Grace Bowman from Moonta, was left a paraplegic  when she damaged her spinal cord in a riding accident. She has been selected to ride for Australia in the Para Olympics.

Grace's mother Stephanie, 46, was killed when a horse being loaded into a float fell backwards and crushed her.

We wish Grace all the very best of Luck and know that she will know that winning is not what the Olympics were invented for but participating. So she is already a Champion.

********

Three aspiring psychiatrists, from three universities, were attending their
first class on emotional extremes.

'Just to establish some parameters,' said the professor to the student from Oxford University,

'What is the opposite of joy?' 'Sadness' said the student.

'And the opposite of depression?' he asked the young lady from Cambridge.

'Elation,' she said..

'And you, sir,' he said to the student from Dublin University,

'How about the opposite of woe?' The student replied,

'I believe that would be giddy up'. 

 

************

Australian champ becomes U.S. Olympic star


Not that he'd ever want to, but Phillip Dutton can't easily hide his heritage.

Despite 17 years in Chester County, his Australian accent remains as thick and creamy as a freshly tapped Foster's. His patience, his reticence and his way around a horse betray his roots on an arid farm in the Australian Outback, 45 miles from the nearest town.

But next week in Hong Kong, the 44-year-old, who won a pair of gold medals for Australia at three previous Olympics, will be wearing red, white and blue as the star of the U.S. Olympic equestrian team.

With his family and his scenic West Marlborough Township riding farm growing rapidly, Dutton decided last year that it was time he got his American citizenship.

"It's something I thought about long and hard," he said earlier this summer while leading a horse away from a galloping track at his 80-acre farm just a few miles south of the New Bolton Center (the equine surgical center affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania where Barbaro was treated for his injury).

"There are always going to be people you disappoint by doing it. My parents were my main concern. I didn't want them thinking, 'Oh my God, our son is a traitor.' "

Peter and Mary Dutton own and still work a remote sheep-and-wheat farm an hour's drive outside of Nyngan, New South Wales. They'd seen their third son win the gold for the green-and-gold at Atlanta and Athens, so the fact that he wanted to try and get one for America didn't upset them at all.

"They were great about it," said Dutton. "They realize I have family here in America. America is my future, and it's been so good to me. I've helped out Australia. Now it's time to push America's chances for a gold medal."

Dutton and Connaught, a 15-year-old Irish thoroughbred gelding, will be one of five U.S. teams competing in Hong Kong, where the equestrian portion of the Beijing Games will take place.

This May, after finishing second five times on five different horses in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Dutton finally won America's premier equestrian competition, aboard Connaught.

Connaught, a horse he said tries as hard as any he's ever ridden, trains and is stabled on Dutton's picturesque property, True Prospect Farm. There, in the weeks leading up to the Games, the horse's training regimen was more strenuous than his rider's.

While Dutton prepared his body as best he could for the anticipated heat and humidity at Hong Kong, preparing the horse's temperament was more important.

"A big part of the athletic partnership is the horse. The horse is probably the real athlete," Dutton said. "I'm a rider, but I'm also the trainer of the horse so I have to get the horse prepared for its job. We work on everything: their dressage work, their jumping, their fitness work. But you've got to win his trust and confidence.

"You have to understand that horses, being so big and strong, you really can't force the issue," he said. "If they wanted to, they could just say, 'I'm not doing that.' So you have to try and present it in a way that they enjoy it and want to do it. The key is finding the really capable ones, the one God's given a gift. You try to get them to the highest level. Once there, you have to savor that and preserve it for as long as you can."

Hills and footing

Preservation was one of the reasons Dutton emigrated to Chester County's horse country and established his business there. His farm and the land surrounding it are part of the Brandywine Conservancy's protected acreage. Roy and Gretchen Jackson, Barbaro's former owners, are just down the road. George Strawbridge has an estate next door. Big equestrian events - Radnor, Fair Hill - are located nearby.
"Because of the hills and the great footing, a lot of early horsemen were attracted to the area," he said.

It was here that he and one horse, True Blue Girdwood, came after departing Australia in 1991. He went to work for Unionville's Bruce Davidson, a trainer-rider who was a member of several U.S. Olympic teams and will be a replacement in China.

"There are so many good horses and trainers here," he said. "Bruce Davidson and Michael Matz were here. Jonathan Shepherd. The access to veterinarians and horseshoers and the care of the horses is probably as good as anywhere in the world."

Trainer Michael Dickerson soon heard about the small Australian with the sure hands and calm nature and began shipping his problem horses to him.

Dutton rented space and worked for Tim and Nina Gardner on the farm he now owns. He trained and rode horses for some of the leading owners on the East Coast. A year ago, he bought the handsome property and changed its name to True Prospect Farm in honor of True Blue Girdwood and Sky Prospector, his first two international horses.

Time for America

Business is booming. He stables 55 horses there. Scores of riders, young and old, take lessons. There's a dressage ring, a galloping track, a cross-country course, a water jump, five stable areas, a work shop and apartments.
But even while living here, meeting and marrying his wife, Evie, and now raising three daughters, LeeLee and twins Mary and Olivia, Dutton continued to compete internationally for his native nation.

When, after helping Australia to the team gold in Athens, he decided it was time to switch his citizenship, he had to petition that country's sports officials.

"The Australian equestrian federation was pretty good about it. They released me," he said. "There were rules and criteria. But they took into account that I had represented Australia three times in the Olympics and at four world championships. It's not as if I just did a little bit and then ran away.

"But this will be the first time I'm wearing the red, white and blue against the guys with their green and gold, so it will be a little bit different. I'm sure there will be some ribbing."

In late July, Dutton and Connaught flew off to England, where they trained for eight days before departing for Hong Kong.

That schedule, Dutton said, was better for the horse than a 22-hour, straight-shot flight.

"These horses are pretty seasoned fliers," he said. "They're looked after so well. They get food and water brought to them. . . . Unless there's rough weather, it's actually a lot smoother for them to fly than it is bouncing up and down on a highway."

