9TH SEPTEMBER, 2010

 

GAINSBOROUGH SOAP

Well, we are split up again, me at Victor and Mrs. HP at Gainsborough :( Gettin kind of lonely. I am going back there tomorrow though, after doing postage here in the Morning.

Mrs. HP, after giving her Horse another 2 weeks off, rode her again yesterday and no improvement :( Therefore, the treatment for Ulcers hasn't worked as quickly or at ll as the Vet's thought. That is a major worry now as fitness is out the Door and now one wonders of what else it could be. Mrs. HP is devastated :(

Nice to see we have a Government and interesting to see that the Libs don't change their spots. Christopher Pyne (whine) yesterday with his Rural Snob plum in the Mouth like Downer had. Probably came from the 'Golden Spoon'

"What went wrong yesterday is that common sense didn't prevail ... it defied commonsense," Mr Pyne told the ABC.

He ridiculed Ms Gillard's suggestion of letting "the sun shine in" to illuminate political proceedings, saying he wanted to continue to put the spotlight on what had been a bad government.

"This will not be a Parliament where all of its history is turned on its head and we all sit around smoking a peace pipe singing Kumbayah," he said.

Yea, well what you don't get and will obviously never get Christopher, even after having your ears slapped by the Voters, is that Australia is sick of your Kindi tactics, your political thuggery, your "What me want's" attitude. We want you to get your asses back into Parliament House and work together for the good of the Country, which is what the Independents and the Greens want but no doubt what you are going to make sure doesn't happen. That's because only you can be in Power and it is eating you alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have another couple of Horses coming on the Weekend so back into it. One a Remouthing job and the other a Green One needing some polish before he goes to Mrs. HP.

Remember me relating the story about the naughty little one's who were putting their Horses out in my extremely wet new seasons Pasture?...even though they know the drill???...well the very next day, a very intelligent Lady 'Lecturer' tried it on again. She actually sent 'Midsommer' to Mrs. HP whilst she was teaching, to ask if she could put her Horse out in the pasture while she cleaned her yard I wonder what part of the message she doesn't get? It is a very interesting study of Human psychology for often, when 'Rules' become an important factor, Humans actually revert to their childhood. I wish I knew why! We are only a couple of weeks away from their Horses up to their stomachs in wall to wall pasture where they won't have to feed their HOrses for Months and in fact will have to watch out for founder. Got me Folks

 

My deepest sympathies to June and Sarah Bowman on the loss of their Husband/Father

 

 

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NEWS OF THE DAY

 

ROLLKUR - ANKY DROPS COURT ACTION

The past few weeks international media publications reported massively on the lawsuit that Anky van Grunsven started aginst the Flemmish journalist Astrid Appels. The court case was supporsed to start on 8 September 2010 in 's Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, but Anky has decided to give up. She retreated from her fight against Eurodressage.com and Astrid Appels.
It was stated in a press release that, "after careful consideration, in family circle and with her lawyer Mr. Schelstraete, Anky van Grunsven has decided to immediately stop the legal procedure against Flemmish internet journalist Astrid Appels. An error in judgement on Anky's part concerning the strategy of the defendants has facilitated this decision."

Anky's lawsuit had led to world wide discussion about controversial training methods in dressage. The Dutch political "Party for the Animals" has even asked questions in the House of Commons based on a newspaper article in Trouw and the RTL Boulevard broadcast on television. The past few weeks Astrid has received thousands of messages of support and the case received world wide attention.
Claim for this lawsuit was a photo of Salinero which Astrid Appels published on her site in February 2010 as illustration to an article about new definitions of training methods in dressage. Anky considered this publication unlawfully and demanded a removal of the photo, a rectification and a claim for damages. Astrid, however, stressed the freedom of the press. Previous to this publication in question, Appels was bombed with threat emails by Sjef Janssen.

Appels stated that, "on the one hand I regret not having a judicial verdict because I'm convinced that I acted correctly and I also wanted to address the threathening and intimidating actions of the team trainer. On the other hand I think this could be the best solution for everyone. Anky will have to learn to live with the fact that her name will always be attached to a controversial training method but this contrasts with her exceptional achievements, like her three Olympic victories. I will now focus on the World Equestriqn Games in Kentucky and will not change my way of writing and publishing."
Astrid Appels has been legally represented by Mr. Weda and Mr. Wensing

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ROLLKUR

Hello Mr HP,

Interesting to note that the link to the Epona article referencing ----- seems to have been pulled from the THM facebook page.

Did fellow Qld'er ------------- cave in to a tantrum thrown by her friend, ------?  Or did  the GM of EA Qld and wrote to me, telling me of his controversial ideas pertaining to rollkur which are not in line with the FEI's ideas about rollkur.

In any case, the Qld'ers are not holding anyone accountable for their actions. A Joh Bjelke-Peterson quote comes to mind:

"The greatest thing that could happen to the state and nation is when we get rid of all the media ... then we could live in peace and tranquillity and no one would know anything."

Maybe it's a Qld thing? See no evil, hear no evil = no evil? It is difficult to discern which is louder, Bennet's cruel actions, or Rob's clueless words? In any case, the Qld'ers are digging in their heels and refusing to play by the rules. I wonder how the majority of financial members feel about this? It woudl be interesting to poll, no that the Qld EA glitteratti would care anyway it seems.

Alexa
 

You have me at a disadvantage Alexa as I don’t know the Players and don’t look at Face Book. No time. Thanks anyway.

 

Hi Mr HP,

The identities and personalities of the people are irrelevant. EA Qld supports rollkur and protects riders who ride rollkur for 50 minutes in front of about 1000 people.

THM is the premier magazine - the media hub - of the olympic equestrian disciplines. These appear to be bending to the will of either the rider, or EA Qld.

Why should financial members of the EFA in any state, fund campaigns by riders who flout FEI rules - on animal welfare of all things! - ?

The incident in question was witnessed by many people who wrote to the EA and the event organisers and complained, only to recieve waffly denials and then abuse when the issue was pushed.

The governing body is not prepared to stand up and enforce the rules.
 

Fair enough Alexa. I am not up with it all of course so can't comment on it. I wasn't aware that Rollkur was ever used in Australia. I didn't think it had arrived here. Not in this State. Sounds like a good ol Bun Fight though :) The Readers must be lovin it lol

Hang on a minute.....in Australia the bottom rein can't be used

++++++++

Hey John,

 

How exciting (please include image / banner for the protest :o)

 

<------------------------------------------------------------------->

INTERNATIONAL PROTEST RALLY DAY - 30th September 2010 @ 9.00am

<------------------------------------------------------------------->

 

~ ARE YOU IN?

~ WILL YOU BE PART OF AN HISTORIC EVENT?

 

Where ? Parliament Offices in your state / country. 

 

THE WORLD WILL UNITE!

 

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001064780324#!/group.php?gid=112872452078909&ref=mf

Kindest regards,  

Tania (Whirlwind Hyoer Miss)

Hey John,

How exciting

<------------------------------------------------------------------->
INTERNATIONAL PROTEST RALLY DAY - 30th September 2010 @ 9.00am
<------------------------------------------------------------------->

~ ARE YOU IN?
~ WILL YOU BE PART OF AN HISTORIC EVENT?

Where ? Parliament Offices in your state / country.

THE WORLD WILL UNITE!

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001064780324#!/group.php?gid=112872452078909&ref=mf
 
Kindest regards,
Tania (Whirlwind Hyoer Miss)
 

 

West Virginia Fire Death Toll Up to 29 Horses


As investigators began to ask questions about the cause of a Labor Day fire that destroyed four barns located near Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, the official number of horses that died increased to 29.

Initial reports placed the number of deaths at 27, but two more were added as cleanup began at the scene, the Journal-News in Martinsburg, West Va., reported.

The Journal-News reported that investigators were being hampered in their effort to find the cause of the fire because most of the site was cleared by those in charge of removing the horses.

Assistant State Fire Marshal Patrick Barker, who is in charge of the probe, told the newspaper that the horses were to be removed quickly for public health reasons but that in doing so the workers cleared the rest of the debris, impacting the effort to find the cause of the fire.

There were also questions being raised about an apparent time lapse between 4:20 a.m. EDT, the time a bystander said they first saw the blaze, and 4:40 a.m., when it was first reported via a 911 phone call, the newspaper reported.

Also, Barker said that although the scene was disturbed, investigators brought in an accelerant-sniffing canine and the dog indicated positive hits. "We got samples that could indicate criminal activity," he said.

++++++++++++

2 Fla. youths mull plea deal in horse slaughters


MIAMI -- Two South Florida youths accused of slaughtering horses have until Oct. 15 to decide if they'll accept a plea agreement or take the case to trial.

Twenty-year-old Santiago Cabrera and 19-year-old Luis Cordero face several felony charges, including armed burglary, grand theft and killing a registered breed horse. They face life imprisonment if they fight the charges and lose, or 5 years in prison under the plea agreement offered Tuesday.

Prosecutors say they broke into two farms last summer, slit the throats of two horses and hacked off the animals' flesh while they were still alive.

Several animal activists gathered outside the courthouse Tuesday called for stiff sentences, The Miami Herald reported.

Horse meat is illegal to sell, but authorities believe there's a thriving black market.

 

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She may have been in the Pack Saddle though :)

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New life track for ex-racehorses

Without Merit, one of Secretariat's great-great-grandsons, will be welcomed soon at a Texas ranch dedicated to finding homes for former racehorses.
While the grand accomplishments of Secretariat, the 1973 Triple Crown winner, will be relived in an upcoming movie starring Diane Lane and John Malkovich, Without Merit will be getting acclimated to a slower life near Austin under Lynn Reardon's care at LoneStar Outreach to Place Ex-Racehorses.
LOPE is a labor of love for Reardon, who had no horse-training experience when she left her job as a finance director for a Washington, D.C., think tank to start a nonprofit horse-rehab project. She didn't even learn to ride until she was an adult. But she has gained confidence since moving to Texas with her husband in 2002 to follow her dream of working with horses.
Reardon writes about her career change and learning how to deal with special-needs horses in Beyond the Homestretch: What I've Learned From Saving Racehorses (New World Library, 304 pp.,$23.95).
"It took awhile to adapt," she said. "Because in D.C. it was all about my networking and just a completely different vocabulary for how you presented yourself. I was perpetually confused. I was always getting the signals wrong."
Now Reardon is trusted in the Texas racing industry with finding proper homes for the animals, which saves them from horse auctions and meat markets.
A horse's time at LOPE can be a few weeks or a couple of months. When the horses are ready to go, the adoption fee starts around $400. Many former track ponies become trail-ride horses.
(See available horses at ww.lopetx.org.)
Since LOPE opened, Reardon has matched 750 former racehorses with new owners.
During Without Merit's transition from track life, he will eat a new diet to put a little fat on his lean, muscled body and learn to get along in a natural herd environment, Reardon said. Like his stablemates, Without Merit will come to understand that when someone comes to work with him, he is not going to the track.
The thoroughbred slipped in a trailer about a year ago. Since he didn't show any signs of injury, he kept running, then slowly developed problems, Reardon said. She predicts the injury to the hind limb will be slow to heal, but she's ready to take on the challenge.
"People feel like a horse may be ruined if it had to retire from racing because of an injury," she said. "It's really like a quarterback that may have hurt his knee, but he can still run or do triathlons. He just can't be a competitive NFL athlete."
Some of the horses that arrive at LOPE are slow or past their racing prime. Yet people who want a horse will often bypass former racehorses because thoroughbreds have a reputation as equine pit bulls, she said.
The attributes that make racehorses so successful on the track work against them in adoption, Reardon said.
"They are really great athletes. And they are really bred to be courageous, to have a lot of heart, to want to give everything in whatever endeavour you ask of them," Reardon said. "They have to be very intelligent and finely tuned to their riders."
In her book, Reardon writes about Sugarfoot, a 3-year-old chestnut filly that found a home with a young woman with Angelman syndrome, which impairs motor skills and cognitive function.
"That was one of those stories where it shouldn't have worked out. The conventional wisdom would say that a young horse and a rider who is impaired would be a bad mix. But you know, it really did work.
"It was the start of me beginning to realize that maybe the fact that I wasn't a professional horse trainer wasn't such a bad thing. Because I was open to just giving it a try. That was just the start of a turning point for me."
Sugarfoot still is with the young woman.
Reardon keeps track of many of the horses that have passed through LOPE.
"It's kind of like when you are a kindergarten teacher and you hear about how your kids are doing in high school," she said. "I find that it is very rewarding to see how far they go and we had a little part in that. We were just here at that key transition - to help them to tie their shoes. Or we helped them to get into that Montessori school.
"While we don't have those skills to train a horse to be a competitive jumper or barrel racer, we can kind of put them in a situation where people can find them. So that makes us feel good. It really does."

I do hope she knows plenty! but best of Luck to her of course. Here is a Horse on the site.

Often an indicator of rear end problems as they take the pressure off the sacro at halt. The tucked up flank....maybe.  Hope not.

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LETTER OF THE DAY

 

Dear Sir,

I have a 2 yr. old gelding that won’t let me saddle him. I have gotten it on 3 or 4 times before (recently) and had him stand with it on (tied to a post) for a few hours.

Then there is your problem right there Debra. The Horse is a good JUdge and isn't stupid. Why would you accept a Saddle if you are going to be tied to a Post for a few Hours?????

Every time I go out to work with him (nearly every day), we go thru the same thing where he won’t stand still for the saddle. I’ve tried cantering him in the round pen until he’s tired or as a discipline for not accepting the saddle. Sometimes he’ll let me put it on and other times he won’t let me near him with it.

You are acting like a 'Hackie' Debra. You are choosing actions that belong in the Dark Ages and only terrorize Horses!!!!!!!

 The other day I tied up one of his front legs and he ran and ran in the pen until he was really tired.

Once again....wrong!!!!!!! and cruel!!!!!!!!!

After the 5th try, he stood still while I put the saddle on and cinched it up. I then had him wear it for a few hours (tied him up again). Today I tried again… to no avail! So I tied up his leg again and it came loose! I tied up the other one and it also came loose! I must not have tied it up properly… crap! So I lunged him for a bit and kept trying - no deal. So, I then tied him from overhead in the stall (to the rafter) and a second tie next to the stall door and put the saddle on the stall door so he could stand there and look at it and smell it for awhile. Still, not able to even approach him with it. I got the bareback pad on him, but when I approach him with the saddle, he freaks. He acts deathly afraid of it. He didn’t even want me to undo the bareback pad cinch to take it off.

I also have been patient – rubbing the saddle on his side and petting him and talking ‘nicely’ to him. When I raise the saddle up, he gets freaked. So I put the saddle up high on the stall wall and left it there for a couple of hours.

– I’ve also had to yell and slap him to keep him from running into me. He’s always been easy to handle, not ever biting or kicking and is normally very gentle and has always exhibited a ‘good mind’ – not wanting to hurt himself or me. I’ve had him since he was 6 months old and have trained many horses in my life but never have I encountered THIS guy!

Perhaps you can tell me what I’m doing wrong or what I need to do next. Maybe I should drug him!! I’m about to put a sign up saying “Free to good home”. !!!

Can you help me?

Sincerely,
Debra
 

Well Deb, you have to completely change your thinking and jettison all of your teachings of the past. Your Horse is not being naughty, just a very good Judge but being more and more wary as such training and discipline systems get put on him.

Whether you can even turn him around and regain his trust now WITHOUT going to the next Level of restraining the Horse, is questionable. The Horse is not afraid fo the Saddle, just the unjust treatment that came with it as highlighted above. Now you have to simply get the Saddle on quick, lunge the Horse at the walk or lead it around and immediately take it off. Re-establish the day to day systems of fairness and rebuild belief in the mind of the Horse that it is not  bad experience. Most would think your Horse is 'Naughty" whereas I think he is 'extremely smart' and that is a plus.

You need a normal straight tie up rail, not a post.

Then the Horse can't evade you, just Saddle up, don't girth up too tight, walk straight to round pen and do your thing. If too suspect to girth up at a Rail, go to Round Pen and install a pair of stockmans hobbles. Not a front leg strap. Saddle up inside 30 seconds and remove Hobbles. End of Problem. You now have to take the 'flight' and 'evasion' out of the Horse, which you taught it with the wrong systems. Best of Luck

or knee hobbles. but don't let the Horse learn to walk in them!!!!!!!!!!!

