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POD CAST OF THE WEEK

 

2nd September, 2008

 

CADBURY CHOCOLATES WITH THEIR POISON CHINESE MILK.

 The 11 products are included in the recall, according to Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety:

• Cadbury Dark Chocette 45g

• Cadbury Dark Chocette 80g

• Cadbury Eclairs 180g

• Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate 150g Pumpkin

• Cadbury Dark Chocolate 40g

• Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Bulk Pack 5kg

• Cadbury Dark Chocolate Bulk Pack 5kg

• Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut Chocolate Bulk Pack 5kg

• Cadbury Dairy Milk Cookies Chocolate Bulk Pack 5kg

• Cadbury Hazelnut Praline Chocolate 312g (2008 Chinese New Year)

• Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate 300g (2008 Chinese New Year)

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ADELAIDE HUNT CLUB

Please book now for the Melbourne Cup Lunch

Phone Sonya on 8212 2929

OR email at SRosella@equityadvisory.com.au

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Horses were D.M. man's passion

He was struck, killed by car while riding 3 days after buying gelding
Dennis Kaiser always wanted a horse. He dreamed about it. He had a tapestry of a horse above his bed. He drew pictures of horses and saved money to buy one.
The dream came true a week ago, when Kaiser bought a gelding named Matches, a tall Tennessee walking horse. His friends said he couldn't have been happier.
The dream ended in an instant Friday night, when a car swerved off the road in the 2200 block of Hartford Avenue, struck Matches and Kaiser, and drove away. Kaiser was thrown in front of a second vehicle and was struck again. Matches ran for the barn and was struck and killed by a second hit-and-run driver.
Kaiser, 26, died Sunday at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.
"It's a nightmare that we can't wake up from," his sister, Katie Miller, said Monday.
His friend, Kirk Moon, said Kaiser had hung out all summer with a group of horse aficionados at the Des Moines Equestrian Center, 3111 S.E. Hartford Ave.
Kaiser bought Matches on Sept. 23, Moon said, and had "been out here pretty much every day."
A police report shows that Kaiser and Matches were headed east on the north-side shoulder, back to the equestrian center, when they were hit about 8:45 p.m.
When firefighters arrived, Kaiser was trapped under a car driven by Ryan Childers, 20, of Des Moines. Childers tried to help. He was the only driver involved who stopped, and he had no chance to avoid Kaiser, Des Moines police said.
Investigators located the car that first struck Kaiser and Matches. No arrest has been made.
"The only thing Dennis ever wanted to do was horseback riding," said his mother, Cheryl Kaiser-Coe. "Whoever did this needs to turn themselves in. An innocent person is riding a horse, and then their life is gone in a split second."
Kaiser's relatives say they were told that the driver had been drinking and had earlier been kicked out of the riding stables. Traffic investigator Michael West said officers are continuing to sort out what happened.
"The car veered off the road onto the shoulder and hit the horse head-on," West said. The collision tossed Kaiser into the eastbound lanes in front of Childers' oncoming car.
"His friends were waiting for him at the Grand Avenue bridge that night," Moon said. "I had been waiting for him at Southeast 14th Street and Hartford, but he never showed up. I thought he'd just gone another direction. I didn't know what had happened."
Kaiser was a banquet server at Christopher's restaurant in Beaverdale.
"We will miss him," said Linda Hermann, the office manager. "We already do."
Relatives said Kaiser frequently helped neighbors with yard work. He'd shovel snow from sidewalks and driveways and never ask for money.
Family members learned after his death that Kaiser had also signed up to be an organ donor.National Walking Horse

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 Association Emphasizes Zero Tolerance for Soring at National Championship Show

The National Walking Horse Association (NWHA) is showing its commitment to the 1970 Federal Horse Protection Act by inviting The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the USDA, and the ASPCA to its National Championship Horse Show in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, September 30 through October 4.
Donald Vizi, executive director of the NWHA, extended invitations to the top brass at the HSUS, the USDA and the ASPCA to show his ongoing support of the humane treatment of Tennessee Walking Horses. The NWHA was founded 10 years ago to advocate the natural abilities and versatility of the Tennessee Walking Horse. “We have invited all three organizations to attend Nationals and welcome their participation in the inspection of our sound, flat shod walking horses,” Vizi says. “NWHA is committed to preserving and fostering the natural abilities and welfare of the Walking Horse. We have a zero tolerance scar rule policy.”
The Horse Protection Act makes it illegal to sore horses. Soring is the practice of inflicting pain on a horse’s limbs in order to achieve an exaggerated gait. Unfortunately, soring continues to plague some Tennessee Walking Horse shows.
According to Vizi, horses will be inspected at the NWHA National Show for full compliance with the Horse Protection Act. Horses’ shoes will be inspected for compliance with NWHA’s rules as well. Shoes may be pulled and weighed to ascertain that they are formed only from conventional steel. Horses will also be observed for temporary visual impairment and may be required to submit a blood sample for drug testing.

Vizi’s invitation is timely. The annual Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration, which took place this year August 20-30 in Shelbyville, Tenn., made headlines when it was announced afterward that the event saw 187 soring violations. That’s an increase in violations over the 2007 Celebration when 104 soring violations were handed out.

The Power of Youtube. Good to see!!!

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LETTER OF THE DAY

CONFUSED OR NAUGHTY?

Hi John

Thanks for the great market harborough, the leather is also an excellent quality. I have never had any use for a thing like that before but I am not riding an every day horse at the moment...and it just gives me a bit of safety when venturing down the road on my newly green broken Cob whom you know have had serious issues in the past. He’s mostly good and walking on a loose rein but once in a while his bad behaviour (bolting, panicking) pops up again. I am amazed of how well the mouthing has worked (your DVD of course). He’s almost safer riding when he shies than if I was leading him… We have only had a couple of shies and he stops pretty much instantly when I pull one rein. Sometimes he even stops himself after having a shy and I just keep the reins loose and pad him for thinking and stopping instead of nicking off. It’s funny the other day I rode a friends mare who’s got serious issues (rider induced, lack of proper mouthing, dominant nature, ridden with a contact but not in a frame, rein snatcher, swishing tail, very irritable) and do you know what? When I was on her I thought gees I would rather ride my cob whom all my friends think is a lunatic than this mare who had no lateral mouth!!! That mare will be remouthed before I ride her again or else I’m not doing it! I don’t think it’s veterinary as I did manage to get her to walk and trot reasonably relaxed in a low and soft frame after a while – but I guess we will see when we get to the canter which is pretty bad with the current rider... I have to get stuck into her as she does not respect ‘leg on’ and for that fight I want the one rein stop to be implemented – I suspect she may try and buck.

Thanks again for your advice the past year, which has finally brought me to ride my ‘run away cob’ (he’s mostly called ‘lovely boy’ now a days!). My advice to other people who buy a problem horse: don’t do it if you don’t have the time and patience, this horse is far from fixed yet (after a year) and it will take a lot more time and I will always have to be on my guard when riding him. I have enjoyed it though because it’s been educational for me and a lot of not so serious ‘problem horses’ now benefit from that.

All my best wishes to your wife and her recovery. I would love to have a dressage lesson with her some day on my boy.

The Dane

Thanks Dane. You have done well and I congratulate you. What one has to always remember with such Horses is that they are almost entirely confused and again, as usual, not their fault. This is why it is so IMPORTANT that they be taken right back to basics once the initial ride has shown where their frustrations and confusion lies. Therefore, with such a Horse as that, I would not only be re-mouthing it for your own safety and control but helping it prepare for the more correct and remedial riding too. Leg yielding in the round pen, running reins to establish some underst
 

LETTERS OF THE DAY

MONKEY STRAPS

Hi John, I’ve just read your site and just HAD to pass this on…

Got the latest Horseland catalogue in the mail last week – Heath Ryan on the front cover on his lovely horse – but have a closer look – yep, it’s a monkey strap on that saddle!

If its good enough for Heath, it good enough for my kids!!