Dutton predicted that, like his gold-medal-winning Australian teams, the U.S. team will arrive in Hong Kong as just one of several teams capable of taking home medals. The Australians and Europeans should provide the sternest competition.

"The U.S. has been in a bit of a rebuilding phase," he said. "But I think we'll have a good chance. With the heat and conditions in Hong Kong, it should be an open field."

And maybe, after hearing a different anthem on the podium, Dutton will bring another gold medal back to Chester County. If so, he doesn't expect anything to change.

"I remember coming back from the Atlanta Olympics," he said. "I wasn't very high profile in this country at the time. But I'd won the gold, and someone said this would change my life. Everything will be different.

"I rode back to the barn, and everything was the same."

***********

Horse's killing a 'horrific act'


Henry the horse's death left owner Rebecca Baillie distraught
The suspicious death of a horse after it suffered head injuries has been described by police as a "despicable and shocking" attack.
The death of the horse, called Henry, in a field at Birnie, near Elgin, Moray, has left owner Rebecca Baillie devastated.
The incident happened on Thursday evening.
Grampian Police appealed for public help to track down the "perpetrators of this horrific act".

******************

Horses brought to Ireland for 'barbaric' treatment of injuries


English horse owners are bringing their animals to Ireland to have them 'fired' for leg injuries -- a procedure that is now banned in many countries but not in the Republic.

For centuries, horse owners and trainers have been using the treatment for torn ligaments, caused by overexertion on the race course or competition field.

But now, veterinary surgeons question whether the treatment really works -- and some believe it is a barbaric practice that should be discontinued.

'Firing' involves putting what is like a hot branding iron to the horse's legs which increases the blood flow to the damaged tendon, after which scar tissue develops and the horse can be put back on the track fairly speedily, instead of having an 18-month lay-off or complete retirement.

Some owners regard it as a "quick fix" that is inexpensive to have done. But others, who have seen horses' legs 'baloon' for several days following 'firing', say the practice is barbaric and archaic.

This practice is banned in Britain and most of Europe but is still used in Ireland to the extent that English horse owners are sending their animals here to get the procedure done legally.

Well-known veterinary surgeon and horse trainer, Andrew McNamara, from Croom, Co Limerick, said that the best treatment for horses with leg injuries was 12 months of complete rest out in the field and "let nature take its course".

A new, revolutionary alternative treatment for tendon injury in horses is stem cell treatment. The cells are taken from the bone marrow of the horse and injected back into the tendon. This encourages new cartilage tissue to grow. The horse is given a 12-month period of rest and is monitored to see how the new tissue growth is progressing.

Veterinary surgeon Liam Kearns, from the largest veterinary practice in the UK, said: "Stem cell treatment is the way forward for the treatment of tendon injuries in competition horses."

He added: "I would not want my name associated with the firing of horses legs."

Professor Roger Smith, from the Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, said: "Stem cells I was using in the laboratory were forgotten about in a culture dish. When I returned, I saw this tissue develop and decided to inject it into a horse's tendons.

"Medical scientists are now monitoring the progress of this technology for use with footballers and athletes with torn ligaments and tendons."

**************

FRIENDS OF FARRIER RALLY

Friends of Richard Pastuck, a local farrier, banded together this weekend to help him out following major back surgery a few weeks ago. They held a horseback riding competition Saturday and Sunday at The Farm, 4300 Meridian Road, to raise money to help Pastuck, 63, and his family pay his medical bills.

Pastuck hopes to get out and start working again as a farrier, shoeing horses and caring for their hooves, as soon as he's able, his wife, Lena, said. He's been tending to horses in Tallahassee for decades, and is well-known in the equestrian community. But it will likely take another three to six months before he'll be well enough to go back to work.

His wife, Lena, 62, was on hand at this weekend's event to serve as a judge. She said her husband became interested in farrier work during graduate school.

"We were both in graduate school at FSU and I had a couple of horses," she said. "He got interested in trimming them just for fun and just got hooked."

Elizabeth Redfearn, 43, the main organizer for the event, started work securing the venue and arranging the details three weeks ago, when she found out Pastuck was going into surgery.

"I just knew that we needed to do something, and we needed to do it quickly, and how could I do it on a mass basis?" she said. "The horse community here in Tallahassee is very close. We're very competitive in the ring against one another, but when one of us is down or in need, everybody pulls together and we do what we can."

Perched atop Cindy, her gray mare, rider Linda Ziegler, 47, was at The Farm on Sunday morning to participate in the competition and support the fundraising effort for Pastuck, who is a longtime friend of hers.

"Richard's been my farrier for 18 years," she said. "He's an excellent farrier and also a very generous man. If a horse throws a shoe, he tries to get out there as soon as possible to tack it back on."

About 70 other riders came on Sunday, primarily to participate in jumping competitions. The entry fees they pay, as well as sales from concessions, most of which were donated by local businesses, should generate more than $4,000 to help Pastuck and his family.

*************

MARION COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35, Orlando) -- Marion County Fire Rescue crews attempted to save a horse that was trapped Tuesday morning.

Crews said the horse got stuck between a fence and a concrete structure at a location off NW Highway 464B in Ocala.

Emergency crews were unable to save the horse, but said no foul play is suspected with the death.

No other details of the incident have been released.