++++++++++

 

 

LETTERS OF THE DAY

 

Yeah, from NZ...big fan of you and Mrs HP ... got most of your DVDs, hobbles, girths, etc. Just saving for the saddle now. :-) Just wish I'd known you were in Adalaide when I lived there about 12 years ago would have loved to meet you both. Attached are pics of our twin ponies who with your DVDs and e books and web site we have started last summer and who are going really really well. Infact last week we had the vet out, Crystal had a hoof abesses, she was digging away, asked how old she was (4) and said, "there wouldn't be many horses around that I could do this with, without sedating them." Made Rob and I very proud...ofcourse all thanks to your DVD on leg restraints I'd say :-) So thanks

Fee and Rob
 

 

These two are a credit to you Fee and Rob. This is the perfect example of doey eyes, full of love, contentment, respect and love. You should be proud of yourselves!!!!!!!! 

 

+++++++++

 

Hi John,

I just watched a podcast of you on an OTT TB. I was wondering if I'm missing something. It strikes me that people must be paying a fortune for you to retrain these horses and I'm wondering why they don't just spend that money on a good horse to begin with. Is it just that people are ignorant enough to buy one of these horses in the first place and then fall in love with it or is there some qualities TBs have that no other horses have?
When I read through the horses for sale ads it seems that this country is full of 'quiet' OTT TBs and I suppose people must fall for these ads all the time. It is also full of TBs with a "warmblood build". Why don't people just buy a warmblood to begin with? Or better still buy a cross bred and enjoy the good sense and hardiness these horses can have?

Regards,
Vivienne

Very good point indeed Vivienne. Luckily my Clients don't spend so much as we are ever conscience of keeping an open mind to the possibility that the Horse may indeed have problems but the frustrating part is that you do have to ride them once or twice, upsetting them, in order to be sure what you are dealing with. Especially with subtle Veterinary issues that only come out and are proved, with 'CORRECT WORK" It makes one sad but then happy later I suppose, that you saved the Horse from a life time of terror as a "Naughty Horse"

This Horse had come from another Trainer who flogged had terrorized him by cantering him in an extremely small Round Pen.

Did anyone notice what he was thinking when I was just sitting on him in the round pen??
 

+++++++++++

 

Hi John,

Just a quick note to thank you for the saddle bags. I have been looking for an 18th Birthday present for a well loved Jillaroo, something useful that will last a lifetime and these saddle bags are perfect, well made not too flashy – and if you could make perfume out of that leather smell I would wear it everyday!

Also, the letter you got from Debra, I think the best advice for her would be to go with her instinct to put a sign up saying “Free to good home” at least then the horse may have some chance in life 

Wish I could afford Gainsborough, I could do with a reverse sea change – you don’t want to swap it for a 300 acre horse paradise and a 130 year old cottage on KI? Did not think so !!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again,

Emily
 

Thanks for that Em. They do smell nice, don't they? Proper Leather does :) I just brought a Cottage near KI :) That's my Problem. We can't live in it bugga it!!! Thanks for the Feedback. Tell your Jillaroo Friend to be careful if she is learning to ride on oTTB's for I am involved in the sad case of a deceased young Lady on a Jillaroo course :( Regards

++++++++

Hey you! How are you three going? Hectic from the posts I read. I have been hanging out to ride Flinn and due to his injury I can't for another few months. My middle daughter has exams and has ignored Taylor the arab x so I have decided to ride him which I have been doing so for the last few days. Yesterday I tacked him up and lunged him...he proceeded to buck furiously for about a minute. He has NEVER done this. I kept lunging him until he was trotting/cantering nicely ...then kept lunging him...lol. I got on him with deep breaths and relaxing my body, thinking "ow shit" ( I did look at his tack for prickles etc...nothing) Once on, I thought "Hey wonder what my heart rate is..." I have a HR Watch on all the time and my resting HR is usually in the mid 50's.....my HR was sitting at 133 !!!! Maxi for my age is 159 lol. but by the time I walked out of the property it was down to 77. What interested me was I was breathing slowly, I felt 'calm' even though my thoughts were freakin out......but my HR said a totally different thing. In the end he didn't play up so we had a lovely 4km walk with kids and dog in toe.
I never found out what it was that caused it.

cheers
chelle
 

Hi Chelle, well done at least for taking control of your emotions!!! Not many of us Humans can do that!! I ignore Horses bucking on the lunge. I get it almost every day and it is a non event and has nothing to do with your Riding after. I hope you didn't have 'Hacky thoughts" hahahaha (lunging for Hours) Of course all they do is to make their mini thouroughbreds ready for the Melbourne Cup just as Bart would hahahaha. Then they wonder why they have to put a Chemist Shop down their throats Well done!

+++++++++++

Hi HP,
Just wanted to share a little praise, it was given to me but it is the result of what I have learned from you.
My 6 month old foal 'Puzzle' had developed a bit of a dry cough so I called the vet. This vet is an Equine only vet and has been for years and years. (wont say how many as that might give her age away LOL)
She watched while Puzzle 'caught herself' then allowed me to take her out of the paddock away from her mother and tie her up. (She could still see her mother) The vet did her examination, checked her out top to toe, took blood all while little horsey stood quietly. The vet couldn't believe how quiet and well mannered she is, she asked in an amazed tone when I'd taught her to tie up. Tie up ? oh once she learnt to yeild to pressure on the lead she pretty much taught herself to tie. I told her that she goes on the float and she's hobble trained too... The vet said, she was a credit to my handling skills as she is the best behaved foal she can remember seeing… ever...
That never would have happened if it had not been for your skills and the generous way you share with the rest of us mere mortals when it comes to horses.
Puzzle is a very happy, well adjusted little horse thanks to you
Kind Regards
Vicki
 

Wow Vicki.    You have done well!!! It is nice to hear stories like that, not only making the life of the Vet safer, saving the $$$ for drugs and the Horse from injections but making the life of the young Horse so much less traumatic. Merely not having to have a tranquilizer say is a major plus for the future ease of Training rather than young Horses getting paranoid about what we are going to do to them. Well done again.

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Hi HP

There are a number of trail rides coming up in the next few months which are over night or several nights.

Can you advise the safest way to contain the horses at night time, when there are no permanent yards available, ie portable yards, electric fencing, other methods?

I would love to do some of them, but really not sure about the best way to keep the horses overnight.

Glad that Nathan is out of hospital, and I hope he continues to get on the mend.

I hope the part sale of Gainsborough doesn’t mean you are slowing down on your side of the horse work, as I want you to break in my little Palomino boy that you worked with recently, when the time comes.

Take care, and love to you all.

Gina
 

No, nothing changes there. We will still be spending time there nd I will build my own facilities here when the wet finishes and I can get Trucks in. It all came to a Halt due to the Rain. Not long now and they will be rolling in. Then I will need a Round Yard too and I have to say I don't know where?? I have lost track of them here.

In Western Australia I know as one of our Sponsors are:

Lot 3 Great Northern Highway
Chittering Western Australia 6084
(3kms North of Brand Highway turnoff)
Phone: 08 9571 4026 Fax: 08 9571 4027
Email: info@douglasstockyards.com.au

Sorry about that. Perhaps you can tell me when you find out. I am always getting asked this. There must be an opening for someone!!

 

 

 

7th September, 2010

 

GAINSBOROUGH SOAP

Nathan got discharged from Hospital again today and is a very Happy Chappy indeed. He was told if he could prove he was mobile, he could go. He tells me he was doing 'Laps' in the Ward and finally got noticed :) The Skin Graft is looking good this time. The first one was done by Plastics but this one was done by the Burns Unit!

 

Here is enough Goss for you to last you a Month :)

In order to take back control of our lives and to relieve the stress of my Wife, I announce the following in case anyone is interested.

 

SALE OF GAINSBOROUGH

We had intended to hang onto it to take 100% advantage of the Subdivision of it in about 5 or so Years but recent events have changed our direction. We can't go on living apart. Therefore.......

FOR SALE

49% of the Asset plus the Business and all it's income or less percent by negotiation.

The Buyer must agree to sell when Developers are ready.

The Buyer must run the Business...and

The Buyer can live on Site.

The Buyer can generate their own income over and above the usual. If a Coach, we knocked back 200 new Riding Pupils last 12 Months.

Fully Booked and with waiting list...for 16 Years.

$350,000 Finance( interest only) may be available to the Purchaser to assist them if short.

Mrs. HP will still be Teaching there on Weekends.

POA in writing to Post Office Box 1361, Victor Harbor, SA. 5211.

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PERTH CLINIC

Hey John,

Hope you had a very Happy Fathers' Day. All the best wishes to your family and Nathan.

Just a quick one this time (what? he says :o)

------------------------------------------------------------------
TALKING HORSES - 91.3 SPORT FM RADIO, TUESDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER
-------------------------------------------------------------------
I hear there is a legendary horseman by the name of John O'Leary I think his name is; who will be inteviewed by Diane Bennit from TALKING HORSES. The program will be discussing the Horse Problems Clinic, featuring John & his lovely wife Linda O’Leary. Tune in to the above radio station or listen here www.sportfm.com.au or via the Podcast the following day (for up to 4 weeks) at www.sportfm.com.au/podcasts


Well, that's it for now; a brilliant week to all horse lovers, including those who cherish this incredbile website prepared for us for free by a generous big hearted family xx

Kindest regards, alwasy,

Tania :o)

(aka. Hyper Miss / Whirl Wind (2 names you have called me so far :oP

As usual, I forgot all about it. The phone went and there I was 'On Air" :) Never mind :) I'll have to go listen to find out what I said hahahaha. What do they say? If you can't beat em with Science you just baffle them with Bullshit? Thanks Tania

________________________________________
 

Hi John,

Good on you for being a voice for horses when they can't be one themselves.

Wish I could be in Perth :-(

Fee

Thanks Fee. Wow....NZ?

+++++++++++

 

THE CRUELTY WITHIN THE SPORT OF HACKING

I am reliably informed that a Rider who tacked up a Horse in an already adjusted up Pessoa, led the Horse out to the lunging ring but when it refused to walk into the mush bog and ran backwards, it went over and down on the ground, whereby the Owner began beating the Horse with a Whip and then lunged it for 3 Hours.

This subject of Hackies lunging Horses for Hours on end and in fact Over Night, falls within the 'Cruelty to Animals" debate imho and it is high time was included in the movement to better Horse Welfare in this Country.

The Royal Adelaide Show and those who run it, surely put themselves up as Animal Lovers. They certainly wear the uniform of the Tweed Jacket and Moleskins and look the part but how t\can they let this sort of thing happen year in year out when their Office and Lookout is only 50 Metres from the location of Cruelty? They don't care obviously. How come they haven't long ago made rules to control this sort of thing? The wall to wall drugging that goes on here is bad enough but this Lunging Cruelty has got to stop Folks. The imbeciles who do it are brain dead anyway if they think they are trying to train Horses in this way.

I wonder what view the R.S.P.C.A. would have of this sort of behaviour?? Perhaps there needs to be a complaint lodged to test them and the Royal Show Society. Something has to be done. The Horse Industry has always lived in the 'Dark Ages" which is why others end up taking their Sports away. Rodeo, Jumps Racing. Well read my Lips. Hacking is next. Protests and Partitions so the Sport should take heed.!!!!!!!!!!!

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NEWS OF THE DAY

27 horses killed in stable fire

At least 27 thoroughbred race horses died early Monday near West Virginia’s Charles Town Races after a fire broke out at a group of privately-owned stables, local and race officials said.

The fire started at about 4:45 a.m., and horse owners and nearby tourists worked to free the horses as fire enveloped several older, wooden barns across the street from the Hollywood Casino and the race track. About 26 horses were saved, let loose and later re-captured, said Ed Smith, chief of the Charles Town Independent Fire Company.

“It was feeding time and a lot of people saw the fire going, but it all happened very quickly,” said Ken Lowe, president of the Charles Town Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association.

Smith said investigators have not determined what caused the fire but state fire marshals on the scene said it was likely accidental. Two people — a casino employee and a firefighter — suffered minor injuries while battling the blaze, officials said. Three wooden barns were completely destroyed and a fourth was damaged.

Property damage was estimated at $1.2 million, and each horse was thought to be worth at least $10,000, although Smith said the value of the horses was “probably much, much higher.” Three different sets of owners, including two local horse trainers, have been identified, officials said.

Horse racing is big business at Charles Town, which opened in 1933 and is situated about 70 miles from Washington, near the Maryland and Virginia borders. The race track runs about 220 days a year and gambling revenues usually total in the hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Smith, who has served as Charles Town’s fire chief since 1974, said Monday’s fire was the “worst, as far as damage, that I’ve ever seen.”

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PA MAN SERIOUSLY HURT

A Brookville, Pa., man was hurt Monday when he was thrown from a horse he was riding on county Route 125 in Campbell in Steuben County.


William J. Dombrowski, 67, is in serious condition at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre where he was taken by medical helicopter. The Steuben County Sheriff's Office, which responded to the incident, said Dombrowski suffered multiple injuries.

The Campbell and Savona fire departments and Rural Metro Ambulance assisted at the scene.

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Show jumping rider discharged from hospital following fall at Burghley


Nicola Malcolm shortly before she was injured in a fall
Graeme Murray

6 Sep 2010
The daughter of a Scots haulage tycoon has been discharged from hospital after suffering a serious fall in a major show jumping competition.

Nicola Malcolm, 22, whose father Andrew Malcolm owns the Renfrewshire-based Malcolm Group, had to be airlifted to hospital in Coventry on Saturday where she was detained overnight after falling and injuring her head at the Burghley Horse Trials.

She came off her grey gelding McFly at fence 19, the Bridge Hedge, on the cross-country section of the prestigious event.

There were fears her riding career would be seriously affected by the horrific accident which caused the competition to be held up for an hour while she received treatment.

However, Ms Malcolm was given the all-clear by doctors after undergoing scans on a head injury.

Yesterday, she was relieved to learn her injuries were not as serious as first thought and returned to the four-star event in Lincolnshire to watch the afternoon’s showjumping finale.

Justin Llewelyn, commentator at the horse trials made the welcome announcement at yesterday’s final horse inspection. He said: “Nicola had a peaceful night and was sitting up yesterday morning complaining of being bored.

“She has been discharged from Coventry Hospital, she was airlifted there after the fall with McFly, and will be at Burghley later.”

Falls are not unusual in the cross-country courses which see riders tackle large, tricky fences.

Coventry Hospital said the rider had been discharged after being detained on Saturday night for observation.

It is not yet known whether Ms Malcolm will be able to rejoin the competition.

Organisers of the Burghley Horse Trials say her horse’s hind legs hit the fence causing her to sustain the nasty fall.

It is understood that McFly was uninjured in the fall.

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MEDIA RELEASE
How in hell can you people of the media call yourself reporters for the freedom of news in Australia when you dont run these stories as headline news.. we have been campainging for months to get you all to take a stand for the Australian Heritage and you have all sat by and been stagnant. well all these MAgnificent Icons of Australia the Images of days gone . the settlement of our country , the founding of our great Armies in the early wars, the men who gave their lives for their country with their trusty steads at there side will be gone as all states ignore the cries to save and manage oyur heritage.. Okay you all say we are radical But in all honesty we are the citizens of Australia who are unfortunate enough to know what befalls our Wild horse silently as the governments clears out National parks and reserves of our once Valued horses. MArtin Clunes did a two part film on the value of horses. he has respect and honour for his stand to help these wonderful creatures.. why is it so hard for you to take a stand and bring this really and trully into the open media so Australians have a chance to make changes before its to late
thankyou for listening and i hope this will provoke some of you to take a stand with us for our Heritage now and the future generations
regards Stephanie Sutton

Stephanie Sutton
Secretary of HOOFS

Lynette Sutton
President of HOOFS

PH: (02)49 307701
MOB: (0448)497 776
email: hoofs2010@live.com.au


LET THE WORLD UNITE FOR THE SAVING OF OUR HERITAGE HORSES.
WORLD RALLY
30TH SEPTEMBER 2010


PARLIAMENTRY OFFICES MACQUARIE STREET SYDNEY
9AM
SIMILTANEOUSLY ACROSS THE GLOBE IN ALL CAPITOL CITIES
THIS WILL BE AN HISTORICAL EVENT
FOR THE PRESERVATION
OF OUR PAST FOR GENERATIONS TO COME

 

 

+++++++++++

Well we have a new Government and two very brave Men in Rob Oakshot and Tony Windsor. The refreshing wonderful new face of Politics with straightness, honesty and passion. No Bullshit or Spin. All Power to them.

 

For those that don't know about history .. Here is the condensed version:
Humans originally existed as members of small bands of nomadic hunters/gatherers. They lived on deer in the mountains during the summer and would go to the coast and live on fish and lobster in the winter.

The two most important events in all of history were the invention of beer and the invention of the wheel. The wheel was invented to get man to the beer. These were the foundation of modern civilization and together were the catalyst for the splitting of humanity into two distinct subgroups:

1 . Liberals, and
2 Labor.