Kindest regards to yourself and Linda

Natalie

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Hi John,
One of the kids yelled out to me last night "Mom come quick! Lisa needs you, she's outside and it looks like Ruffian's about to have her foal"!
2 days ago we had put Ruffian in the paddock right outside Lisa's window so she could hear the slightest noise.
Lisa and Ruffian have been an item for nearly 4 years, and this was the moment I was dreading.
How am I supposed to tell Lisa to stand back and leave the poor pony alone?
What if it all went wrong?
Outside I found Lisa standing in the paddock and Ruffian was walking in small circles around her, brushing against Lisa like a hungry, wounded cat. Lisa was rubbing her back and every now and then Ruffian was stopping to enjoy the massage and point her noise to the stars.
I told Lisa she should really leave her alone, let her be as we didn't want to disturb her too much. It was as if Ruffian could understand what we were saying, because at that exact moment Ruffian lay down at Lisa's feet, groaned and looked up with pleading eyes as if to say "Don't go please"!
Being a good girl, she listened to her mom and gently backed away.
Ruffian got up, followed her, then lay down at her feet again!
What was I supposed to do? Separated them both kicking and screaming?
I'm not asking should we all rush out and pester mares in labor, but just those special ones with the big people bonds?
This is the 2nd time it's happened. That big red TB mare of ours, she had her foal at 2pm. 17 family members and friends all rushed out in the paddock and sat a good 50 meters away in one clutch to watch, and that big ol' mare came right over, got right in the middle of our circle, lay down and foaled so close the foal actually landed on me!
Anyway, mom and baby are doing great!
Ruffian is a Palomino, the sire is a Dun and the foal has the most gorgeous blue eyes with a sort of Champaign coat, no chocolate points, no dorsal stripe! So can't quite identify what colour she will end up?
Cheers,
Sarah.
I'll send a photo as soon as we find that lead that goes from camera to computer!

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Dear John

I just wanted to send a quick email and let you know how much I love the new bridle you sent me.. the head peice is so soft.. I will oil the reins tonight..
I cannot wait to try it on the fat head arab..
My daughter is going to a camp draft school in two weeks on the arab so at least his head will look the part .. You see we dont have a safe stock saddle for her she will be in a All purpose.. should be interesting.. I WILL be putting on a monkey strap for her... I dont care what anyone says, Its monkey strap or nothing.. My daughters life is more important than stupid persons rules ...
I will let you know how she goes.. I will take photos of the arab running in the wrong direction from the cows, hahaha for you and your wife to have a chuckle at..
Helen R
(from sunny QLD)

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Dear John,
First, continued best wishes for Mrs HP's fast recovery!
Your thoughts on a couple of things, cross tying horses and step up floats (no ramps). I don't use either.
Just curious on what you think.
Regards
Sally

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30th September, 2008

DRESSAGE CLINIC

As is happens often on this Site, some people think that I am talking about the show that they were at or the horse that they own or in this case the Clinic that they were at. It is rarely the though. I had one such email the other night, from Interstate and it sparked me to think more deeply about this subject. They said this:

" hi john,
just wondering which judges clinc you refer to? I'm hoping not the clinic we just held where we did not see any horses that were worthy of more than 5-6-5-6?
If a horse has, as we were taught, 'fundamental errors'- i.e irregularity, little engagement etc, then HOW can we score them higher?

What does worry me is that judges who are learning to reward the right things in clinics are not carrying it over to the competition day, where we DO still see 5-5-5-5- for prelim horses who go around nicely, well engaged, rhymic etc - what do they expect to see for a 7? Of course leave room for the superstar horse with the 9's but really.....
Not too sure what we can do to get the learnings carried across to the competitions... So please please please dont knock our efforts... we're doing our best, as do the educators "

As it happens, I happen to think the Educators have done an appalling job over the last 20 years in this State and I believe I am backed up in reality World when you see Interstate Judges or International Judges come here and virtually always give 4-5% more than the local Judges. I am of the view that the reason Dressage Horse Sports struggle so much in this State is completely due to those in charge of the Coaching and Judging education in the last 20 years here. You can take it as read that I am never having a go at the local clubs, the volunteers, the Judges, Coaches, Riders......it is always the Administration. Tonight you are going to be subjected to "straight talk" I hope you all can survive it :)

The best example of the fact that the Administration wouldn't have a clue what they are looking at or talking about was the Ralph Isslehorst Clinic here a few months ago. The Administration were at one in the view that he had been 'WONDERFUL" and we must get him back SOOON" Most of Riders thought that he was a complete waste of space, that their attendance was a complete waste of money and that they could not be paid to go again." Not long after, he was gone. I wonder if the Administration thought the Riders had a clue? (even though half of them were too scared to say it. Probably because of their own brainwashing over the years and not game to actually have an opinion)

I like to think 'outside the square' and be completely pragmatic in all things. I am of the view that whether it be a walk trot test or a Grand Prix test, the outcome should be the same. Not 555655665565. That is a complete waste of time, effort, petrol, attendance and effort. There is no point going to the Dressage to be judged by those Judges as the true winner is never found. There are F.E.I. Judges in this state who Judge 55665565465 as well. There is one Medium Level Judge who Judges 454545454564545 across the Board.

There should be a balance to keep the Horse Industry alive and vibrant rather than chasing people out of as is currently the situation. Judging for encouragement at all costs. The problem is that the entire accent is on penalizing Horses and Riders and whittling away their maximum possible score whilst looking for only negatives and never positives. Hence the low scoring across the board in this State versus Europe. I can hear you saying, "but they are better in Europe" No they are not. The replication is exactly the same as here. Same mix of Riders. I have been to their Shows. The difference is that the Judges are not so looking to destroy the Riders' as if they were the enemy. They mark everything a point or two higher than here, no matter what the stuff up and that keeps the Industry happy, striving to improve, spending the hard earned dollars to keep on keeping on and funding Coaches, Saddle Shops and everything else in the process. That makes a strong Industry. Who give a Rats Tossbag as the Football Coach said recently, if a Prelim Horse got 54% and could never get to have a go at a bigger show or 56% so they see a light at the end of the tunnel? In saw several Horses in this State, National Class, that were stopped from going to Dressage with the Stars and other National Comps because of stingy blooding Judging by a Judge who makes out they can ride and couldn't ride in a Cart. What was it with E.I. 12 months of qualifications lost to Riders? The Sport on it's knees. Not hard enough without all that? Let no person get more than 59% so they can't progress?

Which brings me to the next point. Human frailty. It is a dead set fact that:

• Failed Dressage Riders often have the biggest chip on their shoulders and carry it throughout their Judging career, being Judges from Hell./

• That well performed Dressage Riders who Judge are almost always much fairer and more encouraging, not to mention straight nicer people.

• The 45454545454545 Judge is a failed Coach and has been sticking it to the Riders of the Industry ever since not making the grade.

• Failed Dressage Riders and Coaches are the biggest "bitches" in the Industry. "Bitches from Hell" some of them.

• and it is a fact that the female of the Human species carries far more personal baggage than Males. There is an urgent need for Male Judges.

"I'm hoping not the clinic we just held where we did not see any horses that were worthy of more than 5-6-5-6?"

That brings me to the next point. I feel that whether it is Grand Prix or Walk Trot, the same mix of scores should be achievable. Surely if you had 10 horses the same, you wouldn't have them all equal first? Surely Judges who have the right attitude could find it within their Character to split them up somehow? I could and I would. I think it is a reflection on a Judge that can't see enough to be able to find 2645647 in such horses, but to get back to Judging Clinics and who run them, this is where the problem is imho. If you have Judge Negative handling the Clinics, you are going to brain wash a lot of other "Judge Negatives" who will have paralysis of the analysis and set in negative. Which brings me to this.:

IMPORTANT STOP PRESS - THE OCTOBER COMPETITION HAS BEEN CHANGED FROM OFFICIAL/ASSOCIATE TO A CLUB DAY

Due to problems securing official judges in October, the Committee has decided to change the October competition from official/associate to a Club Day.

