Australian horse trainer Jason Webb at his Australian Horse Training Centre, Risebridge Farm on Saturday 15th August to enjoy free demonstrations, entertainment and participate in the celebrations for the opening of the exciting new facilities! The event is completely free to attend and to add to the fun Jason Webb will be performing exciting and informative demonstrations throughout the afternoon. Nice to know that we can show the POMS something but it's a long way to go for some of us.

In Late June, Robert Tite was arrested after he drove through his neighbor's yard while drunk. He was driving a bulldozer at the time. The 57-year-old man from Wakeman, Ohio rode back into his hometown last Sunday. This time he was on a horse, drunk again. Beware the demon drink and horseback.

If you go to the UK and fancy some trekking, here's some great news from Rebecca Ritzel. The first thing you need to know about riding holidays in Wales. They are not, like polo, just for the rich and famous. Once you are in the United Kingdom, staying at a horse farm is an affordable way to get out and see the countryside. For a weekend of riding, including all meals and accommodations, Cwmfforest charges 220 pounds, roughly $360 US at the current exchange rate. Have a look. I remember the Welsh Black Mountains as an army reservist ages ago...and they were steep then.

Is this a weird horse...or is it trying to tell us something? Strange video.

If you've never heard of Jesse Beery, then don't worry too much. He was the USA's most famous horse trainer at the start of the 20th century when there were few cars and you literally had to have a horse to get around on. He sold thousands of copies of his horse training course which really did revolutionise horse training. It's still used today and what's more makes very good reading too...real stories and a reflection of how things were then.

Have a great week

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

Do you ever get one of those weekends planned for you when it's a constant stream of cleaning, washing and hosing outside the house? No...well you should try it. This weekend is just one of those. Boy am I looking forward to it.....and my nose is growing longer by the second.

Did you know that over feeding your horse and the consequent overweight are prime causes of laminitis? Neither did I but here's a short video from The Horse magazine you might find instructive.

Here's a horse that obviously does not agree with the opinions of her owner....and shows it.

There's a moral in this one....On March 31, a horse being ridden by Jessica Ruppel, one of Canada’s top young equestrians and prospects for Olympic competition,was struck by a pick-up truck and injured. Ruppel suffered a black eye and severe bruising, but Bella, the three-year-old Hanoverian filly bred and trained by Mrs.
Hess, had to be put down by the roadside. Mad drivers. If you have a story like this one, then let us know.

Equine ER? Yes, it really does exist and here's the first exciting episode with lots more to come.

Horse whisperers - fact or fiction? I dislike the term myself but here's a nice article that puts things into perspective.

Life isn't so bad being a wild horse. We've seen lots of clips on other wild animals...done to death most of them, but here's one on wild horses. Very good too...thanks to National Geographic.

Horse Riding is a sport right? Not according to this clip which puts the whole vista of horse riding in another perspective. I've shared some of these moments myself and when you mount one of these animals you're on trial and it's your skill that will be tested. See if you agree...I sort of do (great English that).

For those of you who have never had the pleasure of a ride through the woods in the middle of winter with snow on the ground and in the trees, crisp blue skies and a winter wonderland all around, this is for you. Me, well, I've seen more snow than I'd like to admit to...gimme the beach any time.

If you ever noticed dogs seem wary of going out in the rain, it's not because they're afraid of getting wet. Nope. It's because rain amplifies sound and it hurts
their ears. I knew that...didn't you??

Getting Started in Cutting. Al Dunning gives a Horse & Rider magazine reader the ins and outs on what it takes to get into the sport of cutting--and how to do it
without breaking the bank.

If you're a Western rider then in this short article from Horse and Rider mag World champion trainer Carol Metcalf discusses spacing along the rail in a Western
pleasure class.

Australia to beat New Zealand All Blacks Saturday? Hope so!!!

