Are These Horses Real? You Choose - Then Be Surprised!

I'm stuffed after a local dragon boat regatta at the weekend. Woke up Monday with aches all over...that despite the fish oil, glucosamine, chondroitin etc, etc. Y'know, age can be a terrible thing!

We are looking towards another book order in a month or two so we'll let you know when the list is ready for you. Those of you who haven't been involved before should have a good look because we're able to get 40 percent off all titles and we share that with you 50:50.

Are these real horses or not?......you choose...then you might well be very surprised.

"The Waterhole Rituals can be thought of as a courtship to win a horse’s trust, affection, loyalty and respect rather than a horse training method. Your communication skills with horses using my Method are meant to evolve organically from the relationship you build with your horse. I will guide you though each step as your relationship matures to a dancing partnership in harmony and unity. Leadership in the moment a horse feels a connection in companionship inspires a horse to follow your lead like music inspires the dancer to dance." This is the first chapter of a new horse book that describes itself as above...NOT as training you understand. I know, I know, I'm a bit of a cynic about these things and frankly I don't believe that I want to 'quick step' with my horse. For a start, his feet are much too big. But, like most things I'm open to change.....

"Are you an equestrian enthusiast? Perhaps you're thinking of buying a horse? If that's the case, we've created this guide to help you groom your four-legged friend." Courtesy of eHow editor, Christy Buena. Pretty comprehensive too and if you click the links you'll have about a days reading as well.

There's a whole lot of extra and interesting content this month on the Horse Channel. Worth a browse I think.

llustrated Guide: Body Condition Score System. Don Henneke's nine-point body condition score scale takes the guesswork out of evaluating equine body fat levels. Courtesy of Equus magazine.

A brief look at what goes into getting the horses ready for a Wells Fargo film shoot.   Nice clip.

Remember that video of an unbound horse running alongside bicycles in the Tour de France, featured in Amelie? A runaway Barnum & Bailey zebra paid homage to that yesterday, but on a downtown Atlanta highway. The nimble quadruped escaped from its enclosure and galloped to freedom down a major commuter thoroughfare. A fleet of police closed in on motorcycles, apprehended the runaway, loaded him on a truck, and returned him to a life of tap dancing for pennies with clowns. Shame.

We are thinking of another competition for 2010 so if you've any ideas then please let us know. Rewards of course for good ideas.

Meanwhile - have a great week
Geoff

Hilarious Horses..Have a Laugh On Us

Here in Australia, we have a bird called a Spangled Drongo....no kidding. The male is big, black and spectacularly noisy...his mates are even louder. More to the point, a male and not one, but two females have taken up residence in the garden. 'Er indoors has given away the shotgun and tells me that we'll just have to live with nature. I'm off to the toyshop today for a high powered water pistol.

Here's a great montage of funny horse pics---I laughed my socks off. Sorry about the chintzy music though.

If you're into barrel racing, then here are a few tips guaranteed to ensure that both you and your horse perform better. Courtesy of Laura Thompson, horseback riding instructor, Houston, Texas.

A 30-year-old horse was rescued from a sinkhole at least 15 feet deep Monday night. Crews worked more than six hours to free the horse, an Appaloosa named Chief. Owners said Chief is one of six family horses they keep on a farm. By 8:45, nearly six hours after the first 911 call was made, Chief was pulled to safety. Crews quickly rushed to cover him with blankets and warm his body. This is the third in my series of horses getting stuck in difficult places.

The Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum was a popular tourist attraction in Victorville for more than 35 years, starting in 1967. But in 2003, five years after Rogers died in 1998 and two years after Evans died in 2001, their surviving family members moved the museum to Branson, Mo. Now, for those of you (probably most of you) who don't know about these 2, they were the first 'TV horse show stars' and they made plenty of Saturday morning movies we all crammed in to see. Roy's horse, Trigger was arguably the most famous horse in the world during his lifetime. Pity it all had to close. The stuffed and mounted body of Trigger, the golden palomino horse that co-starred with Rogers in many of his films, may alone be worth $1 million or more, auction appraisers say.

