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Ranked 4th in the World - Horse Training.

 

10th July, 2008

Handed this young one over to the Boss this morning and this was taken after 75% of the first lap of the arena. Put the Mouth on and the rest is easy. Cold and windy as Hell too but he was a real good Boy. He can go home on the weekend.

Had a Riding Pony arrive for Mouthing and general ground work as it is a bit of a Madam and thinks she is Paris Hilton. Legs like her too hahahaha but thankfully the head is better

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Seen this weeks Woolworths Market rap? Caulies from NT, Brussels sprouts from Tasmania? They are so devious it makes the mind boggle. For sure, the dopes will be sucked in but they are only trying to brainwash us that they don't sell stuff from China hahahaha. Typical deceitful speak of these days.

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Hendra Confirmed At Queensland Clinic


Biosecurity Queensland received laboratory results this evening (Tuesday, July 8) which confirmed three horses from a veterinary practice on the outskirts of Brisbane have tested positive for Hendra Virus.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said expert epidemiologists from Biosecurity Queensland were working with the practice to determine how and when the infection occurred.
“Late today, Biosecurity Queensland received laboratory results confirming that three horses have tested positive for Hendra Virus,” Mr Mulherin said.
“We are taking the situation seriously with biosecurity inspectors moving quickly to quarantine the practice and establish thorough disinfection procedures to ensure the area is fully contained.
“We don’t yet know how the virus came to be at the vet practice, however epidemiologists are investigating and conducting complex investigations.
“We are also working with local neighbours to ensure they are aware of the situation and the quarantine,” Mr Mulherin said.
Biosecurity Queensland Chief Veterinary Officer Ron Glanville said the case was unusual, as the horse’s symptoms had not been consistent with signs seen in previous Hendra cases.
“Hendra is a serious but rare virus which occasionally affects horses. As a zoonotic disease, it can also spread from horses to humans, but that is also rare,” Dr Glanville said.
“Of those diagnosed with the virus, one horse has died, one is recovering, and one was euthanized early this evening.
“Biosecurity Queensland will tomorrow sample 37 other horses which are located at the practice. However the first priority is containment and disinfection,” he said.
Dr Glanville said the vet practice was quarantined last night as a precautionary measure after some horses displayed unusual symptoms.
While it is extremely difficult to contract the disease, staff from Queensland Health are contacting people involved with the sick horses to advise on personal health and hygiene issues associated with the disease.

A 1994 outbreak, in Hendra, Qld, after which the virus is named, killed trainer Vic Rail and 14 of his horses.

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California — A tire blowout is blamed for starting a fast-moving fire that killed six horses being towed in a trailer.

Investigators say the fire also ignited 13 small grass fires along Highway 152 and Interstate 5 on Sunday. The Ford F-450 truck pulling the horse trailer was not damaged.

The driver told investigators he was unaware of the blowout until other drivers alerted him that his tire was smoking.

By the time firefighters arrived, the trailer was fully engulfed in flames. The blaze was contained within minutes, but the horses were found dead.

The driver had been on his way from a horse show in Southern California to his home in Oregon.

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Judge To Decide Future Of Jumps Racing

A Victorian judge has been approached to decide the future of jumps racing in the state.

Acting Racing Victoria Limited chief executive Bernard Saundry has confirmed a judge had been approached and an appointment would be announced in the next two days along with the terms of reference of the review.

Saundry said the board decided it was appropriate for one person to be in charge of the review after a panel had been previously reviewed jumps racing.

"The board took the view that it didn't want the same panel reviewing its own recommendations," Saundry said.

He said that jumps racing would get a fair hearing and all players involved in the industry would be consulted.

"An eminent person will conduct the review and he will consult widely with stakeholders, shareholders, and previous jumping review panel groups," Saundry said.

The Australian Jumping Racing Association last week submitted a nine-point safety plan for jumps racing to RVL which will be considered in the review.

Thoroughbred Racing SA has also asked for input in the review.

Jumps racing has been under pressure as a result of various race incidents in recent months and there was heightened concern after the death of two horses in the Grand National Hurdle at Flemington on June 28.

Victorian racing minister Rob Hulls ordered a planned review of jumps racing be brought forward for completion by next month after the carnage in the Grand National Hurdle in which only four of the 13 runners finished.

Some of the AJRA recommendations in its a safety plan have already been adopted.

RVL agreed to paint bigger take-offs for the jumps and no horses fell in either the Steeplechase at Sandown last Wednesday or Saturday's Brian Smith Hurdle at Flemington.

Two horses escaped injury when they fell in Saturday's Grand National Steeplechase.

The RSPCA has called for jumps racing to be banned until a complete review of jumps racing is completed.

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Hoy's Dream Of Seventh Heaven Becomes Hell

Equestrian legend Andrew Hoy's dream of competing in a seventh Olympics is in tatters after he failed to make the team for the Beijing Games.

The triple gold medallist's experience was not enough to make up for a recent form slump, with selectors overlooking Hoy and Sydney gold medallist Stuart Tinney in favour of a new brigade of eventing talent.

It has been a horror year for Hoy, who is facing an animal cruelty charge.

Hoy and Dutch student Madeleine Brugman faced a disciplinary tribunal in Lausanne, Switzerland, in May over allegations Brugman used spiked boots on her horse in an event in Portugal.

The International Equestrian Federation is yet to release its decision on the charges, but it is expected within days. There is no suggestion the selectors were influenced by the allegations hanging over Hoy.

Last month, Hoy blew his last chance to impress selectors with four rails and three time penalties during the showjumping round at Luhmuhlen Horse Trials in Germany, riding his Irish thoroughbred, Moonfleet.

Debut Olympians will fill all five places — Shane Rose, Megan Jones and Sonja Johnson plus husband and wife duo Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks, who live in England. Rose has been trying to make an Olympic team for 12 years. He has had more than his fair share of misfortune despite riding a gelding named All Luck: having to beat thyroid cancer and having a face reconstruction.

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Two Owners, Opposite Sides Of The World, Killed By Horses They Loved

On one day, two horse owners on opposite sides of the planet, have by killed when kicked by their horses.

Danielle Garner, of Laidley, Qld, just days away from her 21st birthday, died instantly on Saturday 28 June, when her favourite thoroughbred horse kicked her in the chest. She had been trying to settle him down prior to float loading.

Danielle was a veterinary nurse “whose whole life revolved around horses,” her mother told the Sunday Mail. "She always said she was going to the Olympics one day."

Across the world Michigan resident Bob Hunt died after one of his long time Belgium Draft horses kicked him in the head while he was grooming it in preparation for a show.

Relatives described the incident as a freak accident and said that Hunt had owned and worked with the heavy horses all his life often competing his teams in horse pulling contests.

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First Official Horse Surfing Competition To Be Held In UK


Stunt riders who provided a spectacular finale to last year’s Skegness Kite and Xfest are looking to wow audiences once again with the UK’s first ever Horsesurfing Competition.

Over 2,000 people waited for the kitesurfing to finish until almost teatime on the Sunday of the June weekend in 2007, when most of the country was flooding, to see the Independent Horse team achieve its ambition of performing at an extreme sports event.

Next month they plan to return to the free event on July 11 to 13 with a competition which will ensure that spectators who travel from all over the county to see world class kitesurfers in the British Kite Surfing Association Pro Tour are kept busy with or without wind.

“It was always our ambition to perform at an extreme sports event,” said Daniel Prime of Independent Horse. “Last year we achieved it – but we are always looking to break new boundaries.

“This year we hope the horsesurfing competition will be the start of a new tour. It has only ever been done in the South of France so we are looking to develop a new European tour, with one of the UK venues being in Skegness.”

Xfest co-ordinator Chrissie Redford is delighted to welcome Independent Horse back to the event.

“People travel from all over the country and when the wind conditions are wrong for the kitesurfers it is a huge disappointment for everyone. It is always good to have something to keep the kitesurfers and spectators entertained whatever the weather. I think a lot of people came last year just to see the horses.”

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LETTER OF THE DAY

Hello

Right now I face a dilemma that I wouldn’t wish upon any horse owner – should I put him down now or later?

My 14 year old pony has been diagnosed with cushings disease by my vet (did the two bloodtests looking for cortisol levels and it was abnormal) – I couldn’t understand why he kept having bouts of mild laminitis – even though I have been so careful only letting him graze when grass is not lush and he’s been on founder-guard every day for the last 6 months – and he’s not fat. He has also had a fairly long dull summer coat the last couple of years…

He will require expensive treatment for the rest of his life and it will possibly prolong his life but he is going to die of this or I have to put him down eventually because he will start suffering. At the moment laminitis is under control, he canters and pigroots when let out into the paddock for his afternoon graze – grazing is now limited to a couple of hours a day now that I know for sure he is sick. Vet says treatment (pergolide) is about $1,000 a year for this including blood test to see if the treatment is working.