Once beer was discovered, it required grain and that was the beginning of agriculture. Neither the glass bottle nor aluminium can were invented yet, so while our early humans were sitting around waiting for them to be invented, they just stayed close to the brewery. That's how villages were formed.

Some men spent their days tracking and killing animals to BBQ at night while they were drinking beer. This was the beginning of what is known as the Liberal movement...

Other men who were weaker and less skilled at hunting learned to live off the Liberals by showing up for the nightly BBQ's and doing the sewing, fetching, and hair dressing. This was the beginning of the Labor movement.

Some of these labor men eventually evolved into women. They became known as girlie-men. Some noteworthy Labor achievements include the domestication of cats, the invention of group therapy, group hugs, and the concept of democratic voting to decide how to divide the meat and beer that the Liberals provided.

Modern Laborites like imported beer (with lime added), but most prefer white wine or imported bottled water. They eat raw fish but like their beef well done. Sushi, tofu, and French food are standard Labor fare. Another interesting evolutionary side note: most of their women have higher testosterone levels than their men. Most social workers, personal injury lawyers, journalists, ABC staff and group therapists are Laborites.

Liberals drink domestic beer, mostly Carlton or XXXX. They eat red meat and still provide for their women. Liberals are big game hunters, rodeo cowboys, lumberjacks, construction workers, firemen, medical doctors, police officers, engineers, corporate executives, athletes, members of the military, airline pilots and generally anyone who works productively. Liberals who own companies hire other Liberals who want to work for a living.

Laborites produce little or nothing. They like to govern the producers and decide what to do with the production. That is why most of the laborites created a business of trying to get more for nothing.

Here ends today's lesson in world history:

It should be noted that a Laborite may have a momentary urge to angrily respond to the above before forwarding it.

A Liberal will simply laugh and be so convinced of the absolute truth of history that it will be forwarded immediately to other true believers and to more labourites just to tee them off.

And there you have it. Let your next action reveal your true self, I'm going to have another beer.
 

Thanks Shannon :)

 

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LETTERS OF THE DAY

 

Hey John,

I hope Linda's horse is ok and that Nath is on the mend; thinking of you all :o)

Grab Linda before you watch this -- DRESSAGE Versus WESTERN ... how cool :o)

If you post this on your blog, make sure you place the link only as per above otherwise many will not be able to view if the actual video screen is popped up :o)

Kindest regards as always,

Tania (Hyper Miss Whirl Wind :o)

Very good Tania :) Thanks

 

++++++++++++++

 

Just a quick note to let you know that I received the new exercise boots last week – super quick delivery time too! Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to use them due to all the rain, but they look as though they’re going to just what the doctor ordered. So glad I put off buying neoprene boots,  and instead waited for you to list yours on your website.

Anyhow, just want to send you all my best, and hope that the bad trot you’re all having at the moment will  soon pass. So I’m sending you some cyber gifts. These...

and these...

 

   

 

Take care and know that you all mean a great deal to a lot of people out there.

Kindest regards as always

 

Ronda

Thanks Ronda. Most kind of you. Mrs. HP's favorite the ol Tim Tam. Mind are the Flowers :)

 

++++++++

http://www.northtexasequinedentistry.org/Signs.html 
Hi Mr HP,
I thought you might find this page informative as you are one of the few who recognise that the teeth can cause a multitude of problems in horses. Check out the “warning signs” page & see how many signs they have listed including ridden/behavioural signs. Most people wouldn’t ever think of these things possibly being caused by problems with the teeth…….. Just goes to show you hey!

Kind Regards,
Cathy, George,
Tessa, Boun & Raz
 

Yes Cathy, great info. Thanks.

++++++++

 

 

 

 

5th September, 2010

 

GAINSBOROUGH SOAP

Andrea Decker
frenchi_666_69@domain.com

Bunbury Western Australia 6230
Australia......I wonder what her favorite number is :)
 

and

'mailto: maddie_wicht@hotmail.com' on 4/09/2010 7:42 PM
Server error: 'Invalid recipient'
 

Your emails are bouncing and you didn't get your e-book

Mrs. HP is back tonight and no doubt we will have plenty to talk about as usual. Her Horse is not coming good as fast as the Vets thought and she will now have to not enter the Spring Champs. Having a bad run for sure.

ARTICLE OF THE DAY

 

PERTH CLINIC HORSES

He is having problems with the farrier shoeing nervous all around but especially one hind which he will pull away and then panic. He is ok but not perfect to trim but not to shoe. He is generally a nervous horse who --- catches by herding or tricking him with feed into a smaller yard - where he will still snort at the persons approach.

Riding wise he is super sensitive to the riders leg and the last time he was ridden he bolted with Jim ending in a pretty major fall. In harness he is very good but still has that potential to bolt if spooked and at times --- has only just managed to hold him when a grader came up behind him. But the farrier issue is now causing problems for keeping him working in harness making for a very expensive ornament!

 

+++++++++++

PODCAST OF THE WEEK

 

Evasion that turned out to be "Listen to your Horses"

 

 

++++++++++++

 

HORSELAW

Dispute over Horse sold International mediated successfully and saving  People a lot of money I suspect. This is another case where the Paperwork was not done properly in the beginning and when it came to the crunch, the Owner became in dispute with the Lessee who had the right to sell the Horse. Too late when things are not all laid out in writing.

Case of a Victorian Horse sold to South Australia as a Grand Prix potential Horse to go to Court now with Lawyers involved on all sides. I say the Horse was never and could never be a Grand Prix Horse due to it's conformation and the fact that it has a 'club foot'. The Vendor is flying the German Classifier who Judged the A.C.E. Tour here to say that he selected the Horse in the top 10 in Australia. I say and others will too that anyone who selects a Horse with a Club Hoof had to be a fool, drunk or blind :) Should be interesting.

 

+++++

NEWS OF THE DAY

 

PRINCE HARRY ACCUSED OF INJURING HIS HORSE

 

Prince Harry faces animal cruelty claim over polo pony's stab wound from his spur
 

Prince Harry was accused of animal cruelty yesterday after his horse suffered a bloody injury during a polo match.

He was photographed riding a pony that appeared to have been stabbed in the flank by his spurs.

An onlooker claimed that the 25-year-old prince continued to ride his horse while blood was visible on its flank, but St James’s Palace said he stopped playing as soon as the injury was spotted.

Animal welfare groups accused Harry of being ‘heartless’.

The Hurlingham Polo Association, the sport’s governing body, has launched an investigation.

Enlarge
Agonising: The spur mark is clearly visible on Prince Harry's horse. An onlooker claimed he continued to play despite the injury, a claim refuted by St James's Palace


Bloody: The puncture mark is clearly visible on the flank of the pony. Animal charities have described the Prince as 'heartless'

The horse was injured during a match at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire, in July, but photographs of the incident have only just emerged.

Prince Harry’s Household Cavalry team was beaten by the Royal Navy by five and a half goals to five. The Navy had been granted a half goal advantage at the start of the match.

Under polo rules, riders who use their spurs excessively face disciplinary action ranging from a warning for a first offence to a fine of up to Ł50,000.

They state: ‘Any player intentionally striking another player or any pony with his stick, or abusing his pony by excessive use of the whip or spurts shall be severely penalised.’

The rules also say: ‘Any spur likely to wound a horse is forbidden.’

Andrew Tyler, director of animal welfare charity Animal Aid, said: ‘It was a heartless and utterly selfish thing to do.

‘Polo is a very rough activity that causes stress and injuries to horses. The use of spurs in such a fast-moving event is a vicious indulgence.

‘Spurs are unnecessary for a competent rider and should not be used to punish a horse for the rider’s failure to gain advantage.

‘Prince Harry comes from a background of hunting and shooting which is at odds with the vast majority of the British public.’

Tony Moore, chairman of the Fight Against Animal Cruelty in Europe, said: ‘Prince Harry is cruel. If a rider uses their spurs in a way that injures a horse then that is cruel.’

David Morley, Hurlingham’s chairman of welfare, said it was unusual for horses to suffer blood injuries during a polo match.

‘The nature of the injury suggests to me that it was as a result of an accident rather than exuberance,’ he said. ‘Sometimes somebody bumps into another rider and nudges his spurs in.’

Mr Morley said that about half of polo players wore spurs, with many believing it is better to ‘nudge’ a horse with spurs rather than ‘thump’ it with the heel.

St James’s Palace insisted that the prince came off the field as soon as he noticed his mount was injured, adding that horse and rider were able to return to the match after minor treatment.

A spokesman said: ‘Prince Harry was wearing regulation footwear (round-headed spurs) worn by many polo players.

‘As soon as the cut was noticed, play was stopped and the horse was treated properly. The horse was absolutely fine and returned to the field immediately.’

He added: ‘Prince Harry takes the welfare of his horses incredibly seriously and has been riding this horse for many years.

‘He has nothing but the highest respect for the polo ponies and would never knowingly do anything to cause the animals distress.’

Prince Harry was said to be ‘very upset’ in May when another of his polo ponies, a ten-year-old mare called Drizzle, collapsed and died from a heart attack at a polo match. The prince had been riding the horse shortly before it died.

But he was criticised by animal welfare groups in 2007 after two protected hen harriers were shot near the royal estate at Sandringham in Norfolk.

The prince was questioned by police. He said that although he had been in the area at the time he

++++++++++++

Burghley Horse Trials 2010: Nicola Malcolm airlifted to hospital after fall

Competition was suspended for nearly an hour at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials as 22 year-old Nicola Malcolm, from Renfrewshire, was stabilised and then airlifted to hospital with a head injury, following a fall at the Birch Hedge.



Burghley has seen its share of tragedy in a 50-year history, most recently in 2004 when Caroline Pratt died in a fall on the cross country, and there was an anxious period while everyone waited for an update on Malcolm's condition, which was later confirmed as stable. The horse, McFly, was not injured.
There was some speculation at the start of the day that Mark Phillips' course was perhaps, 'softer' than in previous years and although the Discovery Valley was noticeably kinder, there were plenty of big questions to be answered.


While some of the leading riders flew around, taking all in their stride, there were problems spread across the 30 fences, with no obstacle exerting undue influence. Eleven of the 83 starters finished clear inside the time, with a further 35 completing with just time penalties.
Caroline Powell and 17 year-old Lenamore were not phased by a short hold on course while a fence was repaired and finished on their dressage score of 38.7 to take them from second place up into the lead.

Last year's winner Oli Townend was in determined form as he took to the course to defend his title. Townend raced home just a second over the optimum time to collect 0.4 in penalties. He is now on 39.6, just behind Powell in second place.
Townend and Carousel Quest are attempting to make history by becoming the first horse and rider combination to win in consecutive years.
Dressage leader Ruth Edge had a disappointing day, following a stop at Fence 10, she then retired at the Maltings Complex a couple of fences later.
William Fox-Pitt, who has won here five times but had an unhappy outing on Macchiato last year when they retired at the Discovery Valley, erased that memory with an early clear.
He had just a slight detour to Fence 10, but no jumping penalties and only two time faults to finish in eighth place. Last to go on second ride Seacookie, an equally professional outing saw him also in third place going into the deciding show jumping round. With less than a fence between the top three competitors it would be brave punter who would bet on the outcome.

+++++++++++

Trapped horse cut free from cab on A23 near Bolney

The horse was trapped in the driver's cab after kicking its way out of the rear section
Firefighters had to rescue a horse and its groom after it kicked its way out of a horse box and into the front cab of the vehicle.

The two-year-old colt was trapped in the cab after the incident on the northbound carriageway of the A23 near Bolney, West Sussex on Friday.

The groom, who was in his 30s, was kicked in the head by the horse and had to be pulled free from the cab.

He was taken to hospital by ambulance with a suspected head injury.

The horse was sedated by a vet while firefighters from Crawley and West Sussex Fire and Rescue technical rescue unit cut away the back of the cab to free the animal.

The horse showed no sign of serious injury after the two-hour rescue.

The A23 was temporarily closed because of fears the horse would break free and bolt across the carriageway.

+++++++++

Woman injured in ‘freak’ horse accident

A horseback ride up Wild Horse Canyon, east of Trail Creek Summit, took an unexpected turn on Tuesday morning when one of the horses died shortly after beginning the trek.
The horse, a quarter-horse paint named Buttercup, threw her rider, Marilee Smith of Bellevue, Wash., before falling off the trail and dying.
"The horse was screaming," said Kirstie Lambert, a Ketchum outfitter who organized the ride for a private party using horses supplied by another outfitter based in Mackay. "It was in convulsions."
According to Lambert and Smith, the horse had been lethargic for much of the ride. Lambert said she suspects the horse suffered either from a seizure or a heart attack before falling into a shallow ravine.
Smith was thrown from the horse when it reared, hitting her head on the rocky trail when she fell.
"They're yelling at me to move and the horse is still thrashing," Smith said.
She later required five staples to repair a head wound.
This type of incident is extremely rare, Lambert said, and was completely unexpected.
"I'd heard of stories like this, but never seen one," Lambert said. "It was a total accident."

+++++++

Horse operator denies 'careless' acts in parade incident

A horse operator who is being sued over a parade tragedy caused by a pair of runaway horses has denied he was negligent in his actions.
Mardell Steines of Spragueville, Iowa, who lost his wife in the accident during the Fourth of July Heritage Days parade in Bellevue, Iowa, filed his response to the lawsuit in Jackson County.
Steven Mack, a Bettendorf orthodontist, filed the lawsuit Aug. 11. Mack is the father of a young girl who was trampled by the horses and hospitalized with skull fractures.
Neither Steines nor Mack could be reached for comment Thursday.
Steines had the reins of the horses during the parade when, police said, they were spooked — possibly by swooping birds — and stampeded several blocks through town, dragging a carriage.
The horses and carriage ran over dozens of people. At least 22, more than half of them children, were treated at area hospitals.
Mack’s 4-year-old daughter, Jessica, was sent to University Hospitals, Iowa City, with severe injuries.
Jim Morici, a lawyer based in Chicago who is representing Mack, said Thursday that Jessica suffers permanent brain damage.
The horse operator’s wife, Janet Steines, 60, died from her injuries after she was thrown from the carriage.
Steines’ attorney, Patrick Woodward of Davenport, could not be reached for comment.
The lawsuit lists eight “careless and negligent” acts and omissions by Steines, including failing to properly train the horses, failing to inspect the rigging and bridles, and failing to have a groom lead the horse-drawn carriage.
The lawsuit also states Steines failed to properly control the horses or regain control after they were spooked.
Steines denies all of these accusations, according to his answer to the plaintiffs’ petition filed Monday.
“It is admitted that at some point, the horses became uncontrolled,” the document states, before denying all other allegations against Steines.
A Bellevue police investigation conducted over a two-week period after the incident determined that no charges would be filed against Steines.
Police said that after he fell off the carriage, Steines was able to hold on to the reins as the horses ran down the street for about a block before he lost his grip.
The investigation also found that the carriage was parked next to a purple martin house when the incident began. Police speculate birds caused one of the horses to become agitated, a police report states.
“We intend to prove everything we allege,” Morici said.
Morici has filed a motion in Jackson County to preserve evidence including the rigging, the carriage and one of the two horses. The other suffered leg injuries and had to be put down.
A hearing on the motion is Sept. 10.
“We filed the suit promptly so we can bring this motion to protect the evidence,” Morici said.
The lawsuit lists only Steines as a defendant. The city of Bellevue, which organizes the annual parade and owns and maintains the martin house in Riverview Park, is not named.

 

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LETTER OF THE DAY

SEPARATION ANXIETY link

Hi John
How are you?
I have an annoying situation that Im not sure how to fix.

At my agistment my 2 horses HAD to share a paddock much to my dislike as now they have become quite attached.

I have recently moved them to a new property where my retired gelding will have his own paddock and my competition mare will have her own yard with a stable, they are in adjoining yards so can still easily see/sniff each other. My problem is that is all they do ALL day long... hang over the fence to each other. When I take my mare away to ride my gelding loses his mind he's up and down the fence line constantly calling out to her. She is just as bad and cant concentrate on me at all!
Heaven forbid I have a comp & need to lock her in the stable to keep clean.
I have been doing plenty of ground work to keep my mares attention on ME rather than him but i am also worried out him in the paddock after the weather we have had the chances of him slipping over etc.

Can you point me in the right direction? I need to fix this.
 