Tests being run will now be the 1s and 3s.

All Competitors who have already sent in their entry forms will be contacted by a member of the Committee and have the option of receiving a refund or credit.

The amended entry form is on the website. Please ensure you download the correct form. If you are seeing the old form, please make sure you reload or refresh your browser.

We apologies for any inconvenience however, this is beyond our control.

Please contact either Gerry Wellington on 83830109 or Deb Ferguson on 83883526 if you require any further information.

The Committee
Southern Vales Dressage Club
www.svdc.info

I rest my case. This is typical of an Industry that is in it's death throes. Caused by the multitudes being chased out of it by negative Judging and not enough encouragement. Who gives a toss that some prelim person only deserved 54.96% but we gave them a 55.21% to make them excited? Hell, they are not going to go and steal Gold Medals from the Dressage Queens so who the Hell cares. No, I think the Administration has "LOST THE COMMON TOUCH"

So the entire State Dressage Squad, which frequently cannot get above 60%, must be totally incompetent or could it be something else????????

Ever sat in the crowd listening, at DWTS or similar? I wish I could remember the time when I heard something positive said. All you hear is cackling or whispering "she can't ride, horse can't move, her Coach is no good, neck too short, not engaged, not straight, not soft, not supple, not connected, not 'on the bit' and not every godam thing on the Planet and from many who couldn't ride in a Cart. That is the effect Dressage Judging has on all in this Industry. The search for BAD and nothing but.
 

and so to that personal side that I was talking about. Who ever you are, I hope you enjoyed your nasty little game. You upset my wife during her sickness so you got maximum value. This is the EFA at work Ladies and Gentlemen. Penalizing my wife for my website. This would be a 4545454545 Judge.

This is the lastest Moving Forward Magazine.

So for the record, this is the first year Mrs. HP has been in the F.E.I. ranks with that Horse, not for a full year and doesn't go to many shows as she is too busy. There are only two mistakes there. Both relating to my wife and her Horse!! Notice that all Horses and Riders' are in point order, except my wife, who really achieved 3rd and appears to be listed as 5th. She deserves an apology in the next edition do you think?

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MONKEY STRAPS

I am told that a Pony Club up the Barossa way, head Instructor, won't allow the Kids to have 'Monkey Straps" Says they are for 'Monkeys" Correct me if I am wrong but the EFA has approved these as I saw my wife ride with one on her saddle. To not allow safety equipment, to Kids, at Pony Club, could well be actionable in the event of an injury and "Negligence' would not be that hard to prove. Be careful!

HOBBLE TRAINING THE FOAL

Hi john,
Just thought I'd tell you that the hobble training you recomended has saved my young horses life or at the very least some nasty wounds.

She is a bit of a pawer, and very nosey! Anyway she got her front foot caught in the ring lock (sheep fence) of the fence. When I came up to feed, no Tess! Strange I thought, I called her a she whinnied back but did not come! I envestigated and there she was standing in the fence, perfectly still, not a scratch! She had been there for awhile, and I was relieved that the hobble training she had as a foal had worked!

So thankyou for some really good advice on training that works!

Karen Lownds
www.equineart.com.au

Thanks for that Karen. Isn't it wonderful when the $1000 Vet Bill is saved and the pain and suffering of a young Horse is saved and even the life or career? I would like 10% of the value of the Horses lives I have indirectly saved through promoting this. I would be a rich Man today. Best of Luck in the Equitana Art Competition. Regards

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NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Horse is barred from pub

A horse who has been a regular at a pub for several years has been barred after the landlady bought new carpets.


Peter Dolan with cart horse Peggy as she enjoys a pint of John Smiths at the Alexandra hotel in Jarrow, South
Peggy, a 12-year-old mare, used to enjoy a pint of John Smith's bitter and a packet of pickled onion crisps alongside owner Peter Dolan inside O'Malleys in Jarrow, South Tyneside.
But when landlady Jackie Gray had the pub refitted and renamed as the Alexandra Hotel, she had to bar Peggy.
Mr Dolan said that Peggy began drinking in the pub when one day, instead of staying outside on the grass when he went inside, she followed him in and became a regular ever since.
He said: "No-one even took any notice of her.
"Everyone just saw her as one of the locals."
Mrs Gray had only just taken over the pub, said she was shocked to find one of her new regulars was a horse.
She said: "Although she is probably cleaner than some of my customers, I had to put my foot down and show her the door."
Mr Dolan, a 62-year-old retired oil rigger, said that he still brought his horse to the pub, but she remained tethered outside.
He said: "People come into the pub and the first thing they say is 'Where's Peggy?'
"I tell them she's kicked the habit and is teetotal now."

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Horse found dead from gun wound

A horse is believed to have been shot dead in a field in Surrey in an incident police have described as a "wanton act of animal cruelty".
Police said the horse appeared to have received a single shot to the neck sometime between 0800 BST and 1130 BST on Wednesday in Godstone.
Rural affairs officer for Tandridge, Pc Nick Shrapel, said he was appealing to people in the area for information.
It comes three months after a horse was burned with a cigarette in Godstone.
"This is a wanton act of animal cruelty and I am appealing to members of the equestrian and Godstone community to help us," said Pc Shrapel.
"It is particularly concerning because of the burns inflicted on another horse in the area."

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HORSE TRAINER DEAD FROM KICK

John (Jack) Wilson, a Fort Erie, Ont.-based trainer, has died after being kicked by a horse at Presque Isle Downs Racetrack in Erie, Pa.

Wilson, 88, died of apparent heart failure Saturday night in the saddling area at Presque Isle Downs. Track officials said Wilson was holding the head of his two-year-old Forbidden Dreams when the young horse reared up, striking Wilson in the face and the chest.

The veteran trainer was treated at the scene and transported to a nearby hospital where he died.

"Jack was a big part of racing at Fort Erie for many years," said Fort Erie Director of Operations Herb McGirr Sr. "He was well respected by everyone here at the track.

"This is a huge loss to our community."

Funeral arrangements have not been finalized.

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Girl trampled by horse in Hansen Dam Park airlifted to hospital



LAKE VIEW TERRACE -- A girl was airlifted to a hospital after being trampled by a horse today in Hansen Dam Park in Lake View Terrace, a city fire official said.
The accident was reported at 3 p.m. at 11798 Foothill Blvd., said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The girl was airlifted to a hospital in unknown condition, Humphrey said.
No further details were available.

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Iowa man injured when horse hit by car dies

DES MOINES, Iowa - A man who was hit by a car while riding on horse on Des Moines' southeast side has died.

Officials at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines have confirmed that Dennis Kaiser died after he was brought to the hospital in critical condition.

Police say Kaiser was riding his horse along a road when he was hit by a car Friday night. He was thrown from the horse and he was hit by a second car.

Police say that moments after the accident, Kaiser's horse was also hit by a second vehicle.

The horse was badly injured and police say it was euthanized by officers at the scene.

No arrests have been made. The investigation is continuing.

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LETTERS OF THE DAY

Hi Mr HP,

Great to see Mrs HP coming along so well.

Just a quick question on foal proud mares. I have your dvd on handling foals but I cant get near one mare as she keeps taking the foal away from me and it normally takes 3 weeks before I can get to handle the foal and being quarter horse the little bugger is already almost too strong for me. Any suggestions.