Just don’t know if I can stand looking at him thinking he has a death sentence over his head – though that’s egoistic thinking! Pony doesn’t care! He just wants to be fed and be in the paddock with his mate (The runaway cob) and doesn’t want to be locked up all the time.

Any readers of this site who has any experience managing a horse with cushings? Please let me know your thoughts. My vet does not know much about this, he said I probably know more having researched the internet – his first comment when he saw the pony was “he looks to healthy to have cushings”.

I am obviously also wondering how much damage is done due to the laminitis, I have had a really good farrier the last 6 months and have seen a huge improvement in the pony’s gait due to his work. I suppose I could add the information about whether his pedal bone has rotated (X-rays) to the reasoning… My own farrier says he doesn’t think the pedal bone has rotated looking at the hoofs and legs. What do you think John? Can a horse have a rotated pedal bone and canter fast around a corner and pigroot? I haven’t ridden this pony for 6 months as another farrier did a bad job on him 6 months ago rolling him over on his front toes, putting too big nails in – making the pony look like he had club hooves… He’s only started to come good the last two months starting to trot and canter and pigroot around the paddock – his reaction to a bad farrier job has probably also been worsened if he’s been laminitic at the time though this was summer and he didn’t get anything but a bit of hay every day.

The Dane

This is a very good question Dane and one we were discussing just this week. In our experience, rarely do you meet people who will really put the complete welfare of the Horse first. I mean bite biting the bullet and having the Horse put down before "suffering". Most people have an each way bet and mostly, Horses end up suffering in varying degrees before the decision is forced upon the Owner. There is a Horse that had a Tumor cut out of him last year. He now has selling up the neck and traveling around the ears now. The Owner commented that the Horse is Happy and will probably be found dead in the paddock one day. Whilst that is definitely true, you can't convince me that when such swelling is occurring, that there is not some degree of pain or discomfort. Head aches, whatever. Most Owners will wait until there are real and obvious signs before they will bite the bullet, because they are protecting their own emotions first and that is not responsible Horse Ownership in the true sense of the word imho. So at what point does one do the deed? Well my only point is that one should act THE MOMENT they see signs of suffering or if their Veterinary Officer puts the view that the Horse would be feeling ill affects. Not when the Horse is standing in a corner lifting alternate hooves to relieve the pain. It is therefore not possible for me to advise you but the HOrse does sound Ok at this time and of course I want to give them every chance too. Being born and bred in the BUsh, I have to admit to a more circumspect view of these things than the City Folk. Thoughts like, the Horse Industry is in dire need of a cull right now due to the chronic over stocking because of feral Breeders and that there is not enough Food to go around in this Country any more, not to mention the Economy, go through our heads. So, take every possible step to provide comfort but destroy the moment the slightest sign of discomfort. My sympathies.

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LETTERS OF THE DAY

Thanks for the links, I took her to the field last night she was very calm turned her at the gate, walked her around stopped, stood, she did everything, put my hand up to the head collar and she was fine, released it and she just walked off. I think she has had a scare at the gate and one of the staff have tried to restrain her to get the head collar off, I do believe that and she has lost confidence or associates loosening the headcollar with restraining, that's my take on it. So since I have returned from vacation I have been dealing with her myself, no one else at all, so I think that has worked, it's awful when something or someone spoils a really good hearted horse.

It just shows how easy it can happen, she is a bit sensitive anyway, but you are right it's about listening to them and dealing with it in a manner that suits your horse and NOT all of the so called experts who profess to know it all.

thanks again



Best Regards
Marlyn

Well done Marlyn.

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Hi Hp,
Our horses have not been ridden for about 8 months now (due to moving and other things). We have settled into our new property now and have just joined pony club. I was just wondering the best way to get the horses back in shape and keeping them them that way. What type of exercise should we be doing with them, for how long and do they need to be ridden everyday? The horses range from 13.3h to 15.1h
Thanks for all your help
Karen

How far is that piece of string Karen? Roughly, say half hour 4-5 days per week should keep them around the mark for PC, considering that many don't get worked at all. That could be lunging as well though but if they are dead unfit, start 7 minutes and gradually build up. Regards

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Hi HP
I have a little mare that has been broken in about six months now. She is going well just trail riding at present. She has her moments (which you have helped me with ) but is mostly pretty good. She was starving in a paddock when I got her so has a susupect background which at times she tries to tell me about. It's one behaviour in particular that I would appreciate your thoughts on. If she sees things out of the corner of her eye for example a foot taken out of the stirrup and moved around she seems to get a genuine fright. She is more sensitive on the right side than left. Her breaker noticed this sensitivity also. The other day i passed something to a frieind on the ground whilst sitting on her and i showed it to her on the way through and she jumped violently and snorted and seemed pretty scared. It seems to be most bad when things come at her from someone sitting on her. She does calm down after she has a good look at it so I do think its genuine and not naughty. I am pretty familiar with her naughty :). she can be spooky on rides but not any more than any green horse can be. I have had her eyes tested. What can I do to help her with this ? Im unsure how to help her whilst also being as safe as possible whilst trying to help her while in the saddle. Thanks for your time HP, your advice ia always greatly appreciated. Regards Michelle.

Having ruled out the eyes Michelle, I would think just doing more bomb proofing work from on top of her would help. I would stock whip train that Horse as a matter of course and of course, then everything else pails into insignificance. You could imagine all of the other type things you could do, including even waving your arms around etc, like a Rider learning an independent seat. On all of my Breakers, I trim trees as I go down the road. 100's of times per Horse. It does wonders for them. Remember, things above their eye will always provide for more spook than on the ground. Regards

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Hey you! I have been reading your site everyday with interest with what you have to say about listening to your horse. So I now feel I have to let you know of my experience with Bazel since his injury. With advise from the Vet , Bazel had to be stabled for weeks on end until they decided it was o.k. for him to go out into a small paddock. In the meantime, I noticed after one week, Bazel was becoming quite 'strange' in the eyes. His behavour was at this point still at his best. After 4weeks...My eldest couldn't go near him, he would try to kick her, he hates all humans, dogs anything. He would look at me with 'Nothing' in his eyes, he didn't have that life in there, at times I got angry with him because I felt he was telling me to let him die. He would stand in the corner of the stable and see us coming and just stand there. IT was just awful.
3 weeks ago I put his lead rope on, pat him on the face and lead him to the back -back paddock to be with his mates. Yesterday was the first time I saw the old Bazel back. He came CANTERING down for a pat, eyes full of life and interest in ME. In the meantime, I received a call from the vet to say I had lost my right to Continued care on his wound due to going against their advise. I am still glad I did ....I saved him.

p.s. His wound looks great!

cheers
chelle

We have had a similar instance here this week Chelle. We shifted a new Horse to his own paddock and yard. Near other horses similarly housed but not over the fence. He churned up his yard, stopped eating properly and lost the bright eyes with the friendly look. Anti Social. He tried to con me all week but I ignored his protestations and also didn't relax the feeding rules of boot camp as he is a smart alec in that area. This afternoon, he eyes changed too and it was head over the fence wanting a pat. Well done and glad Bazel is good. x

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Hi there John

Firstly got your package, thanks very much...

Secondly finally got around to halter breaking my 10mth old Waler colt, that i asked you for advise on a few weeks ago, tried your method- the dummies lassoing, well didn't work as well as i'd hoped and not having another experienced handler with me didn't help either so i dumbed it down even further and resorted to food bucket and throwing rope over head when head was in bucket - worked very well only took 2 tries and had the rope around neck exactly where I wanted, of course little fella took off screaming that he had a snake stuck to his head but calmed down eventually. The initial leading went down so well that either he is so sensitive that he gave straight away or they did actually get round to halter training before they sent him up, as there was no resistance at all even had him coming up to me with the Parelli combing of the rope method. And the putting on and adjusting of the halter was a none event. He stops moving now as soon as the rope is on the ground and if he stands on it wont budge until you move him off it.

My problem now and still is that he wont let you come near if you don't have food with you and you can't touch him if he is outside the round yard, he has learnt to evade very effectivley and is a smart boy - knows when that rope is on and when that rope is off. I have tried the join up tecnique (several different kinds mind you) and only succeed with getting him to face up and come a couple of steps forward but not come all the way up to me (not new at that either have used it on several different horses with great success) If you increase the pressure on him he gets very snorty and unsettled and you have a hell of a time catching him - any suggestions?? His mother is exactly the same you have to be very persistant until she give in and lets you catch her. Was thinking of tying a short rope that wont get in the way of grazing to his halter as you can hang onto him when he pulls back so he eventually learns he can't evade - good or bad idea??