Very, very sad news here.....the daughter of champion horse racing trainer Derek Shawhas died after falling from a tractor at her family's training yard in Leicestershire, UK. His 15-month-old daughter Ellie Mae Shaw fell at the family's stables in Sproxton, near Melton Mowbray, on Monday. She was flown to hospital by air ambulance but died a short time later. Full story here

Do You Make These Horse Training Mistakes Loading Your Horse ? If you do then read this article and then hurry to our web site where you can see just how it should be done from horse training legend John Pinnell. This dvd had worked for hundreds of people who've had difficulty in the past.

Ever notice differences in how animals move their bodies? Your dog comes running up, his entire rear end swinging back and forth almost as fast as his wagging tail. Then he drops his hips and scuttles up against your legs before rolling belly-up to wriggle at your feet. Your horse’s body, in contrast, seems as solid as a rock as you brush him, and he doesn’t flinch as you place the saddle securely behind his withers and swing onto his back. You feel only a gentle undulation as he moves off. Want to know more? You should......

Dressage mare Blue Hors Matine, whose dressage freestyle at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen became an Internet video sensation, was euthanized after breaking a leg in a paddock accident, Horse and Hound reports. The 13-year-old Dutch mare was ridden by Andreas Helgstrand. She was retired from competition following a tendon injury at the Las Vegas World Cup in 2007. Blue Hors Stud Director Esben Moller told Horse and Hound Matine broke her right forelimb at the knee while out in her pasture. For those of you who have never seen this fabulous freestyle routine...here it is.

For all you 'showies'......How to Plait a Horse's Tail - Kate Baldwin is Laura Bechtolsheimer's head girl. Using a 'Bectholsheimer baby' Kate demonstrates the art of plaiting a tail.

New dvds on using the double lunge and long reining techniques available next week.

Have a great week.

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

Watch Two Jockeys Trading Punches...During The Race!

Australia Day coming up and the annual neighbourhood barbie. Nice time of year, good to see all the flags out and a good chance to get to know people better...I should know since we've had new neighbours for 2 months and I haven't even seen them yet! When I've been around there's no-one there so perhaps I'll get the chance over a beer next Tuesday.

"Check out this video of two jockey's throwing some punches at each other as they try to gain the edge on the track.  It's dangerous, and probably highly illegal, but this is just the type of thing to draw a crowd and open the doors to a whole new base of fans." Oh Really? Why not give them sabres and just call them cavalry? Anyways, it's an amusing video.

Determine whether your horse’s tack fits well or makes him fit to be tied. By Sharon Biggs. One of the most important things you can do for your horse is to make sure his tack fits properly. Poor fitting tack is comparable to you wearing poorly fitted shoes: too tight and you’ve got squished toes and painful feet; too loose and blisters abound. A horse suffers the same fate when a small saddle pinches his withers or a big saddle rolls around on his back.

A chain-reaction, nine-horse spill during a race in Japan has left one jockey injured. Japanese rider Hiroyuki Uchida broke his left arm after the leading horse veered in at a sharp angle. He and eight other jockeys were thrown from their horses, one after another. The spill occurred in the fourth race Monday at Nakayama Racecourse outside Tokyo. Uchida was aboard Lilac Punch in the 16-horse race. Nasty, and just shows that riding can be dangerous.

How many times can a girl fall her horse in less than 5 minutes? I'm guessing 5 but who knows? How many can you count?

www.HorseTraining.org presents Rumba the Wonder Horse performing tricks. Tricks include: Tamborine, Bike Horn, Coights, Croquet, Soccer, Fetch, Rear, Lie Down, Bow etc. It's clicker training I guess and I've never been a great fan but whatever...quite interesting and amusing to watch.

If you're into horses as a business then this site might be useful for you.

I've just watched (on your behalf of course) a 10 minute video on You Tube showing a large inflatable horse....being inflated. It's ridiculous and doesn't look remotely like a horse. What's the big deal? Why do people post such stupid videos? I've no idea and I'm not going to bother you with it either. Yawn........BUT, if you really want a laugh about inflatables, watch this video of the late lamented Kenny Everett 'taking off ' Rod Stewart....absolutely hilarious!