Britney Spears Equine Video - Nice Horses Rubbish Song

Well, the financial year ended...and then began again of course. I hope all of you who could added to your super so that Govt can pay you something back. We bought a holiday instead and are off to the Whitsundays cruising on a yacht at the end of this month. Why? You might well ask. The only thing I know about boats is how to use the sweep oar on our local dragon boat so the terms hailliards and sheets etc are terms I learned from Wikipedia and from Hornblower books. As for navigation, I reckon I'll have to hire a GPS.
Strange though, we've had lots of offers from friends who, all of a sudden, are now expert navigators. Wonder why?

Why train your own horse? It's a divided subject but this lady from Horse Care Daily, offers some good reasons for attempting it. Horses for courses I guess (sorry).

Britney Spears has wrangled up a few stallions and a couple scruffy K. Fed wannabes for her new video "Radar" -- I'll let you decide which category actual horses fit into. With more clothes on than normal, Britney has spliced together a fresh music video for her fourth single off of her latest album "Circus."
Nice horses...rubbish song but that's just my opinion.

Those people at Urlesque love their interspecies friendships, and this video - in which a terrier walks a horse on a leash - is no different. It is so nice to see a friend lend a helping hand paw don't you think?

Why have beer commercials nothing to do with beer. Whatever, this is a lovely short video for Bud beer and it's very clever. It's the fourth video down on the page. You might remember the first video here...it's Patches the hamburger eating horse.

Some nice photos here from my friends at Horse Deals on a Dressage & Jumping Event in Mount Gambier. I don't think there's one bloke amongst them. Shame.

After complaints and even injuries at a parade in the Montrose area in the USA, Houston police are talking more about how their mounted patrol is used in crowds. A lot of people will have seen them at Fourth of July celebrations around town. One woman is complaining about her treatment at a recent gay pride parade. I have to say that it's the rider not the horse and as for the news footage of fireworks too...who'd want to be a horse there anyway?

Courtesy of National Geographic Magazine, this is a short video on horse photographer Mark Harvey. He's almost as good as me with a camera......I've just
ditched film for digital so I'm making progress!!

Got kids? Are they horse mad too? Then have a look at this site. It's got lots of resources just for them including 'how to' videos although the intro video is a bit
wonky. Don't let that put you off.


Have a great week

The Greatest Moment Ever For Australian Horses

You'll probably be relieved that I've nothing to say about Michael Jackson. Life has instead been taken up with daughters problems...both of them. Those of you who are parents will understand, he said with a sigh and a knowing nod. As a distraction we have a crop of lemons that would keep a decent hotel stocked for weeks (fancy ANOTHER gin & tonic?), and gallons of orange juice from a bumper harvest. No shortage of vitamin C here.

This is probably the greatest moment for our Australian Stock Horses. The opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Who will ever forget it. Great viewing but don't bother reading the usual inane YouTube comments. I don't know why they allow idiots to comment anyhow.

The horse boy - video clip. Enlightened horsemanship through touch - Autism Therapy On Horseback. Never seen this before but it's an interesting approach to a very difficult condition. (Patience, takes a little while to load)

JD Wilton slide show. Probably the greatest horse trainer Australia has ever seen, this is an slide show of the methods used by the great man.

On the same site is a nice little video of horse tricks - also this guy says that he can make his horse smile. Wish I could do that with 'she who must be obeyed'.

Beautiful horses made from driftwood - courtesy of Jake Hamilton

Here's Mercy - the painting horse. She's female of course, men are only good for painting sheds, and some of her work has sold for $100. Would you buy it? Make sure you scroll down to view the video.

Mona Ramouni has been blind since birth, but that hasn't stopped her from achieving her goals. Now 28, Ramouni, of Dearborn, has been looking for more independence. Typically, people who are blind use guide dogs to aid them in their daily tasks, however, Ramouni said as a Muslim she is not supposed to have a dog in her home. While fighting boredom one day, Ramouni, came across a topic she found interesting - miniature horses as guide animals. Read on.