Cheers Helen

Hi Helen, run the Mare into a small yard and keep her there for 10 days until you completely train the foal. This reminds me that I wrote an article on this subject whilst sitting alongside my wife's Bed in Hospital and never put it up. Almost weekly, I get letters asking for help when people can't catch or have many other problems, with their older Foals or weanlings. I have been asked to write a time table as to when and what would I do if I had a Foal. Here it is, but first, a little about the Mare.
It is the responsibility of the Mare, as set by nature, to quickly train the Foal to flee from danger and she starts imprinting that on the night of birth. By the second day, she has the Foal running on command and she is teaching it that pretty much everything in the World is a 'predator' and that they are 'prey animals.
This 'flight from fear' was and still is the mechanism by which the Horse protects itself from all things dangerous but the only trouble these days is that there are few 'predators' in our Society and that propensity to run, can be the very thing that causes them the most danger throughout their lives and in an ironic way, the most injuries.
The deeper the Mare instills this distrust in the Foal, the more difficult the Foal is to domesticate and train for us Humans. This distrust also causes the young Horse more grief during the breaking in process and above all, the most potential danger of injury. Such injuries include ripping their legs to the bone in fences or whatever they may get caught up in because their natural imprinted instinct is to rip and pull away to run, no matter what part of their Body is left behind and that is exactly what many of them do.
Different Mares have differing levels of imprinting of the Foal. Some are over the top and have the Foals absolutely feral in no time and impossible to catch going forward. If I see a Mare behaving like that after day one, I do something about it. I pen the Mare and Foal for a while until I get a complete handle on the Foal and over ride the Mares training to where the Foal won't run away any more and will disregard Mother :) They really love that hehehe.
For in this day and age, in the domesticated Horse World, the more Human friendly the Foal is, the easier it's life is going to be. The 'flight from fear' can be their biggest danger and I have seen many a case of serious injury and death caused by it. I reflect upon some as I write. Broken legs, cracked vertebrae, fractured skulls and so on.
Regards

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G'Day John,
My 3 1/2 Clydie x QH is currently at the trainers, who has been working with him for a week now.
He was very green when I got him and he felt very unbalanced to me on the first few rides, so I have sent him to a pro.
His walk and trot have improved and he knows how to turn and stop without booring down on the reins,so Im very pleased with that.
But he keeps falling over at a canter,Its like his front feet fold under him, he makes little to no atempt to rebalance and down he goes.he fell twice in my round yard whilst I was free lunging,and he has recently fallen with the trainer who was riding him at the time. today he almost fell while going in a straight line in the arena.
It is becoming a worry,
Give my regards to Linda,
Thanks John
Nat

That is a real worry Nat. Of course the feet have to be looked at, the balance between front and backs, making sure the break over is happening correctly. A video would be better for this one but it would be interesting to see a side on shot of the Horse whilst standing square. Is it built 'on the forehand" Is the Horse young and not fully mature?? It may be that you turn it out so that it's whither can catch up with the rump???? It could be a lack of preparation, lack of strength in the Horse and not able to carry a Rider adequately. Let me know.

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 Hi. Your website was pretty darn helpful and specific.but my problem with nervousness occurs when I'm on the ground with her, not on her back. My trainer says that shes never come across that in 20 years experience,but that it will lesson over time as me and Sophie get to know each other.I think my fear of being on the ground with her may stem from a "hit and run" thing when I was a kid. anyway, I was wondering if you had any great, practical tips like in you nervous rider thing that might be more specific to my situation. Thank you TC

I don't TC. I have never written such an article because, as your Trainer says, you are rare :) Look, get yourself a Natural Horsemanship accredited Trainer in and you learn the 7 Games completely, on this HOrse. That will fix your nerves and may save you getting bucked off as well. THE 7 GAMES OF NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP Regards

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Hi John


We have a 4 week old quarter horse colt, who we have been handling from birth. Both he and mum are very friendly and the foal has been well handled (can lift feet), run hands and rope all over him including girth and poll, restrain him and lift him off the ground, and groom him, handle ears and mouth. We don’t have a clue about halter breaking. We are novices just breaking into the horse world. He is a beautiful boy, very calm and trusting, and will run up to us and any person (even those unknown to him) for a cuddle, even when out in the 100 acre paddock.

The breeder of the mare has offered to halter break the colt prior to gelding him, she has lovely well behaved quarter horses and paints. We want the best for our boy, and don’t want to mess him up. Do you come out to properties to halter break foals, or can you recommend anyone (we are at Springton near Mt Pleasant). I have just read your foal handling and halter breaking page and you recommend doing it very young. Also what age do you recommend gelding? That depends on whether you want them to grow tall or be more chunky. 6 months if you want height and as old as possible (2 year old) if you can handle them that is :) if you want bodily maturity.

If you do halter break foals do you come out to our property and how much do you charge? I can't get away at the moment Steve.

Also can you recommend any reading or DVDs regarding handling and socializing youngsters. We are hoping to show this boy, just so he gets out and about and well socialized. This is our first foal and having only owned horses since the beginning of this year we are very very green but really trying to learn.

Hoping to hear from you soon.

Kind regards

Stephen and Gina


PS our TB mare who would not float (rearing evasion), now floats and loaded and unloaded several times prior to be taken away for mating to a quarter horse stallion (thanks to NH methods, your website and the help of the QH breeder of our mare and foal).


PPS Also now have a lovely10 year old QH gelding, western trained also ex-polocross horse. Such a gentleman and real confidence builder. We are with you, who would want a TB – they are not worth the paper their names are written on.


PPSS – glad to see that Mrs HP is recovering well. We were shocked at her accident, and it really threw us confidence wise knowing that someone so experienced can have such a nasty accident, as we are middle aged very green beginners.


PPPSSS – really enjoy your website –always find something new and enlightening even though I have read each page a hundred times.

Well done Steve and Gina. I remember meeting you some time back and you have done really great with your educational efforts and progress. THE 7 GAMES OF NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP Learn that and teach this young one that from as soon as he is halter broken. That will give you what you need with your Showing. Believe me. Regards


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Hi John,

I don't know anything about a fractured hock, but my horse fractured his pelvis and had to be confined for 2 months. I found that it was not bordom that got to him so much as companionship, for the first 2 weeks he was not allowed out of his stable at all. After that I was allowed to walk him about 35-50 steps out of his stall. Gradually we got more and more steps, but he got more and more withdrawn and while he was walking better, he was not looking better in his self. When he was allowed to walk the distance to the closest small yards I asked permission to put him in a small yard for the day, so he spent the next month in a small yard for the day and in a stable at night time. This improved him massively, as he could see other people and horses all day. So i would forget the toys, see if you can get him close to other calm horses that will not upset him in his confined space, or see if you can keep a horse in the stable next to him. This is the one thing I wish i could have done for my boy when he was injured because i think it was the one thing that affected him the most. That and as much lower quality but still patitable hay you can so he can munch all day =] Spend as much time as you can with him, and keep an eye out for thrush, because they are not walking around as much as they would normally and being in bedding, combines to make them more seceptible.

hope this helps

Thanks
Kristy

Good one Kristy. Thanks for that.

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I was just wondering if you could give me a rough idea of what it costs to construct an arena. Any details are appreciated, but I'm just trying to get a feel for an overall cost before I go adventuring blind as can be.
Thanks
Grace

That depends on how you go about it Grace. Whether you have to cut into Hills, if you have flat land or if you have access to clean fill. If smart, cost would be on average $6-8000. If not smart, $20,000. Read this: CONSTRUCTION OF THE DRESSAGE ARENA WHILE SAVING
THOUSANDS $$$$$

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I couldn’t link to your letters so I hope sending you an E-mail like this is okay.


My first horse problem I would like to ask you about is regarding my 13 yr old daughters Stock Horse. We were after a horse that my daughter could ride at the Stock Horse shows. So she would be able to ride in the working classes, hack, dressage and sporting. The breeder knew what we were looking for and it turns out we bought a horse trained for polo. I rang up the stud where we bought him from and he said no. Anyway, everyone who looks at him says he’s been trained for polo and the other day a horse breaker looked at him resisting contact with his head in the air and made the comment that the horse was trained for polo. He also said to lunge him with side reins. Well, we lunge him with a chambon & I noticed that he scrunches his neck & body up in the trot and I can’t get him into a canter at all on the lunge. I now combine neck massage while lunging & riding plus some hill work & it seems to be helping but his canter is still awful & he can’t maintain it for more than 2 or 3 strides. I also can’t work out how much pressure I should be using on the outside rein. Nice & soft he goes down but moves to the outside rein or cuts in on the turn. A bit more pressure and he resists. Have you got any tools that can help me to help my horse or should I consider investigate getting him rebroken?