Oh and i just wanted to sing the praises of my OTTB who hasn't been ridden really in the last 3mths due to work commitments but got in the saddle on my last couple of days off and he was an absolute angel, had him working round and relaxed and wasn't even falling in on the circle - had a couple of neighs to his mates when we were out of eyesight but no silly business - who would have thought that learning to ask them to lower their heads would be such a control mechanism, as soon as he gets a little worried and the head goes up i just ask for it down again and calmness returns - he's a horse that benifits from having a break between learning new things he goes ahead in leaps and bound every time i give him a break, it like he turns it over in his mind and goes oh is tha all she wanted me to do!!

Anyway sorry about the length I did try to keep it short, i know your time is limited, but thank you as always and i hope that you and Linda consider coming up to the Territory for one of you visits i would love to have a lesson on my OTTB with Linda and you to have a play with my young fella.

Thanks as always

Cheers
Nicky

Hi Nicky. Those Horses from that Country often have a touch of the wild horse syndrome as I call it and they are suspicious Bugga's indeed. Made worse by the Mother of course and I would be having him right away from her and in with a quiet one. Yes, the old webbing Halter is a good trick with those and a lump of telecom rope hanging off it but I would be keeping him in a smaller paddock if possible, right near the House and use the old bribery and corruption and drag a long rope off him while you are at home and go out a few times a day and reel him in for a scratch and a hand full of something nice. No big fuss made. The bottom line though is that the sooner you get after him the better and he should be tying up soon, hobble trained, rug on for a while and whatever else you can dream up. Regards

 

 

9th July, 2008

One of my current young Horses commenced his third week today and admirably carried his responsibility of Leader of today's ride. I often talk about where we ride our Horses but finally some pics. I got a little camera for the pocket :)

Brave young Boy, isn't he? Like my rubber?

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THE WORST CRUELTY

Here is something to shock you but to then gladden your Heart. He put a barbed wire Halter on her when she wouldn't load, then drove off with her tied to the float, then backed the float over her and then got out and shot her through the head.

 

Dear HP ,

It's been a while since i have sent you an email, but i have kept up to date with your site and advice.
My reason for writing to you today, is that a filly we bred (friends paint stallion mated with daughters leopard appaloosa over the fence ) named "Cupid" has now turned 2.
Due to us owning 8 horses and cutting back because of drought and now working to keep up with the cost of horse feed, i offered her to a "friend" as part payment to do some work on my arab filly.
the end result was, my arab came home 2 weeks later with bad weight loss and a raw mouth and head shy to the bridle and halter, the filly "Cupid"
he decided was a "feral mad so and so", whom he said was completely head shy and impossible to halter, and tried several times to "double barrel kick his head in" at feed time, so he "sold her to a friend to break in" which ended up translating into "i sold her at the sales to the slaughter man ... for $275."
Fortunately a friend of mine knows the slaughter man and myself.My daughter and I were shocked and extremely upset to be told she had 2 weeks to live.
So we borrowed a float and traveled most of the day to buy back our filly for $400 from the slaughter man.
She walked straight up to us at the yards and my daughter slipped the rope halter straight on and rugged her with her rope simply hanging down in front of her.It took us 15 minutes in the rain to load her in the float and come home.

This filly let me sit on her and ride her in a webbing halter in the paddock on the FIRST day i decided to back her...no fuss no attitude no fear....
she does have a bit of cheek in her, but i believe it is due to the birth and life of being handled for 2 years and feeling confident and cheeky around humans.
Any way...blah blah blah.....i will never pass a horse to this man for anything ever again.
My issue is, i have decided i would rather give this filly, for free, to a knowledgeable caring responsible future home than sell her and risk neglect,abuse or slaughter.
It is not abut the money, it is about the home and owner.i have three riding horses and they are already paddock ornaments, i do not wish to waste yet another potential best friend to paddock boredom.
if you or any of your readers are interested in an appaloosa x paint few spot filly already backed, stabled, wormed, up to date with tetanus and farrier, then i am looking for her new home.i will attach a photo of the young lady.
she is completely healthy and sound, this is in no way a desire to dump a young horse in this, rather a desire to see her safe and loved and have a future worth living ...idiot free.We love her, but are unable to offer her a decent life, and we can not justify feeding a horse we will do nothing with.
I hope you or a responsible, moral reader can help us.
It must be the right home with another person or you yourself take her, educate her and sell her on to a quality home.
Maybe you would consider taking her on and educating her and giving her to a deserving child or mum who can not afford a nice family horse ????????
she will mature to 15-15.1 hh and be very solid. not reg but i think she can be as her sire is.not sure on that one.
cheers, Linda.

The poor Girl Linda. We shall see if anything comes of your letter. I note that Horse prices are dropping fast and give aways are becoming prolific and I don't have to tell you why. Best of Luck for her

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Horse sales slow to a trot
The rising cost of equine ownership from high feed, fuel and hay prices is causing a bumpy ride for those who sell the animals


The Texas horse industry:
• Produces goods and services valued at $3 billion

• Includes 979,000 horses

• Involves the participation of 455,600 people as horse owners, service providers and volunteers

• Directly employs 32,200 people full time

Mounting fuel, feed and hay prices are driving up the costs of horse ownership and making it harder to sell colts, yearlings, wild stallions and other horses.
That, combined with last year's ban on slaughtering horses, is causing prices to tumble and making horse trading less profitable.
Like houses, horses are becoming harder to sell.
"I've seen it rough before, but I don't ever think I've ever seen it this bad," said Mark Riley, who has worked as an auctioneer for three decades. "To most people, horses are a hobby or a plaything or a toy. When the economy gets tough, the plaything is the first thing to go."
Hay that three years ago sold for $3 a square bale can now cost up to $7, according to state agriculture officials, and Riley said horses that once sold for $3,000 are now going for $1,000 at auctions.
Horse trading is getting so tough that some auction barns in the state have shuttered and others have reduced the number of sale days.
"Some people bought those horses when times were so great. Feed was cheaper," said Raymond Havard, owner of Havard Sales Management Co. in Lufkin, which reduced its horse sales to two days from three days every two months.
He said he doesn't see any change until fuel prices go down.
Despite the rough patch, horses remain big business in Texas, contributing $5.2 billion to the state's economy and providing jobs for 32,200 people, according to the American Horse Council.
"The one thing that one realizes here is that horses are deeply woven into the social fabric of the Lone Star State," said Pete Gibbs, Texas AgriLife Extension Service horse specialist.
No matter how important they are to Texans, horses — with the exception of those used in competitions and some used for trail rides — are fetching less money.
"I'll never get what I paid for them," said Mary Aguilar, who recently advertised three horses for sale.
Aguilar and her husband forked over about $5,500 for three horses four years ago. After polling ranchers on how much she should ask for her horses, she posted an online advertisement for Charlie, Princess and Skippy for just $3,700.
"I was very upset to let my horse go today," said Aguilar, who did manage to sell 12-year-old Charlie, a brown quarter horse, for close to her $700 asking price within a day after posting the ad.
A busy travel schedule visiting their grandchildren now keeps the Katy residents from spending as much time riding, bathing and brushing their horses.
Although she's not selling for financial reasons, Aguilar and her horse-owning neighbors have noticed escalating hay and alfalfa prices.
Finding hay last fall also posed a challenge, she said. During the summer, horses can graze on green grass.
"It all relates to food. It all relates to the high price of hay," said Steven Long, editor of the trade publication Texas Horse Talk, who said Houston has the largest concentration of horses of any urban area in the nation.
Too much rain last year kept hay from being cut and baled, while this summer, a drought has caused a shortage of hay.
That, coupled with increasing diesel and fertilizer costs, also caused a surge in prices.
With fertilizer and fuel prices so high, some farmers aren't raising hay, said John Elick, who owns Texas Ranch Life, a dude ranch and bed and breakfast operation in Chappell Hill. That shortage will further worsen the horse market, he said.
"It won't be a question of having less production off of them, it will be a question of having no production," said Elick. "I think we're fixing to have a huge wreck. You've got horses that there's no way to get rid of them."
'The market just got so bad'
Soaring gasoline prices also make it more expensive for horse buyers and sellers to haul horse trailers to auctions.
"With having to spend so much in gas, they don't come as regular as they used to," said Don Edwards, owner of Great Western Auctions in Magnolia. Some auction houses have decided to shun horses.
"The market just got so bad," said Billy Schwertner, who owns the Wharton Livestock Auction. His barn stopped selling horses more than a year ago.
Auction barns that still sell horses every weekend are earning less. At the Huffman Auction Barn's cafe, sales of snacks have declined on auction days.
"This is the very first time I have seen the drop in everything," said Irma Alsaro, who manages the Huffman Auction Barn.
Crosby resident Donnie Short has noticed the slowdown in business, too.
"I think people are just scared to spend any money," said Short.
Short said the situation has forced him to cut back on his side business of raising mares.
"I enjoy the aspect of raising the babies and watching them grow up," he said. "But there's just no money in it anymore."