I Hate Your Horse - Living the Dark Truth through the eyes of a horse trainer. Uncensored, uninhibited and far from sugar-coated. Exposing the insanity that is the world of horses, their owners, the breeders, and of course the wacked out wannabes...Welcome to my life...This is what I get the joy of dealing with.
Not my words I hasten to add, but a new blog I found. Just read some of the tales from people who bought 'good' horses. There's a lesson or five in there somewhere.

Dunno if you've ever heard of Badminton (no, not the game, the horse trials in the UK). It's the UK home of eventing and I used to go regularly, in fact on one visit there in a suppliers tent I bumped into Pricess Anne (literally!). That's another story. Here's a great video clip form Olivia Haddow and Horse Hero showing the event from the point of view of 4 very different women. You have to register to watch it but it's no cost and a great future resource too.Good stuff.

Married with Horses, is a long running and amusing real life saga on Equisearch. After months of waiting Jeremy and Kimberly finally meet Mandy's new foal, Justin. Read about the colt's arrival, plus view his photo gallery and video!

Here's the photo gallery

The H10 ointment offer (2 for 1) is still on but I'm running stock down so you'd better be quick.

Have a great week

H10 Newsletter On Video Soon??

A very big thanks to everyone who responded to our small web survey. The answers will be very useful and I am now already looking for video software so that I can become a web star. 'She who must be obeyed', thinks I'm mad but did remark that it was amazing what they can do to videos these days to make people look good.........I did not rise to the bait.


Then came a not wholly unexpected phone call from the tame vet offering his services on video. He's always been that way inclined but when he mentioned that he'd be cheaper than even a minor movie star I decided that enough was enough. The phone has been quiet ever since......


Horses are having a ball trying out the latest equine training technique to hit Wearside in the UK. Spotting a gap in the market, Lisa Bond has begun selling the 44inch high balls from her Washington-based business. As well as being a good way of getting the animals used to moving objects, the balls have also proved to be ideal for horseplay. However, Sprite the horse is a little camera shy when asked to try out the training balls, despite encouragement from reporter Daniel Walker and photographer Corrina Atkinson. Nice thought though.

What NOT to do when grooming someone else's horse. This poor fella was never visited by his owner and a young girl at the facility decided she'd groom him properly. Then she decided his mane needed a trim. Imagine what you'd say if your hairdresser did this to you.

This blog advertises itself as - A place for horseback riders to get equine information: from training & tack to general horseback riding advice and veterinary care, there's no topic we won't touch! There's lots of back articles with info on all sorts of horsey things. Worth a look I think.

Here's a new blog I found - The journey of a 40-something woman and her horses, oh and real life, too. I liked it and there's a good link to an interview with Wylie Gustafson who's a champion Cutting Horse rider. He rides his cutting horse barefoot...the horse, not him. It's an interesting view into a sport I've really admired watching at the Royal Easter Show but have to admit I don't know much about.

How to introduce your horse to water jumps. Nice little video from an expert. Eventer Boyd Martin shows you how to give your horse the best start for conquering cross-country water questions, both mentally and physically.Never done it myself, always got the horse to wade through so it's probably time I learned although I don't think I'll be taking up eventing anytime soon.

This video clip is the famous Indian Horse Movie Slide. The comment from the video poster is, "FYI, I've done some research and no horses were harmed in the filming of that clip. At least no horses were harmed physically. I'm pretty sure the horse's ego took a bruising. He was probably emotionally scarred for quite some time. Casting agents haven't taken him seriously since". I'm not surprised either.

Serious stuff this - thrush on the back of a horse. Nasty eh? What would you do?

From Equisearch and by Sandra Cooke, Trail-Riding Essentials The right gear and gadgets make your trail ride safe and fun. There's nothing like having what you need when you need it to help you feel competent and in control. When you and your horse are ready to leave home and go out on the trail, you can prepare for the changing environment and its challenges with additional clothing and equipment that's simple and affordable. Yep, couldn't agree more.

Finally, a great article on hoof abcesses from Equisearch. EquiSearch's Ask the Vet: Help for a Hoof Abscess How long should it take a hoof abscess to heal? Dr. Joyce Harman offers advice to a Standardbred gelding's owner in EquiSearch.com's Ask the Vet.