**********

LETTER OF THE DAY

TTG Council

Hi John,
What would horse owners/riders do without you???? You have been fighting this battle for so many years and still going. I lived in Greenwith for 10 yrs and agisted at your equestrian centre and watched as apparent “development” tore through beautiful land and what possibly could have been prime and perfect land for a Equestrian Centre. But as you say “money speaks all language” and aint that the truth here!! Council should be ashamed of what they have done and until someone dies (god help us it doesn’t come to that) or until a public member maybe is hurt (again I hope not) but what on earth will it take to get through to politicians and counsellors that what is going on with horse owners/riders and property owners that want that piece of land to live on and have fun is just madness to push and push and push some more to get rid of land/horse owners to where?????? Because sooner or later there will be no where, because there will be bloody housing everywhere.
Surely there is something that can be done??
I absolutely hate driving past that disasterous mess they have created at the “Quarry”. It honestly makes me physically sick (and I mean that)!! My daughter and I come to your Equestrian Centre for lessons and we talk about all the fun we had in the Quarry and around TTG area. Not know tho!!! I wouldn’t be game enough to ride around there. What about all the young riders with their horses??? Where do they go now????? Surely if all the horse owners/rides and possibly property owners got together and “gate crashed” a council meeting – and have a say!! You know why you have been pushed out, you speak your mind and are very passionate for the horse industry. What if people around you that own property decided to sell out – which is highly possible – as they are probably waiting for that ‘TOP DOLLAR’ to come around and they too would be gone!
As you say, we are making a FAT GENERATION….but gone are the days when you can go ride your horse for hours or ride your bicycle for hours. You either have no where to go or you get hassled by idiots. And just because I moved out to my own property in the northern side doesn’t mean either that we don’t get hassled by idiots. We do!! Not just on our horses but my kids on their bicycles. So, who is to blame. Parents? - no because we try and get our kids out the house. Politians? – YES – they take every bare piece of land available and turn it into housing development…..WHY???? You know what I work in the northern area of Adelaide and I tell ya what – if Politicians have this massive urge to develop – why don’t they go thru Smithfield and Davoren Park and some parts of Elizabeth. No malice meant to people who live there either ok. Just that there is sooooooooooo much wasted land and housing that could be knocked down and re-developed. Wouldn’t this be smart…?? AND keep vacant land that has Gum trees and grass and wild Australian animals that are also becoming extinct because of all this development. Sorry to go on and on – but this annoys me too. Like today – cull koala bears in K.I. – now I have been to K.I. a few times and recently and you know what – I looked really really hard this time and still only saw 1 or 2 koala’s in the wild. There even has been a time that I could not find one at all. I wonder if politicians give a crap that we are the only country to eat its own Emblem’s. Trivial yes I know but when does it stop!!! Now thanks to our bloody fantastic Politicians we are even letting illegal immigrants stay in our country – so hey “come on down” puts a new perspective on things hey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep up the good work for OUR HORSE INDUSTRY !!! Unfortunately I think we are all screwed in more way than one with our Politicians.
madelaine

I am told that one of our Councilors' is upset with my words. Then multiply that over many years by the way we have been treated and perhaps they will know how we felt. This particular Councilor, who above all should be acting on our behalf, has not been. He has been following his own agenda, for Political reasons.

Councilors are there to represent us, the Rate Payers. That is their responsibility and they should be fighting tooth and nail for us. They should not be playing Politics or "towing the Party line." They should not be getting cozy with Developers'. They should not be exhibiting a conflict of interest. They should be protecting the environment, not making out they do with swami and stage managed Photographic opportunities. Councils have lost the plot which is why it is high time they were given a real shake up. They have become arrogant, manipulative and are no longer behaving as they should be. They should not be playing Labor and Liberal Games and they should not be using their positions to get a leg up to Parliament as many do. When they play those games, they forget the main game. Representing those who pay more and more through the nose.

***********
 

LETTERS OF THE DAY

John,
Thanks very much I have had a talk to Fred and Rachel who are going to break this lovely guy for me and am leaving the tying up to them. I for one do really appreciate the free time you give to the horsy fraternity.
Many many thanks. Regards Prue

WA

My pleasure Prue. Thanks

**********

Hi John, hope that you and Mrs HP are well, just to let you know that the "Leg yielding " dvd arrived this morning. The joy and happiness it caused when i peeped in my mail box and saw the familiar package was ........ well words can´t describe it all. Sad little git aren´t i. Anyway ivé watched the first part and it is amazing stuff. I can´t wait to see part two tonight. By the way the "One-Rein Stop came in handy yesterday on a six year old green Freisian mare in season ! It´s a friends horse and ivé started the "Mouthing " process on her today. She is big and strong and didn´t know what hit her but she is coming along nicely. Thank you. By the way, where were you and Mrs HP when i was growing up and learning to ride all those years ago. And i came through the Pony Club system. How i have survived this long i don´t know ! Best Regards Ricky.

SPAIN

Thanks Ricky. Glad they arrived safe. Best of Luck with it all. Regards

***********
 

Hi HP,

I am a huge fan of your website and have read almost every article! Its fantastic and thank you so much for putting these articles up.

I have a problem and I'm not quite sure how to fix it. I have a two year old holsteiner filly. She has a great nature, is wonderful to handle, lead, pick up feet, cover etc, does everything you would expect from two year old, leads well etc. However, when I tie her up and handle her she is fine, but when ever I leave her space or leave her tied up, she throws a big tantrum, paws the ground, rears breaks out in a massive sweat, but as soon as I am back in her space with her, she is fine. Today I tied her and and left her for 30 minutes and after a huge 25 minute tantrum, she stood still for a couple of minutes so I went up to her and dried her off with a towel, put her cover back on etc and put her back in her paddock.

She is not an 'in your face' type horse by any means and she never pulls back. Do I just tie her up for half an hour each day, let her have a tantrum until she relaxes then put her in the paddock? or is there a better way of fixing this problem?

Would appreciate any advice you can give.

