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.

Do Horses Swim Well?!

Where has the sunshine gone?
Our forecast for today after 150 mls of rain yesterday - Showers or rain areas with some moderate to heavy falls, isolated thunderstorms in the north. Fresh east to southeast winds, strong on the coast. Damaging surf conditions. I'd love to share our water.
Some north coast areas have had 750 mls over the past 36 hours...can you believe it?

"You can take the horse out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the horse." Domesticating and stabling horses has radically changed their natural environment and can lead to some serious health issues. Respiratory difficulties are reported to be the leading health problem in domesticated horses. At the first hint of any pulmonary issue, start by immediately consulting your holistic veterinarian for recommendations. From Amy Snow and Nancy Zidonis

Andy Curry is a horse trainer I regard highly. Here's a TV interview of him explaining how much he owes to the methods of training used over 100 years ago when your horse was your livelihood. .
You can have a look at his site and sign up for his newsletter here and watch the second part of the interview here.

In the March 2009 issue of Horse & Rider, trainer John Lyons shares his step-by-step methodology for training a horse to load and unload from a trailer (see "Trauma-Free Trailer Loading" in that issue). But what should you do--and not do--when you encounter a particular problem with your horse as you're working on his trailer-loading training? Here are more of John's expert tips for dealing with five common trailer-loading problems.
To see the 'complete' guide to trailering, then view a short clip of John Pinnell's Australian video here

"She sent pictures of him at a dressage comp and we have spent a number of hours phoning and emailing to ensure that I knew everything about him before buying him. Bad weather and snow prevented me from going to try him out so, foolishly, I bought him without trying." This is how Not to buy a horse...Phil Tragear continues this fascinating story.

If you like horses and musicals then you should not miss this - a very professional short video.

Never heard of Kerry Kuhn? I hadn't either until I came across of column in a US outback newspaper and decided to do a bit of research. Here are some of his methods on short clips. I liked what I saw...hope you do too.

After my plea for entries for the H10 competition last week...we had lots. So thank you everyone who entered. The tame vet and I will be sitting down this week to judge the best entries. More news and the winners very soon. New comp on now though....

An Orlando man is disputing allegations that he hit and shoved two police horses early Saturday. Yep, it's the good old USA and if you hit a police horse then look out for the consequences. Quite right too.

I have always loved heavy horses and Shires too. There's something in their size and their gentleness and here's a great video that captures all that. Courtesy of Northcote Heavy Horse Centre in the UK (sorry about the few Shetlands at the end)

We have a society in Aus too if you're interested.

Have a great week and keep dry!!!

Stealing Horse Tails - Am I Serious?

Interesting week - sudden infestation of Indian mynah birds prompted action from the local bird catcher. He rounded up the lot in one afternoon. Awesome skill and modesty combined...just for a few beers too. Now is a friend for life.

A Dexter woman says she's furious that someone cut off the tails of three of her horses and wants to warn other horse owners about the problem. This crops up from time to time and here's a short video from 7 news (in the US) about the latest occurence. Weird....why would you want to steal a tail? Are economic times really that bad?

Grooming a horse has a dramatic effect...new research. Stormie Schoolcraft is a seventh-grader at Alta Vista Middle School, the only student from AVMS to be invited to the state science fair. Her interest in rodeo led to a project that got her horse involved. My project was to see what kind of effect grooming a horse had on its heart rate," she said. "Grooming the horse (after exercising) makes the heart rate slow down dramatically. "When I just left her alone and let her relax, it slowed down but not as much," she said Courtesy of Carslbad Current Argus. Now that's something really worth knowing.

Here's a whole load of horse videos posted free on line by Horse.com. There's every subject you could think of including a very comprehensive horse training section. You really ought to have a look.

We've had a few entries for our competition but not nearly enough. There are great prizes so why not have a go. The 'tame vet' who helps me judge the winners is really fed up. I think he's going through a 40 plus crisis but some more entries would aid his ego and give him an excuse to eat more muffins at my expense. You can help him.

Protect your horse’s health with these five tips to reduce trailering stress. They missed out one important one though...exmining hooves for small stones before trailering.

This video clip has nothing to do with horses but I laughed until I cried. What an idiot....

A good friend sent me this link to a short video showing a very young foal trying to find out if his Mum has any food for him and where the dickens is it? Lovely clip...

This is skijoring, where horse racing and skiing collide to form one of the most dangerous sports this side of bull riding. For 60 years, skiers have been testing their abilities against powerful horses and jumps the size of small houses. Daft I call it.

Understanding Horse Personalities, Part 1: The 4 Basic Personality Types. Knowing more about your horse’s personality type can help you ride and train better. By Yvonne Barteau and courtesy of Equisearch.

We have two copies of 'The Riders Fitness Programme' in stock. If you want to keep slim and trim with your horse this season then it's worth a look. The book features more than 85 exercises designed to help new riders get over the aches and pains of getting started and experienced riders hone their skills and technique and prevent injuries.


Have a great week.
Geoff

Horses Playing Football?!