Have a great week!

All Your Magic Moments Entries Here Now

Well, we've finished the compilation of all the recent comp entries and you can download Magic Moments here and now. Hope you enjoy reading them as much as we did putting them all together.

We'll have a new competition soon and so if you've an idea of what type of comp you'd like, then let us know - and thanks to those who have already let us have their ideas.

There are times in your horse's life when his legs experience more than the normal amount of stress. Maybe you worked him a bit harder than you usually do. You could be competing at a multi-day show. Perhaps you moved from a cool, dry climate to a hotter, more humid one. You may want to have a way--with or without liniment--to provide his legs with warmth and promote circulation. Or maybe you just feel that he needs a little protection against stall injury.

Whatever the problem, the solution is a standing wrap--a dry bandage that can provide warmth and support to the tendons and ligaments, cushion against dings and bumps and help to prevent "stocking up"--the accumulation of fluid due to inactivity, often following work. From Equisearch with thanks.

Thousands of people looking for a horse of a different color are in Tulsa for the Pinto World Championship Horse Show. The 12-day competition at Expo Square will showcase horses, ponies and miniatures as they jump, rein, drive and trot their way to winning blue ribbons. Here's some nice video. Some of the outfits, both horse and rider are sensational.

Do you have a puzzling or frustrating problem in your partnership with your horse? Team Horse & Rider's 12 leading trainers and clinicians are standing by to offer
you advice, wisdom, and their professional perspective. Worth a look here - it's complimentary.

If you want a chuckle - and don't we all need that - then here's a YouTube video by Indian Creek Stables with music courtesy of ColdPlay. I laughed my head off and it really made my day. Hope it does the same for you.

Finally, you've got to hand it to this jockey. he was going to place second no matter what happened...and happen it certainly did.

That's more than enough for you from me this week. Oh, by the way, the H10 ointment offer is still on.

Have a great week

Geoff

Watch This Fabulous Musical Ride From The Police

Gee it's cold. I have to say sorry that we haven't judged the comp for last month yet. The tame vet phoned me on our appointed day last week to say that he'd had a call out to a very expensive horse and that he couldn't make it. We rearranged for tomorrow and he phoned later to say that the horse was ok. It got spooked and ran into some barbed wire fence which didn't do it a whole lot of good. Superficial cuts and bruises only which is a relief on any horse let alone a million dollar champ as this horse was. So, results tomorrow...promise.

VINCENT O’BRIEN, widely regarded as the finest racehorse trainer of the last century, died at his home in Co Kildare on June 2nd. He was 92. During a 51-year career in which he transformed many aspects of thoroughbred racing, O’Brien won 27 Irish Classic races as well as a further 16 in Britain. They included six victories in the Epsom Derby with horses such as Nijinsky (1970), Roberto (1972) and Golden Fleece in 1982. He also won France’s most famous race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, on three occasions including back-to-back successes with Alleged in 1977 and 1978. Must admit that I backed his horses in some of the 'big' races and was seldom disappointed.

These events seldom go in singles. The Stradbroke Handicap meeting at Eagle Farm last Saturday was shrouded in sadness following the death early last week of Queensland's most successful horse trainer, Bruce McLachlan. McLachlan, 67, trained more than 3000 winners in a 40-year career and while he had cut down his workload in recent seasons, his feature winners still flowed.

This amazing piece of horsemanship comes from the UKs Metropolitan Mounted Police Squad. You just have to watch this video and be amazed. From the attitude of the horses they really seem to be enjoying themselves. H10 in the UK supplies the Met with grooming products which is why the horses look so good.

A free 'donkey care' workshop has been arranged by The Donkey Sanctuary at Shuttleworth College in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, UK on Saturday 18th July from 10am to 4pm for donkey owners. It's a bit far to travel but for donkey lovers it's a must. The 'Why Does My Donkey' Summer Tour is designed to help unravel some of myths that surround donkey behaviour. You should read more on this historic event.