Many thanks
Regards
Sarah
NZ

Wow Sarah, sounds like that Lion on Youtube :) Yes, she just has to get over it and get her head around it. You will be in trouble when you go showing otherwise. I wonder whether she was the only Horse on your property or does she do it because of you leaving or the thought of other Horses in the paddock, such thoughts being commenced because you left too?? Either way, you adopted the correct approach imho. That Horse, if mine, would be also taken on with the full range of 'leg restraints' training, which would have a positive effect upon her. Make her focus on other things and get to handle more not less. Then, the simple act of tying up would be far less an issue in the mind of the Horse. It would drop right down the list of things to react to. Regards

*************

Hey there John

I keep reading on your site about people that want to go to the bitless bridles and just wanted to put another of my two cents in LOL.
My story goes - brought an OTTB (for my first horse - i hear you groan) and he had a mouth of steel i rode him in a gag because that's what i'd been given with him and i rode white knuckled OMFG can't let go of the reins...Then i discovered NH and started to re-establish some control and learn how to let go of the reins, we put away the bit and rode either in a halter or rope hackamore - first passanger lesson was one of the most scariest rides iv'e ever done thank god he wasn't a bucker!!!! I think i rode him bitless for about three years he did quite well but then slowly he became more and more resistant and ignorant to the pressure of the hackamore to the point where it became a battle of strength to flex or ORS, let alone stop him, (lucky i taught him to stop to seat)...Time for a change...way ahead of the Parelli program (i'd only got to level 2) i reintroduced the bit and received a brand new horse, now a few years furthur on and after finding your website and absorbing a whole new world of knowledge, i have a horse that has learnt to give to a contact and work in a frame compared to scooting around with his nose poked out resisting the pressure of a hackamore and can now canter a circle balanced and not like riding a motorbike...
I still ride in a halter at times especially when i need to grab him from out in the paddock and can't be bothered walking back to the stable, and i wont knock the fact that i think his mouth needed to heal from all the pulling he suffered as a racehorse, but i think people should be careful when they consider changing to bitless bridles and like you said it also depends on your horses behaviour and your trust level in your horse.

Oh and in my change from NH to HP i learnt that NH riding frustrates the shit out of horses LOL!!!! (well my horse anyway)

Cheers
Nicky
NT

Lol Nicky but well done. You should be quite proud of that effort. They are not easy Horses and I just know what he was like :)

**************

Hi John

Was wondering if you'd be able to help?
If you remember i asked your opinion on a Waler mare and foal that i was going to buy from Clayton Station - since then i've asked a couple of other questions about them after i bought them. Anyway got the ultimatum from dad that the mare has to go as she keeps breaking our extremely expensive mahogany saplings in the plantation, and as the property is pretty much covered with the trees there isn't anywhere else to put her.

So i was hoping you wouldn't mind seeing if anyone was interested in a 4/5 yr old silver/bay roan Waler mare, she's 15hh, intelligent, has been broken in but will need some substantial work to get her back up to scratch, probably make a good campdrafter as she's quick on her feet and sure footed, she is a bush horse so is pretty bold and goes places that my thoroughbred would faint at. She's a great mum too so would make a fantastic broodmare. For an experienced person she'd probably make a really fun little horse, i was looking forward to training her but my attention has been diverted to the foal who i am working on at the moment i would love to keep her but because of the ultimatum need to find a new home for her.

I'm in the NT at Adelaide River 120km south Darwin, i was looking for about $400 for her but will negotiate with the right person who will give her a good home.

Would appreciate your help, if you can.

Thanks for your time
Nicky
NT

One doesn't see many John Wayne Horses these days Nicky. The Strawberry Roan!

**********

Hello HP!

I thought I would let you know that I received the dvd’s in great time! Thank you.
I have gone through a couple of them and now realize that there is a better way to work my horses. Up until now I’ve had trainers say to do the wiggle, wiggle on the inside & outside reins, gives me a temporary flexation, but the head pops up as soon as I relax and let the horse maintain contact. Back to the foundation again & I’m going to get it right with your sensible advice. I’ve already put some simple exercises into place on one of my kids & it’s amazing. Thank you for sharing your wisdom, you are both great horse trainers!

Regards,

Catherine in Ontario Canada

Thanks Catherine. Remember, the outside rein puts the Horse into the frame :)

************

 

29th July, 2008

Day Off.

************

EQUINE COMMUNICATION

For the past several Months, I have been testing a young Lady from Switzerland, who has long claimed she can, "Talk to your Horse"...via photo.

Now I am first skeptical but open minded. I already knew that she had proven herself to my Brother and to James Gardiner, the Olympic Chiro (not a bad reference) so I gave her three Horses to do. I wasn't as much interested in the personal messages from these Horses as much as I was the specific Veterinary conditions which interested me. She picked the first two and then with the third one, it failed a Vet check because of the exact predicted location of a problem. The Vet was a bit spooked out when we pointed him there :)

I am not suggesting that you all rush out and your Horses talk to you but if you can't put your finger on a Problem, it could be a good investment as James Gardiner found out when he could not diagnoze a couple until Dagmar spoke to them. He fixed them the following day.

http://www.animalcommunication.com.au/

************

Dead birds spark concern at HK equestrian centre


The discovery of two dead birds at the Olympic equestrian venue has raised the ugly spectre of bird flu as the games build-up continues.
It is understood the birds have been taken for testing by Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

Bird flu is not known to affect horses but it can jump to people. Millions of birds have been culled across Asia in recent years as authorities move to minimise the risk of the disease jumping to people.

Hong Kong's worst outbreak of bird flu was in 1997, when six people died.

The Olympic equestrian events are being held in Hong Kong because of equine disease concerns around mainland China and quarantine issues.

It is not known when the test results on the dead birds will be revealed.

Meanwhile, the 200 or so horses may end up having more than just heat to contend with as the games loom.

Hong Kong's air pollution has been officially classified in the high range recently.

The stables, however, provide a more pleasing environment, with air conditioning and a constant temperature of 23deg.

Horse owners targeted by alleged cyber criminals

Horse owners are said to have been among the targets of alleged cyber criminals arrested in Romania this week.
Romanian media reports the arrest of 24 people by Romanian authorities suspected of defrauding foreigners of more than €400,000 ($NZ828,000) through computer crimes associated with credit card fraud.

As well as eBay and Craigslist, one of the sites targeted was said to involve the sale of horses.

It is reported the United States FBI worked with Romanian authorities in the operation which led to the arrests.

************

Horse flavour preferences identified

Horses love banana and cherry flavouring, and carrots rank right up there, too. But a British study has shown that a lesser known herb tops them all.
Deborah Goodwin at Britain's University of Southhampton found that the top flavour in her test was fenugreek. Fenugreek leaves are commonly used as an herb, and its seed is a spice.

In a series of trials, Goodwin and her fellow researchers determined eight flavour preferences in the following order: fenugreek, banana, cherry, rosemary, cumin, carrot, peppermint, and oregano.