You won't believe this.
There are some nice, short videos of talented horses playing with footballs of various sizes. We could almost put a team together. From Horse Training Success blog.

We've planted a big crop of veggies in the patch this season to carry us through the winter since vegetables are getting so expensive. I've found a great way to control the birds and caterpillars together...the water pistol filled with pyrethrum mixture. Works a treat.

Some great articles for you this week. Informative and useful..these courtesy of Equisearch. We all know horses can act stupid on occasion, both amusing and confusing their caretakers. But which, if any, of these equine actions are considered normal? One way for horse owners to find out is to study the 11 primary categories of equine behavior as outlined in My Horse University's online Horse Behavior and Welfare Course, based out of Michigan State University.


Click 'n Learn: Flying Lead Change with Clinton Anderson
Control of your horse's hind end is key to overall control of his forward motion. Use the Click 'n Learn stop-action sequence to see Clinton Anderson's flying lead change as it happens.

EquiSearch's Ask the Vet: Horse Allergies. Horses with allergies need help regulating their immune systems. Dr. Joyce Harman explains what to do in EquiSearch.com's Ask the Vet.
Question: My 9-year-old Quarter Horse gelding has many allergies (food/environment). He is allergic to molasses, corn, oats and timothy/orchard mix hay......

A zorse is what happened in a German safari park when a zebra named Ulysses got hot to trot for a horse named Eclipse. To the park keepers’ surprise Eclyse the zorse was born and she is rare. Weird or what....

I didn't know that there was a Miss Rodeo pageant every year... when I viewed these pics I thought it's almost worth the trip.

No, she’s not sinking is she? — or is she just short? Mayflower, a small Shetland pony has become a minor celebrity in her hometown of Southhampton, Hants in the UK. Four times passers by have called emergency rescue services because they thought the pony was sinking into the mud by a river...is she or isn't she? Courtesy of Elizabeth Goldsmith and Equine Ink.

If you've a horse in a boggy field then there's always a chance of him getting ringworm, mud fever or some other nasty fungal infection. Why take the chance? We've a great offer on H10 ointment and spray and you can read what others think too.

Have a great week

Close Shave From The Cyclone

Our local surfies have been queing up along the beach car parks waiting for the waves from Cyclone Hamish. They seem to be the only people disappointed that the storm is dwindling, thank goodness.
There's been so much rain that I'm fed up with lawn mowing. I've an idea to dig it up and plant fruit trees but that's met with some opposition....

Here's an useful equine expense sheet so that you can calculate all your costs involved in keeping your horse(s). Courtesy of Equisearch. Thanks.

Bad hay is more than unappetizing for your horse. Moldy, dusty or spoiled roughage can trigger respiratory allergies or colic in horses. Buying your hay from a reputable supplier reduces your chances of getting an unacceptable lot, but an occasional bad bale can slip into any shipment. Here's how to test it:

I make no apology for this video...and I hope you laugh yourself silly. I did. It's got all the basic mistakes courtesy of French & Saunders. What skilled riders.

Here's a new blog I found from Katherine Blocksdorf. It's different in that she covers a multitude of topics with some great links to other sites. Worth a look.

The economic impact of the horse industry?. This short letter looks at the impact of the current fiscal crisis in the US on the horse industry. Why print it? Well, I hope things don't get to this stage here in Aus but it's salutary if emotional piece.

The Dubai International Horse Fair (DIHF) 2009 will be held from 19 – 21 March at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hall 5 & 6. This development is in line with the huge growth of the Equestrian Market in the Middle East. New equestrian projects are being developed, driven by the rapid 5% annual growth in population and further propelled by the region's heritage as a culture of horse-lovers. What a show too...if you haven't had a preview you can, here and you can read the 2008 show report too.

Do you watch ER on the TV? Well, here's the equine equivalent together with all the drama and illustrations too.

Some people spend a lot of time and money bathing and conditioning the manes on their horses. Does that really help? Here's a short sound bite from expert Rick Lamb on the importance of looking after
your horses mane and tail.

I've put a big list of all types of horse books you can view here on the H10 site. They're at our usual discounts so it's well worth a look.

Have a great week!

A Horse With 3 Legs On The Ground All The Time!?

We've got lemons coming out of our ears...the trees in the garden have a bumper crop so I'm thinking of selling it to the local Woolies since they're charging $6 a kilo.
I've changed the format of the newsletter back so that you can access everything from this email although it's still available on the blog and H10 web site

Create a Dancing Partnership with Your Horse
Ride your horse's hindquarters to create impulsion, suspension and balance, without confining his movement and rhythm.

Question: I have a 2-year-old gelding whose disposition turned sour recently. My son was feeding him grain in an over-the-fence feeder and all of a sudden the horse tried to pin him up beside the fence with his rear. Then he ran toward him and tried to stomp him with his front hooves. What's going on??
Here's the answer, courtesy of Equisearch.

Fence Maintenance - Better Safe than Sorry - Common Sense Fence Maintenance by Lori Roets from her website at www.loriroets.com.