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Horse drowns off Sandy Neck Beach

WEST BARNSTABLE – A horse drowned in the water off of Sandy Neck Beach near trail No. 2 today.

“Three people were riding horses down the beach and they were also swimming with them,” West Barnstable fire chief Joseph Maruca said. “For some reason one of the horses got into trouble and they weren’t able to get it out of the water.”
The woman riding the horse was not injured, Maruca said, adding that he had never seen a horse drown before.
“It’s a unique incident for us to respond to,” Maruca said.
The fire department was called to the beach at 2:18 p.m., he said.
The horse’s owner was a 17-year-old woman from Acushnet, said Barnstable police Sgt. Sean Sweeney. The water, at the time, was not rough, he said.
The horse had a saddle on, which is unusual when people take their horses into the water, Sweeney said.
Horseback riding on Sandy Neck is common, but more so during the off-season, Sandy Neck Beach park manager Nina Coleman said. The rider of the horse that drowned did not violate any rules or regulations, she said.
“It’s very unfortunate and it was such a fluke accident,” Coleman said. “We’re just really happy that nobody was hurt.”
The horse threw its rider and got its leg tangled in the reins, Coleman said. Its head was then held under water by the reins and it took in a lot of water very quickly, she said. “He did eventually break his bridal but then it was too late.”

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Woman thrown by horse thanks alert teenager

'If she wasn't there, who knows what would've happened'
With a chocolate brown and white coat, one blue eye and one brown, Diamond looks like a gentle giant. But something spooked the 1,300-pound horse a few weeks ago.
When her owner, Dawn Hamill, mounted her to calm her down -- Diamond had been throwing her head and bucking around a volunteer and a neighbor -- Diamond got scared and threw Hamill off, then fell on top of her and knocked her unconscious.
Renee Novelli (left), 13, was quick on her feet when a horse reared and fell on Dawn Hamill, who owns the animal shelter.
Hamill's quick-thinking volunteer, Renee Novelli, 13, rushed to her side. Another helper called 911 while Novelli waited for an ambulance.
Now Hamill is calling Novelli, who splits time between Mokena and Tinley Park, a hero.
"If she wasn't there, who knows what would have happened?" said Hamill, 39, who with her husband, Patrick, owns and runs Dazzle's Painted Pastures animal rescue farm, 5555 175th St.
Hamill suffered a concussion and internal swelling, two broken ribs, torn cartilage in her knee and a bruised neck and back. Diamond was scared but not physically hurt, Hamill said.
"I had to think of a million things," Novelli recalled Monday, surrounded by horses, including Diamond, on a sprawling pasture mixed with dirt and hay.
"What if she was dead?"
The horse roams around her three-acre home at a rescue animal shelter in unincorporated Tinley Park, where she lives with more than 50 animals, including llamas, kittens, dwarf horses and a goat.

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Horse falls 15 feet, rider severely injured

A 56-year-old San Rafael woman broke her neck, back and leg today after her horse tumbled at least 15 feet from a narrow trail down a ravine in unincorporated Marin County, according to fire officials.
The woman, whose name was not released, was horseback riding in an unincorporated area of Marin County near Lucas Valley with a friend just before 11 a.m. when her horse got "spooked" or just slipped off the trail, said Marinwood fire Capt. Steve Heine.
"The horse spooked or slipped and both she and the horse fell about 15 to 20 feet down this drainage ravine and the horse rolled over her," he said.
They were at Big Rock Ridge, about two miles up a trail that starts at Rubicon Court, when the incident happened. The woman's friend rode down and called for help.
Rescuers had to hike up and prepare the victim to be hoisted out of the ravine by a California Highway Patrol helicopter, which took until 12:48 p.m. She was taken to Queen of the Valley Medical Center, Heine said.
He said she broke her neck, back and leg but did not appear to be paralyzed. He did not know her condition and a nursing supervisor at the hospital did not have any information about the woman.
Heine said the horse ran away after the accident but was soon caught.
"He just had some cuts," he said.

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Hoy’s hopes in jeopardy after injury to her horse
AACHEN (Germany): Germany's Bettina Hoy is a doubt for next month's Olympic Games after her horse was injured in a qualifying event here, a German team spokesman said on Saturday.

Hoy's horse, Ringwood Cockatoo, suffered only minor damage to its rear left tendons on Friday but was unable to finish the event.

“In its current state we cannot in any way take it along to the Olympic Games,” said German team coach Hans Melzer.

The news comes as a blow to reigning world team champions Germany and for the 1984 Olympic bronze medallist Hoy.

The 45-year-old was looking to the Beijing Games to banish the bad memories of Athens 2004, when a rule infringement denied her an individual and team gold.

Her horse Ringwood Cockatoo also failed a drugs test during the Games.

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LETTERS OF THE DAY

Hi
I wonder if you can help me I have a 10 year old Bavarian Warmblood who was wild un until one year ago, she is now broken and being ridden, she is very well behaved both under saddle and on the ground.
I have her at a livery yard whereby working staff turn them out in the morning. At the end of winter there was a change in her when you turned her out in the morning, she couldn't wait to get the head collar off and to be honest sometimes didn't then bolted off.
This has continued for the past few months, however since I have taken control of the situation I can now get her through the gate turn her lead, lead her all around the field, but as soon as you put your hand up to undo the headcollar that's when I have lost her, her tolerance is getting better, but I just don't understand it at all and why she does it, she doesn't kick out or do anything nasty and is really good in every other way.
Grateful for any help you can provide, thanks
Best Regards
Marlyn
England

Hi Marilyn. It is just caused through excitement but allowed to fester by those before. We see many of these and they can be dangerous as often they will throw a kick in for fun on the way out. This is what I do but will depend upon your timing, strength and mostly if you know how to operate right down a rope which of course most of the Pommy Ladies I have met have not been taught. Put a rope Halter on the Horse and your Webbing Halter over the top. Have the lead rope on the rope Halter. Do what is normal and be holding the lead rope at least 6 feet from the Halter. Undo the webbing Halter and drop it. The Horse will spin and run but just as it goes, with timing, rip it around by almost tearing it's head off with your gloved rope hands ripping back in the opposite direction so that you get the loopy rope to snap happening. In my case and with my timing and reading, I can spin then back around. The look on their face is priceless :)  Repeat a couple of days and problem solved. They begin to anticipate the rip around instead. ....or.....for the physically challenged, take a bucket of feed per give a handful to others present but not your Horse. Therefore, it won't get the desired reaction from the other Horses whereby they all run due it's trigger (the game) but will instead get jealous and want to control the bribery and corruption perhaps. ....or put the lead rope around the neck of the Horse, take the Halter off, make Horse stand, then walk off. We use 3.6m leads here though. Regards

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Hi John,

you look to be busy as usual :)

My horse is generally going well (the previously nervous arabian). Actually, I have been really happy with him. However, I have decided I need to carry a whip. We were riding on the weekend and he decided he was scared of a smashed up branch, stopped on a dime and ran backwards at speed. Not something typical for him. Obviously he ignored leg to go forward, hence me thinking whip was required to reinforce the forward request. I worked him past it for a few minutes and he got over it. I have really been focussing of late to not let him stop when he is looky (learned my lesson on that one when he stopped dead from a fast trot - wouldn't want it to happen at canter). Just leg on and move forward. That has been going great, until the stop on the weekend.

So the next day we went out with the jumping crop. From the moment I got on he was really tense. I got some carry on intitally (pig rooting / kicking / small bucky attempt) but rode him forward and he was fine. I put it down to the day, however, he has never done that sort of thing before. I rode again this morning with whip in tow. Got the same super tense horse as soon as I got on. I did ride him around until he worked softly and then dumped the whip (it is really windy here as well, so I am sure the combination of the two wasn't helping me!).