In the first part of the trial, 15 different flavours were presented in cereal-based meals but rejections meant just 12 progressed to the second phase.

Goodwin then determined the most popular eight among the 12 through measuring fastest mean consumption of the different-flavoured meal options.

She then ranked them from one to eight through a series of tests in which horses were offered pair combinations.

In the last stage of the trial, relative consumption times of mineral pellets flavoured with fenugreek and banana were found to be significantly faster in comparison with unflavoured pellets.

Goodwin said the short-term trials showed that flavour had significant effects on diet acceptance, selection and consumption times in horses.

It was already known that horses select food based on visual cues, odour, taste, texture, availability and variety.

"There is relatively little published information about the role of flavour in diet selection by domestic horses in comparison with other domestic and companion animals," she said.

"However, previous trials investigating effects of diet flavour in stabled horses indicated significant effects on foraging behaviour and selection."

************

LETTERS OF THE DAY

THE MARKET HARBOROUGH

Hi there,
Just a note to say, WHY didn’t I listen to you re the market Harborough?

I recently bought one from saddleworld and used it only five times on the first setting so it wasn’t too tight. On my fifth ride with it, I was off leading my horse down a steep hill, he slipped with his back end slightly, put his head up to regain his balance and the shoddy clip snapped completely in half! I was so mad! I sent it back to the saddlery and they said that all the manufacturer would do was send me a new one with the same sub-standard clip.

I am going to another local saddler, and he will make me a good quality leather one AND put proper clips on it.

Sonia

You may not know then Sonia, that I have had fixed, the substandard Market Harborough of the major Chains? I note that one of the Equestrian Federations, I think it was Germany, has approved them for Official Show Jumping Competition. This will happen next :)

The wire clips are mine lol I too have them with the main clip broken in half.

********

28th July, 2008

My appols to my Readers'.

TEA TREE GULLEY COUNCIL

My hit counter has been going into melt down from the general area of the City of Tea Tree Gulley and my ears have been burning so being mindful of the fact that most of the City Councilors would never have been privy to any of the Horse Industry matters and concerns over the years as they have their own problems to deal with and that there is a Council Meeting this week, I suppose it is time I gave the facts so that all are properly equipped with the information. I will try to keep it brief.

• The Horse Industry in Golden Grove is divided in to the Southern precinct (Yatala Vale Road) and the Northern, Crouch Road and nearby. The Pegasus Pony Club sits between the two. The Southern Clients', most of who don't have Horse Floats, can ride their Horses to the Club in total safety, thanks to the wide verge of the Yatala Vale Road on the Northern side and the Pig Track which is a closed Road leased to the Pony Club.
   

• This neck of the woods is a Horse precinct with millions of dollars worth of some of the best Equestrian Centers in the Land. Since the year dot, Horse Riders have traversed the Trails around this District and they remain an integral part of the required infrastructure so that the Horses can keep their sanity and the Owners can continue on with our Heritage and keep fit.
   

• The late Junette Fletcher worked for years with Egon Shaw and finally got a 'designated Horse Trail which goes along side the Greenwith Road, Seaview Road, One Tree Hill Road and Gold Grove Road. You will not find that paper work in your Council and that Trail, despite what Councilor Bernie Keane thinks, is long gone due to your Councils disregard for our protestations over the last 15 years, because no-one would listen and it has all been now made too dangerous for Horse Riders and NO RIDER'S use it any more. In fact, I now know that it is going to be Bull Dozed to be mined in the future.
   

• As a result and being a futurist, I came up with the idea to retain the integrity of the Trails that were left (Cobblers Creek and Mike Green Trails) and to remove Horses off the Roads altogether. I got the blessing of David Murray and together with Councilor Winter, walked the Sand MInes from the Pegasus Pony Club to the Southern end of Crouch Road, to find a path through the Lands. Management of the Mines were not dismissive of the idea.
   

• 9 years ago, I shook the hand of Michael Gallagher, the Chief Executive of Land SA, in the centre of the paddock that is now the Crouch Road Development. He agreed to to provide two Trails through the Development to link the Northern Equestrian Centres and possible the South Centers via the Sand Mines, to the Cobblers Creek Trails and to through Salisbury where I had the City agree to facilitate our access all the way to the State Horse Centre at Bolivar. David Murray agreed and blessed it. I promised that the Horse Industry would not complain about the Development therefore.
   

• I have now seen Plans that do not show access for the Equestrian Centres and where I see Houses all over the 'Buffer Zone" right to the One Tree Hill Road fence, WHERE OUR 3 METRE ACCESS TRAIL WAS TO BE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't checked the Northern Sector Trail for Salisbury. The priority only now being to keep the integrity of Mike Green and Cobblers Creek.
   

• For the past 8 months, all but one of the Northern Equestrian Centre's have been locked out of the Trails.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   

• and of course now Pegasus is being intimidated to move out, in a way that only the Mafia generally act.
   

• I see Gum Trees with big painted Crosses on them and I am aware of the wonderful donations to Council by the Developer, $200,000 here and $200,000 there. I see the hundreds of thousands being spent on other Sporting Cubs, not to mention the 3 million dollar "Worlds Best Recycling Depot" which has been buried beneath the clean fill of the new Ovals under construction. Meanwhile I come across the dying Koalas and see the blind eye being given to the Trick Loads of Blue Asbestos being buried. One Law for some and no rights for the others.
   

•  Money is no object for other Sports, the Horse Industry has wanted basically nothing, just some bushes trimmed for safety and our Trails to remain open. In case the rubber footpath gets mentioned as some great gift to the Horse Industry, it was no such thing. It was a Council Debacle after I met the Bosses  of Council, Developers and Councilors right at that location, 2 years earlier, warned them of what would happen, gave them the way to fix it and they didn't listen. It was in fact a complete waste of Rate Payers Money. They didn't listen because of the hidden agenda of Staff.
   

• That is the third time now, that two years before the event, I have given Council ways to secure the future integrity of Trails, not just for Horses but for Walkers and Bikers and each time it has turned into a Debacle.
   