Bi chance he would have been ridden in a 'tie down' Danielle and of course, that is the end of the line for Horses. You can't get any more incompetent. You are experiencing the results. You don't need him re-broken, you need the Horse re-mouthed. Which State are you in?

My second horse problem is this big 16.3 TB for a 5’3 woman. He was once lazy & underweight buy 160 kg, now I feed him a lot of feed and now he has abundance of energy which is good but because he has such huge movement it can be a bit scary. I also took the Pelham bit away & I now ride him in a snaffle. However, the real scary part is when he gets carried away and he thinks I’m going to ask for canter, so off he goes & I ask for trot & he says no I’m going to canter. He actually reared up on me the other day. Anyway, the owner of the agistment property rode him ages ago and said his mouth is like a brick & suggested I do leg yielding. Well it helps but he still gets excited and want to canter so now I’ve had to include the one rein stop. The other day I could not pull him up with the one rein stop at all. He is a big horse & if he wants to go that way he will. Someone else said to me that if you use a harsh bit you develop a hard mouth. If this is true, the previous owners used a Pelham bit on him because he is a big horse & ridden by a very nervous lady. Well I don’t frighten easily but when he goes of in his merry way yes, it can be frightening but my instructor yell at me to ride him through it and tell him to get on with it and so that’s what I do. I also use my body & weight to ask for a halt & I don’t think I’m strong enough to get him to stop. ( He’s big & I’m small). If I use my hands to assist the halt he goes of sideways or shakes his head

Anyway, I hope you can help me. Anything will be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Danielle

Once again Danielle, the Horse needs re-mouthing. I have to say that it is also ridiculous for the 5'3 Lady to be riding the 16.3hh Horse (which I see regularly and meet a lot of Ladies who have a fetish about that) and so you should sell the Horse and get one your own size!! The problem is largely of your own making then. You may get hurt if you keep this up :(  Instructors' who yell out "Ride him through it" almost always do not know what they are talking about and do not have the answers. Get a decent Instructor. They then, if decent, should be able to advise you how to fix your Horses. My wife would!!!! Best of Luck

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28th September, 2008

DRESSAGE JUDGES CLINIC

Dressage Judging Clinics are the place where young Dressage Judges should be started out with a good attitude, positive, encouraging and not negative like some are. Therefore, if you have a negative Judge teaching the young Judges, that is not good imho. Judges who are always 5556556655565 should never be let near young Judges. Humans become clones of their peers. If the peer is negative and you couldn't excite them with a feather up their pants, then the Sport of Dressage has to be boring as a result. Remember young Judges.. Anky gets 85% and she can't make her horse halt on entrance or exit and broke in at least one other movement. Rise above negativity I say! or this State will always be a 55665565655 state. Yes, there have been some improvement over the last two years but not across the board.

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I have backed off Horse work whilst Mrs. HP cannot walk as if I got hurt we would be finished. However, this morning I had the pleasure of seeing a young Horse that I started a couple of years ago and as he hadn't been ridden for a few months, worked with him a bit to ensure his safety for a young Lady who is trialing him. It never ceases to amaze me how they don't forget. Anyhow, she rode him around the property and he was a perfect Boy. Here is his first, 2nd and 5th rides back then.

  Mrs. HP supervised off the Gator :)

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GOSSIP OF THE DAY

I am told on pretty good authority that there is a Farrier on York Peninsula that is a bit of a Ladies Man and likes to slap the odd married Lady's rump when the Husbands are not around and making sexual advancements via words in front of Kids. Someone over there should let some of the Husbands know as most wouldn't as they would not be Horsy and hopefully someone can give him a smack in the chops.

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WOMAN GETS KILLED - THROWN FROM HORSE

A Surry County woman died last night after being thrown from a horse, authorities said this morning.
Lisa Anne Goad, 40, was riding a horse at about 6:30 p.m. on Mickey Lane, near her house in Mount Airy. The horse reared, throwing her off the back of the animal, John Shelton, Surry County EMS director said.
Goad landed on asphalt pavement and struck her head, Shelton said. She was taken to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, where she died from her head injury, Shelton said.

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TRUCK HIT - HORSES INJURED

Three people were hurt yesterday when a pickup truck towing a trailer with two horses inside was struck by another pickup truck at State Rt. 295 and Archbold-Whitehouse Road in Whitehouse, authorities said.
The names of those hurt, including the man and woman in the vehicle towing horses and the woman driving the other pickup, were not released. All were taken to St. Luke's Hospital, Whitehouse police said.
The pickup that was towing the trailer was eastbound on Archbold-Whitehouse about
3:30 p.m. when the driver failed to stop at the posted stop sign at State Rt. 295. The pickup which struck the truck towing the horse trailer was northbound on Route 295, police said.
The door of the trailer opened as the vehicle jackknifed after the collision, and at least one of the two horses got out of the trailer, police said.
A passer-by took control of the two horses, which were not hurt. A person living nearby housed the animals until a veterinarian retrieved them, police said.

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Horse removal appeal thrown out


The horses were seized from Ty Newydd farm earlier this year
A woman has lost her appeal against a council's decision to seize her malnourished horses.
Earlier this year, a total of 31 horses were taken from Anita Ashley's land in Llandegla, in Denbighshire.
Her appeal was thrown out after Mold Crown court was told she had sent a letter indicating that she was too ill to attend.
The judge ordered Ashley, 55, to pay £3,800 in costs, on top of the £20,000 demanded at an earlier hearing.
The court heard that, starting next week, an attempt would be made to sell some of the horses to offset part of the costs incurred, though most of the animals would be homed through horse charities.
Unfit
The horses were seized after vets called in by Denbighshire County Council certified that the fields in which they were kept at Coral Springs and Ty Newydd, Llandegla, were unfit.

Locals said horses were kept in fields next to the farm
At the time, a council official said there was a lack of fodder, pasture was extremely sparse and the horses' fields were littered with wire and metal.
At an earlier hearing Miss Ashley said she was in hospital when the animals were seized, and that she had planned to sell most of them within a few weeks.
Duncan Lloyd, who abandoned his appeal against the seizure of his six horses, was ordered to pay £2,600 in costs on top of the £2,500 costs already ordered in the magistrates.
Judge Dafydd Hughes also made an order that both Ashley and Lloyd should within the next ten days deliver to the county council all the relevant horse passports and documentation so that they can be rehoused.

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Horse put down after getting hit by a car



BATON ROUGE,  A vehicle at the intersection of McCleland Drive and Hollywood Street hit a horse Thursday afternoon.

Police on the scene say the horse ran from between two houses.

The accident broke the horse's leg and the animal had to be put to sleep.

The owner of the horse refused to comment about the accident.

 

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HORSE FOUND ON 12TH FLOOR

Police called to investigate a strange smell in a block of flats found a horse jammed into a ventilation shaft 12 storeys up.

Residents in the tower block in Prokuplje, southern Serbia, called police and when officers arrived they said the smell was so bad they ordered the building to be evacuated because of fears the overpowering fumes could be lethal.

A police spokesman said: "The smell was absolutely noxious. We had no idea what it was at first and did not want to take any risks.

"We even had to call in a special unit which deals with dangerous chemicals. Eventually though our officers tracked down the stink to the air vents and finally found the putrefying remains which were identified as a horse.

"How on earth someone managed to get a horse's body 12 storeys up and why someone would put it there though we have no idea."

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LETTER OF THE DAY

HORSEMANSHIP FOUNDATIONS

Hi John

an update on my horse that had started to scramble, for no apparent reason.

Friend took us to a very close dressage day the other weekend. We had been talking out what we could do and decided to try him with a 3/4 bum bar (so 3/4 of the width of the float with the divider on the angle, making the bay bigger). Well, he travelled rock solid like he used to and we were both extremely relieved. We are planning to take him in the same set up to the place that he had the bad trip from. If he handles the trip well, we will reduce back to a normal bay for the return trip - does that sound like a good plan? If he travels fine we will try to float with another horse the trip after. Because he is finer and hence lighter than the horses we travel with, he gets the left side, which my friend said is the harder side. He has always been on that side and has not had issues before this, so hopefully we are on track to fixing it.