What's Your Horse Saying With His Body Language? Lynn Palm explains what this horse is "saying" with the language of his entire body, including the position and movement of his neck, muscles and skin. By Alana Harrison and courtesy of Horse and Rider.

Your horse prone to small accidents, cuts, abrasions and bruises? Have a look here at our 2 for 1 offer and read what others think about H10 ointment.

Have a great Australia Day.

Summers Here - Make Sure You Check All Your Equipment

Welcome to summer?...hah.

I pruned my nectarine tree with loving care this year to be rewarded with a bumper crop...and every fruit has been 'stung' and ruined by fruit fly despite all my 'green and natural' efforts to control them. Right...no more Mr Nice Guy next year. I got some advice from a fruit farmer and he gave me just the stuff I need. What with that, stink bugs on the citrus and the coming of the fig bird shortly (and have I got a surprise for him) it could be an interesting summer.
'Er indoors commented that I should have known better after last year....she's right as usual.

Beginning Horse Riding : Collection Horse Training Backing Up. Expert: Kathy Kentala. Kathy has been a horse enthusiast since she was six years old. Kathy owns the Bee Cave Riding Center in Texas and specializes in training youth groups. I've posted a video from this lady before and I rate her. You only have to read the comments on the video though to realise that there are many 'experts' out there that 'could do it better'. Yeh...right.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined a horse-bedding manufacturer more than $40,000 for violations the federal agency found. So if you're thinking about going into horse bedding as a business you'd better read this...not pretty.

If you love horses, but hate the cold then steer away fron the Chinese Army. At an outpost in Mongolia, the People’s Liberation Army maintains a cavalry squadron with around 150 horses, pictured. During the winter, six keepers mind the beasts until the weather warms up. It’s hard work. “Most of the soldiers suffer from arthritis, because of the cold and humid weather in [the] prairie,” Global Times reported. Soldier Liu Yuankuan “also said that horses are timid animals that are easily frightened by red plastic bags.” Red plastic bags??????

Soccer stars put faith in placenta juice 'cure'....? The supposed healing powers of the placenta have long been extolled but never proven, writes Eoin Kennedy. Arsenal soccer starr Robin Van Persie last week flew to Serbia to have juice from a horse’s placenta massaged into an ankle injury. What me..... sceptical? Well, the article is from the Irish Times but it isn't dated April 1st.

Watch the Video - A Movie Trailer About the Plight of Horses in The US Economy. Quote from article, "As most of our readers have horses living better lives than most humans, it is important to recognize the work of those who are helping our suffering equines". Equine Destiny is a documentary exposing the mounting issues facing this country's equines." Interesting.

Now remember...you have only 2 weeks to enter the H10 horse pics competition. It will close Dec 16th and the winner will be announced before Xmas with all the pics being posted for you to see after the festive season.
Here's the link for more info.

Susan Boyle seems to be all the rage these days. Her latest CD has rocketed to the No 1 position in about a day. Here's a video of the track 'Wild Horses'. Nice voice.....

A few minutes spent checking the soundness of your trailer goes a long way toward protecting the safety of every horse who rides in it.
Periodic checks of your trailer’s or float's condition are a good idea, particularly at those times of year when you do the most hauling. Such inspections can not only turn up minor problems before they require major, expensive repairs, but they can also keep you from taking to the road with potentially unsafe problems.


Got all your Christmas presents yet?

Fed Up Already Of Xmas - Read This

'Er indoors is just finishing the Xmas table decs and finalising the pressies. She buys her Xmas cards in the January sales and they've all been sent. I haven't even started yet, I'm a man though.
The Xmas puds and the mince pies are all safely in the freezer and the menus are all decided. If your partner is this organised then it's bliss....most of the time, isn't it? Mind you.......what on earth am I going to get her for Xmas?

Y'know, you can use Photoshop for more or less anything.....

Horse training and drink driving don't mix. Read this since it's a warning to us all particularly at this time of year.