There's a new Dressage web site just available. Here is their message: "We are a professional organization committed to bringing you educational tools that exceed your expectations through deliberate learning content. We put our heart into our work and our love of the horse and the sport of dressage drives us to take pride in every video we bring to you. Every rider, trainer and judge featured on this website was purposeful in their participation in this educational effort, knowing that the most dedicated of riders will now have access to something more to further their learning and ultimately grow the dressage community worldwide". If you are into dressage at any stage then you should have a good look at lots of free stuff here but remember that to get the best you'll have to join.

Show Notes for Equestrian Photography -- An Interview with Laura Cotterman and Christina Handley. If you've ever wondered how to take those really good photos that will separate your photos from the 'just ordinary' then you should have a look at this article. It's good. There's a newsletter too.

Horse racing trainer rides zebra to Dorset pub. A former jump jockey and horse racing trainer, Bill Turner, rides a zebra called Zebedee to his local pub in Sherborne, Dorset. Bill Turner, 61, bought Zebedee from a game reserve in Holland for £4,500 and learned to ride the animal in just two weeks. Zebras are much less co-operative and more difficult to ride than horses, owing to their unpredictable nature and tendency to panic under stress. Amazing.

In this video, about half way down thwe page, Julie Goodnight teaches a rider how to use a type of emergency stop with her 17.1 thoroughbred who is all go and no whoa. This is the emergency stopping rein, or pulley rein. Here’s how it works:

In the June 2009 EQUUS magazine feature "Stacking Hay for a Short Haul," hay supplier Daniel Houlihan describes how to safely secure 53 bales of hay into the bed of a pickup truck. What. The following pictures show in greater detail the knots and tying technique he used to strap down that load.

Comp results tomorrow and all the entries will be avaiable as a download for you all shortly. 'Good for a laugh' bedtime reading.
Don't forget H10 ointment 2 for 1 is still on and you shouldn't miss it.

Have a great week...and keep warm.

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

New TV Series - Humans As Horses? Good Viewing.

I think that at last we're now open to the outside world after the recent floods. We had to stay indoors for days and there's nothing that aggravates the wife more than that. This morning she's gone like a rabbit out of a trap. I wonder why? I thought she'd got used to me after 38 years.


My Life As a Horse - sounds strange but a UK TV company is making people into animals.
A young London lad lived with horses – as a pony - for four days and nights eating, sleeping and living as the ponies did while Vanessa Bee taught him to behave as a pony using body language to remain safe and ultimately to rise to the head of the herd. Vanessa was a bit doubtful that a completely non-horsey (actually non – animal ) person would do this but on the last afternoon he led the herd up the field as a true leader...there wasn’t a dry eye in the house!! Rebecca said "It was such a fantastic positive experience for us all I do hope that feeling comes over on the show. Both presenters, Terry Nutkins and Rebecca Wilcox, were lovely to work with and the crew were committed and hardworking remaining true to the ethos of our property and our relationship with the ponies – that is to show mutual respect and to keep the whole experience positive for both ponies and people." Very interesting to watch believe me.

Vanessa has a dvd available from us using Kel Jeffrey's unique method of training horses. I think we've even got a clip available here:

Louise Bell is a Champion Hack show rider in the UK. In this video which is a succession of out-takes you see the real woman behind the 'mask' everyone else sees in the arena. Believe me this woman is a scream.......it's on Horse Hero, a great site but you'll need to register (at no cost of course) to see this and lots of other great videos. Then just scroll down the front page and choose 'Editors Choice'. Well worth it believe me. Just to set the record straight, I have no tie up with this site. I just think it's great.

Now how often do you see a horse bossing around a human. In my experience all too often. A TV company decided to film what happens when a real horse trainer gets to work on such a horse. “No horse whisperin’, no nothin’,” said the horse trainer, leaning against the store’s tall wooden counter. “It’s just common sense, and we learn how to communicate.” Interesting.