• For the past 15 years, I have handled ALL Trails matters in this District and Jim Thompson has handled Pony Club Matters. A Few Months ago, a clever ploy by Council Officers eased me out and Jim in :) They knew full well that Jim hasn't got a handle on Trails matters. The fact is that they couldn't have their way with  me because I knew too much :) As a result, Councilor Keane will no doubt appear to be fully briefed on matters of Trail. The fact is that the only Councilor who knows anything about the subject is Councilor Winter. No other Councilor even knows where they are :(
   

• So it all comes down to a 3 metres strip of Land along the One Tree Hill Road fence so that the Horse traffic can get out of all of the Equestrian Centres, in safety and into the Creek Reserve where the Trails will end. The now Boss of Land SA Craig Dodd agreed with me in front of Councilors' Winter and Keane, 12 months ago, to honor that. Therefore, the Horse Industry requires a simple step over log at the entrance to the closed Strachan Road South and the exit so that all Riders can ride between the two Equestrian Centres and GET TO THE TRAILS. That is the main game.
   

• The token funding, sources by Horsesa for this, as described in a recent email from Councillor Keane, Quote:

It is my understanding, funding has now been approved by Council, and the State Government Grant to Pegasus that the Tea Tree Gully Management Committee will be in a position at the end of this month to start the HorseSA trails around Greenwith, Hamilton, Yatala Vale, Seaview, One Tree Hill, Golden Grove Roads and Kings Ave.

is a complete futile exercise as I told you, Council has seen to the encroachment of the once fine "Junette Fletcher" Trail to the point where it is now too dangerous and when the first Death of a Horse Rider comes Council could well be found "Negligent" at Law for promoting such a futile facility as it is just too late. Horse Riders DO NOT use it and won't be! Council had 20 years to do all of those things but failed to listen as I described before. It is all over....and besides, what's the point. You are trying to kick the Pony Club to Lands no where near any of it. That Trail was only staked out for Kids to ride to Pegasus. Incidentally, there was never any Trail on Hamilton or Kings! lol

• Two years ago, I both wrote to and met with The Manager of City Assets, once again warning 2 years out, as in the other cases, about the high importance of the final solution, just as I had on the entrance to Spring Hill years before and earlier, Satsuma Crescent Development when it was a paddock. I heard nothing. I now see the Plans and you betcha, wall to wall Houses on the Buffer Zone and on our essential small piece of Land.
   

So, I am the Man who knows about Trails. Only me. Not Horsesa, not even Pegasus as they don't have a clue where they are. They don't ride Horses. Not even David Murray would fully know as not one Council Officer has ever bothered to ask.  That is why I have been front and centre over the years and conducting all of the negotiations with Delphin , Land SA and Council. Both of those Organizations have been great. Only the Council has been missing in action and only the Council have acted dishonorably towards us in an ongoing basis for 25 years. Deplphin and LandSA Chief Planners have been continually let down by Council and that is because those in charge didn't care. What a missed opportunity where I had two of the biggest Companies giving their support for my Plans which were always in place Years before they put pen to paper. What a lost opportunity. The first major Developments in a Metropolitan area where designated Trails were actually drawn into the Plans.

 We didn't deserve it, we only try to help the Youth of the District play Sports and keep off the Streets instead of being Super Sized MacDonnell  people who are going to die at 40 or get run over by a B Double.

3,000 emails, every step of the way and you know what? We still know nothing. You should know that certain staff have lost their way. They have lost the "Common Touch" They have forgotten what their job description is. Looking after the Rate Payers. They have become Political Animals and are too cosy with Developers at the cost of those who count. Jim Thompson and I have not needed the grief, the expense, the stress. We are Volunteers, awarded the Premiers Award. Unless this final access that I have designed and given to David Murray Two years ago happens, it has all been for nothing. Yes, you will hear that I am a "Loose Canon" and Jim Thompson has become 'Cranky" Let me assure you. We were never like that. We have conducted ourselves as Gentlemen right through the years. We have been pushed there only in the last 12 months. Enough is enough. It is a minute to Midnight!

Caring for the Environment. What was that song? Tar and Cement?

Next to Go

Don't anyone mention the words 'significant Tree'........ Global Warming will do

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Remember this on Sunday night?

Well here it is today

(mobile photo pic) Not bad?

HORSELAW

Dear John

I just have a question in regards to horse ownership.. I leased a filly from my Mother in law many years ago and the deal was I would show the filly until she was three and then put her in foal and the resulting foal would be mine. I ended up keeping me end of the bargin and the filly was put in foal at the age of around three.. I paid for everything for this filly for three years including getting her is foal. My husband had a falling out with his mother and as a result she sold the mare to a freind of hers before the foal was born...Who would legally own the foal?? There was no paperwork signed as it was my MIL..
I do not intend on making a claim on the foal..I dont even know if she is still alive I never even got to see the foal. I did hear she was very pretty at birth born black and went grey..
Helen

Hi Helen. The Foal is owned by the Buyer at this point in time. Things could have been different if you had it in writing and covered all of the bases but without a Legal Agreement, you have little chance. You could take action against "She who must be obeyed" :) even after it was sold, for breach of contract but not without the proof. If you had good witnesses, one could even have a crack at her but I wouldn't advise it as the case would be suspect and the expense wouldn't be worth it. You wouldn't want a Grey with this Ozone Layer anyhow Helen. The Cancer rate is high.  Regards

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LETTER OF THE DAY

Hi there John

Just having a read about Chantel's horse with the busy tongue, and had an interesting thought (although probably quite pointless) - in humans we poke out our tongues when we are concentrating and I learnt when i was at uni (one of the other useless facts) that this is due to the nerve conections for concentration in the brain being close to the nerve conections for the tongue and that the electric pulses can jump accross the nerves when you are concentrating causing you to poke out your tongue - i do it all the time especially when i'm doing any form of art.....
So maybe it's the same with horses that manipulate thier tounges???

Anyway just thought i'd put in my two cents.