The Fjord horse has its own unique conformation, which is a blend of draft horse muscling and bone, with smaller size and greater agility. It has a strong, arched neck, good feet, and a compact, muscular body. Lovely photo here of a really individual horse breed.

We've a little gizmo that teaches you how to measure a horse properly. That's important in a selling situation because you don't want to be arguing over height or size...just the price. It's a liitle download from H10, scanned for virus of course.

We all know that a correct fitting saddle is vital...but how do you go about deciding what's a correct fit. This video might help you. Nice saddles too. From Deanna Castro's blog with thanks

The Peruvian Paso horse has three unique gaits and three feet on the ground at all times, resulting in an unusual but very smooth ride. Great video courtesy of National Geographic with apologies about the short ad.

Most horse owners know how tough it can be just loading an animal onto a trailer. Tim Scarberry's horses will climb up on the roof. All he has to do is ask. Worth a read believe me.

We're still offering a 2 for 1 deal on H10 ointment. Click here to see what others think about it and why it's do darned good.

Have a great week.

How To Measure Your Horse Properly

Here's a little programme that you can download free from the H10 web site and it will show you how to measure your horses properly.

I read of so many problems and complaints with incorrect horse measurement particularly in the 'For Sale' side of things.

The file will download to your hard disk and then you can open it as usual. It has been checked to be virus free of course

The Terrible Equine Toll From Victoria's Fires

Well, the fig birds won the battle and the tree is now devoid of fruit. Any ideas for next year? The local lake flooded and so had to be opened...but of course the exposed mudbanks smell awfull at low tide..urgh.
We've been looking at the toll of equine damage from the Victorian fires and it's not pretty. We've got an article for you on that.

A 550 million year old source of minerals and trace elements for your horse or pony. Mined from the vast and ancient Himalayan mountains, transported down steep passes on the backs of Yaks, and providing the mountain people with one of their main sources of income, these Himalayan salt licks must be the purest form of salt available. They cost a bomb...are they really worth it?

One Hour to Rodent Control
Consider these measures to protect your horses and property from the ravages of rats and mice.Barns and stables provide horses with shelter and sustenance--but they provide the same service to rodents who happily nest in any number of tiny spaces in barns or tack rooms, and consume spilled grain, cat or dog food and other feed sources they find.

The best estimate of the equine toll from Victoria's bushfires is in the region of several hundred. About 50 horses are reported to be receiving intensive veterinary care as a result of injuries. There's more news here

Chris Cox’ entire life has been influenced by his relationship with the horse. He moved with his ranching family from Florida when he wasn’t yet two-years-old, to an island off the coast of northeast Australia to raise cattle. Here's a blog radio talk from him.

Deanna Castro has written about 'Legs, Feel, and The Correct Stirrup Length' in her blog this week and it's worth a look to get things right.

There is a degree of horsemanship in almost every country on the planet and I thought it might be fun for horse lovers to see what the word horse looks like in other languages.

Here's a fascinating point of view from an American on the the value of the wild or wilderness, and their decreasing use of, interest in, and value placed on the wild places…um. Interesting to see other people's perspective and compare it with our own.

Courses for old horses. Ex-racehorses should be eased into a career change or good care - I can equate with that!

We're still offering a 2 for 1 deal on H10 ointment. Click here to see what others think about it and why it's do darned good.

Have a great week!

Paddling on the Mid North Coast!

We've had over 300mls of rain here on the Mid North Coast in the past two days. I have a family of miscellaneous birds sheltering under the back deck - all of them soaked and looking very sorry for themselves but what a mess they leave!! Costs me a fortune in birdseed too.

We have a NEW competition - tell us the most amusing or entertaining story about you and a horse...any horse. Mine might as well be the time I had a 'certain' tip from a horse trainer friend of mine for the Melbourne Cup. The nag is still running! You can think of better than that I'm sure so let us know here. Great prizes for the best entry every month and of course, the 'tame vet' has been roped in to help judge the entries.

Equine charity Project Hope Horse Welfare Victoria (PHHWV) has launched a lost and found registry for horses misplaced during the recent bushfires in the Australian state of Victoria. The registry can be accessed via the PHHWV Web site

Communicating Effectively With Your Horse? Deanna Castro asks that everyone listen to their horses this week, and deepen the communication with your equine parters. Have a look and see if you agree.

Teaching a young horse how to longe is a useful tool to have in your training toolbox. At different stages in his career, you can longe him to increase his fitness and to help him understand new training techniques. But as you train him, you need to be sure he doesn't begin to pull. In this article, I'll share some basic lessons that will keep him light while longeing. Courtesy of Equisearch.

You Know You're a Horseperson if You...
Horse people see the world differently than everyone else, and you know you're a horse person if you do these things.

Here's a nice, short video with a good song attached of two horses running and playing in the snow - courtesy of J Ross on You Tube.

Sue De Laurentis and Allen Pogue live at Red Horse Ranch in Dripping Springs, TX. Their web site is www.imagineahorse.com and here's a video of what they do.
You can make up your own mind....beans bags and all!

Plenty of good horse books still at 20% discount on the web site.


Have a great week!