Get rid of the retired Gelding. This subject is THE most difficult on in the Horse Industry. You are dealing with emotions and there are no training systems that are really designed to combat it. "Feelings"

Management is the thing and unfortunately for you, the agistment situation worked against you. Here at our new place, you will see I have 3 Stables. The middle one is so that my Horse and Mrs. HP's Horse can never sniff each other. In their day yards, there is a Race way so they can't 'sniff each other'. When leading them, riding them or anything else, they are not allowed to touch or smell AND THEY ARE BOTH MARES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is how vigilant one has to be on this stuff as quite frankly, it drives you nutso and indeed, brings many unstuck at the Competition.

I would never allow such Horses to be hanging over a fence. When there is not a herd situation, the equilibrium becomes hugely unbalanced and relationships become almost 'sick'. In a yard/stable situation, where there is nothing to do anyway for the Horse, this becomes a big danger.

Time for action I reckon. Regards

 

+++++++++++

 

LETTERS OF THE DAY

 

Hi John

I have a 9 year old Riding Pony X mare that I have owned for 5yrs that in the last 12months has progressively become more persistent with her trying to get her tongue over the bit. She has always tried to do get her tongue over the bit since I bought her but it has just become more and more of an issue. Along with the tongue issue is the reefing at walk( which is definitely my hands) and I have spent the last three months training myself to allow her walk on the pleasure rein and also buying longer reins so when she does reef she doesn’t hit my hand as a barrier and as result the reefing has lessened significantly. By her not accepting the bit our dressage is still at the preliminary stage as we just haven’t been able to achieve rhythm and relaxation on the training scale and an acceptance in the horse’s mouth that allows us to progress any further. I have had regular lessons with dressage instructors and all have given me different advice over the years of which has given me little success. I have had her teeth done on a regular basis (every six months) and most recently have had her mouth examined by the vet who cannot find anything in her mouth that may be causing pain. As I have owned her most of her riding life, I know that I have contributed to the deterioration of the mouth. The need to get the tongue over the bit I feel has become physiological but how to fix this is beyond my knowledge. I have tried several different bits: myler MB01, French snaffle, loose ring snaffle, eggbutt snaffle etc etc. Do you have any suggestions as to any other myler bits to try. I am attending your Perth Clinic in Oct and know you are still on the lookout for “Problem horses”, would this horse perhaps fit the profile of what you are looking to work on? Your advice is appreciated.

Kind Regards

Katie

Certainly is Katie. Sounds like some further investigation is necessary there. I often find that Horses that continually put the tongue over the Bit have other issues that cause this. The thing is what? On a number of instances, it has been breathing difficulties, collection difficulties, Veterinary Problems and so on. I would consider attending the Clinic on the Friday when the Vets and others are there and later, the ridden and training side of the Horse could be looked at. Regards

 

++++++++++++++

Hi John and co

Have been emailing you a bit lately re your saddles but thought I'd share something else.
December last year I bought an 18yo very skinny Clydie gelding from local horse sale. I needed another horse like a hole in the head and when my husband got home from work a week later I thought I might be killed or divorced, he was not happy. But I saw this horse at the sale and just couldn't leave him. I had to borrow a float to get him home as I did not go there to look at horses, I went to sell some old gear.
Any way, once I got home rang old owner of horse to find out story. he told me horse was extremely well looked after but wouldn't put on weight, load of crap. Horse had bad skin infection all over, maggots in some of lesions, feet hadn't been attended for years and was soooooo wormy. When I drenched him he had some worms up to 8 " long and continued to expell worms and bots for 5 days. Thousands of them.

Anyway its been over 6 months and this horse is a definite gentle giant, what a gentleman. Has been used as working horse at festivals and fairs etc. Quiet but shy, I would say roughly treated. I have ridden him a few times but he won't go any faster than walk, just refuses and if you get stuck into him to make him go he gets scared, sent him to a kind horse breaker who said horse had great mouth, manners etc but was brainwashed that he isn't allowed to go faster than walk. Any ideas, just make him go and eventually he'll realise its OK?

Anyway attached some photos of when I got him and now.

God I love this horse

An absolute champ

Thanks Karen
 

You are a Champ too Karen. Now I am vying for the ribbon :) If you don't get rid of the Guts full of Sand that he had then and still has but more hidden, you may lose him. Well done again. He is such a lucky Boy. Yet another example of what Horses go through in this Country. It is shameful. Regards

++++++++++++
 

Hey John

Can you pass onto Sarah from Nowra.

There are two trainers in NSW that I can recommend fairly close to you. Shane Everingham from Otford Valley Farm near Bulli 02-42942442, I only know Shane by reputation I have never seen his horses, but he is booked solid and you may have to wait to see him. Ben Campbell from Bombala near Bega who trained two of my friends Walers and they are fantastic.
Details: Horse Trainer, Fernleigh Road, BOMBALA NSW 2632, (02)64582131. Ben also competes at the Snowy River Festivals and his horses are amazing.

Hope this helps
Lorrie

 

Thanks Lorrie. Most kind.

+++++++++++

 

 

3rd September, 2010

GAINSBOROUGH SOAP

Did you get the Rain? Funny question. :) Hope none of you were flooded out. Good for the Bush and the Crops but I guess that'll do now.

Speaking of the Bush, I see the Polly with the Cowboy Hat, Bob Katter, sees Woolworths and Coles as a threat to our Food security in this Country and I agree. We are already importing large amounts of Food and within 14 years, at this rate, we will be a importing 100% of our Food. What a wonderful future we are making for ourselves? Reliant on Chinese Crap from the Sewers of Asia. That's what is in their Tins.

I was honored to have been accepted by one of my latest Breakers this Week. A privilege indeed.

This big bloke is learning to tie up and he did that very well too. Graduated to the tie up rail with no danger, which is always a worry the Taller they are. They can get a leg over a Rail easier than shorter Horses because you cannot tie them as short due to their height and the length of their neck. He was a good Boy though.

We are drawing closer to the Perth Clinic and I got sent this today. WA people may like to have a chuckle.

Mrs Hp is back at 'Gainsborough' for 3 Days and we are separated again. :( I have to go to the Doctor tomorrow as I have busted a Vein whilst riding a Buck Jumper this Week. It has bled pretty bad twice today. You don't want to know where it is Talk about "Jock Strap and Spurs" Never mind. I have met a few padded Bra's ion my time so they must have paded Jocks :)

Have a nice weekend everyone.

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENT

Radio Interview

 

TALKING HORSES

 

Diane Bennit from Talking Horses, Sport FM Program, will be interviewing John O’Leary, Horse Problems Australia, on the program for Tuesday 7th September. The interview will be covering the up coming Horse Problems Clinic, featuring John & Linda O’Leary, being held at Brookleigh from 1^st to 3^rd October.

 

Do catch Diane’s interview with John on radio 91.3 SportFM.

The program commences at 6.00pm on Tuesday evening.

 

If you are out of radio range, don’t worry you can listen online; http://www.sportfm.com.au/  and click on the logo “Listen Live” heading at the top of the page.

 

If you miss the program you can still listen to the Podcast the following day and it will be available for four weeks: http://www.sportfm.com.au/podcasts/  it only takes a moment to download.

 

For enquiries regarding registering as a spectator or registering your horse in the Problem Horse Workshop at the Horse Problem Clinic email Tracy on milne@space.net.au for further details. Look forward to hearing from you.

Now that it is getting closer to the Clinic, I can say that there a few spots left for Problem or Veterinary suspect Horses that people can't put their finger on. I am sure the Vets present won't mind having an input....for free :)

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NEWS OF THE DAY

 Horse bite severs man's artery
 

A man is in a serious condition after being bitten by a horse at Seymour in central Victoria on Thursday afternoon.

The animal bit his leg, severing an artery, then dragged him 20 metres.

The 27-year-old man has been flown to Melbourne's Alfred Hospital.

 

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Interesting read from etoma tv

 

In September, an intriguing case of alleged libel will go to court in Holland. Dutch rollkur trainer and practitioner Sjef Janssen and his wife, international dressage superstar and rollkur practitioner, Anky van Grunsven, are suing the equestrian journalist, Astrid Appels for defamation of character. Janssen and van Grunsven do this because Appels has linked Anky van Grunsven to rollkur on her website ww.eurodressage.com.
 
 

 

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LETTER OF THE DAY

 

Hi John,
I just recently bought a set of running reins from you aft reading about how I can fix my performance horse. She (we) have been having real trouble picking up the right lead in lope and for the life of me cant seem to correct it.

 I have been studying nat. horsemanship for the last 2 years with clinics nearly every month and no-one has been able to help or maybe not enough time in clinic situation. Am at wits end really. I had a saddle fitting done and by a parelli clinician and she said my mare was severly undermuscled on the left side around the wither region.

Then your Horse has a Veterinary problem Jocelyn. The fact that you can't get one lead also means you have a Veterinary problem. Simple as that.

She also was looked at by a chiro and he says she had a bad turned muscle on the left (just under the rump on the outside) cant remember the name of that muscle. Anyway I ve been doing bowties (as per parelli) to no avail and when I suggested running reins they were aghast at that option but it kind of makes sense to me.

I am aghast at Bow Ties then :)

 I mean putting the horse in the right frame to build up the muscle from behind is what we need for lots of manouvers , right? Also I thought of sidepassing manouvers and lots of trotting poles and cavellettis? Would that help?

Running Reins in thick Sand, not side passing, not cavallettis. First get to the bottom of the Problem, know what it is, treat it if treatable and then if athletically fixable, go about that. You need to add to your list of fixes, 'correct riding' with correct principles of Dressage, even if Riding Western. ie. Insisting the Horse is bent and flexed correct and CARRYING WEIGHT on the inside Hind and above all STRAIGHT at ALL TIMES.  No compensating any more like with quarters in or out and so on.

 But I was thinking those things would be ok once th muscle was builot up a bit more? This mare has in her past won a national title in western pleasure and has been traditionally trained with all the pitfalls that comes with that. She was a very hard horse to train and break in (so they say) and I was there for all of it. She was treated very roughly and I cant begin to tell you all the things that were done to her - but that is all overnow and she enjoys a better life with a much softer approach to horsemanship.

 She is a right brain introvert and is very obliging.

Right Brain this and that are irrelevent on an unsound Horse Jocelyn. Anyone talking that have "paralysis of the analysis"

We do well at liberty and for the most part she is soft and happy unless I ask for the right lope lead! At first she just lopes off on the wrong lead but if I push it she becomes pissy and pins her ears. I dont stop on her as she is a safe horse but does try to bluff to stop.
I hope you can help us. I know you are coming to Perth in Oct but that is a 10 hr trip and I have a child. Also we are going to live in QLD in Nov and I need to save for that! I hope I can catch up with you in 2011. JOcelyn
 

It would indeed be very beneficial to you and your Horse if you could find your way to get to Perth as your Horse could be workshopped by Trainers, Vets, Chiro's and Physio's.  Anyhow, best of Luck

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LETTERS OF THE DAY
 

Hello O'leary Family,

I have just recently stumbled across your terrific website and found a lot of answers to a lot
of questiones i've been searching for a long time...1 of them,..where do i find a real Trainer/Horseman
and not a "Wanna be" .

I give you a quick description of my horse 1.

Rising 7 year old Paint Gelding,in training for western performance.(Hunter under saddle,western pleasure,trail,horsemanship
patterns). Early education as a yearling,1 outing for yearling lungeline and yearling led trail.Broken in as a 2 year old,
lightly shown couple of times,general pleasure riding,turned out from year 3-5 until i purchased the horse almost 2 years ago.

Willing temperament,very intelligent and athletic.Returned from National level show last april,whilst there things started to which i think
go pear shaped.Horse been with trainer for 6 weeks prior to show,suddenly started to shy whilst in a class,evade certain cues by
ducking out from under the rider,horse looking confused and pushed too fast for his task.One of the disciplines that was put on
him was reining,in which the trainer assured me he would be ready to compete after just six weeks? ...I now have troubles to
keep him togrther when we get to a show,he's displayed nervous/shakie behavior when going into an arena (especially indoor).

I have saved us (merely myself) a couple of times now using the one rein stop as i practiced with him on a few occasions while
at home,i am a fairly capable rider,consider myself to be able to read a horse considerably well.However i was looking forward
to be able to enjoy riding my horse upon his return home,instead he's got more problems than when he left. He also moves behind
the bit a lot,especially in the shank bit.Otherwise he is fairly soft , Since the reining training he's also developed a problem where
as i ask him for a pivot in a show environment(in a horsemanship class which used to be his forte), he looses it and either goes into a
mad spin,lucky for the horn on my western saddle,or tries to evade by throwing his head and ducking out \.hmmm ...

I would love to hear your thinking on this matter. I really don't want to write this horse off,he has had a total of 5 months (pro)training
on and off in the last 18 months.,his got talent to burn but i feel he was asked for too much too soon where he was not mentally ready.
By the way i am a big fan of the 7 games,which i started on the horse recently and we're doing well in that department.
Kind regards
Gayle

Hi Gayle.  Thanks Your Horse is just telling you about your Trainer and his He was over cooked and has suffered psychologically. Back to the snaffle and to the basics. Start again and wear your Heart in your Hands. Bad Luck. :(

 

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Hi there HP, have your DVDS etc and find your methods are great. Two things:

1) what do you think is the ideal size round yard, and

15 metres Diameter for all round stuff

2) IF I was going to go bitless, would I do everything the same but just use a bitless bridle??? I am on the verge of bit/bitless etc and can't really make my mind up!

Cheers, ET
 

I presume so ET but I haven't done that of course. I am a Bit Man, having ridden too many Bitless with no Mouths :) Have a go though and let me know

 

regards

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Read on the most recent blog about Sue looking for the right Standardbred for her son.

I think her problem lies in the “Must have established canter” requirement.

In my experience, very, very few off the track have established canters. One large factor being many (most?) trainers punish or stop and correct (depending on their training methods!) a harness racer for cantering - so as well as not being balanced or muscled for carrying a rider and cantering when they come off the track, many that I have met are also afraid to. Most trainers really won’t bother to put any work into a horse coming off the track to teach them this either!

I’d advise get one that ticks all the other boxes except that, and work on the canter at home or pay a reputable pro to do it for you and then your son can have his perfect horse.

Such a shame Sue and her son are in the east, as we just (last week) accepted an 11yo grey Standardbred gelding, never raced, as a surrender after he and his paddock buddy were abandoned by their owner.

Regards,

Jessie Barbour
Founder, Chief Field Officer

Second Chance Horse Rescue Inc.
Giving them a Second Chance at life…

PO Box 120, Kalamunda WA 6926
www.schrar.org
info@schrar.org
041 914 9877

Thanks Jessie

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1st Day of Spring

 

GAINSBOROUGH SOAP

We are losing it. We had some great action photo shots for you but when I went to take the card out of the Camera to download them, there wasn't a Card in the Camera so we were shooting for 4 Days with no Card. How dumb is that? :(

We have completed the current crop of Horses at Gainsborough and we stayed there all Week to do that. Nathan had his second skin graft on Monday and is hopefully on the road to recovery again. Problem is with grafts is that they don't know for a while.

Can you see through the subliminal messages in TV adverts? Do you see or realize how devious some are? How observant are you? Have you noticed that both a Current Affair and the other one are cunningly making the last couple of stories each night look like stories but they are paid adverts?? Have you been sucked in? What about the devious Food Giant with the latest Beef advert, trying to slew your minds away from the fact that they are filling your stomachs with Asian Crap more and more every day but making you think they are so Australian? That is nothing about Beef Folks, it is devious and psychological manipulation of the minds of Australians while they send our Farmers Broke. Go get em Nick X and now Bob Katter and the Boys. If they don't stop them, this Country is finished for as long as there are Woolworths and Coles there will be dumb Australians who just act like Sheep.

Seen the hand picked actors in the Fresh Fruit market wrap? Ever noticed anything about those nice folk who get the job of sending you the messages to make you think they sell 'fresh food'? Think about it next time.

CAMP RULES

I came from a Generation that was taught to trust people. Those were the days of the Hand Shake. At Gainsborough, we have Rules. All of those Rules are ultimately aimed at making the best possible Home for Peoples Horses. You know, cleanliness, yard maintenance, pasture management. Nice easy things that everyone know about because they have to sign the form that they have read them. Sadly though, these Days and mainly from the Y Generation (which is generally a total failure) you can't trust em and we are forever having to act like Bloody School Teachers dealing with Children who just have to stretch Boundaries and be naughty. You wouldn't believe what they get up to. They disappoint both of us greatly when they do that. They are Hell hard to catch as most are from the 40 something age and are as cunning as Hell, but this Week I had a couple of wins. Totally unexpectedly, whilst trying to build a new tack room for one of these nice Folk (Pentecostal in fact) I got hold of a lovely new big pallet which I rushed down to her new tack shed and there she was with her Horse out running in my bog wet brand new pasture in her paddock which will be open as soon as things dry up. I've had to put padlocks on Gates now :( Then I caught 'Cleavage' throwing manure straight over her yard fence and down the bank towards the Creek with her own personal Poo Pile because her Ass is too lazy to walk 15 metres to the designated Manure Pit which happens to be closest to her stables. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. One day.....I live in hope.....that we won't have to worry about things like that. It's Hell simply, just do the RIGHT THING. How hard can that be??? Oh, as I drove out of the Place on Tuesday Night, there is "Miss Mamory" Riding, as large as Life, {on her Horse that has bolted twice with her), on the property, with no Helmet. Little Children Folks. She's been asked, she's been told but do you think she will listen????