Why train your horse to respect your personal space? For two reasons. First, safety. Your horse weighs about 10 times what you do. When he's standing back with both eyes on you, he can't knock you down, step on you, or try to bite. If he approaches only at your invitation, you're always in control and therefore much safer. Clinton Anderson shows how this is done. Courtesy of Equisearch.

Horses are the opposite of dogs,gratitude-wise. You give a dog something totally wretched to eat, such as a toad part or a wad of pre-chewed Dentyne, and the dog will henceforth view you as the Supreme Being. Whereas if you spend hours grooming a horse and lugging its food and water around, the horse will be thinking, “Should I chomp on this person’s arm? What makes a man think like this? Read on

A high school band spooked a horse pulling a carriage at the annual Legacy Village tree lighting ceremony, and it took off. "We saw the horse. It was like the night of the apocalypse. This horse just, this big white horse took off," said a witness. The horse collided with at least two care before breaking away from the carriage and taking off at a full gallop. Video to the right...sorry about the ad beforehand.

Clip two from Jay O’Jay’s colt starting video entitled Journey to Connection from his series of horse training DVD Videos.
The journey begins with Jay outside the round pen and with an unbroken 3-year-old filly inside. Jay explains how the round pen is the ideal venue to communicate, show leadership and form a connection with your horse. Nice training video in a series worth looking at.

You may not know this site - you can make your own photo montages and videos and then really smarten them up to look really professional. It doesn't cost and here's an example of just one from a horse loving cowboy....actually, girl. Nice music too.

Horse-Based Home Businesses. Do you want to turn your passions into profits? Get inspiration, tips and advice from people just like you who have turned their ideas into horse-based home businesses. This is very dear to my heart since I run one and I work on the committee of a home based business network here in the Hastings. Good read this:

Watch The Video - FEI Young Rider World Cup Bound Kassie Barteau and Raymeister GP Perform at Arabian Nights Dinner Theater in Orlando. Now I don't rate the announcer or the music....lousy choice that would scare most horses stupid, but the action is great to watch. Great horse and rider. Video is half way down the page.


Photo Comp...last days! Get in quick here 

Have a great week

Amazing Horse Race - You Won't Believe This.

Washed out again with all the rain over the last week....we've now got so many frogs in the garden that I'm thinking of opening a restaurant.....'The Frogs Leg Feast' or similar.
Went out shopping with 'er indoors on Saturday and she bought another 500 Xmas lights. I reckon the place will look like a Christmas tree this year so I said I'd buy a timer just to make sure that we could save some electricity....then all the lights could go on at 8pm....and then turn off at 8.10 pm. Plenty of time for everyone to get a eyeful eh? Didn't go down too well that.......

This is The Breeders Cup - a huge horse race in the USA. Zenyatta was last by a long way at the start...then look what happens. I've seen some amazing races in my time but I think this one is one of the very best. Might even look out as to where she's running next and put a few dollars down.

What is believed to be the first prosecution over an obese horse in the UK took place this week, in Blackpool. A married couple from Cleveleys in Lancashire were yesterday banned for keeping horses for five years by Blackpool Magistrates Court.
Have a look at the pic...he is a little fatty but I must admit it's the opposite of the usual 'cruelty' reports we read.

Now excuse my ignorance, but I'd never before heard of 'Horseball' until today. It's a flourishing sport in Europe but I haven't ever seen it mentioned here. Looks a bit like a combination of touch rugby and basketball on horseback. Could be interesting and they already have national teams too. They even have a pic of the 'Horseball Full Monty'...yes, well. Interesting is the best term I could use for this.

Look at this AMAZING video of this man riding his horse through a trail/obstacle course bridleless...What an awesome leader he is for this horse and what a terrific horse!!! Courtesy of Jennifer and her blog...The Prairie House Primitives.

A police horse named Mr. Biggs is at the center of a lawsuit filed against the NY city last week. Allegedly the member of the NYPD's Mounted Unit took a bite out of a New Jersey woman Dineen Rudd last summer, and now that woman is suing. The city has not yet commented on the suit, but Rudd insists that they should have been aware of the horse's "propensity to attack and bite human beings." No word yet on how much she's seeking in the "horse suit." Ask the question...would you like to patrol NY on a horse?
Here's a great video of police officers from the Mounted Unit explaining their day, their training, and their horses.