The initial loading to go the dressage day took a little while, which is understandable given it was his first float ride after the bad trip. Loaded and unloaded him a few times before we set off and did that again when we got to the dressage day and repeated at both ends again when we went home. I was probably spending 20 mins at a time, so compared to other floaters it isn't a considerable delay and is worth the time to have him comfortable and relaxed about it again.

I did have a question. Yes, my friend did have the 3/4 bum bar so we could move the divider. How would you float without a bum bar? Definitely a no goer with my horse as I am sure he would try to exit as you were lowering the ramp and that would be a disaster (he can rush off, so that is being addressed at present too).

Great to hear Linda is ever on the improve.

K

I presume then that you had the division over to the right with the Horse still on the left side??? If you didn't and had him on the right, you may get problems when you switch back. I don't quite understand the 3/4 bum bar bit. If a division is over to the wall, surely at the rear, the Horse has the full width??? and then how would a 3/4 bum bar work????? Sorry. With regard to the exit, I presume you, like most people, expect to be lowering the back ramp down with your hands, bending your back and have visions of the horse running out and tearing your back muscles???? Most English foundation people I see....virtually 100% now that I think about it, do that. Once again, lack of Horsemanship training in the system putting suspect foundation stones on new starters like so many other things too. Like:\

• Lifting the back ramp down in a creepy fashion, thus severely endangering the owners whilst inviting the horse to run out onto a back ramp that is in mid air, giving the horse a fright when it suddenly gives way and compounds the running out problem even more...or

• The moment a Horse gets 1mm into the float and past the rear bum bar, scream SHUT THE GATE!!!!!!!!!

• The old bum rope trick, the feed em in the float trick, the lift up a hoof and place it on the ramp only to have the horse immediately take it off and place it on the ground lol There are many others.

All are anti training and skirting around training. Missing the 'training opportunity"

So to your Horse running out, I open the back and throw it to the ground from the side so as to not get crushed. The Horse gets such a shock it hesitates anyhow as it says "Geez, what was that?" Simultaneously having your handler there with the long whip to immediately retrain and fix the Horse from rushing out.....but back to your original question, don't take anything for granted and don't think that the Horse won't do it again when you replace the divider. I take it the divider is only 300mm from top to bottom? Regards
 

LETTERS OF THE DAY

I have attached some photos that my farrier showed me of feet she worked on last week…the owners told her it hadn’t been ”that” long since the pony’s feet had been done!!


See you both soon

JosieX


Yea Right. They come up with some goodies, don't they? I had a couple like that in the past and remember getting my 9 inch cut off saw out to get back to where I could start rasping. Poor little horsy. Thanks for the pics.

 

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hi
hey, i know ive sent you a lot of pointless emails in the past, but this one will be nice and quick lol. ok, do you think arabs are particularly hard to retrain? ive been told that theyre pretty much impossible to properly retrain because theyre so much smarter than people. ive only heard that from one person, and i dont know if theres any truth in that (maybe theyre just really dumb, and all there horses outsmarted them or something) but im a little worried. also, do you think lunging helps to slow a horse down and make it more receptive, or do you think its better to do pretty much all training in the saddle? thanks,
-claire

No matter the Breed Claire, if the Human hasn't got the I/Q worthy of Training the Horse, they won't be able to train any of them. They may even have trouble training 'a creeper up a wall' :) Many good things can be achieved in the Round Pen of course but lunging is pretty much a 'waste of space' other than to make horses fitter or more pee'd off. It doesn't re-train horses. Regards

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Hello,

I was going through some youtube videos this morning and luckily happened upon your great videos and web address.

I won't blow too much smoke up your butt about how great you are, but I'm highly impressed with your attitude and skills.

I took a position as a caretaker on a gentleman's horse farm in New Jersey(U.S.A.) last year. I've never been around horses much in my life
but the trade off for taking care of the horses and grounds for free rent was good enough to sign on. It's interesting how over a year now I've simply done my chores without giving much thought as to what the behavior of the horses had to do with me. They are pretty well behaved for the most part even the stallion is pretty gentle.

Recently one of the female horses started gaining a lot of weight and had a bad look in her eyes......long story short she is "insulin resistant."

I have to lunge her twice a day for 10 to 20 minutes a session. I was using the round training pen for quite a few weeks. The owner of the horse farm bought a new lunge line and told me to take her into the sand arena and lunge her on the line to break up her routine. Everything was going good until one morning I was pressed for time and opted to go for the round pin to save myself time.

I led her out to the round pen and as soon as she saw I was taking her right to the door of the pen she absolutely flipped her lid. She started backing up and
shaking her head and basically telling me she was not going in there to run her ass off. So after 5 mins. or so I gave up and took her to the sand and lunged her on the line.

Since then I have yet to get her in that round pen again.

HELP.

Thank you for the knowledge you present on a world wide format and bringing your knowledge to the masses.

Thanks,

Gregory - Horseman Antiques

Hi Greg. Once again, we see the Horse being smart enough to communicate with us and of course she was telling you that she knew what was coming. We always must open our mind wider however. To be a top hand with Horses, I believe that our thoughts should always go further than the obvious. Could it be that the sand was thicker in the Round Pen than on the arena? Was that hurting her, causing discomfort? Was it easier on the sand arena? and then experimentation is the next key. Lunging on the sand arena for a period, does she suddenly appear to be getting reticent to go there? Then the questions must come again. Is she being a smarty, is lunging in circles fair on this horse with this condition, have her feet been tested and has she got a touch of laminitis or similar, due to the insulin resistance? So many questions. If and when we are then happy that we have answered the Veterinary, you could tie her to the round pen fence a few days and give her a special feed or you could train her the 7 games and drive her to and into it or you could have simply hung off her head with passive persistence, as long as it too, no matter how far she dragged you, waiting for the eventual 'give' and your instant reward, release, rest, encourage and re-start. Repeat, repeat and in the end, she will be in the round pen and you will have lightened her up in the head department. Rope Halter of course and hanging off her head with 50kg when she says no. Providing your timing is spot on, you will not fail. Regards

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Hi John and Linda

We made our debut today at Mt C. Heres a pic, not a very good one but my friend mainly took video and only a couple of snaps..........

She was SUCH A GOOD GIRL, so relaxed and an absolute dream

Not sure how we scored or placed but it doenst matter cos im thrilled :)

Hope Linda is feeling better and hopefully see you both soon
XXXXXXXXXXX

Thank you !!!!!

I just found out that we WON the class with an average of 66.33 % !!! YAY

It was only a prep test but still im stoked :)

No doubt about ya :) Linda had another Pupil have her second start there and won too, beating a NAME ;)
 

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Hello HP,

Sorry to hear of Mrs HP's fall, I bet it is great for both of you for her to be home. People (and
animals) seem to heal and recover so much better when they are home. We are sending many healing vibes Mrs HP's way and wish her a very speedy recovery.

Now to my reason for emailing. This week when browsing in a bookshop I came across a copy of Black Beauty. I have never actually read the story but have seen the movie several times, but could never watch past the fire scene (which I am now up to now funnily enough). my impression of the story with my very long distant memories was 'it is just another horse story' but in reading it, it is amazing that from the horses perspective that what is written rings true. The first 15 chapters talk about the cruelties and kindnesses of man and how many times have I seen this is the real world? Oh my, too many to count. I even had a breif thought of 'early pony club style'
when the author wrote of how a horse was being led lol.

Anyway I just wanted to share my thoughts of this classic book. The author must have had a very deep understanding of these wonderful animals. It should be mandatory for all Pony club mums and older people that are bored and decide to try owning horses a go to read this book, and look at it through an adults perspective and see the book for the hidden depth that is missed in our childhood.

Again we wish Mrs HP a speedy recovery and you make sure you look after yourself too Mr HP.