Remember the Pally?

Well she has a new Owner, an 11 year old Girl who has been riding her for the past Month. They get on like a House on Fire and it is cute as. So the unrideable Horse, fixed with nothing but empathy. A great ending. What caused her pain? Big Cowboys with Big Surs and little Testicles. 

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NEWS OF THE DAY

 

TWO HORSES KILLED BY BEES

Two horses were euthanized Monday after being attacked by a swarm of thousands of bees in Coyote Springs just off Kelly Road. When firefighters answered the call at 4 p.m., they found a swarm of thousands of bees in a field attacking three horses who were covered in large welts, said Charlie Cook, spokesman for the Central Yavapai Fire District. "Firefighters used 2,000 gallons of water and foam to try to get the bees away from the horses," Cook said. "The bees only attacked the three new horses that arrived at the ranch last week." The property is a large horse ranch with 100 horses, Cook said. A veterinarian on the scene treated three horses, but two of them were so badly injured that they were euthanized, Cook said. A beekeeper came to help remove bees as well, Cook said. "When firefighters tore down the walls of a wooden barn, they found multiple hives," Cook said. "One hive was two feet wide, five and one half feet tall and six and one half inches deep." The owner of the place said he knew there were bees in the barn, but they never bothered him, any other people or the animals so he just left them alone, Cook said. "This is one of the worst bee calls we've been called out for," Cook said. Cook said firefighters with bee protection headgear, one engine, and a battalion chief were on the scene for two hours taking care of the problem. The Central Yavapai Fire District recommends that if you find bees on your property in a wall or other unusual place that you call a beekeeper or bee removal service to take care of the problem properly. "If bees attack people or animals, all firefighters can do is foam them and kill them," Cook said. "A beekeeper can properly remove bees to a place where they can be beneficial and used to pollinate fruit trees and other crops."

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PIT BULL ATTACK

FRANKLIN COUNTY – A woman whose horse was attacked by pit bulls last month said she was bitten by one of the same dogs as she took out trash this weekend. Pia Windwolf, who lives about six miles from Lonedell, said a dog bit her on the arm on Sunday morning. She only saw the dog's back side, but said she is certain it's one of the dogs that attacked her horse, Winter, on Aug. 17. During that attack, five dogs came into her yard and two of them bit Winter, she said. A pack of dogs had earlier killed her neighbor's miniature horse, and Windwolf had been sleeping in a small barn with another horse to keep watch over them. Winter was outside the barn when he was attacked. Two of his legs were ripped open to the bone. Windwolf said she has reinforced the fences around her property, but that she was outside the fence when she was bitten on Sunday. Her arm has a massive bruise as well as a cut that she believes is now infected, she said. As of Tuesday morning, she was trying to schedule a doctor's appointment to get the wound treated, but said she could not afford a visit to the emergency room. She said Winter's wounds are not infected, but are not healing properly. "I cannot get near him and I can't doctor him like I want to," Windwolf said. "He's totally changed." A phone call to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office was not immediately returned on Tuesday morning.

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CRASH FLIPS HORSE TRAILER

A horse trapped in a trailer after an accident on I-5 near Marysville has been rescued by Marysville firefighters using hydraulic equipment known as the "Jaws of Life." Washington State Trooper Keith Leary told The Herald newspaper a woman, who apparently was driving her car at about 80 mph, fell asleep at the wheel and clipped the back of the trailer. The force of the Friday morning collision caused the trailer to separate from the pickup at freeway speeds. The trailer flipped onto its left side, with the horse inside. Leary says the accident could have been a lot worse: No one was injured, not even the horse.

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HORSE KILLED

Horse killed and two riders injured in road accident Amy Mathieson, H&H news writer 24 August, 2010 Check out the latest H&H subscription offers  A horse has been killed and two riders injured in a road accident in Northamptonshire earlier today (Tuesday 24 August). The accident happened at around 8.45am when a car collided with a horse on the Braybrooke Road in Great Oxedon. One rider, a man from Market Harborough, was seriously injured and taken by air ambulance to Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry. The second rider suffered minor injuries and was taken to Kettering General Hospital by road ambulance. One horse died at the scene while the other was unhurt and was tethered before being recovered by its owners. The driver was unhurt and the road was closed for several hours between the A508 and Griffin Road. No one was arrested but Northamptonshire police is appealing for information.

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HORSE REHAB

I took some more pictures of our rescue Bundy today, 4 weeks into his new life. Check out the before and after. We are pretty proud of how it is going. This weekend we are going to use the sand colic on him and then I am sure we will see more amazing results in his appearance.

Lorrie and Leah


Well Lorrie, this puts the lie to the recent Horse we had on here because I always knew that this is the change that you can put on Horses inside that period. I have done it myself. Well done. Now. Educational Opportunity :)

The Horse is tied up in a dangerous circumstance. It would be a shame to have put all that weight on it and then for it to put a back leg through the highly dangerous Mesh which is too big for Horses. We know that Horses kick through frustration of being tied up. "Horsemanship....the art of reading the future with Horse Welfare in mind" x

 

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LETTER OF THE DAY

 

Pete, can you pass to John.


Testimonial for John O’Leary

After many hours of deliberation, we decided to go with The Horsemans method of Halter breaking a foal,
It was 7 days of focusing your efforts, and on the eighth, we found a new foal emerged, and we now have a friend for life.
Our Blacksmith couldn’t believe that he could do whatever he liked to a 3 week old foal, we can now handle him in any way we like and he is the friendliest foal i have ever come across.
We Could call our foal, and put an Halter on him, out in the open at 4 weeks old.


A question for John,
He is now so friendly, he tends to run up to us like a puppy, which is nice, but at his size can be dangerous, we swing a rope at him (without contact) is this the right thing to do? or can you suggest a better way of him keeping out of our space?

Many thanks

Rod and Sally
UK

Well done Rod and Sally.

Yes, I can see your problem in the face of the Horse and the other photos that you sent me. Basically, you have done a great job with the Halter Breaking but along the way, there needed to be slightly more respect type demands or rules put on the Foal. You now have to do that immediately or it is going to kick one of your heads off!

This is the classic example of one that would be immediately fixed if you threw a set of hobbles on it and in fact gave it the complete list of that equipment in training. You should also immediately commence the 7 Games, to get it out of your space and for you to start telling it what to do and giving instructions like go here, there, over that, through that and so on. At the moment it is looking for direction, not grooming. incidentally, get rid of the leather Halter instantly, the Horse needs a rope Halter to keep it tuned up as the other one will provide ignorance and unravel your training. Read this

So in essence, you need to be starting to throw demands at the young Horse and to be assertive, going to the next level of association and friendship via respect and graduating from cuddly and winning confidence stuff. Well done again. incidentally, the photograph is probably taken at the wrong moment and made look worse than it is but if it did depict the offering of the hand and a slight reticence by the Lady, then this is the stuff that would cause much trouble. If you had a round pen, you would immediately teach it to 'join up" and your problems would be instantly over. The young Horse is heading here and above all, this: feeding time rules. The young one's, just like with Humans, all are wanting to test the boundaries and stretch the muscles. This one is no different. Of course it is no accident that the feeding time rules is the best way to tune them up and get the pecking order back where it belongs. This is what Animals do. Nature, the Law of the Jungle and so on. Once again, well done and thanks

 

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LETTERS OF THE DAY

 

Hi I read your article about leading your horse but what happens your horse doesn’t move and just comes around to look you in the face.
You can probably tell I know very little about horses.

Cheers
 

Got me :) If your Horse walks around and looks into your face, it has moved. You may be walking too slow and so it is therefore passing you, hitting the end of the rope and being told to come around the front of you. More info required./

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LOOSE RING SNAFFLES

Hi John, good to hear you are well :-) That's no good about Nath tho, it's a terrible thing to go through being in Hospital. Tell him I give him my best & don't give those nurses to much greave, or on there toes :-/

I thought I'd pass my latest investigation of work onto you. Just like you John I have alway's searched, looked into & tried new way's of training Horses, especially Bits! As long as I can remember, I would buy & try stuff from a young age. Since your countless hours, promoting, testing & trying Myler Bits & then going down that track myself, everyone that has anything to do with me training there Horse, or queries on mouths I promote Myler Bits highly. There are a few people that say they can't afford the Myler for a little while, or pony clubs don't allow them, so I still point them in the direction of the Loose Ring, sweet iron, snaffle Bits

This new evidence I decided to look into 12months ago nearly to the week. Knowing that my Bit has had more work than the average Horse owner, this still gives evidence on how & over time the cause of deteriorate can happen. It proves to me that by having a Loose Ring Snaffle reduces the friction in the Horses mouth. If you look closely you may see how much meat is worn from the attachment to the ring. I have closely monitored this Bit for a year now & to me gives me facts that a fixed ring style Bit would make & cause unnecessary excess movement & friction, that over time would deteriorate the mouth. Offcourse this Bit has had more use, training, one rein stops ect.... So all the countless hours you have tried for the benefit of the Horses mouths & like every advice you give is the best :-) this mite help prove that a Loose ring snaffle will defiantly benefit a Horses mouth, even better a Myler Bit.

Anyhow John, take care & have a good week.

By the way I've been told about your radio interview, well done with that & good luck :-) I'll be searching all week to find the station to tune in :-)

Cheer's mate
Clint James
Horseman
 

Lol to the Radio Station tune up Clint :) Should be interesting. Yes, very interesting about the Bit and just shows how they do wear. Well done and thanks.

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Thank you for your informative and easy to read site. I've picked up on a few floating answers to scrambling problems. I've also made enquiries about the Centaur floats but as I am in New Zealand I can only hope we have them here.

Are there any float designs here (NZ) that meet the grade?
 

I have never looked at New Zealand Floats so I am sorry I can't help you. Best of Luck with it.

 

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KICKING IN COMPANY

Hi HP

Twistie went out on her first large group trail ride yesterday. 13 horses. All went very well except for one incident, which I would like your advice on. Helen mounted Twistie away from the horses, and she was great, we then walked past a huge line of floats and cars parked along the road and joined the others where they were the ride was assembled. Twistie stood mounted for 20-30 minutes like a statue as we waited for a late comer to tack up and join us. We moved off and she was fine and relaxed. She had her sights on the front of the ride, so was power walking and was making her way through the mob towards the front. She was doing really well, walking in front of my horse.

We were only a couple of minutes into the ride and there were a few out of control horses, and one in particular started running sideways, backwards, and all directions. Unfortunately Twistie was caught amongst it, and there was a bottleneck, no where to go. We were trying to move Twistie and my horse out of the way, and back up, but riders were banked up behind us and we were blocked in, and the out of control horse kept running towards Twistie instead of going forward. We couldn’t get past it either, as it was zig zagging all over the place. The out of control horse, ran towards Twistie about 4 times sideways almost running into her each time, and then zig zagged back towards her from behind. This time Twistie bucked and kicked out at the horse.

Helen immediately one rein stopped her, then yielded her around a couple of times before moving off again. She then continued the ride calm and well behaved.

As there were a number of other out of control and jig jogging horses which were running sideways all over the place, we decided to keep to the back of the ride where we could be a bit more in control of what was happening around us. Twistie was an angle for the rest of the ride. She remained calm, ridden on the buckle. We accompanied another green horse around, and Twistie led this horse through puddles and slosh that it was refusing, and she led it past other objects that the green horse found scary. She didn’t spook or jog once even at objects that many of the horses spooked at. The whole group had a trot and she didn’t break gait when others were cantering and pulled up straight away when two horses directly in front got over excited. We had a couple of quiet horses riding behind us most of the way as well, which didn’t bother her, though they weren’t too close.

I was very upset about the kick out, and I know she did it because she was feeling very threatened by the other horse. While we warned other riders to give her a wide berth when overtaking I rode my horse well within her kick zone (not up her bum of course) on both sides, and though she would look she didn’t threaten to kick or pin her ears. What is your opinion of her behaviour, is it just her greenness in extenuating circumstances, or could this indicate a kicking problem? Obviously I don’t want it to happen again. We plan to ride her out in a group of three for a while to get her used to having more than just one other horse around her. Things from behind are her worry – however she seemed to be getting over it by being put back to where she came if she jogged or scooted forward, and has stopped that behaviour. Would really love any advice you can offer.

Apart from the one incident she was perfect and you and Nathan would have been very proud of her – Helen and I certainly were, once we continued on she was one of the best behaved horses there, and we were able to have a relaxed ride and enjoy the scenery (unlike some of the other riders!). Helen did a great job of riding her, as usual, and Twistie seemed to enjoy her outing.

Give our love to Nathan and tell him to get better soon. Hope you and Mrs HP aren’t too run off your feet and can have a rest soon.

Take care

Gina

Sounds like fun Gina :) I'd rather be down the back so I had a full view of the entertainment :)

You cannot blame the Horse at all for that. She took it as a threat and well she should. In a way, she was even protecting the Rider. No, ofg course they shouldn't kick in company but if she only kicks during such an incident, I wouldn't be worried at all. Of course Helen did the right thing, as she should have so see what happens next time but I would ignore the whole thing. Well done!

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PASTURE MANAGEMENT

Hi John,

I just read a letter to you about re growing pasture on bare patches and wanted to share some probs and solutions I have had.
My horses caused quite a bit of damage to parts of their paddock last year after we lost much of our fencing in the fires and had to keep them on one small area for a long period of time. Part of the paddock was just dirt. I found a solution to this in another problem I had when I finally fixed some fences- too much grass. Unfortunately my geldings do not stop eating when on grass and will eat until they bloat and begin making strange respiratory noises like hiccups. Very scary, so I have to keep them on overgrazed areas and just strip feed a section of the long grass twice a day.
Before I put my horses into the new paddocks with too much grass I actually mowed that paddock a section at a time, raked up all the cut grass and spread it over the areas of bare ground (the horses were kept away from the cut grass) to give the bare areas a new ‘skin. I bought a bag of seed and spread it over the bare ground before adding the ‘skin’. The result?- a good covering of new grass. It probably needs more mulch and a little more seed but it is heaps better than bare ground.
I am trying to get the horses to graze the paddock more evenly so I often pick up the manure from long areas and spread it on short areas. I top up degraded areas with seed and spread over with manure. The horses won’t touch those areas until the manure has aged and dissipated and by then the grass is ready to be tipped. It works when I can keep up with it but it is hard work.
My aim is to have one large area of short grass that the horses stay on and keep them as clean as I can. I know it is ideal to rotate the paddocks but I simply cannot with my geldings- they will eat themselves to ill health on fresh pasture.
I give my horses some supplementary feed to make up for nutritional losses in the overgrazed paddocks.
Another benefit of overgrazing is that it is what kept my horses alive when the fire hit last year.
It isn’t ideal but it serves its purpose. We have incredibly good pasture here and I would actually like to find a pasture mix I can sow that is less rich and more suited to horses.
I have read your advice to keep horses on not less than ten acres over winter. While I would love to do that I can't becase my horse get too fat even over winter. I have watched sadly as my short paddocks have turned to mush with all this rain and have to not look when the horses gallop and slide around on it making more scars. Oh well, I'll have more hard work to do to fix it all over spring.

Regards,
Vivienne
 

Fair enough Viv. The only comments I would make, is that due to the extreme damage done by Horses, WHEN WET they have to be taken off. That is the only way to keep the perfect pastures that go the distance. The other thing about your seeding idea, yes, great idea but if a Horse runs on it , inside two winters growth, it will move like fairy floss. Anyhow, good yip and great efforts by you Viv. There ain't many in the Horse Industry that have your diligence!! Cheers

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WANTED - STANDARDBRED

Hi John and Co.
What a drama filled life you have at present. They wouldn’t make a soap opera of your life because it would be to unbelievable. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.