Cheers
Nicky

Fair point Nicky and you open a mine field of debate. Going back to about 1500 years BC in fact. That is when Bits were first invented. Unless a Bit is specifically fitted to a Horse with the width of the tongue being taken into account, high/low palette, the bars, teeth condition, wolf teeth and so on, one really wouldn't know. It is such a complex yet forgotten area. I too am guilty of not being selective or investigatory enough. Some Bits work on the bars, some on the tongue and some on the palette. It isn't all straight forward. Experimentation is the key but here is the Golden Rule:

" When a Horse becomes resistant, go for a kinder Bit rather than a bigger Bit"

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LETTERS OF THE DAY

Hi John and Linda

I was at your clinic in Perth which was the first time I had heard about you and I was impressed. Have now found your website and much to my husband's disgust I spend hours on it, it is fantastic.

Have to tell that the way you described using a vehicle (have no dog) to catch a horse took all of about ten minutes. He let me go up to him and catch him for the first time since I bought him 6 weeks ago.
Could go on for hours about this horse but won't bore you, sufficient to say he is unbroken and has spent most of his six years running wild on a station in NSW with a herd of horses.

I have just ordered your DVD's on mouthing but would also like some advise on tying up for the first time.

I have an unspoilt horse that has a lovely nature, an open book so to speak, must make sure I don't ruin him.Thanks again for your tips and videos via your website.

Regards Prue

As I often say Prue, the tying up for the first time of such a Horse can be a most dangerous event with highly possible injuries as a result, if the correct facilities are not used, the correct equipment and the knowledge base is there. I can't answer that particular question here as the e-book on the subject is 85 pages :) There is no problems tying those up, providing the facility is proper and that doesn't mean Trees, fence posts, shed walls and so on. The chances of a broken Jaw are immense. Regards

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gday john im a new horse breaker and any help and various knowledge is always appreciated as i will never be the horse man i wish to be if i never stop learning .
ur web site is good and excuse the pun but i appreciate the no bull shit approach cheers travis l

It's a dying art Travis and it doesn't go down well with Men in Suits. :) Most are used to a different approach these days. Sadly :( Thanks

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Hello HP,

Thankyou very much for your reply to my email. I forgot to add in my last email that when I stretched him out he only has his rug on his back and that wasn't even buckled up at the time. I checked the saddle that I was using, it seems to be in good condition but after him being sore once I didn't want to chance it hurting him any more so I went and picked up the new saddled that I had on layby :P I hopped on him for about 15 mins yesterday and went for about a 40 min ride today and he seemed fine.
I also need your advise in which bitless bridle the first is a leather one I have found online, the second is the half bosal hackamore from lodgeropes.
 and http://www.lodgeropes.has.it/

I can't decide which one, but I am thinking that my uncertainty is the old PC beast rearing it's head as sometimes I dont feel like I have the control that I would when I used to ride in a bit (i'm riding him in his halter and leadrope at the
moment)

Thankyou again very your time and for the advise you give to those of us that want to give our horses the best we can

Jennifer

It matters not what type of such equipment or the design Jennifer. Take it from me, it is about whether your Horse is to be trusted in it and is it trained well enough for you to rule out any possibility of you and the Horse last seen disappearing over the Horizon :) I am not against any of that equipment but never recommend it fully because I just know that there are dangers awaiting. Especially when most people are Amatuer and not trained Professionals. The "No Bit' Bridle operates differently than a Rope Halter or Hackamore but none of them give full lateral controls when the "chips are down" Mrs. HP rode with one, out with me recently, on a great Horse and was soon muttering she didn't feel safe in it due to the marked lack of control. Be careful.

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Hi HP,
Hope you and Mrs HP are well.
Just want some advise, I have been looking over the internet reading articles and peoples advise on what to feed your horses, I must say I have been left a little confused as everyone has something different to say. We don't really have any grass here at the moment, they have access to grass hay 24/7 and on top of that they get 3 biscuits of oaten hay and 2 biscuits of lucerne hay, they are all a good weight, they are only in light work at the moment, what I was wondering is do they need anything on top of this in the way of vitamins and minerals, ect?
I also have a 7mth old colt, he has been getting breed n grow as well as the hay, is there anything else he should be getting?
Thanks for you time
Karen

Hi Karen, if anything, your mature Horses could perhaps have the appropriate Pellet, as designed for their particular profile. Mrs. HP has a young 3 year old at the Moment and Kentucky Equine Research Head Vet advised her to feed him Phase. All of the good pellets have the vitamins and minerals in them. You only need to pick the one for your Horses. Performance, non performance, mature, not mature and so on. The weanling should be getting a biscuit morning and night of Lucerne for Calcium levels and bone density later. All the rest of your feeds are fine. Regards

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27th July, 2008

TEA TREE GULLEY COUNCIL

I was reporting to you the other night about the Council conspiring to eject the 5 year old Pegasus Pony Club from it's grounds which used to be a big hole in the ground, having been clay mined in days gone by.

It is very heartening to find that one of our Government Ministers here, has similar feelings as I am told she recently wrote to the Lord Mayor Miriam Smith, indicating her concerns and complete support for the Club. She added that in her opinion, the Pegasus Pony Club has been "neglected in past years"

In fact, the entire Horse Industry has been more than neglected. The mind boggles actually. When I think back, it is astounding at the disgusting treatment we have received from this Council. It has been nothing short of plain nasty. To treat Community Volunteers the way it has is unbelievable. During the past 25 years, this Council has given the late Junette Fletcher, Jim Thompson and I, the complete run around, sent us off on many 'wild goose chases', pulled every trick in the book straight out of "yes Minister" and in that period of time, after thousands of emails, hundreds of meetings and thousands of hours of our work, do you know what they have done for us? Trimmed the "Tahoma Bush' on the corner of GG Road and Crouch Road, where so much importance was put on the event that it was turned into a Field Day. I remember the President and I diligently doing a survey of the entire District at Councils request. (safety and risk) That too was a rotten diversion tactic. The last promise I got out of them, to trim a Tree that was forcing Rider's dangerously close to Tandem Trucks, risking death or injury, was 4 years ago by the youngest and latest 'Spin Doctor'. It never happened. The trimming of a lousy Tree Branch never happened.