Jennifer and Sparky

That's amazing Jen. I never read if of course. I was "the Phantom" Boy :) When I retire I shall thanks to you. Ta. and thanks for the wishes. She is here gass bagging to Holland. Her Cousin just won a job in the Hague, writing Judgments for a Judge. She is 26. Regards

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Hi john.
Linda  here.
Could you help me out with a problem with my two horse`s..............I have sent you email`s be for with
Problems................I have a Arab mare her name is bella.........and her 18 months old foal his name is jessie..........bella has always had gum nuts wait lifter .....and pony pellets for her breakfast....... and jessie
Just has pony pettets.........then the both have there hay...............now my problem is the last two mornings
They both don't wont there breakfast...........do they change eating habits as the seasons change?as it is spring now and they have eaten the same breakfast all winter.........is it something I need to worry about..........it`s strange because they both went of breakfast at the same day and time.
Hope you can help.
linda.

I could only imagine that a new batch (fresh) of pellets had been Manufactured and sent to the Fodder Stores. Sometimes there may be a slight change in taste. I notice it here when we get a Truck in. Or, they are getting enough Spring Grass and can't fit any more in. They are in very good condition :) Well looked after Horses like these are almost always 'fussy'...just like us Humans. Whenever I get something like this happen, I will not wet the feed down so I don't waste any but I will not feed them again until they get over themselves and eat it. I see Horses refuse to eat a change of pellet. Different one. Changing from Calm Performer to All Phaze. We had it just recently. Spoilt Horses :) Not mine, my wife's :) You need to rule out any Human intervention......sabotage and keep your wits about you. Experiment a bit. Regards

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Dear John,
I guess I didn't give you enough information when I asked my question. I ride western and I do not use bits on my horses. They use bitless bridles. When the head tossing and chest biting occured, we were on the trail and the reins were hanging loosely on her neck. There is nothing in her mouth to bother her so I can't figure it out. Other times when we are out she is perfectly fine and there are no problems. But once in awhile she goes into goofy behaviour throwing her head around, switching her tail so bad she hits me with it and the chest biting. There are bugs out there but they aren't that bad and the other horses don't do this. I haven't got a clue what is wrong.

Araine Adams
Manitoba, Canada

Mmmmmm, that's a bit weird. You may not see it with the Human eye but could there be patches of very small insects being scared up ahead of the Horse? Could it be the objection to the design of the bitless? If a wrap around pulley type movement I can understand the Horse speaking with you. Sore bridge of the nose or beneath the jaws?? Investigate. Checked the Teeth lately?? With a Torch?? No side sharp edges way down the back that is having the side skin of the mouth being pushed against them via the inside gums and the workings of the bitless?? Read the Horse. Is it body language to others?? With the Tail, either discomfort or insects. Regards

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Dear John, very glad to hear that all is going well for Linda. Good photo of her in hospital and nice to see she can still smile. Keep looking after her! Anyway, I had another riding lesson yesterday with my VERY VERY patient instructor! I finally get what she has been hammering into me about keeping the hands still but relaxed and allowing George to go forward and what a soft mouth feels like and what to do when George hangs into the bit. Finally! What an amazing thing! It is something both George and I have finally assimilated - he tries and I now know how to change it and George is trying less and less and moving forward better and better but with BRAKES! In fact, the brakes are so good that I think we have installed ABS on George as he will/can/DOES stop within a stride - first time it happened I nearly went over his head, good for a laugh and I KNOW that he will stop when asked. Of course, as you know, horses learn these things really quickly - it takes the riders a while to get it right. But I am and naturally everytime I do something not quite right George is there to 'tell on me' and let my instructor know I forgot something or didn't do it correctly! George is turning into a real schoolmaster and he is at least as patient also. So now we have a credible trot happening and I can keep George at it without help, and he has tried all the learned evasions to stop me (well they used to work!) and keep us at a walk but I have ridden him through these little ploys and now we have less and less and a super smooth flowing trot, soon we will move onto the canter and that should be fun too. Now on to Smoochie...he is currently in our own little Jenny Craig paddock and not very happy about his limited food options of hay or hay or water and hay. Still I keep telling him it is for his own good, but I don't think his stomach is listening very well, soon he will be in work and will go back to his regular paddock with George who is looking decidedly nice and getting nicely rounded but doesn't have Smooches portly rotundedness....we have decided that if Smooch was a person he would be like one of the boys hanging out in the streets with his pants hanging down round his knees, cap on backwards talking rap and carrying concealed weapons...a real street punk...George would be wearing blue jeans and a nice shirt, no hat but a mobile phone and a pen in his pocket and probably an earring too, nothing over the top but clean casual. LOL Anyway that's my flight on fantasy for this week...
The boys send Linda nickers and soft velvet noses and gently nibble
Regards Lauren, George and His Rotund Portliness Smooch!

Haha, well written again Lauren. You would not be out of Place in the Mid Somer Murders :) It sounds as if you have a great Instructor there. Better hang onto them. George does sound the perfect Horse for you. To learn from them, being dobbed in or not, is the best instruction you will ever get. x

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Awwwwwww John,


What a shame about the roses...... never mind, these things happen, you had a few things to think about and it's easily done, and thankyou for being so humble to mention it!!! (You could have got away with it you know!)
Both Cybele and I see the funny side of it...:o)

Anyway, it's great news that you are all doing well and slowly getting back on track!!

I have them in water and are checking them. Their leaves are softer :( Here's hoping and many thanks once again. I feel terrible :(

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Dear HP

My horse has fractured his hock and has to be stabled for the next 4 weeks at least. He is a very fit Thoroughbred and he is used to living out 24/7. I hand walk him and take him for a pick every morning and evening for one hour, my vet has told me this will not hamper his recovery. He has been locked up for almost 2 weeks now and is doing well, he doesn't hate me yet!

Can you suggest any good safe stable toys that I can make for him, or reccommend an article where you discuss boredom breaking? I can only find hideous things like this metal kebab stick that hangs at head height http://stablemate.org/ looking like an accident waiting to happen.

Regards
Soraya Saikal

That looks a worry Soraya!! There are similar hanging plastic wheels with licks for Horses that I see in the stables here. They look like a hard gel and the horses must lick them as it swings from the roof as they all end up eventually eating it all. That would have to be time consuming. Apart from that, I am not a Toy type person and so have limited knowledge but others will no doubt know and help you. Keep watching. Hope the Horse recovers well!!

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24th SEPTEMBER, 2008

My wife is watching me as I type :) She is happy and on full care as she can't use the leg for 10 days and then 10kg to start. District Nurse came today and dressed her wounds which were great. Meanwhile, I drove to Noarlunga to see my Dad in the Noarlunga Hospital and I was very impressed. Light, bright, had a real buzz about the place and happy staff with smiling faces. I asked them if Dad had any injuries because I couldn't find out at the Flinders Hospital and they all smiled and looked at each other. I knew what they were thinking. Stay out of there folks. Anyhow, he had no injuries. Had been up an Apricot Tree the day before, sawing a limb off :) He reckoned he started speeding up down a little Hill and couldn't slow down. hahahaha. Ended up running before he fell. Excuse me for laughing lol. Anyhow, we are waiting for a spot in the Yankalilla Nursing Home, a place where he has gone and entertained them with his Irish songs for the last few years so hope he will get some brownie points. Gawd, I pity them :)

APPOLOGY

I have an admission and an apology to make tonight. A very lovely Lady from Perth had sent us two gorgeous pink standard roses, to cheer us up after my wife's accident. I was so pre-occupied I didn't open the box until tonight and they were dying :( I want to thank her very much and let her know that I will go and buy two new one's tomorrow and plant them in honour of her. Thankyou.

TIP OF THE DAY

" When crossing back leg straps of a Horse Rug over between the back legs of a Horse, NEVER place your entire hand over the other strap. If the Horse gets a fright you can be dragged and kicked to death"

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HORSE TRAILS

Well, it took 6 years but they arrived yesterday. This is out my gate and the surveyors are supplying measurements to the Engineers to build a roundabout and a bitumen street into the Housing Development nearby. The Street ensures the end of option one for the access to all of the Trails and the roundabout should kill option two. Two years ago, in the presence of Councilors, we were assured no problems. I even put it in writing to the Manager City Assets. He never responded. Perhaps we now know why. I wonder who are looking after the Rate Payers in this District?