I m writing to you in a last ditch attempt that you or one of your Victorian readers may be able to help me. I am after a standie for my 13 year old autistic son. You would have thought that was an easy one but believe me it has been very difficult. I have been looking for the last 3 months for a suitable horse with no luck. I have contacted the local trainer, who told me that he would be able to get one no problem. That was 3 months ago and I am still waiting. I have contacted both Raising the standards and the standie rescue and they have nothing. I have put ads up on the horse web sites and got 2 replies from lovely people both in NSW. One giving me the web site of the standie rescue in NSW and the other with a great sounding horse but a little bit to small and 5 hours drive away. I even went as far as to go to the local harness racing meeting and ask the trainers there if they were willing to sell me a horse. I got some pretty strange looks I can tell you.

What I am after is a quiet no dirt:

Mare or gelding

Age: between 4 and 10

Height: 15.2hh min and 16hh

Saddle broken with an established canter

Colour: Any except chestnut (if he could have a grey he would think he has died and gone to heaven)

My son is a good little ridder. He started ridding at 7 on a little Shetland, moved up to a 12.2hh welsh, and then moved up again to a 13.2hh welshie. He is currently riding a 14hh chestnut part arab mare whom he handles very well. Unfortunately he is to tall for her and is now ready for his forever horse. My son has said that he is fed up of having to change horse every couple of years and now wants one that he can keep forever.

My son has attended the dreaded pony club since he started riding and has weekly lessons with a private instructor. The horse will be well looked after in a 6 acre paddock with another standie. Rugged in winter because they are on the side of a mountain and fed as necessary. Its teeth and vaccinations will be done annually and its feet trimmed every 6 weeks, wormed regularly and I am not sure if it is a good or bad thing but I am on a first name basis with my vet.

I am not asking for a freebee. I am willing to pay a reasonable amount for the right horse.

John I would be extremely grateful if you would put this up on your site for me. I have exhausted all other avenues I can think of so you are our last hope.

Here’s hoping the future is far less dramatic than the past for you.

Regards
Sue
Contact email: sophoyed@bigpond.net.au
 

My pleasure Sue. I leased one of those this week to a Girl from England, here with Dad in the Weapons Business. The very best of Luck to you. I can't understand the difficulty. Best of Luck to your Son.

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Thank you for my new saddle and market harborough. the photos speak for themselves. If anyone was going to buck it would have been my endurance arab, Narla. She looks like she is in heaven with this saddle on. Usually she is really girthy, but no sign of it when i did up her girth. Makes me think there was a problem with the saddle fit on my previous saddle i was using on her.
She cant belive that im riding her on a loose rein. (neither can i !) Loose rein usually means run off very quickly. John you are right leg on slowed her down! the before and after shots are great. At the trot before market harborough and after market harborough is amazing. a different frame altogether. Still a long way to go but not bad for day 1 !!!!


Nathan you did a wonderful job on my palomino filly get well soon as ive got more horses for you to break in!!!
vanessa smith
 

 

thanks Vanessa. Good to hear and to see. I do like those 'Trakky Dakkies' :) I must try that. I have some you know :) just make sure you don't accept 'above the Bit' as I see some subtle signs in the 4 pics you sent me. Well done and good luck

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HORSELAW

Dear Mr. HP

I'm hoping you can help me out with some advice.

I have in my care a miniature pony that has been left with me the past 3.5 months. Initially I was a, well, parking point between the old Owner and the new Owner while the new Owner adapted fencing to be suitable for a pony of this size. Both Owners are acquaintances of mine through the horse community albeit not close friends - I just put my hand up and said sure, he can stay here. The old Owner needed to make way for their new pony coming into agistment.

So. After some time I said tot he new Owner that I would have to charge for feed etc, and this little pony was clipped (by me, free-of-charge so it could be shown the first weekend that they Owned him), so also needed to have rug changes. I decided (as a favour) to charge $5 a day. I have not charged for worming, but have had the pony's feet trimmed and have added that to the account. My farrier does not reduce his prices based on the size of animal I ask him to care for.

Now, after 3.5 months of having the pony and no monies paid, an absentee Owner (who lives approx 100km's away) and a very loud anti-horse Italian partner....what can I do? I can contact the Owner via email and they have continually promised payment, but nothing forthcoming. I informed them, by email, in the last week of last month (July) that I would have to take some action after the end of this month (August), but have, again, only had promises to pay with no physicality.

I'm only in rental accomodation myself so I can't keep this pony. Even if I could keep this pony logistically, I actually don't want him, or I would have bought him while he was on the market (for a long time ).
ow
I can't not feed or take care of him. I don't have an address for the Owner to just drop him off then pursue through a small claims court. I'm sooo frustrated.

Any advice or advisory body would be soooo gratefully received (even more so by my partner ).

Kind Regards
Jodie

Hi Jodie. Kind Hearted but caught up in a tangled web and possibly dangerous re the Husband. This is not a case you would want to pursue as I am fairly sure that there were no official agreements to formalize it prior to delivery of the Horse, nothing in writing and therefore no rights for you to claim a lot of the things that you spoke of. For you to even have the right to trim the Pony, worm it and charge for it and so on, you need a contract. Simply, the Horse has been dumped on you. For you to sell it, dispose of it, you need to now get permission of a Court. You can't force the Owner to do anything and in fact you can't even find them. I would take it straight back to the old Owner and dump it on then and then cut your losses. Put it down to experience. Regards
 

++++++++++

EAR SHY HORSE

Hi John,

2 Days ago I was given a 4 yr old 17.3hh gelding OTTSB, & told that before the person who gave it to me had him, the previous trainer said he was a 'maniac'. He apparently was a nervous horse, terribly head shy and a general handful. his teeth have been done a few months ago and there are no veterinary issues with him. I have tested out his head shyness - not so bad with a halter but hates a bridle with a passion. Today I put a plain snaffle bridle on him - he stuck his head right up, I got it on, he had a few issues with me putting over his offside ear, then he chomped nervously on the bit. Taking it off was much more of an effort than putting it on. I undid one cheekpiece to make it easier, but to reach up near his ears was really upsetting to him. I eventually got it off in one quick gentle move with no dramas - so quick I think he was surprised himself that the bridle was suddenly off . I have another SB gelding, a big 17hh softie, I thought if i rode him and lead the new guy I could gently put my arm over his neck and stroke softly near his ears as we go along - so he couldn't get his head up away from me because he no longer had the height advantage! This seemed to work ok. He did resist a little and gave in quickly each time but he is not as willing when handled on the ground. Am I heading in the right direction and what else should I be doing to help him get over his fear of being touched around and behind the ears? I have not yet gotten on him but I do want to ride him sometime down the track.
Thanks,

Naomi

All of that stuff helps and can even largely fix them but normally takes many Months Naomi. Often not working at all, as Uncle Pat found out recently. In fact, I had one of those this week and of course never have the time available to play the Games with them so I fix them up pronto. I have just gone to , youtube channel as I thought I had a vid of that to show you but I will have to re do a new one, using this Horse which I filmed this week. However, great lateral thinking on your part. I find that softly running your hand up the forehead and over the ears, leaving them with your hand heading towards the saddle, done with softness but speed, can work well. The idea being that your hand is gone before the Horse can get to throw the head. Then, using the principles of 'advance and retreat' gradually slow your hand, incrementally to a  speed where the Horse can stand it until you eventually can do it slowly, as if putting a Bridle on. Look out for the Podcast

+++++++++++++++

Hi there, just a couple more questions about your saddles. Is the total price $1395 including fittings and gst, or is it $120 extra for the fittings. Also with the girth, I find it really hard being short and not enough strength to do up a single buckle girth. Does your saddles have the same system for both sides of the girth, with the knott, and is it easy to get used to. Also I have attached a couple of photos with my horse with a borrowed synthetic saddle that I thought was a bit tight on the shoulders, can you tell from these photos if I am correct?

Regards

Louise

Yes Louise that is the price and yes, the Saddle looks tight. Regards
 

 

Hi John,
The saddle fits great on my filly, and is comfortable and easy to ride in.
Love the colours, rough out and leather pattern. A great quality saddle thank you.
I've attached a couple of photos, it started to get dark so only got a couple. :) Thanks Again Claire

Thanks Claire. It was a good design. Well done.

Hi,
Thanks for getting back to me so quick. With the horn, when you say people
have been injured and killed, was that with them ending up under the horse
and the horn went into them, or they fell forward on it?

Yes, Deaths via Horses rearing over on People with Saddle Horn and I knew a Bloke that ruptured his Spleen with a Buck Jumper.

I have been reading through your website, a lot of helpfull info on there. I
was having a look at your article on halter training foals. I had a look on
the page for buying an article you mentioned but it might be my eyes at this
time of night I couldnt find it. I would like to learn more about that.

An e-book comes witht he Halter Breaking DVD. That may have been what you saw.

I paid $1700 for this gelding, it was a big mistake. There are details with
the vet that checked him and some lies from people but it's not worth going
to court over. Basically I screwed up and bought the wrong horse, I am too
trusting. Sure I could probably spend money and put time in and get him good
enough for me to ride... but I wouldn't feel confident taking him out and
using him how I want to... because I would worry about other people,
animals, and situations I don't think he will ever be really safe enough to
take out in public. And I couldn't let anyone in-experienced ride him so
that rules out my friends and cousins when they come to visit.
Unfortunately it seems to be a case of he was treated like a pet, ridden by
kids and begginers and he got away with a LOT. Plus a stubborn temperment.
He is getting better with me now but he still goes for other people. I don't
know what I am going to do with him, or who would want him. He probably
wouldn't be worth the money and time to most people. He hasn't been trained
properly for foot handling. He has an old hock injury that means he is only
suitable as a trail horse really and nothing too stressfull. He has
foundered at least a few times, his confirmation isn't great.

Bad Luck. I think we all get Duds from time to time.

I am just working on his ground manners and a few issues with grooming and
general handling before I put him for sale. I will be lucky to get $800. I
am going to give him more time and see how he goes. I have someone who has
been giving me a hand with him. I saw videos of little kids riding this boy,
I don't know what happened between then and now, I won't be buying sight
unseen again!

Sight unseen Lol. "Come in Sucker" You deserve everything you get hahahaha.

I need one I can ride around town, tie up at the local shops with people
around him, bush ride and get out and about and have fun without dramas. I
have enough of dramas with horses lol time for something quiet and easy
going that dosn't want to kill someone. He has gone for my neighbour, my
mother, my dogs, my cat, my chickens. He is terrified of the hose, a rug,
funny though flapping tarps and plastic bags don't bother him. At least I
have him where he dosn't bolt and buck when I clean his water trough now. He
just jumps now. He didn't know how to give to a halter at all.. he is a bit
better. I had to teach him to tie up.
Back up... took me a week but now he goes into reverse when he sees me
comming with food. He is hard to halter, at first i couldn't even catch him,
now I can. First day here he charged me in the yard kicking out and in the
process of me jumping the fence I lost my good leather hat and he even went
over and tried to eat that. Cleaning his feet wasn't much fun. I have since
managed to do one foot. 7 years old from a riding place and he dosn't know
the basics and has an attitude and they put kids on him, something dosn't
add up there.

Go the Standardbreds :) we used to use them as Pack Horses.

I don't know anyone who could really deal with this boy close by to me. I am
near Nowra in NSW. Some english horse trainers, dressage people. I don't
know who to go to or who to trust, what the costs will be or if its worth
it. I have had a lovely horse in the past that did stock work all her life.
She was QH x something. Most of the not good horses I have ridden were not
mine, thankfully.

if you do happen to know anyone in NSW you would recomend me talk to about my little
gelding I would like to talk to someone and see what could be done etc. I
just feel sorry for this horse he could have been a great little gelding not
his fault.

Sarah.

I wish I did Sarah but others who read this may be able to help you. Stay tuned. Regards
 

++++++++++++

Thanks HP,
The boots that arrived were registered mail. Should report it to aust post. If you want a small fortune, start with a big one , buy a race horse and wait! By the way the boots are great, good protection and the horses do not sweat up under them. Left them on one of them the other day, all day as paddock boots to just keep the tendons warm as he has had some problems, no sweating under the boots in 20 deg day. Very impressed.
Regards
Mark FARLOW
Farlow Thoroughbreds.

Thanks Mark. That's a big wrap./ Regards

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29TH AUGUST, 2009

 

sj.mcinnes@bigpond.com>' Your emails are bouncing.

 

GAINSBOROUGH SOAP

 

So the Liberals and Labour have found a soft loving, understanding side of themselves since the Independents got the Balance of Power. Oh how lovely it is but how spew it is :) Who do they think they are kidding. What is so wonderful is that they are all on the run now like you wouldn't believe and the "Boys from the Bush" are leading the charge :) Yayrama!

Mike Rann today joined Tony Abbott in the 'back flip brigade" and has also suddenly learnt to stop with the Bullshit and start stop playing us for suckers. Instead of holding water restrictions until later in the year when he cuts the ribbon on the new desal plant so as to make him self a Big Deal and Savoir of the State, he too has got the message sent by us at the election. Time to get honest and level with us. Who would have thought that you could turn around these machine Gun Mouths and stop the lies pouring out. Well done.

Remember me telling you to sell your Telstra Shares a couple of years ago hahahaha. Hope you did :)

 

My two Breakers are progressing. I rode one around the District yesterday, following Mrs. HP on the lovely Aureo who is a very valuable cool head to lead such Horses and to not emit vibes to make my job more difficult than it already is. It is very important that lead Horse doesn't emit vibes, snorts, looky etc for the Young Horse is acutely aware of the signals from the other Horse and will take it's lead from it, not the Rider.

The second Horse ranks on the high end of the scale of difficulty with Breakers and would bury most Trainers. If I disappear, you know what has happened :)

 

Of the others here, below really describes it all.

 

UNSOUNDNESS

I wish it weren't so but to date, across the Years, 100% of Horses that we have labelled of suspect soundness, have gone on to be proven unsound in some degree or other. Frankly, in our World, it depresses me and I wonder why we see so many of them but I guess that is just a reflection of the fact that I say Horses try, mostly vainly, to communicate their pain to us. We listen. If I can get that message across to people, I will rest easy.

So this little piece then is just an update about Horses that we have lately commented on.

1. The Horse that we have educating,  Mrs. HP has felt indications from him that he may be struggling with his flat work due to 'stifle issues'. Yesterday, (small world) the Owner of the Horse, two Owners back, told this visitor here that she sold the Horse because "he had stifle issues" So his tenseness with regard to work on the arena, no doubt comes from his knowledge that the experience is not going to be a good one because he is just not equipped for the job.

2. Horse 2, yesterday had the 'shootout' as she raised the stakes of her evasion and protection to negate correct Riding aimed at fixing her. Here is what I wrote to the Owner last Night. (saved me typing)
   
   "After the terrible weather and being flooded out all week, we are back working with the Horses.   You Mare. I forget your story but we now presume you were having forward issues, a failure to get off one of your legs??? And stiff to the left???? That right? I am translating from the Horse here J   Linda decided to confront her yesterday and had a real fight (at the walk) but sweating considerably at the end, just to get her to stay off the left leg.   The Horse tells us that this is an issue?????   Today, after she had slept on it (as they often do) she upped the stakes and had a new tactic, (in front of the camera) so as to stop Linda getting her to stay out on the track, to the left. It became a ‘shootout’, ending with L:inda tanning her ass and her bucking in return, because she was pulling the not going forward and the severely laying against her left leg and in fact running through her left leg, to end near the centre of the arena, not on the outside track.     Linda won, Horse transformed and worked well on both reins after that (including canter)   Now, here is our assessment of the Horse:   ·   
   
         She has always had a slight Veterinary weakness which affects her left hand back corner. ·         Due to not being challenged at the start and ridden in correct therapeutic ways, to strengthen and support the afflicted region ie. ‘Over the back, straight and supple and forward into the bridle” ·         The Veterinary weaknesses and twinges, compounded themselves rather than being eliminated. None of this your fault. No one in the Country has ever talked about or taught about this subject. No one!   Her Son had the same tendency when we first rode him too. But he was started and demanded to be correct. He was soon over it as a result. That is the key.,   So we shall see what happens in the next few days with the Mare.   Along with all of the Veterinary, the other problems that are caused are the psychological. The longer things go on, the more worry there is and the more belief is built that the Horse cannot do certain moves. That is another huge task that we as re-educators face.   Anyhow, I went too long   x "

3. Horse 3 concerns another SA Horse sold Inter State. This one showed similar symptoms at the point of sale and in fact as we now know, prior to the point of sale. She has now had the 3rd Vet to her, this time with x-rays and been declared useless as a riding Horse due to major back bone problems as well as other associated things. The symptoms were successfully covered up with smart riding on the sale video but only to people with average knowledge of observing such things. We could clearly see the signs.

 

RIDING PONIES

In our experience, the Australian Riding Ponies are so in Bred now that it is almost impossoble to find one with good conformation. This is one of the reasons why we are seeing so many of them being undound. They are particularly incorrect in the back end but most often fantastic in the front end,. Hence they come with rear ends like this.