'I have a fourteen year old gelding that I purchased a few months back. He is very well behaved but I have a problem, when we go out riding he listens well but on the way back home he takes over and starts galloping and I can't stop him; I have no control what so ever. Can you please give me some advice on what I could do to fix this problem? Well I can't but Rick Lamb can and it's worth reading in case this happens to you.

If you follow Parelli training methods then I think you'll find this article very interesting.

Aus seems to be getting it's fair share of rain...be prepared for rain scald, cuts and abrasions and ringworm etc with your horse. H10 ointment has a great track record (read what others say) and we've an offer not to be missed.

Last chance for the H10 competition - it closes on Sunday

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.

Fake Doctors..And Now Fake Vets Too?

We've had lots of local shows recently including Wauchope and I always go there specifically just to see the different breeds of chooks on show. Wonderful care and attention but some very strange looking breeds. Next project from 'er indoors is a chicken run, some brown birds and some free range eggs. All this despite the fact that we already get our free range eggs from a fellow dragon boat paddler who owns an egg farm. Um.

Y'know, I had the greatest difficulty in my time an actually pricing a horse. How much is it worth and how much does that figure depend on how much you want it. You only have to look at the prices at famous yearling sales to consider the dilemma. OK, so that sort of price won't ever affect you or me, but when it comes to your average hack...well what then?
Here's a great 4 part series that considers almost everything in buying a new horse, together with the questions you must ask. After all it is your money that's changing hands. From citizen horse

Here's an unfortunate event that happened at a recent horse show, happily not here in Australia. A horse has been injured after being attacked by a dog during a show-jumping event in Londonderry, N Ireland. The horse was being led by a young girl at an event in the council-owned Ballyarnett Park on Sunday. The horse was bitten on its neck and hind quarters when it was attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier. Nasty. From the BBC.

Australia’s Lucinda Fredericks wins the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event on Headley Brittania, following her husband Clayton’s 2007 victory. Wonderful achievement and you must read and see more of this famous victory. Courtesy of Equisearch

This month, Equisearch and Horse and Rider have come up with a swag of interesting horse stuff so I'm making no apologies for pointing you there.

The Best Reward is a Built-in One
According to Leslie Desmond, you should train your horse so the entire process is well-understood and pleasing. If you do then that becomes his ongoing reward. Read more.

Managing a Hearing-Impaired Horse. With a few minor adjustments in your training and horsekeeping techniques, you can make sure your deaf horse can get along just fine. Do you know I'd never thought of this but I know lots of us keep older horses and love them dearly. Anyhow, my kids are always complaining I'm going deaf so perhaps this might help me too.

We have had a man posing as a doctor in Queensland and the US now have a man posing as a veterinarian making house calls and operating on a horse, according to Lincoln County Animal Services. "He had no background. He said he had some cows on his farm," said Lincoln County Animal Services Director. Same crime, same punishment I think, don't you?

We have a couple of book titles left including 'Teaching Safe Horsemanship'. That alone is worth a look.
Have a great week.

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

Royal Easter Show Horse Event Pictures

I missed the Sydney Royal Easter Show this year which was a pity but economics are economics and unfortunately this year they won and I lost. Better luck next year perhaps. However, my good friend Jackie Long had a good show with 'Heza Star' (Heza Bruce/J Star Classic), winning both the ASH Hack NE 15hh Ridden in a Snaffle and Ridden in a Curb Bit. Heza Star went on to be declared Reserve ASH Hack. Well done Jackie.

Here's a new blog....'I'm just a girl. Who's been taken out of Texas to live on a ranch. A ranch on a Reservation. In the middle of South Dakota.' It's worth a look and this week she's been looking at equine dentistry. I went to the dentist this week and I'm considerably poorer than before. Wish I had a licence to print money too.

If you haven't been to Barnmice then you've missed a real treat. I've kept this as a bit of a secret for a while but it's now time to share this excellent site. Horselovers from 151 countries, videos, blogs etc. I joined a while back and it's a good move to join this growing breed of social sites for horselovers.

One question riders commonly ask is "How can I make my horse go straight?" To tell the truth, this was one of the first questions students ask in Matt Gable's Advanced Rider Program. Here's the answer.