Don't spend that Government $5000 Jim. They have no idea where the Horse Trails are going, if at all!!! I would be sending it back to Rec and Sport and letting them know Council has let you down. :(

COUNCIL CORRUPTION

There is a Parliamentary enquiry running at the moment, into Council Corruption. I wonder is our one involved? On an unrelated matter though, I read today where the recently resigned Chief Executive Officer of the Tea Tree Gully Council, had suggested an extra payment of $95,000 odd for him to go a year early. So he got $252,644 instead. How are you doing out there in struggle land Folks? Are you as fat as he is? I call that 'snouts in the trough' and those in charge of the Organization should hang their heads in shame for wasting our hard earned money like that in times like these.

So he gets a fortune and the youth of the District and the Sporting Organizations get the 'raw prawn' What a wonderful organization it is????? 

Have you been victimized by Council? or an Officer of Council? The Ombudsman wants to hear from you. Free Call 1800182150.

Could this be a sign of Council Corruption? The Tea Tree Gulley Council? Over 12 months ago, Jim Thompson, the President of Pegasus, when he was upset at his pleadings for 15 years for the Pony Club to be moved to what is now to be Harpers Fields Football and Cricket Ovals, put in a freedom of information request to Council and had the privilege of paying $30 or so to do so. Go figure that? We own the District and we have to pay to ask a question. He has never been given an answer to his questions. Is that corruption?

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GROWING AND HARVESTING SHEAVED HAY

I was gong through some photos the other day and found these. I was told by the old Locals that you couldn't grow a crop on my new place near the Beach. (1975) So I thought I would go one better and grow a shandy, wheat and oats so that we could cut wheaten and oaten chaff mix. Well, a few months later, they had to eat humble pie and drive past it every day hahaha.

Then we purchased, re-built and mastered the confounded machine called the 'Binder' from the 1800's. We made out own sheaved hay and stooked it.

 

Then we carted it in and stacked it with pitch forks

and later forked it up onto this truck. Not a bad little crop on the Beachside Salty Soil ?

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THE RACE TO TRAIN A WILD HORSE IN 100 DAYS

MOUNTAIN HOME — The strains of an instrumental song by The Eagles drift across the empty arena, evoking an image of the Old West as Arvell Bass, in chaps and boots, walks slowly across the arena dirt toward a gate.

He swings his leg over and climbs up before turning to look at his horse, Prince, who waits patiently in the middle of the arena.

Bass makes a sound, and Prince starts to slowly walk toward Bass, eventually reaching him, and turning so Bass can climb on.

Bass, 44, is a Mountain Home-area horseman and trainer. Prince is a mustang. According to dictionaries, mustang comes from the Spanish mesteno or mestengo, which means stray animal.

Less than 100 days ago, the two met when Bass entered the Extreme Mustang Makeover competition. Bass is one of 150 trainers who were accepted into the competition. Each trainer received a mustang with 100 days to train the horse for the competition.

“The Bureau of Land Management actually manages the horse herds on federal lands,” Bass said. “Some very intelligent person came up with this contest, and they call it the ‘Extreme Mustang Makeover,’ which means that 150 trainers each get a horse fresh out of the wild and 100 days to train it, and you show up in Fort Worth to see who has the best horse.” The Bureau of Land Management is trying to raise awareness and save the mustangs, he said.

“It’s about America’s wild horses and how nice they can be and to increase adoption rates,” Bass said. “There are 30, 000 horses out there. There is high competition for grazing rights on federal lands. The ranchers want to shoot them. You do have to do something. You don’t want them starving to death, so they are considering getting rid of quite a few right now. They are trying to get rid of stallions and make mares infertile.” Bass said as a horse trainer, wild does not mean bad.

“Wild means, to me, pure,” he says as he gently strokes Prince. “The wildest horses are the easiest-trained horses.” Every day they work together, 10 or 15 minutes at a stretch, two or three times a day, honing their performance.

Bass said he has trained mustangs before for others.

“[Prince ] was my only clean slate, if you will,” Bass said. “We are buddies now. He came from Pioche, Nev., which is about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas, right out in the desert. He was captured a year-and-a-half ago in February of ’ 07. But they are held in these big holding facilities, big pens, and they are still very wild. He was wild as a deer when I got him. They cannot be any wilder.” Once Prince arrived, Bass realized that the clock was ticking and that he had 100 days to train Prince.

“But instead of just training him, I had a plan that I wanted to be able to ride him for the competition without a bridle,” Bass said. “I had high expectations. So, you cannot mess that up in the beginning. You can put a big bit in a horse’s mouth and have him respect you no matter what and jerk their head off for doing something wrong. But, for a horse to listen to little subtle cues, obey you and not get scared takes a whole other approach.” Bass said he taught Prince to look at him as a safety zone, giving him every drop of water, every piece of hay, every piece of grain.

“I wanted him to associate me with something good,” Bass said. “He immediately accepted me.” Bass said he has trained horses all his life.

“This is one of the most challenging because of the time,” Bass said. “Prince is one of the easiest horses I have ever trained. That is not hard to believe if you think about this horse being pure. He has not been messed with by humans. He has not been fed carrots, he has a lot of fear, or, the word I like to use is respect, of the human. So, you never have to whack him.” After the competition, the horses were to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Bass hoped to win the $ 12, 500 prize money so he can use it to get Prince back.

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74 horses to be re-tested for equine flu

ALL 74 horses at a New South Wales quarantine station are being retested for equine influenza (EI) after one horse returned a positive result, federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke says.

While the horse in question at the Eastern Creek Quarantine Facility, in western Sydney, had returned a negative result after the same sample was re-tested, all the horses at the centre would be retested, Mr Burke said today.

Al the horses would remain in quarantine until they were given the all-clear.

"Right at this point, I'm not at the stage of being able to say it's time to relax because the second result came back as a negative," Mr Burke said.

"We know how devastating (EI) was a year ago. The billion-dollar figure is often quoted, the truth is we'll never know the full cost of that outbreak," he said.

New South Wales Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said earlier that there was serious concern the devastating disease could return to Australia.

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Regulators enact whip ban for harness racing

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Monday approved a ban on abusive whipping in harness racing, making the state the first North American racing jurisdiction to outlaw "side" whipping.

"Once again, the KHRC has moved forcefully to enhance the safety of horse racing," said Gov. Steve Beshear in a statement. "I am proud that Kentucky is at the forefront of states acting on behalf of the humane treatment of trotters and pacers."

The new rules will go into effect in spring 2009, after a public comment period.

Drivers will no longer be allowed to lean out whip horses as the come down the stretch, something that has become routine practice in the United States. They will be required to keep one rein in each hand.

"Snappers" -- strands on the end of a whip that can cause welts -- also are banned.

The new rules also carry stiff penalties, believed to be among the toughest in harness racing. Drivers could face fines of $100 to $13,000 and suspensions of 10 to 30 days for a first whipping offense. Use of a snapper could result in a fine up to $20,000 and suspension for up to a year.

Commission member Alan Leavitt, a Standardbred owner and breeder who has pushed for the new rules, said the move is necessary to help the sport re-establish itself.

"I've been in harness racing for 50 years and over that time I've watched abusive whipping become a cancer on our business," Leavitt said. "And until we get rid of it, it's going to be impossible to increase our fan base and we're not going to be able to attract new owners. People don't want to see it."

Both the Hambletonian Society and the U.S. Trotting Association support the new rule and are lobbying for more jurisdictions to adopt it.

Leavitt and his wife, Meg Jewett, are among the owners of this year's Hambletonian winner, Deweycheatumnhowe.

The horse's driver and trainer, Ray Schnittker, also a co-owner, expressed regr