The horse had been pulling a cart filled with tourists at the pyramids outside the Egyptian capital, when it slipped and fell down a slope on Friday afternoon. It fell flat on its side on the road, and bystanders had to step in to help it to its feet. Once back on its feet, the Egyptian owner repeatedly struck it hard over the head with a stick. The a white knight stepped in..read more. Who'd want to be a horse in Egypt?

Enjoy Your Horse on a Budget. Tightened your belt, but still hungry for fun? Check out these appealing, affordable horsey activities that won't hurt your budget. Some great ideas. Courtesy of Equisearch.

It was a Saturday after the races when Casie Coleman was heating an alcohol-based liniment to warm her horse’s feet. She didn’t think it was melting well enough so she poured alcohol on it. “It just exploded,” said the 29-year-old horse trainer. All she remembers seeing is a little blue flame. Read the remainder of this inspiring story.

Still time to enter our great horse pics comp...root out your favourite pic and send it in here.

Have a great week.

Colt With Severe Deformity Saved From Death

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great week!

New Competition Now On

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great week

Would You Buy This Service?!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great week!

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

What a week. Dust storms, wild winds...the Saturday of our dragon boat regatta in Coffs was 'blown off' and today we get news of a huge earthquake and tsunami in the Pacific. Couple that with a visit from the 'tame vet' this morning whingeing that he no longer loves the 4 wheel drive he got 6 months ago and wants a BMW. He then asks what do I think he should do about it. A few well chosen words were the result.....anyway, I'm happy with my motor scooter.

Country Pleasure Driving Class Gone Wrong! A complete set of unfortunate events together with a complete set of idiots and a great booming voice from the announcer equals an unmitigated disaster. I've never seen anything quite like it.

There are some hard lessons to be learnt from this post, 'Unplanned Dismount' courtesy of Patricia Reszetylo on her recent blog post. She's always got interesting info and if you're into dressage too then she's a must.

Enjoy a good horse race? If you do (even if you don’t), an IPhone developer Natenai Ariyatrakool has brought his ‘Virtual Horse Racing 3D’ to the App Store… and it’s not half bad. Playing the game is simple and placing bets is easy as can be. I don't have an IPhone but it's a great video.

In the July 2009 issue of Horse & Rider magazine, Team Horse & Rider’s Carol Metcalf gives a six-point strategy to keep her show nerves under control. As Carol points out in the July article, even pros get nervous before showing--here, she offers some essential advice for first-timers, and some general show-better tips for experienced and amateur competitors. Great stuff with the show season coming up.

When your horse goes to five shows in a row and doesn’t win anything, it is time to accept that nothing unfair has taken place, you’re just not competitive. Might be because of your horse’s quality, might be because of lack of training, might be because the two of you just aren’t clicking as a team yet. But it’s not politics.) Have a look at this and see where you think things are wrong.

Forever you and me - a lovely video of one girl's journy through life with her horses. Some gone to the great stable in the sky, some still here...all of them much loved. Well worth watching...don't forget the tissues.

Horses as you've never seen them before - fascinating, creative and thought provoking video. Narrated by photographer Tim Flach showing photos from his book Equus which will be published on October 1.

Just to end up...some pics and music of funny horses. How people find the time to do all this I'll never know but enjoy it all the same.

Have a great week.

You'll Never See Another Horse Like This....Ever

I had to go to Sydney for the weekend and while I was there I met up with a couple of long standing friends who were en route for the UK with a free night's hotel stay in the city. Very posh place and, like a idiot I said I'd buy a round in the cocktail bar. Never again....they decided after that we'd go out to a pub where they could buy their rounds.If you were in doubt that we were in for an early summer, they've just started spraying locusts in NSW western regions and we'ne now got dust storms.. Ouch.

Ever heard of Dave Allen, the Irish comedian? He loved horses and made this epic video clip. Believe me, you'll love it and it's about a horse you will never see the likes of again.