Obviously my question is how do I get him to accept the whip? It is only a jumping crop at present. I know the answer is probably to just ride him with a whip until he gets over it, however, once he is worked up over something, good work goes out the window and he can turn into a nervous wreck (I believe that is something from his past unfortunately). To get over that, I do what my instructor says and basically ignore him. Focus on the work I want and don't worry about the rest. There is nothing I haven't been able to ride him through and get him calm (I don't get off until he is working properly), however, the whip is not helping either of us at the moment. Do I just ride with it every couple of rides and let him have a few rides where he can work well and try and carry that into our rides with a whip?

The good news is our cantering is really coming along. I stacked a while back, a bad one by my standards, which left me rather nervous about our cantering on the flat. We've been working really hard, my job being solely to let him travel. Nothing else. He's gone from rather quick to finding a really nice rhythm, with little input from me. We are even up to doing canter loops :) so that is great. Did have one incident that was entirely my fault. When we go out for fast work, his cue to go quick is basically me in forward seat and loose reins. I was practising something different with my reins on the flat and unintentionally both got loose while I was in forward seat. Gee, the power as he started to wind up - nice feeling :) Didn't take me too long to realise what had happened and he steadied great, which just gave me more confidence in him. He really is a good little horse!

have a great week

K

Bit hard for me to answer that one K because I just do what I like and they have to get over themselves :) In your case, you may want to do what a lot of Trainers do. Get an old stirrup leather or belt, place it around your preferred wrist, fix a toggle on it like the Boy Scouts tie (yes I was one before I got expelled for bribing the Treasure Hunt Hider and doing a silly thing like going straight to the Treasure instead of waiting a bit) and just let it hang. Don't hold it. Ride as Normal as it just hangs off your wrist. Then, on the occasions where you may want a whip, just go wallop around the rump, without even having to take hold of it. That gives them a shock I can tell you :) Regards

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Hi

We have been asked alot to take colts in for agistment on our farm as we have spelling.
As we have a colt nearly a big boy at 3yrs I keep that in mind.

When the owners say that "Yes the colt can go in with other horses as they want him to be a "horse" and learn manners etc" I would like your advice on good paddock mates for these rough yougsters and also when you are dealing with racehorse owners no offence to any that are reading LOL These colts usually have no ground handling etc.

I dont agist horses with my own and am lucky enough to have pleny of room.
Thanks and look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers
Amber
PS I have 1 10 acres paddock seperate so I and was looking at making that the colt paddock for agisters/What do you think?

I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole Amber. Risks, drama, injuries, more drama, and even Court possibilities. Life should be more simple so I advise you to put Geldings in your 10 acre paddock and stop the grey hairs :) You are right, don't listen to a word they say.

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Hi John and Linda, I was one of the riders that attended PC on the weekend and was subjected to one of, if not the best, lesson I have ever had. I am 42, and attended PC for many years and also had lessons in Adelaide with instructors apparently at a higher level than Mrs. HP. I am also one of your agistees, along with my daughter. I am always amazed that Mrs. HP can improve my riding and my horse with EVERY lesson. Mrs. HP did make us” let the horses go” and it was quite scary and difficult but the results were quite awesome. I am so impressed that my 12 yr old daughter is at PC but learning how to ride inside leg to outside rein, and actually understand it and can manage to ride quite difficult horses with her limited experience. I feel that the reason that Linda is such a successful instructor is due to the fact she identifies, immediately, what is wrong with the horse’s way of going and then tells the rider exactly what to do and it works. There is ALWAYS improvement. So many instructors can identify a problem but they are unable to explain this to the rider and therefore are basically ineffective as instructors. If the rider is told what is wrong, or not happening with the horse then it is easier for the rider to then understand why they need to change the way they are riding the horse. It is all very well to for example to say ask for canter now and end up on the correct lead, but why ask now. No other instructor will be able to tell you the answer. Except for Linda.

Jo

Thanks Jo. I'll pass that on and watch the embarrassment :)

 

 

 

 

8th July, 2008

Day Off.

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What have these Horses got in common?

 

 

 

 

 

   16.5 seconds is the clue and the trigger

 

http://www.horseproblems.com.au/stifle_problems_in_horses.htm

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LETTER OF THE DAY

Hi

came across your site on youtube and was so pleased to see someone work on the basics and not look for a gadget which will give a 'quick fix' answer when what is required is good basic groundwork correctly done.

I have a 13 year old standard bred who raced from 3-6 year old then stood in a field until i was lucky enough to get him last year. we backed him and worked away slowly last year and he basically had the winter off due to the awful scottish weather and lack of facilities!

I am now moving house and yards and will have access to a huge arena and hope tp get him going a bit more now and was wondering if your dvds are compatable with european dvd players?

canter is coming but without a big flat area we have been restricted to canter whilst hacking out and now we will not have that excuse!

this is Max

many thanks in advance!

carole
Scotland

Hi Carole,

He sure is a lovely Horse and a very nice mover as well. Like most of them. Max is certainly offering you an improved Dressage outcome but it is being held back due to the fact that he is "flexed off" most of the time and once again, as so often is talked about on this website, his leg yieldability is not up to scratch. Therefore, flexion is incorrect, balance is not gained and nor is suppleness. Therefore rhythm lacks, the ability to carry the Rider during this arduous task and the rest is History as we say. He is a lucky Horse to have you as an owner :) Regards

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LETTERS OF THE DAY

 

Hello Mr HP

I am re-training a standardbred and he has been going great, his flatwork is established, he can walk, trot and canter on the lunge. He can walk, trot, canter and gallop across our English moors, and the riding has been going great too.

I am just emailing to check I am doing the right thing, as my 7year old gelding has started to round up in walk and trot, in walk he can leg yield, travers, shoulder in and fore, plus showing signs of walk half pass. In trot he can should in and fore and leg yield. The problems in he can still hollow to the right and just recently when I leg yield in trot from the centre line to the fence, right to left, he hollows to the right and runs through his left shoulder to the left and starts to amble. He loses his co-ordination and rhythm.

Left rein his is a lot stronger and can cope with left to right in the leg yield.

He can canter around a 20 x 60m arena and sometimes goes disunited and others times he is superb, his head does come up though. When I tried a 20m circle in right canter he loses his balance when he comes away from the fence line and ambles.

Please can you advise on how to progress my problem? Is it taking a step back and going back to basics with him, do they amble when they lose their balance?

Being in the UK there doesn’t seem to be any instructors who specialised in standardbreds.
England

I am going to get my wife to answer this one. A true rarity  She is going to kill me. :) Meanwhile, check out the Horse above here, for interest. Have you got any Youtube video of this?? We can then easily comment for you. In the case above, it is so obvious and so easy to fix. Yours will be a little more difficult I suspect.

" You need to make him straighter in the leg yield, perhaps even flexing slightly left position, which will stop the shoulder falling to the left and causing the hollowness to the right. " Do some counter bend work with the Horse on circles.

Regards

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Hi my name is Nicki.
i was just wondering if you could give me some advice and or opinions on steeplechasers.
i have recently bought a 7yo steeplechaser he has been off the track for a year now but just spelled,i have brought him back into work and he is going superbly,however there is one glitch.
he jumps cross country jumps very easily and has a beautiful jump (this is why i bought him for my future eventer!.) however if you try and put him over some cavaletti or any non solid looking jump/showjump he goes right through it,now i assume this is because he is relating it back to the brush on the jumps that he used to be able to just jump right through???,...
somep people believe reeducating steeplechasers is to hard and you just shouldnt bother,but he has got a really beautiful jump and he really enjoys doing it.
i have had a few suggestions from some people about just riding him through a showjumping course,and when it hurts him enough he will jump with room to spare and i have also had a lady suggest lungin him over showjumps with fillers(tyres and flowerpots etc) however this will not stop the problem i belive becuse he will just go back to his old ways at a competition (and by the way i havent tried the first suggestion,just so you know,i need a sound happy jumping horse)
any suggestions or hints would be greatly appreciated
Thankyou.

Right back to basics then Nicki. Only work at the trot of course and start with trot poles and then raised trot poles, during your Dressage flatwork. Incorporate them both. Then trotting again with grid work. Your Friends are right, they can be more difficult. Mrs. HP evented one to Grade One. He was an eventing Machine but his worse phase was the show jumping. Regards

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Hi John & Linda,
Thought I'd wait until you got home and give you guys a chance to settle back in to the 'normal' routine before writing my thanks for coming back to Perth.
So... a huge THANKYOU for coming back to Perth :)
I have ridden my boy a few times since the clinic and have gotten some very nice work. I think by ride 4 the walk to canters were pretty spot on and we were even managing to keep it together riding the full arena :) :) Another bonus - I was actually able to get my boy to stay in canter and canter through a large puddle in our arena (read 1/3 of the arena) :) :) I'd been trying for several rides to stop him breaking back into trot and finally I kept him going :) :) It gave me a pretty good idea of what his canter could be like with more strength etc.
So Thankyou again to both of you for coming back - I keep watching the dvd of my lesson and picking up more things. I wish I could of videod everyone - it was just so informative.
So you have to come back (or at least send Linda back to us John :) ) other wise I think you will be inundated with WA riders coming to you!!!
Regards
Niki & Trey

That's great Niki and congratulations on your increased fitness. I shall speak to her :)

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Hi Mr. HP,

I read your post about inquiry into the French system of dressage. The best example I have seen is Philippe Karl. He has a series of videos out. His most recent is a discussion of the differences of his system "Ligerite" (lightness in French-probably spelled wrong) verses competitive dressage. The dvd is well worth viewing. His riding on his other videos is superb. His philosophy is far removed from "crank & spank" which is so prevalent in todays riding. He doesn't advocate no hands and no legs- just never used at the same time.