As a result, these Horses often seek to go around like this, "above the Bit' They do so to relieve the pressure over the top line because they cannot 'sit, engage or collect' Their hind leg conformation doesn't allow for the flexibility of the Hock to make this possible. Hence, they are extremely difficult to get a 'head set' and people call them 'naughty' or "He is always wanting to Look"

The other indicator and symptom, is that when given the opportunity and particularly after work, they will stand like this. So as to take pressure off the stifles and whatever other  places may be twinging. Many so called Halter Judges fail to see these things as they get carried away within their own Breed, just like a Vet say that deals in the Thoroughbred Industry pretty exclusively can thinking that every other Horse he sees is over weight.

which brings me to the point of Pony Club :)

 

PONY CLUB

Here he goes again.

This week, at the Gawler Show, there was a Pony Club Rider Hack Class. One Rider went around in perfect form and the rest of the class went around like rabble. When the Judge gave her reasoning as to why the Horse that was a stand out in the class was only awarded the 3rd place ribbon, she replied that because it was a "Pony Club Class" and that the other two Horses had gone around in Pony Club form....flexed off, wrong leads, heads in the air and so on, that they truly depicted Pony Club and were therefore the Winners.

Welcome to the ride to the bottom. This perfectly typifies the culture that produces and accepts second best and this Judge was proof of that being well and truly embedded into the brains of those who should know better. I always thought there was hope but it seems there is none :(

++++++++++++

NEWS OF THE DAY

 

Hello John & All @ Victor H,   Hope all is going well for you all; sorry to hear that Nath has a long recovery, I feel for him.   Your baby "The Horses Voice" website - www.thehorsesvoice.webs.com (from Facebook Group Giving Horses a Voice Neglect is Abuse) is coming along nicely with member numbers. A long way off yet, so please join. Everyone is welcome even if that is all you do, you will be helping out immensely. It is all about the power of numbers - WE NEED YOU. Lorrie and a few admins are working around the clock in sifting through outdated horse law, writing letters to appropriate authorities and so much more, but we are nothing without numbers! It would be a shame to let such talent and enthusiasm go to waste dear viewers xx   EVERYONE ... PLEASE SIGN UP AS A MEMBER - PLACE A PIC OF YOU, START A FORUM, PLACE YOUR FAV WEBSITE LINK ON YOUR PROFILE AND BE PROUD OF YOU AND WHAT YOU STAND FOR :O)   I have been stuck at home all weekend looking for a car as I sold mine on Thursday - there are more lemons out there than there is lemonade, lol!   Also, I got talking to a friend who is looking at designing better horse floats (he works on truck structures), so I emailed him your website links to all the pros and cons of Aussie horse floats. He will be impressed with your advice and topics. Once he laps up and digests your material, he may very well be a suitable future candidate for your NSW list of modifiers? :o)   Well enough rambling ... take good care,   Tania

Hello Whirl Wind :) Yep, please all join this and help if possible. For the Horses!

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Hi John, Wasn't sure if you will hear about this one. This is an article on a German website reporting on a riding accident. It was a 'pony camp' where kids go for holidays. At the end of the holidays they organise a mass trail ride which involves 100 horses doing a night ride with 'fire lanterns'. They have apparently been doing this for 40 years but at the last ride the entire group of horses bolted. 44 children fell off and were trampled, many critically injured. There were apparently 25 adults on the ride. Here is a link to the story, unfortunately it's in german, I havn't been able to find it anywhere in english! ttp://www.stern.de/panorama/ponyhof-unter-schock-staatsanwalt-ermittelt-nach-reitunfall-1597694.html I bet not one of these riders was ever taught the one rein stop! (Not unless things have changed since I learnt to ride in Germany!) Imagine what they could have prevented if they had!!? Cheers Maike

 A nighttime procession of youthful riders in Lower Saxony on Thursday ended in a dramatic accident when more than 100 frightened horses injured at least 44 people, most of them children. ) One 14-year-old girl suffered life-threatening injuries in the Emsland region after the horses were spooked when one rider apparently dropped a burning torch on the ground.  This caused the animals to panic and throw off the children riding them, according to the police in Lingen. The ensuing chaos left scores injured and 44 people were taken to the hospital. Doctors said the most seriously hurt girl was in stable condition by midday Friday. The youths were guests at a holiday stable in Lathen and had been accompanied by several adults. State prosecutors are not investigating the incident. All of the skittish horses have since been rounded up.

My goodness Maike. Can you just imagine the scene? Imagine the Court Cases? Lanterns on Horseback ey? Good one! Thanks and regards.

+++++++++++

 

TIP OF THE DAY

" Each and every time you ride a Horse that acts like it is misbehaving, always keep an open mind and search for the reason behind the behaviour. In excess of 95% of Buck Jumpers that I have met, had reasons, which when removed, were no longer Buck Jumpers."

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LETTERS OF THE DAY

 

Hey you!  Hope the both of you are taking your vitamins and eating well.  I am just having a go at the two questions you left us.  With Case 1.  Im thinking he doesn't want to be ridden anymore, and that there could be possible pain in pole/neck.  My daughters horse does it when his pole/jaw is out.   Case 2.  The more this horse is ridden in Corrected Collection the more his weakened muscles can't handle it and he is in pain in the behind/quarters.  I would say his owners would stop when he 'played up 'and they never got developed....remember this is only a guess and not ment to offend.   regards chelle

Pretty good Chelle. Well done. Give the Lady a Bowl of Goldfish :) Thanks

+++++++++++++++

 

Hi John,
 
Having discovered your website a while back I would like to congratulate you on being one of the few professional people happy to impart knowledge and knowhow with out some exhorbitant fee! Your podcasts are invaluable and I watch them over and over, scrutinising you and the horse to see what reactions/movements,signs etc are going on.
 
I should explain I live in the NE of Scotland, UK and have a yard full of your least favourite types .....ex-racers
 
Although I am not a rescue centre as such I do take the more needy cases in for rehab and hopefully then re-home with suitably qualified and experienced people. That said I have 5 that have become permanent residents purely  because of the emotional rollercoaster we encountered together, and because a couple will never be ridden due to the mental trauma being too much for them to cope with.
 
I am not a wealthy person by any stretch of the imagination and work hard to earn the money to keep these guys (I actually have 9 horses in total, the others being mother/daughter appaloosa's, and two lovely irish horses, one of which has been with me for over 5 years (another rescue case) and one just in....17.2 IDxTB with back issues)
 
I have worked and owned horses all my life (I am now what you politely call 'one of life's more mature ladies') and having been on the steep learning curve of trying to learn good horse communication, and still learning I hasten to add, finding your website has made my job so much easier.
 
So this is one huge thank you for being so generous with your time and knowledge, as although my efforts are just a blip in the grand scheme of things, it is heartwarming knowing I can make a difference to my little herd, and any others that find me.
 
Kindest regards
 
Dianne

thanks indeed Dianne. Most kind and much appreciated. I wish I had more time for Pod Casts. Every day I wish I had a Camera on me with some of the things that I meet but the tyranny of time gets me every time and just not enough Hours in the Day. It makes it all worthwhile getting your letter. Regards and keep up the good work.

+++++++++++++++

Hello John   I frequently enjoy your website and have made a couple of purchases, and hope you can help with a concern I have regarding my horse pasture. I have a solid 15.1hh Arabian cross. He is agisted in approx 1 acre paddock. I hand feed twice a day and he has picking in his paddock. Some of the trees in his paddock are Pine trees and the soil is mainly clay. I have noticed a few bare patches developing, only small as yet, and would like to fertilize his paddock to encourage the grass to grow now that spring is upon us. I could fence off half his paddock and do half at a time as I am not sure what is safe to use while a horse is still grazing in the paddock.   I have read your page on pasture management but as I only have access to this one paddock I am not sure how to proceed with improving it. We live in SE Qld close to the coast just north of Brisbane. The paddock is just unimproved grass.   Thanking you   Darleen

Difficult one Darleen because clearly, 1 acre paddocks are too small for Horses and too small to keep well with any kind of pasture management really. I have just seen a Horse with all of his snout burnt through fertilizing the Paddock with Super Phosphate so it shows you that we have to be careful. In your case, you would fertilize and water it in. The Dept of Primary Industry have local Field Officers to give you free advice on site. Avail yourself of them for areas differ across the Country as to what would be used or recommended. When you get bare patches in Paddocks, Grass does not grow back on them when spelled. That is the bad news. Even worse news is that what grows back is the weed as they are the pioneer of bare ground. So every time your get a divot, the weed replaces it. Hence the endless fight. To reseed successfully, the paddock needs to really be locked up for 18 Months for establishment purposes.  Best of Luck

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27th AUGUST, 2010

 

GAINSBOROUGH SOAP

 

I have been running back and forwards between Victor Harbor and 'Gainsborough', like an idiot, keeping both sides of our lives idling along.

It would appear that Nathan is going to be longer on the side lines than he first thought as they checked his wounds this week and discovered that some of the skin graft hasn't taken. They are performing another operation on him next Monday morning and in Hospital for another Week :( Poor Boy!! I hope this one works. The amazing thing is that the skin that they shaved off his upper leg, to cover the lower leg, can be shaved up to 3 times to harvest more skin, from the same site. Unreal!!! Must be some sort of Tool then.

Mrs. HP has been riding sundry Horses each day and one of them is yet another interesting case and I will talk about that Horse tonight.

STIFLE PROBLEMS

If you have a read of this article.......  RIDER INDUCED VETERINARY PROBLEMS you will see that bad habits by Riders', can and often do cause Veterinary symptoms and difficulties, similar or the same as real Veterinary problems. The trick when assessing them is to in fact work out which it is, for the serious question we must decide is how we go about attempting to fix them or re-educate them. A big responsibility imho.

Such is the case with a Horse that we have here right now. Nothing new, that is the sad thing. We have in fact 3 here right now, plus resident Horses with various problems. Anyhow, he is here for improvement on flat work. He goes around ARC quality but with permanent incorrect Dressage habits, which of course are often the Horse compensating for a hidden physical problem. The longer it goes on, the more set in ways goes the Horse and what may have been a minor affliction, is compounded beneath the surface, waiting for the day that a Technically Correct Rider comes along and wants improvement. Then often, "All Hell breaks loose"

The quickest way to diagnose whether a Horse has soundness problems is to ask it to go 'correctly' This, amongst other things, means 'straight'. That in turns means going around flexed, bent and supple and put simply, so that the foot falls of the rear hooves are roughly in the same line as the foot falls of the fronts. Funny term 'straight' as they are bent. Perhaps an Irish Dressage Judge coined it :) Bit like the 3 Day Event, over one, two or 4 days

The moment a Rider that has the knowledge and assertiveness to demand 'correctness', of course the Horse starts to hurt, for no other reason than the "Rider induced incorrect muscle build up' as well as the underlying minor Veterinary problem that most have and like this Horse has.

Once again of course, it is 'conformation. It is conformation that causes almost all of the minor Veterinary problems which all go onto be major from the point of view of riding. They cannot be ridden successfully by the mere mortal. As I keep saying but don't know the figure because there are none, but I would think at least 70% of Horses in this Country, are built wrong and all of those are classic cases for ridden difficulties of many types. Think about that. In short, the MAJORITY of Horses running around, are not built for the purpose for which they are demanded to do.

So it was to Mrs. HP's 'shootout' today. The Horse was asked to not 'drop the shoulder' and lay in on the circle or through various transitions. She made a point of it, to fix the Dressage for the Owner and the Horse (as they do) raised the stakes. Of course, we know why but the reason I write about these things is to try and make people think about these things....for the good of Horses, for most just get called "Naughty'

Yes, the Horse is just trying to protect himself and at the walk only, she persevered for the entire session, just to get the Horse to yield off one inside leg whilst the Horse actively refused to do so, even though he already knew how to and why to.

So I do hope that some bear that in mind. The many and varied evasion tactics manufactured by Horses, are only methods of communication and translation of their fears. For instance in this case, nodding the head up and down at the speed of a blur, prior to bridling. What do you think she is saying?

Horse 2

Another Horse that she has been riding, once again to improve the Dressage and behaviour, has shown signs that she doesn't want to go 'into a frame'. Once again, this is one of the classic signs of a Horse that has issues over the top line or rear end. Especially here, sacroiliac. True to form, this one commenced today, kicking up in the rear end where she had not on the previous 10 rides. Do you know why?

HP Horses

I have been washed out this week. Round Pen under Water, non stop rain and the best Winter we have had in many years. Since about 1980. Creeks breaking the Banks. So my Horses had the time off and I am back into them tomorrow. I spent two Days rebuilding our Combustion Heater and chimney for Mrs. HP was getting cold :( It looks like now that we may get a few days where the Sun peeps through so that will be nice for a change. We are never happy enough about the weather us Humans :)

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NEWS OF THE DAY

Anky van Grunsven Sues Eurodressage

The renowned dressage rider Anky van Grunsven feels defamed by equestrian journalist Astrid Appels of Eurodressage.com.

According to Anky images of her horses can not be connected to the controversial rollkur training method. This is a system developed by Anky and her trainer and life partner Sjef Janssen in which the horse is bending its neck in an extreme way.
Following years of research and a conclusion by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS) has decided in February that, “as of today hyperflexion/rollkur is seen as an aggressive way of a deep moving horse. This is forbidden as well as any head-neck position which is obtained in an aggressive way. The LDR-method, on the other hand, obtains a deep bending of the neck without force and this is allowed.”

Much has been written about this controversial system in combination with animal welfare. And so has journalist Astrid Appels who has paid attention to this topic on her website ww.eurodressage.com. Through highly aggressive and intimidating emails Anky van Grunsven and Sjef Janssen have tried to prevent this, but Appels appeals to the freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

In his correspondence Sjef Janssen has sworn at Appels like a sailor. A few quotes:
“You are a tiny miserable figure”
“You’ll be next”
“You’re totally deranged”
“You’re just pathetic”
“You continue to be a super bitch”
“you belong in line with the German journalist mafia”

Appels is shocked by these intimidating and slanderous remarks by the official team trainer of The Netherlands and considers taking necessary legal steps against this.

This court case will start in ’s Hertogenbosch on 8 September 2010.
Appels is represented by Mr. J.A. Weda and Mr. S. Wensing
 

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Rider airlifted to hospital after horse falls on her near Mackay

A WOMAN has been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after a horse fell on her near Mackay.

The 33-year-old was thrown from the animal around 9.30am at the Nebo Showground, and the horse then fell on her.

The RACQ - CQ Rescue helicopter airlifted her to the Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition around 11.30am, where she was scanned for possible spinal and pelvic injuries.

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Horse is killed in rural road crash

"No-one was arrested as a result of the collision"

A horse rider was airlifted to a specialist hospital and a horse was killed during a crash on a rural road.
Another rider also suffered injuries and it is not known if her horse will survive following the smash at about 8.30am yesterday.

More than a dozen police officers attended the scene on a narrow bend at Braybrooke Road on the outskirts of the village of Great Oxendon
while investigations took place into what happened.

The air ambulance was called into action to take one of the riders to Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry suffering from serious, but not life-threatening, injuries.

His horse died at the scene of the accident.

The second rider was taken by road ambulance to Kettering General Hospital suffering from minor injuries.

A large dent was visible on the black vehicle involved in the collision.

The road was closed to traffic between the A508 and Griffin Road for several hours while police officers tried to discover what had happened.

The single carriageway road runs between Great Oxendon and Desborough.

A police spokesman said: "Braybrooke Road near Great Oxendon re-opened at about 12.25pm yesterday, after a road traffic collision.

"A man from Market Harborough riding one of the horses was taken to Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry by air ambulance with serious injuries while the other, a woman from Market Harborough, was taken to Kettering General Hospital with minor injuries.

"The driver of the vehicle involved in the collision was not injured during the collision.

"No-one was arrested as a result of the collision."

A similar incident last year saw a horse killed in Main Street, Lyddington. The rider was left needing hospital treatment.
 

 

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Duncan Man Riding Horse Killed In Collision With Car



DUNCAN, OKLAHOMA -- The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says a Duncan man was killed when the horse he was riding was hit by a car.

Troopers say the horse survived.

Troopers say 39-year-old Shawn Scarbrough was killed in the accident north of Duncan just after 9:15 p.m. Monday.

Investigators say Scarbrough was riding the horse in the center of the roadway and a car driven by 19-year-old Sidni Southerland swerved to miss the pair. Troopers say the horse jumped into the path of the car and was hit with Scarbrough being thrown onto the hood of the car and killed.