The Importance of Being a Thinking Rider - Olympic gold medalist Melanie Smith Taylor encourages riders to think independently, learn from others and continually educate themselves. Good article that made even me think. Courtesy of Equisearch

An accident involving a taxi and one of New York's horse-drawn carriages has added more fuel to a campaign to have them banned. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) has long argued for a ban, saying it is not good for the horses and dangerous, given the volume of traffic. I've always thought that the two could peacefully co-exist providing there is awareness and understanding on both sides..as for PETA, well don't ask.

Perhaps one of the most important elements of any stable or barn is a horse first aid kit. Because as we all know, around horses accidents happen.
This handy video will tell you what you need and how to maintain your kit. Courtesy of Equestrian Life but tell me this, what idiot would make a video like this with her sunglasses on.

One of the major misconceptions foreigners often have with regards to the Japanese is that they only eat fish and nothing else. While it is very true that the Japanese love to eat fish, they crave for other animals as well. Yep, you guessed it and it's here if you want to read more.

Just in time for Christmas (well, it's not far away). Amazing Facts About Horses, The Oldest Horse, the Biggest Horse, and Other Horse-related Trivia. Astound your guests with this 'all horse' quiz. Courtesy of Carol Rzadkiewicz and Suite 101.

If you are a trail rider and you haven't joined TrailTown USA as a founder member (at no cost) then you'd better be quick before the doors open on the site on Sep 30th. It looks as if it will be a great site. After that, well......... and by the way I have no commercial relations with them at all.

This clip was from Australias Funniest Video Show. Poor girl....she'll be running for the shower and you can guess the rest.

And finally...if you mistreat a horse then you are likely to have this happen. Serves this idiot right and I hope it hurt.

Have a great week!

Cops Chase Illegal Street Racing....But Equine Culprits!!!

The 'Tame Vet' dropped in this morning hoping for coffee and cake. No chance. Doesn't he know I have work to do? Anyway, he wanted to know when the next H10 competition was going to start and that's got me thinking about just what we might do this time. I guess he has his uses. More news soon.

The cops are cutting down on illegal street racing and about time too..get a load of this. I think these guys should be gelded.

Being around horses means there is a long list of terminology to remember. The basics list is a mile long, then it’s time to get into the specifics of each discipline.This video goes over the differences between horse trainers and horse behaviorists. Um, things have changed since my day when you had to be a bit of both.

The population of Virginia City, NV, a small town of about 800 people, swells once a year as tourists from all over flock in to race...camels! Just like a horse, the riders put a saddle in between the hump and take them for a spin. But just when you've thought you've heard and seen it all...here come the ostriches. Yes, they race those too and surely, since we breed racing camels in Aus, we should be represented here?

If you ever volunteer to ride a horse in a parade or at a sporting event, don't whatever you do, follow this guy's example.

In the July '09 issue of Horse & Rider, Clinton Anderson and his student Renee Humphries demonstrate how to desensitize your horse to your ground-training tools. That segment is the first in a series of basic groundwork exercises designed to increase your horse's respectfulness and make him a pleasure to handle. Here, Clinton gives a refresher course on exactly why groundwork is so effective, plus offers key tips for getting the most out of every groundwork session. Courtesy of Equisearch.

New shoeing techniques are here. Take a really close look at this "shoe". What looks at first glance like a Natural Balance shoe is actually a urethane hoof application created on the foot by injecting Vettec Adhere material into a mold. There's a video too - what do you think?

Prescott USA is well-known for its proud cowboy heritage. After all, it's home to the World's Oldest Rodeo and is the former stomping ground of Doc Holliday and Big Nose Kate. Today, a new style of riding is capturing the imagination of this Western town. Read more here.

Horse racing can be a dangerous game and these two ladies were very lucky to walk away from this crash with only minor injuries. Ouch.

You'll know the present controversy about jockeys and the use of whips on race horses. Here's an article with a few different aspects and opinions. I'm not sure if it's 'broke' or not or whether it needs 'fixing'. Both views are represented.

Summer coming - your tack box should not be without a tub of H10 ointment. The 2 for 1 we are offering is a great start and you can read what others think of it.

Have a great week!!

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!