Could you please give more info on animal communication-how to learn it, and how to know if you're actually doing it? Thanks, Elly

Thanks Elly. I shall have a look. Always interesting for me. Regards

 

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Hi John
I took my horse Pepper and my roping horse Dollar to the rodeo this weekend and when myself and my husband took the two horses in the arena for warm up Pepper was okay but had to be right beside Dollar and wouldn't listen to my leg aids etc. She started to toss her head when I used the reins to slow her up a bit as I feel that I was starting to loose control and I was using a training pelham bit. When we were getting ready to leave the arena a water truck came in and both of us started to get a little nervous as I know that she didn't like it.
Earlier on Saturday she was fine in the warm up arena but their were more horses in there and the water truck was spirting water all over. When we went to leave the arena down the laneway, with chutes on either side, something or someone banged the chutes and Pepper freaked and tried to bolt. I had people with horses infront and behind real close and Dollar was way up front and she wanted to go with him right away and I couldn't do that as their were other people and I didn't want to run into anyone. So I did a one rein stop and that sort of worked for her but people were yelling at me to give her , her mouth , but I wanted to wait for her to stop first. They said that she looked like she was going to flip backwards, but I do he one rein stop on her lots at a walk and trot. When I got her to stop I gave her more rein and we walked out the best we could. What a mess!!! We were both so tense and she still really wanted to be with Dollar so badly. They both have to go to the rodeo but she get scared without him and he calls her. I need to be more dominant than him for her to listen but how? They are in the field together and travel together. Nancy

These situations are the worst for Riders' and whilst there are Horses and Shows, the problems will continue. I don't think your Horse may be so frightened as such but that the level of 'separation anxiety" is so heightened that the Horse is having a brain snap.  Read this:http://www.horseproblems.com.au/seperation_anxiety_in_the_horse.htm

When trapped in a raceway like that, there would be very little you could do anyway or risk upsetting other Riders' but certainly, if you genuinely believed the Horse was about to Bolt then you did what you needed to to survive. Survive first, train later is my motto :) Your mention of the pelham Bit interests me and I note also that you mentioned that she throws her head in the air pretty easily. I would therefore be going back to the training drawing board and lightening her up in the front end, more submissive from a head down point of view and to increase the response of your leg aids which are an important and integral part of controlling such Horses and to get their minds back onto you rather than the desperate need to be with their "love". I don't know what your situation is at home but introducing another Horse into the mix could help by catching Dollars eye and paying less attention to Pepper, which could assist from a psychological perspective. Strong and assertive Riding is how I take control of Horses that want to lose their mind for what they are doing is being entirely dismissive of us, the Ride, so I retake control of their mind by going straight to diversionary training demands such as leg yielding the complete opposite way from the other Horse and so on. Hope you sort them out. Ignore what bystanders say. There are always emotive idiots in Horse crowds and I have my fair share of them. If however, it appeared to people that the Horse was going to go over, that tells me that your true lateral lightness is not up to scratch and once again, back to the drawing board on that one. Best of Luck

 

7th July, 2008

Day Off and it rained most of the day. Hallelujah!!

PONY CLUB VERSUS THE GERMAN TRAINING SCALE

Mrs. HP taught at Pony Club on Sunday and because she knew all of the Riders' personally, she demanded that they "let the reins go" so to speak, throw away the "Grip of Death" and let their Horses travel lower.

There was a Rider there with a Horse and Mrs. HP used to teach them 2 years ago and they were getting high 60% consistently, winning week in and week out. Having occasionally seen her scores over the period, steadily dropping to the point where she is running last and getting beat by Pony Club QH Breeds with scores around 50%, but not being able to say anything as it is not ethical. Anyhow, she brought the Horse along on Sunday and Mrs. HP couldn't stand it any more so she asked for a ride. The Horse had lost all of it's movement and was a 'sowing machine' due to the two years of tuition. The Family would have invested many thousands of dollars as they are serious players. The Rider queried Veterinary with Mrs. HP so that is how far the deterioration had progressed. Anyhow, Mrs. HP got on and within 5 minutes flat, had the Horse let go, start to become loose and to actually move. The Rider was gob smacked as well she should have been but you cannot blame her. She had to believe her Coach, one far above Mrs. HP.

It is because of this teaching, which is across the board in PC, that virtually no Rider can be game enough to allow the neck of a Horse to drop and so Mrs. HP had fun with her Group as they grappled with the fear of doing it :) They are victims of their brain washing.

So my point is that with all of the constant "Collect up the reins"....."take up the contact", no Pony Club pupil, taught along Pony Club style tuition, can EVER begin to head towards Horse Training that starts heading towards the Olympic Discipline of Dressage, only "Jam em up" hacking. Hence, Australia can never win a Medal. The foundation stones have white ant's in them.

Our sympathies to the young Lady.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

"Lightness under saddle comes from leg and rein, not either of them alone"

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HORSE HIT BY CAR

ONE person is dead and five others, including three children, are injured after a car hit a horse in the Northern Territory.
Police said officers were called to the scene of a fatal crash on the road to Yuendemu, approximately 30km west of Willowra, northwest of Alice Springs, at 1.30am (CST) today.
The crash is believed to have occurred at 6pm yesterday when a car hit a horse.
The male driver, believed to be aged in his 30s, died at the scene.
Five passengers – aged four, five, eight, 18 and 26 – were injured and taken to the local health clinic.
Accident Investigators and Detectives from Alice Springs are conducting inquiries into the circumstances of the crash.
Police said it is not yet known whether speed or alcohol may have been factors.
With the road toll rising to 34, police are again urging motorists across the territory to take care on the roads.

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HORSE TRAINER DENIES ABUSE

Thirty-one horses were removed from trainer's care over the weekend by the Las Animas County Sheriff’s Office.
 A notable local horse trainer arrested this week under suspicion of animal cruelty, says authorities have got it all wrong.
Thirty-one horses were removed from his care over the weekend after the Las Animas County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from a woman who said her horse was malnourished and showed signs of abuse after being in the care of Ferdinand "Fernando" Santana for 11 months.
Investigating authorities noted several horses that they found to be unreasonably thin, many of which they said were staked out without access to food or water.
Santana told The Pueblo Chieftain that the horses in his care always had access to food and water. And while the one water source that the authorities found was said to be contaminated and mossy, Santana maintains that that is the natural state of any stock tank this time of year.
"Any stock tank is going to have algae in it when the weather’s warm," he said. "Moss adds oxygen to the water. I drink it right alongside my horses." As far as the thin horses are concerned, Santana said several of them came to him recently in that condition. Two Appaloosas and a stallion came in mid-April from a woman who no longer could care for her animals. Santana said when he saw the condition the animals were in, he couldn’t say no.
"Putting weight back on a horse takes a long time," he said.
"Losing it happens like that," Santana said, snapping his fingers. "But putting it back on is a whole different story."
Santana said all the thinner animals were being treated under the care of his veterinarian, Dr. Donald Reif.
Sheriff James Casias said it will be up to Santana to prove that in court.
The sheriff’s department also accused Santana of dragging an injured horse across a road, leaving a blood trail. He said the horse, his own stallion, impaled itself on a fence post in an attempt to mount a mare that had gotten loose during the night. The horse was dead when Santana found him the next morning.
Santana said most ranches have pet cemeteries in a remote area where larger animals such as horses and cattle are left to the elements until they are just bones. Birds and other scavengers clean the carcass and the bones of the beloved animal then are gathered up.
"That’s a 1,250-pound animal," he said. "Out here, when animals die, they get dragged off to the cemetery. It’s standard practice."
With permission, he dragged the horse 1.5 miles down the road to a neighbor's cemetery. Santana’s attorney, Virginia Louden, said that if the case goes to trial, she will ask for a speedy one. She wants to make sure the animals are returned to her client as soon as possible. She called the seizure of the animals unjustifiable.
"In a proper investigation they would have come to my client and asked him about the animals," she said. "They would have asked him for his veterinary records."
Santana said he just wants his horses back.
"I just want to fulfill my commitment to my customers," he said.
Santana was arrested Tuesday and released pending formal charges. The district attorney's office did not return phone calls Thursday to say when those charges might be filed.
The horses are being housed temporarily at the Las Animas County Fairgrounds.
Casias said 10 additional complaints have been filed this week from former clients and those who have come to pick up their horses.
He said he stands by his office's investigation, the requests of the victims and the evidence collected by the state branding inspector and the state veterinarian.