You will remember that we voted for Councilor Barry Winter and Councilor Bernie Keane, an ex Jockey. They both got in. Bernie Keane was our ex Lord Mayor and is vying for the position again. I am sure we are in good hands with both Councilors but the Jury is out.

ATTENTION RESIDENTS OF THE SUBURB OF GREENWITH

Officers of the Tea Tree Gulley Council are attempting to move the Pegasus Pony Club to the "Billy Goat Hill' which over looks you all. You should pass on to all of your neighbors in the area that they can look forward to two Sundays a Month where a powerful P.A. System will crank up at 8am when the Pony Club Hack Shows and other activities are run. Say goodbye to your sleep ins :) For the record, the Horse Industry does not want to go there. They want to remain in the Industrial area where there are no neighbors. Sound like common sense?????

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Brave Belgian rewarded after stopping runaway team at Aachen


A Belgian man is to be awarded with the CHIO badge of honour after he stopped a riderless four-horse team at the World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen 2008, 27 June to 6 July at considerable danger to himself.
The carriage, driven by Australian Boyd Exell, overturned, tipping Exell, his navigator and back stepper out, and the horses carried on out of the arena and through the crowd at full speed.

Brave Dominique Eerdekens grabbed hold of the reins of one of the lead horses and in a feat of daring held on, despite being knocked to the ground by the galloping horses.

He eventually brought the horses under control.

Mr Eerdekend will receive the badge of honour at the CHIO showground on Tuesday, 29 July.

  ONE REIN STOP :)

**************

I got sent this video by a Youtube Member, complaining about the whipping. In my opinion this Horse is suffering from the symptoms of upward fixation of the patella. If that is true, would it be fair that the Horse refused to jump and would the Horse have been attempting to communicate to the Rider about it's plight? You be the Judge.

*WATCH IN HIGH QUALITY** Cuz Youtube ate my quality :] looool Ellen Whitaker!! One of my favourite BSJA riders! (That part with her whipping the horse, I do agree, I think that was slightly too far! I don't think the horse deserved it.) ...

After you watch it, go down and check all of the comments. It never ceases to amaze me how the Horse Industry in general cannot see through the occasion. I'll never forget the whooping and hollowing at the Equitana Horsemanship Challenge as the Crowd were enthralled at the performance of 'young Guy' The following day, on the Forums, the list of plaudits was endless. Even the Australian representative of Ray Hunt thought it was wonderful. I'll never understand that :(

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We had a Veterinary type of a day here this week. Before Lunch, we had two Horses requiring Veterinary attention. A bit of a rarity but we all get them I guess. The first one was the lovely Trotter that appeared in my last Youtube vid. He was doing a Mick Jagger impersonation hahahaha

Poor Boy :) The Vet thought Bee sting. I thing reaction from Anti Mould Agent sprayed on Lucerne Hay. Anyhow, he came good after a couple of anti-histamine injections. Just put the Lucerne one in the back of your mind for future reference.

******

Then there was this horrific cut. This one I dealt with as the Lass struggles a little. Here are the pics. This Horse will heal up quite nicely.

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PRIX ST. GEORGES CUP

Warmup

Bella hasn't competed on her own indoors before and runs on adrenalin at the best of times. Make the wrong move in her yard and she leaps :) She was in the Intermediate 1 first and blew the test completely. I would have given her about 40%. Don't know what she got but the second test, having had a look, she was better and ran second to the lovely Ruth Schneeberger (sp) and was pleased to get 3% more from the Interstate Judge, as usual, than the SA one.

****************

On Saturday, Mrs. HP did 'back to back' judging at the Mount Crawford Dressage Club where the Rider rides a Test and then has 10 minutes with the Judge who instructs them in the arena and then they ride the test again. What a great idea. For interest, Mrs. HP found that the vast majority of Horses were not 'forward'

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Andrew Hoy cleared of horse abuse charges


Andrew Hoy at the 2000 Sydney Olympics on Swizzle In. Hoy won team gold at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 games, and individual silver in 2000. He has not been selected for Beijing. ©: Kit Houghton
Australian event rider Andrew Hoy has been cleared of horse abuse following an FEI Tribunal decision.
The incident occurred at the CCI 3* Barroca d'Alva (POR), 5 to 9 March 2008. It was reported that Madeleine Brugman had used spiked bell boots on her horse Sundance 6 during the warm-up of the show-jumping phase. Hoy is her coach. Bell boots are overreach boots used over the horse's pasterns in which metal spikes are inserted so that, when the horse touches of knocks down an obstacle, the spikes hurt the horse, in particular around the coronary band.

The Tribunal decided that the evidence presented had "various unresolved contradictions and inconsistencies", and that much of the evidence was indirect or circumstantial in nature.

"The Tribunal therefore concludes that the FEI did not meet its burden of proof and did not provide evidence of a nature sufficient to substantiate a case of abuse against either Madeleine Brugman or Andrew Hoy," the FEI said in a statement released this morning.

"The Tribunal's decision reflects the independence of the FEI's judicial branch - we must respect it and heed its lessons," said FEI Secretary General Alex McLin.

"We will certainly pay close attention to what it means for our enforcement systems and make any necessary adjustments. Abuse of horses in any form is unacceptable and we will continue to bring charges against those responsible for such conduct."

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More horses fall victim to Hendra virus

Two more horses, both from known infected properties, have fallen victim to the dangerous Hendra virus.
Biosecurity Queensland has confirmed the two new positive test results.

The results follow a post-mortem on a companion horse who died at Proserpine in northern Queensland earlier this week, as well as an additional horse that became sick overnight at the Brisbane vet clinic which has been under quarantine since the scare began.

This takes the latest number of horses known to be infected with the rare virus since July to seven, with two known cases at Proserpine (Cannon Vale) and five at Redlands.

Dr Ron Glanville, Biosecurity Queensland chief veterinary officer, said th