How Do You Train A Horse To Buck On Command? I’m not looking at teaching the horse to throw the rider. The horse is very good natured and very willing to learn. If you fall off this horse, she will turn around and nudge you back on your feet and stand perfectly still as you get on, saddle or bareback. Look, not my words but from a blog that received plenty of feedback as you might think. Want to read the replies?

By the way, Julie Wilson has lots of photos from every day of the Royal Easter Show on the Horse Deals site here.

For those of us mad keen to keep in touch with the stars of this world....Madonna's Saturday equestrian accident in the Hamptons was a real bummer, says her physical trainer. "She fell on her bum," Tracy Anderson told PEOPLE. The accident occurred when the horse Madonna was riding was startled by paparazzi who jumped out of the bushes to photograph the singer. Typical eh?

Joel Means is a natural hoofcare barefoot trimmer, a trainer of horses and an instructor to people located in the Austin, TX area. Joel is an advanced student of Parelli Natural Horsemanship who has been following the program for 12 years, and has been helping others with their horses for 8 years. Here's a video of him with horse Chico that's worth looking at.

Hey, we've had one entry only for the April competition. How do you think that makes our tame vet feel? Unwanted. Come along now, we could do with some more entries please. Don't tell us you've never had a funny or amusing incident with your horse? Share it with 1000 others.

Have a great week.

New Social Sites For Horse Lovers

Great Easter. Great family get together. Daughter came up from Sydney and slept for the whole three days. I wonder how she does it sometimes.....I got a big egg though......

Ease Mounting Pressures on Your Horse
The way you mount up from ground to saddle at the start of a ride has important implications for your horse's body and mind. By Karen Smith courtesy Equisearch

Here's a new horse blog I found. It's called 'The Long Horse Ride Blog' - From Beijing to London on horseback between the Olympics and details the travels of Megan Lewis from the UK as she treks from there to London in time for the 2012 Olympics. Takes the trail ride to a whole new level eh?

Introducing Horsevine.com - a social networking site by and for the Horse enthusiast! Their words, not mine but it looks like a Facebook for horse lovers. Their advertising slogan, "I heard it through the Horsevine'. Um.
Then there's Horse-Networks, another 'social site' for horse lovers where you can connect with 8000 horselovers and view over 13000 horse photos. Social networking has come a long way in the past few years.

Funny Horse Pictures - You Don’t See That Everyday. Can’t say I agree with all (any) of them, but you have to admit, they make you do a double take. Courtesy of Paige.

10 Fun Arena Exercises. If you've fallen into a riding rut, try our 10 basic arena exercises. By the Editors of Horse & Rider magazine
In the October '08 issue of Horse & Rider they offered 10 arena exercises you can use in your regular training sessions, as a warm up before your classes at a show, or to get the "fresh" out before a trail ride. Here, you can print out the diagrams (along with detailed information about each) and laminate them to make a handy barn-proof cheat sheet.

The worst horse-human combination possible is a green or young or unbroken horse and a beginner/novice rider. he idea that the untrained horse and the new rider will 'grow together' is one of the most believed, but most dangerously wrong ideas that floats around in the horse world. Here's a video that shows what can happen. Courtesy of Phil Tregear.

Hairdressers are used to grooming wayward locks - but Australian artist Julian Wolkenstein set a new standard when he used horses as models. The 36-year-old teamed up with hair stylist Acacio da Silva to turn the beasts of burden into supermodels of the equine world. Um...interesting.

The City of Boston's mounted patrol - the oldest police horse unit in the United States - is to be dismantled because of budget cuts. The unit, which comprises 12 horses and 10 officers, will be closed this northern summer, bringing to an end a service which dates back to the 1800s. About a dozen staff who help tend the horses will be laid off and the 10 mounted officers redeployed to foot duties. Very sad.

I have one copy only each of Storeys Guide To Raising Horses and Teaching Safe Horsemanship . Certainly worth a look since we pass on our savings to you.

Have a great week!
Geoff

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.