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TALLAHASSEE — A deadly viral disease is spreading through Florida's horse population, and state officials are urging precautions.

Confronted with a rise in the number of Eastern Equine Encephalitis cases this year, almost half of which were reported in Washington and Holmes counties, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson this week urged horse owners to have their animals vaccinated.
Horse owners can administer the vaccination or take horses to a vet, but the important thing is to get it done, officials said. "We cannot tell by looking at the horse" whether it is sick, said Dr. Todd Anderson, a doctor of veterinary medicine at Panhandle Veterinary Services in Chipley.
As of June 30, there were four times as many EEE cases as the same period each of the past two years, according to the Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commission.
"For horses, this is very serious," said Terence McElroy, spokesman for the Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commission. "We're talking an 80 percent or higher fatality rate."
EEE affects a horse's central nervous system. Signs of infection include fever, listlessness, stumbling, circling, coma and usually death.
The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes, and with rainfall come mosquitoes.
"It's a function of the amount of rain an area gets," McElroy said. "That triggers an increase in mosquitoes."
Of the 17 confirmed cases of EEE in horses reported to the Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commission during the month of June, eight came from Washington or Holmes County; all eight were euthanized.
Proper vaccination for EEE is strongly encouraged, McElroy said.
"This disease is easily prevented," said Anderson, whose office treats animals across the Panhandle.
At 77 Hardware & Supply in Southport, owner Jimmy Jones said his business carries the EEE vaccination. It retails for around $11 per s
And, for the most part, horse owners are aware of the disease.
"We want to make dadgum sure all of our stock is clean," said Ben Lee, a Panama City Beach land developer, whose family owns several horses in Georgia.
Anderson said some horse owners are having their animals vaccinated as many as three times a year.
When it comes to EEE, humans also could be at risk.
"It's in everybody's best interests to not touch the horse's saliva," Anderson said.

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BOY KICKED IN HEAD BY HORSE


A BOY has been seriously injured when he was kicked in the head by a horse in Sydney.
Ambulance personnel called to a property at Glenorie about 4.30pm (AEST), found the injured boy in a paddock behind the house.
The 12-year-old had received a blow to the side of the head, an ambulance spokeswoman said.
It was not known whether the boy had been riding the horse and had fallen before being kicked or if he had just been in the paddock with the animal.
He was taken by helicopter to Westmead Children's Hospital where is he is in a serious condition.

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LETTERS OF THE DAY

Hi John and Linda,

I could just cry after reading your reflections of the week I swear you guys are in my head this week! To cut a long story short, I never thought much of dressage until I watched Linda transform every horse she rode at the Perth clinic. I am not from a pony club background and have only ever learned from horses. (some tough old buggers too, especially my first “teacher”) I always used to listen very carefully.
I have a 22 year old mare that I have had for 4 ½ years, I retired her 2 years ago, inspired after the clinic I came home and rode her and WOW what this horse doesn’t know regarding dressage probably isn’t worth knowing! I could hear her saying “it’s about bloody time”.
My point is that I didn’t listen to her 2 years ago. I wasn’t interested in dressage because after my one and only lesson on another horse I thought it was about riding stiff and jamming up the horse. I argued with this mare about riding long and loose because that is what I was used to doing, I thought that was what she needed after too many years of being ridden on contact. In reality, if I had just listened to her she could have taught me so much more. It would be unfair to ask too much from her now as she is old and somewhat arthritic.
If only I had listened.

Cheers Kylie.

It is always nice when someone gets a little about my dribble :)  Thanks

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Hello there

another thankyou for making the trip to Perth. It was a very interesting clinic to watch (although I could only make it on the
Sunday) and it was the first time I had seen leg straps actually used. It was food for thought to see the obviously worried 'wild'
horse still seeking you out for comfort and protection whilst you were interacting with him. He had chosen you to look after him and he wasn't going to let you get too far. Thankyou also for taking the time to have a short chat with me regarding a 'problem' horse belonging to a friend of mine.

By the way, your photo in Fremantle looks very much like Pier 21?!?
My parents live right near there and we often visit with our kids who just love going for walks around there. It is a beautiful spot!

Thanks again to both you and Linda

Emma

Haha Emma, yes you got it :) What a lovely spot? Thanks for your comments. I hope you could see that leg restraints if required, can be used with care and without upsetting the Horses where they become stressed. Regards

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Hi HP,

I’ve just purchased a 16 yr old arab gelding (4 weeks ago) had been used for some teaching kids and adults done pc and years of mustering. Lovely fellow perfect ground manners and very obedient under saddle, only trouble is sometimes he goes from a long and low head carriage to giraffe today it was because of the mare we were riding with trotted past us never had that happen before he was still obedient just shot his head up, he does have a bit of an upside down neck . Have had all the usual suspects done teeth and back etc done by our horseman who has done all my horses before so is pretty trustworthy I hope never had a problem before with him. Any advice would be appreciated as this horse is great in every other way and has bonded very well with me thinks he’s a big dog, plays games and catches you.
michele

That is simply a training issue Michelle. If the Horse is soft enough through the Mouth and poll, you only need to put leg on and draw back on the reins and his head should go right back down to where you want it. In fact, that is the mark of a good Mouth. If he won't and you feel bracing at that point, go fix it in the Round Pen. Regards

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Hi to Donna,

Loosing a horse to a brain tumour is just terrible. I had a 7 yr old stockhorse mare who had been started by my daughter and been with us for 5 years, whom grew to become 100% suited to my level of riding (a can be nervous at times, weekender pleasure rider). I am absolutely positive we just enjoyed each other's company very much.

Luckily I was not on her back when she 'changed' and turned into something from yes, a nightmare - from a very friendly compliant girl to a sweat soaked, charging mass of quivering blackness, dead set on trying to eliminate me (it succeeded in breaking 4 ribs). The vet stayed with me from 7am to 4pm, eventually after blood tests, etc we made the very difficult decision to put her down.

Damm, it is always the best ones. But onwards I now have an appaloosa mare - definitely still getting to know each other - back to the 7 games for this one.

Bronwynne

Yes Bronwynne, it is never easy. We were speaking to a Friend last night and her Horse has swelling creeping up the neck and now around the ears. The brave Owner's put them down earlier rather than later :(

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Hi John.

Im posting this on behalf of a friend who is a little shy. I thought you might be able to help her out.

She has a 10 year old TB who we suspect is an ex racer. He is a lovely fellow, nice manners and temperament, not fizzy or fruit loopy. He is broken to saddle, knows the basics but mostly uneducated and done only trail and road riding to which he is quite calm and relaxed about. She is looking at in the future wanting to take him to ARC/PC and some local comp days but her problem is she is having problems getting him to work properly on the bit, she normally doesn't have too many dramas but this is on a much higher educated horses mind you. I suggested trying running reins on him to start him off working correctly, long and low, as the way I see it he is fighting himself by not giving and working correctly and these have always achieved great results for me. But she said "when using the running reins he would carry his head out and just the end of his snoz was sticking out" I assume avoiding the contact, she goes on in her email to say that no matter how long or short or where she had the running reins connected to the roller he didn't give if that makes sense by sticking his head up and out, whatever to avoid the pressure I guess.
After about 20 mins she said in the walk it seemed he was starting to give this was when the reins where hooked up to the roller between his legs and she said she seen his neck arch and nose dip and stay like that but as soon as she asked for a trot he went back to head up in the air and nose out. She is paranoid about hurting his mouth and asked for my help in how to get him going right and at the moment doesn't have the spare $$$$ to take him to lessons. I don't really know what else to tell her as I have never really had this problem before.
His teeth have been checked, a vet and chiro have gone over him and found nothing wrong. He is quite fit, he passed your lateral mouth test and she has taught him a one rein stop. She has no problems pulling him up, going up and down transitions or backing up.
So any advice would be great so I can pass it on to her.

Cheers,
Ashley.