Troopers say Southerland was treated and released at a Duncan hospital while the horse was taken to a veterinary clinic for treatment.

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Motorcyclist charged after pony deaths

23-year-old fined for driving without a licence

The motorcyclist who hit and killed two stray ponies on the Trans-Canada Highway near Charlottetown two weeks ago has been charged with driving with a suspended licence.

Ray George, 23, was given a $220 fine.

The North Wiltshire man was driving along the highway near Hazelbrook when one horse and two ponies broke through an electric fence.

Danny Walsh, the owner of the animals, corralled the horse, but the ponies — two-year-old brothers — bolted onto the Trans-Canada Highway at 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 11.

Walsh said he waved a flashlight at drivers to warn them the animals were loose and he managed to stop the traffic heading out of the city. But, he said, the motorcycle coming from the other direction was not able to stop in time.

George was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and treated for his injuries. He has since been released.

RCMP constable Kevin Van Alstine said Walsh would not be charged over the incident.

"It was decided he showed due diligence to keep the horses in and, as a result of that, there's no charges are going to be laid against him," he said.

Van Alstine said George would not face any other charges.

"It was a dark night, dark horses. It just happened to be a wrong place, wrong time situation."

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LETTER OF THE DAY

WORMING

Hi John, How’s everything going? Thought I would mention that the current state of ---------manure is a new thing and I am pretty sure that worms would be the culprit. I will send a pic of him last summer, I nearly didn’t send him to you as I was not happy with his condition but decided to run with it when I should have left him home. I drenched the horses that he had been running with a few days ago and they needed it so he would have too. I wormed them last time with a Valuemax brand then they went on to a 100 acre paddock that has had no horses on it for 12 months while their usual paddock is being renovated. The worm burden should have been low. In 25 years between my sister and myself with sometimes up to 30 horses between us have never had colic from sand or other. Maybe we have been just lucky but we don’t have sandy soil and the horses are constantly grazing. There are some people near the coast who constantly have to treat for sand. Being in a community of sheep farmers and seeing whole flocks of sheep being wiped out in days from black scour worm and the like there seems to be an increasing fear of worm resistance and I am noticing people are becoming reluctant to worm their horses on a regular basis. Instead they are only worming them when they show signs of being wormy. The article likens the problem to the overuse of antibiotics. While I don’t use this practice myself, I was reading the Horse.com and there was an article about the subject saying we will have to live with worms in the future due to resistance as there are no new drugs to combat them and that we should do faecal egg counts before worming. What were your thought on this?

I completely agree with you. Common sense tells us that if we keep pumping chemicals into us or Horses and that Worms and infections Bugs continually mutate, then we are destined for Doom. Which is why the new virus now in Britain, has no anti biotic that can touch it. Same with Worms.

So your point is a very telling one and perhaps that is what the Horse Industry Bosses should be looking at or thinking about. Ways to better handle worming, rather than just give the Horse chemicals on the 6 weeks, regardless of whether they have them or not.

As I said to you, we should all be investing in a Microscope and only worming with the correct wormer for the worms that are present and only worming when and if Horses really need it. I wonder what others think about that??

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LETTERS OF THE DAY

Hi John and Linda,

I have a 4 yr old pinto gelding who is coming along very nicely thanks to your mouthing and training dvds.

Desensitising has been going well with plastic bags and various other items, however, last weekend I discovered a “pigroot button” LOL.

After working him using the running reins and market harbourer we go for a trail ride on a loose rein. I reached my left arm around and placed it on the highest point of his rump just to see what he would do. The ears twitched and he kicked out. I tried this again 3 times and every time he pigrooted/kicked out.

My first step will be to have his back checked – I have checked it myself by running my fingers along either side of his spine running from rump to wither – he shows no sign of pain or discomfort, but I am not a vet.

Since I bought him I have been aware that he is a bit touchy around the hind quarters and has not been handled much since he was green broken to western.

My question is:

What is the best way to desensitize this area?

My husband suggested a small sand bag that I could pop on his rump in the round yard to try and get him used to being touched on the rear quarters.

I also thought maybe a crupper would help desensitize the area?

Your advice would be greatly appreciated!!

I would like to do this right first go!!!

Kind Regards
Sarah


There are many ways Sarah. The first being to not accept his pig rooting and kicking out and letting him know that such is not acceptable. depending upon the vigour of the movement versus your ability to sit it. Reach around, place your hand on the middle of the rump and if he objects, take his head to your knee and disengage his hindquarters with a couple of disciplinary kicks behind the girth and then repeat, repeat until he gives. Then expand the territory of your touching and when you reach the scratching on the doc, he will love you for it :) Other things include.

• Saddle up and tie your Coat across behind the saddle so that it is flopping around and lung him a bit.
   

• Place a roller on. Then tie a rope from one side ring to the other side ring, adjusted to where the rope is sitting just on the tail and in danger of falling down over his rump and sitting above his hocks. That is in fact what you want to happen when you lunge him but the adjustment must be perfect so that it doesn't fall lower and be dangerous. If he does a runner, reef him around by tearing his head off and recommence. Do not accept bolting. If you want total control and a good training outcome, refer to my mouthing dvd and you will know what to do to control him as well as turn it into a training opportunity.
   

• Put back Boots on him.
   

• Teach him to back leg hobble
   

• Tie him up and bag him down in those areas.
   

• Make him accept a 'back cinch'

There are others but use your imagination and approach him with an attitude that he just has to accept them. Regards

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Hi John and Linda,

Was wondering if you can help give me a name of a company that moves floats within Australia.

My hubby has a job transfer and we are leaving Geraldton to go to Queensland. We are taking our beautiful Welsh Cob with us, but I can’t seem to find anyone who will transport the float. I don’t want to have to sell it because I only bought it earlier this year and my boy travels wonderfully on it. It also has the biggest front window I have ever seen on a float, so I really want to take it with me. Do you have any ideas at all.

Hopefully I’ll catch you at a Queensland clinic one day seeing as though I’ve missed the next Perth one! Hope it goes well for you.

Cheers

Lisa – Gero.
 

Hi Lisa, big move for you. You won't know yourself in lovely Quld. Any of the interstate Haulers will do that. East West did mine. It make no difference to them. It is just a vehicle being carted. Have fun up there. Sorry we shall miss you. Regards

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Hi John & Linda,
Love your site and check it regularly. I always learn something new.
My initial question has to do with our older pony. He is a 23yo welsh/Australian pony who is retired due to arthritis in his knees. The problem is that he has been slightly scouring for about 6 months now. I have had the vet out to him, who listened to his gut, then took a look at his manure and said “that’s not so bad, I’ve seen worse. It’s just his age and the green grass”. But that doesn’t really help me. He is grey and I am washing his bum and tail weekly because it looks horrid and must be uncomfortable. I was wondering if your sand cleaner recipe might help…

I could not harm him and could only benefit. He would have sand, they all do. Every day. You would do him immediately and then after 14 days again. Being Grey of course, he could well have melanoma problems inside the intestine and a physical examination by the Vet should have been done. We must always remain ready to put these Horses down of course but do as you are doing, your very best and while he is not too bad, let him live of course.

My second query is regarding Standardbreds. I am an older beginner rider looking for a stable and sane mount to just have fun on. Mainly trail rides and maybe a bit of ARC. I know you are a big fan of stb’s for beginners, and I am looking into getting a lovely mare from Raising The Standards here in Victoria. Nicole does a fantastic job, I have no doubt about that, but will my uneducated riding style cause confusion for the horse? My question is whether one of these “fresh off the track” standies are suitable for a beginner? Or should I be looking for something that has a few years of riding under it’s belt (or girth, as the case may be..lol). I have been looking for around 18 months now, and it seems that all the good ol’ reliable standies are not sold on because they are loved too much.
Thanks for your time!
Jodie
 

I can only give you my experience Jodie and that has been extensive with these. I am yet to meet one that presents a danger to such a Rider and regardless of their 'green' everyone has made it through the experience with many rewards. Beginners can all ride them but can they train them? No, of course not. Not without the help of a good Coach or some other advice but all of Mrs. HP's Pupils improve them and have a wonderful time going on through the Dressage training and jumping. I am not a fan of Mares in any Breed so a Gelding would be shortening the odds of failure. Best of Luck

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Hi John
Just a quick question.
Please could you tell me how big is your round pen? We would like to include a round pen in our livery yard, and wondered what you think the ideal size is. There are so many different designs here in the UK and they range in size from 30ft to 90ft diameter. Someone hired a ' Monty style' transportable round pen for a week, but it looked enormous! Nearly filled the sandschool so couldn't see the point of having it! Or perhaps its just that I am unfit or got short legs!
Thanks for your help
Regards
Sue. UK
 

15 metres diameter Sue. That is for Training (ground work and starting horses, lunging) and a little bit of riding, trotting and bit of Canter on a Balanced Horse. From a lunging point of view, that size is also the biggest you want because otherwise you cannot reach them with your lunging equipment, especially if they are in hand. Any bigger than that for join up or Breaking is, is too big, Regards

 

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Hello,
Thank you firstly for prociding such an informative and helpful site! It has saved me many a time. However, my gelding has recently encountered a 'thing' which i can not explain.

For the past 4 weeks I have gone down (i can only get down to see him once a week - believe me when i say this is not my fault but he is under 24 hour supervision by people living on the property!) on my weekly visit to find a strange discharge? from his anus.

My first thought was pinworms despite the fact that his worming is up to date and rotated. The other really confusing sign is that he is not rubbing his tail at all it seems! He is in a big paddock with 5 other horses - onoe other being mine who doesn't seem to show anything leaning towards worms.... and none of the other horses have the same discharge. It looks like a creamy/yellowy substance which is soft to touch (like felt) but quite sticky when i come to wash it off. Anyway, he doesn't look 'wormy' at all. I have wormed him twice anyway since discovering it and wash him with betadine scrub in the area. I am looking forward to moving him closer to me next week so i can wash him every day in the hope that this clears it up. But he doesn't seem to be unwell at all.... in fact he is totally normal despite this discharge. I have also checked his fresh manure and can not see anything to the naked eye. I was thinking of perhaps getting a vet to do a test on a fresh manure sample.... but i can not think what else it may be.
I have posted this on v arious horse forums with minimal response except one girl who says her friends horse has a similar thing and she doesn't think it is worms either and has been washing it in the hope it clears up.

I am baffled and any information is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time.
Kind regards
Susan
 

If her was a Grey Susan, possible melanoma inside the Bowel. Try Tape Worm but my guess is Sand, causing a discharge of fluids form the wall of the Gut due to abrasion. Next step, treat him for sand and worm for tape worm. If a Grey, internal examination by the Vet. (Have you investigated Ulcers? Bad Luck Susan. He does need to be near you! Regards

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My largest gelding, 17hh (a chestnut -surprise) will not go onto any float or truck that does not have an open roof. That's right, when transporting him, I have to engage the services of an open truck and driver -I must know all three of these individuals that offer this service in Sydney. Since I have had him (two years) he has been this way, culminating in one instance a year or so ago where he reared up when I was attempting to lead him onto the ramp, coming down on my head with his chin (note to self, wear a helmet). What a doozy, to this day, I had no idea horses' head were so like concrete. I needed 8 stitches. On the same day, 6 men tried to get him on using a loading ramp, a cinch type contraption along his backside, he broke through everything, they didn't stand a chance. It was purely a fear response on the horse's behalf so obviously I cannot blame a large horse like that for doing something instinctively.

These were so called 'experienced horsemen' but I shouldn't have let them do this, as it would only have compounded in his head that entering a closed-in space via a ramp is a frightening, forceful experience.

I just work around it now, not that I move him very often, but when I do, I simply go for the open top truck option. I should work to fix this as opposed to work around it.

John, I should probably look up all your footage/online tutorials for this as I'm sure you would likely have covered this topic countless times over the years. I'll give it a shot, but maybe you have some advice front of mind that you can offer :-)

Cheers,

Marta
 

No doubt caused by the Horse Floats in this Country that NEVER suited one single Horse of 17 hands. He would have hit his head at some stage and he isn't stupid. Have a  read of this: HORSE FLOAT DESIGN REVOLUTION

Give this Horse the correct height Float and one that doesn't look like a Cave, and he will get over his fears. Ramp angle also has a big bearing on this as they get an optical illusion that they cannot fit inside the Float. The only height Float for your Horse is 2350mm from floot to under side of roof, measured dead centre at the back.  Cheers

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I recently purchased a 10 year Arab/stock horse cross. He has been used for trail riding and has been to pc. His problem is that when he decides he is not going to turn (usually to the left) he will not. I can have his nose on my left boot and we are still walking either straight or even to the right slightly. In the arena he will circle both ways nicely until he decides he has done enough and wants to leave. Most of my riding is in the bush and I need to be able to make him go where I want him to and not where he thinks he should be. Any suggestions please?

First have a read of that Lyn.

http://www.horseproblems.com.au/The%20Leg%20Yield.htm

Then, every time he fails to turn, simply 'counter bend him to the left and then back to true direct rein to the left once you feel he is going in your desired direction.

Re Horses that want to exit the arena, the first thing is to eliminate the Veterinary and to 'listen to your Horse' in case of soundness issues as I meet a reasonable percentage of Horses that do this that are simply attempting to communicate their pain....but....if it is a sound Horse, just being naughty (if there is such a thing) riding a left hand circle say, past the exit, have the whip on the outside hand and just as you feel the commencement of the veer to the right, give the Horse a swipe down the right hand side shoulder. I said 'swipe' not TAP!!!!!!!! Whips are to be used so you don't have to use whips

Put simply, your Horse isn't between leg and hand and not in that box. Regards

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I have just recently stumbled across your terrific website and found a lot of answers to a lot
of questiones i've been searching for a long time...1 of them,..where do i find a real Trainer/Horseman
and not a "Wanna be" .

I give you a quick description of my horse 1.
Rising 7 year old Paint Gelding,in training for western performance.(Hunter under saddle,western pleasure,trail,horsemanship
patterns). Early education as a yearling,1 outing for yearling lungeline and yearling led trail.Broken in as a 2 year old,
lightly shown couple of times,general pleasure riding,turned out from year 3-5 until i purchased the horse almost 2 years ago.
Willing temperament,very intelligent and athletic.Returned from National level show last april,whilst there things started to which i think
go pear shaped.Horse been with trainer for 6 weeks prior to show,suddenly started to shy whilst in a class,evade certain cues by
ducking out from under the rider,horse looking confused and pushed too fast for his task.One of the disciplines that was put on
him was reining,in which the trainer assured me he would be ready to compete after just six weeks? ...I now have troubles to
keep him togrther when we get to a show,he's displayed nervous/shakie behavior when going into an arena (especially indoor).
I have saved us (merely myself) a couple of times now using the one rein stop as i practiced with him on a few occasions while
at home,i am a fairly capable rider,consider myself to be able to read a horse considerably well.However i was looking forward
to be able to enjoy riding my horse upon his return home,instead he's got more problems than when he left. He also moves behind
the bit a lot,especially in the shank bit.Otherwise he is fairly soft , Since the reining training he's also developed a problem where
as i ask him for a pivot in a show environment(in a horsemanship class which used to be his forte), he looses it and either goes into a
mad spin,lucky for the horn on my western saddle,or tries to evade by throwing his head and ducking out \.hmmm ...
I would love to hear your thinking on this matter. I really don't want to write this horse off,he has had a total of 5 months (pro)training
on and off in the last 18 months.,his got talent to burn but i feel he was asked for too much too soon where he was not mentally ready.
By the way i am a big fan of the 7 games,which i started on the horse recently and we're doing well in that department.
Kind regards
Bettina
 

Simply Bettina, he was 'cooked' and probably 'bullied', which is an unfortunate attribute of so many of the Professional Trainers these Days.

Your Horse has psychological problems associated with that Training and the damage has been done. The task is therefore immense and now a terrible slow process. You have to regain his confidence and 'back to basics' and start again, with your 'empathy, fairness, non pressure, non moods,' and so on. You should also ditch the shanked Bit, get a Myler snaffle and treat the Horse like a two year old. I am intrigued as to why a QH would have been spelled, something basically never done?????? You should investigate his past and find out what went on! Bad Luck. Bullies ruin Horses and break their Spirits. The Horse that ran second at the Royal Show Dressage on Sunday, in the Medium, had his Spirit broken by a Bully here. He is now a Riding for the Disabled Horse and going to NZ to represent us. He really needed the 'Bully' treatment, he was such a terrible Horse The majority of QH's are 'Saints' and can be broken in blind folded and with one arm tied behind your back. Why they need the 'Bully' treatment has got me. It is a culture that is now endemic in the Industry, from the bottom to the top but sadly, comes from the Top down. Best of Luck

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