That is not unusual Ashley and it is expected from those Horses. They go back to their roots and back to the 150kg of pressure on their Mouth, such is what they have been used to coping with in their past life. Long way from an ounce, isn't it Ashley? She will get that reaction when introducing the trot and once the trot is established, the whole fight will re-commence again for the trot canter transition. She has to therefore forget about hurting his mouth (he has the call there) and to break through each stage, taking as long as she likes but being careful not to rack it up to a point where those Horses will feel trapped and start running backwards. That normally ends with rear over. Fix the Horse by just allowing him to wear them alone in the yard for a while, then at the walk as much as you like to get the idea and then the trot. She was almost at the break through point but she backed off. They all do it. In fact, with my trained eye and judgment, I then adjust up a hole or two, to win the almighty battle for unless you go there (within the safety parameters) you will not climb over the Hill as it is all downhill from there. Regards

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Hi,
I have a green standardbred gelding who will not let a farrier get near him. He was left to his own devices for appx 3 years; he was given to me a couple of months ago and I was planning to bring him on when the days are longer – he is 6 years old. (I am the first to admit I am not an experienced/trained horse person, just one who has been around horses most of my life, riding now and then, have a trail riding horse and a rescue horse)
At first he would not be caught, once I started it would sometimes take up to an hour. Now, after a couple of months, he comes up to me and stands quietly whist I halter him (rope halter of course ), however he runs from everyone else. He is an extremely sensitive boy who I feel was mistreated when a young pacer. He has an attitude, will snake his head around in the paddock when things aren’t going his way or he is left on his own in the paddock.
Once he arrived, I had terrible trouble picking up his feet, however with a lot of patience and quiet persistence, he now picks his feet up for me and lets me clean them out. However, he will not stand still for the farrier at all – just keeps running out to the side and will not let his feet be touched. He seems defiant and even though we persist, there is no way his feet can be done. I am really starting to worry about what can be done with him. No feet, no horse as they say. Just wondering if you had any ideas or knew of another farrier who may have some ideas. I have been told to move him on for his own good, and some say moving onto horsey heaven which to me seems almost incomprehensible – would break my heart.
Lyn

PS – just between us and Off line if possible, if you know of anyone who may be interested in taking him on, that is, I am prepared to give him to a loving, experienced home. I know he is a very smart boy and extremely sensitive, if he found the right home with someone who could work with him with kindness, firmness and sensitivity, he would prove to be a trustworthy, honest boy.
His history basically is he was trialed only 2 times when he was 2 (pacing), proved too slow and then turned out into 80 acres for the next four years, after which he was given to me. He will be 7 in November this year
Cheers

I don't work off line Lyn so if I hear from anyone, I'll put it on site. Poorly handled as a young Horse. Feral Breeders :) They are a plague.

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Horse Float Designs E Book. What a life saver, as you can see from the photos our old float was in major need of an up date and our horses hated to load after a ride in this old thing. Not that you could blame them.
What I wanted to say was, I was put down by some people for wanting to do up this float as they said it would cost to much, not worth it etc.
However,it had been in our family for 30 yrs, it was a good solid thing (needing abit of work) and did not owe us anything and we are unable to afford a new float, so had to make the most of what we had.
Following your advice in the above mentioned E Book, we have put in adjustable chestbars and bumbars, removed the back leg on the center divider, put in windows (which the horses love), re-did the floor and put down good quality rubber matting over checkerplate and marine ply, replaced the rubber on the tailgate and filled in the towing frame at the front and A frame at the back of the float to name a few of the upgrades.
The next stage will be to re-do the wheel arches with a running board and maybe close in the sides with sliding windows as we have to travel on a bit of dirt and I want to reduce the dust factor.
Anyway the work cost us about $2000. which is alot less than a new float that we would have to modify anyway, the horses are much happier to be in there and I am more relaxed to tow it knowing that it is safer and not terrifing my horses due to it rattling and the floor feeling unstable (we found out the checkerplate had only been spot welded in about 4 or so places), as before. Also my driving has greatly improved due to your tips, so please keep up the good work it is greatly appreciated, Thankyou Gina You have been sent 4 pictures.

 

Great Gina. Well done. Marvelous job and a good indicator for other people. Love the windows :)

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Hi John & Linda

Been a very busy week (that time of year for bookkeepers) and have been thinking about how to say thank you. Really, I cannot say enough about how brilliant you guys are and how generous you both are in giving as much time and knowledge as you can to helping us be better in working with our horses. It was such a privilege to have you here in Perth. Enjoyed spending time with you both, Leanne and I particularly feel very encouraged by that little bit extra time, wow!! Amazing to see the horses respond to you John, and trust you. They just know they are in good hands. And Linda, to see a horse just grow under you is breath taking.

Have been practicing with Benny – yes he is difficult but good to learn with as I have had to learn everything else with him. I am getting better with the timing as I am now better understanding the ‘how hard’ and how “quick to release” – thank you so much for that.

Rowanne came to ride him on Saturday and just loves him. Her friend Michelle came as well and she saw him last year. So no secrets here – eyes wide open. Benny did me proud. Came in from the paddock with “sh*t on the liver”. Sorted him out in the tie up area. Quieted down for saddling, that was good. Standing quietly is now more normal behaviour. Pouring rain, went out in the break to round yard. He was great. Did me so proud. His trot pole work has improved and his timing was really good. Timing over the poles has been a journey for him. So ready for someone like Row to now train him to jump. Into the arena warmed him up a bit – behaved nicely and then the rain came. We stood and waited.

Rowanne popped on and got to work. Yes he certainly knows what is required, the training is there it just getting him to be on your side and give it. Rowanne did great. He is one very lucky, lucky horse, he lives on yet again. Benny will do great with Rowanne. But he also did good on the day. The arena was a quagmire and he just kept working and then it rained some more and he kept working for Row. She did some canter work at the end and was amazed at how nice and how big his canter is and the arena does seem so small. And she let him travel around the arena and he looked great.

He does look good. It is only after seeing Linda on him and then Row that I could appreciate that – I don’t get to see him from the ground under work. His rump has really built up particularly around the hamstring area and over the hip area. His neck muscles are a much better shape than six months ago as with those spots behind the whither are nicely filled out. So I do get him working over the back and on the bit a lot of the time, just going out breaks your heart.

I was so encouraged by what Linda spoke about with these horses. I have been working on the canter over the last month was feeling to let him travel but there was always this little voice telling me that I am supposed to slow the canter, do more circles, more control etc etc. But you sit on such a big canter on a thoroughbred and I was sensing let him move out, sit up and go with it. Strengthen his muscles, get him balanced. The advice on the flexion to left with the strong inside leg works a treat – again timing. But it was great to canter after the clinic without the pressure just canter. Leanne and Amy watched me canter him just a few days before the clinic and that is what I was doing and Leanne’s comment; it was the best she has seen him canter, much stronger and straighter. So I was on the right track just great to watch and listen to Linda. And definitely after Linda being on him, his transition to canter from the aids has definitely improved. Girl you’re good. I know he was tough work for you but you really do help them. On a good day he is much easier at home, as they are.

Thank you both so much, and the horses thank you too. And Benny lives…

Luv
Tracy

Yes Tracy, congratulations. This Horse was at our 2007 Clinic and I was straight with you in front of the crowd, explaining that he was the worst kind of OTTB and the frustrations that were coming to you were immense. You have done a good job with him and learnt a lot, amazingly finding a Home out of the crowd this time and due to your guts to expose yourself to possible judgment, for the sake of the Horse. Well done. He is the luckiest Horse in the Country, thanks to you. Now to get you a good Horse. :) I rang up about one for you. 60 phone calls and sold site unseen :(

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6th July, 2007

REFLECTIONS

Well, what did you learn this week? Every day is an adventure and full of learning experiences. Life in general and in particular for us, to do with Horses, our passion and love.

And so it is that my wife and I found ourselves reflecting on the body of information that is now stored in our brains and as to how we obtained that in the first place. We suddenly realized that neither of us had evolved from reading Books, watching video's or attending Clinics. In fact, basically 99% of every single thing we know about Horse Training has come from the greatest Teacher of them all...the Horse. What a satisfying state?

Of late, I am finding the mental communication from Horses to be coming more clear as I have always subconsciously absorbed it but only identified the messages later, like in Bed or other places :) Lol to the Perth people here haha. I am being serious for a moment though if you don't mind ;) Thanks to my work with a Horse Communicator, I realize that I have not been trying hard enough to talk with them at the time. Have a mental conversation with them but just of very recent, I am having moments where I too can do that and in fact did it with a Horse in Perth. Anyhow.....

Then we realized that who ever it was that we read the Forumites quoting, those Horse Professionals from 2,000 y