Horse-ing Around

Today in the Garden

2010-03-25T00:04:00.000-07:00

Rosie's Beauty (rain scald) Treatment

2010-03-24T00:42:00.000-07:00

After all the wet weather we had 3 out of our 5 horses have suffered from rain scald. The worst affected being Rocky our big TB, he has it worse than the others because he also suffers from Anhydrosis which means that he already doesn't sweat very well. Rosie had a lot of it, but her's pretty much just fell off. And then poor old Midnight had a few good patches, mostly because she has a thicker coat than the rest of them & the water would have just sat there.

Rain scald is a fungal / bacterial infection that is caused by being wet for long periods of time. It is highly contagious & you must not use any riding or grooming equipment on the other horses. Some horse are more prone to it than others. There are many methods of treatment, but ideally prevention is best. If you are able to keep the horses dry by either putting under a shelter or water proof rugs, this is the best prevention. You can also increase the copper in their diets.

This year to treat the horses we have purchased products from a company called Heritage Downs. They produce shampoos & creams that are sulphate free & made from natural ingredients. We have tried the sulphate free shampoo & then the Greasy heel cream. We had to wash each affected horse with the shampoo, leaving the shampoo to soak for approx 15 minutes before rinsing off. Then pat dry with a towel.

After this apply the Greasy heel cream to the affected areas. It was strange stuff, the smell of it reminded my friend and I off take-away chips the next day or 4 day old fried rice. I actually left the container in the car for a few days & had to take it out, smelt like I had rotten meat in their! Believe me NOT good when you are a vegan..lol...

After you have spread the goop on, (as I call it) you plastic wrap the area & leave for a further 15 minutes. The theory is that when you remove the wrap the scabs will be easy to remove without hurting them.

Here' a pic of Rosie in having her "Beauty Treatment" She was very patient...

After this we washed her & gave her a good scrub with the brush & the scabs pretty much fell off. Rocky's treatment has taken a lot longer. It has now been 10 days since we stated treatment, I have been washing him every 2-3 day (weather dependant) & covering the affected areas after each wash with the goop. This morning I gave him a really good scrub & the scabs are starting to come off easily. Throughout the whole time there has been no sign of infection, which is great. Last year we had a lot of trouble with infection. That's why it is important to remove the scabs, as they can get a very nasty infection underneath where the scab is sitting.

Rosie just needs to grow her hair back now & you will never know she had it. I can highly recommend the Heritage downs products, they smell devine - other than the greasy heel cream, safe to use & compared to other medicated products comparable on price. http://www.heritagedowns.com.au/

Still raining

2010-03-04T15:03:00.000-08:00

The rain seems never ending....
We are supposed to be living in the Sunshine State of Australia but you wouldn't know it at the moment. It's been a good week now since it started to rain, and they are still forecasting more. Inland the rural areas are having some of the worst flooding as the rain is compounded by the rivers bringing even more water down with them. Roma is being hit particularly hard. http://alturl.com/rofy
The rain was welcome & there are still a lot of rural areas that are being affected by drought across Australia, but unfortunately this has brought to much rain to some areas & will be leaving a massive clean up bill.
Luckily for us we live in a suburban area that the flooding has affected. We have a little bit of soggy carpet downstairs - got to love that wet carpet smell. Our horses are looking sad as they have been in the muddy ground for a while now. Just hoping for everyone's sake that the forecast for the weekend is wrong & we will get some fine weather.

The economic downturn in America & its horses

2010-02-25T16:31:00.000-08:00

An interesting article of the fate of horses in America since the economic downturn. There will be a seriesof articles to follow that speak to the volunteer rescuers that no one hears about. These people save one horse at a time out of the kindness of their hearts & their own money.

http://alturl.com/kskv

Help Protect Mutton Bird Chicks

2010-02-25T14:47:00.000-08:00

Help Protect Mutton Bird Chicks

Bramble Bay Open Sports Day

2010-02-21T13:20:00.000-08:00

On Sunday 3 of us from Albany Creek Pony club went to the Bramble Bay Open Sports day. We took Rosie, Galaxy & Angel. It was Rosie's first time at such an event so I was a bit nervous, she had been to a couple of musters with no trouble at all, but this was larger scale with approx 60 -80 horses there.
The weather in the morning wasn't great & we hoped that the rain would hold off as we were all looking forward to going. Thankfully by the time (6.30am) we arrived at the paddock the clouds were clearing & we were now in for a hot humid day.
Rosie who had been clean the day before had mud all over the show, even with her rug on. So it took me a good half hour of brushing to get her respectable again.
Narelle from BBay club kindly cam down with their float & picked up Galaxy so my good friend Cath didn't have to make 2 trips with the float. Cath wasn't riding today she had offered to judge at the event seeing as she is an instructor & then in return we know that they will help us out at our next event. It's great, the small clubs working together.
Well we arrived safe & sound. For the first time Rosie hadn't pooed in the float but promptly dumped one when she was unloaded. Less mess in the float anyway. She was a bit excited to see all the other horses, but settled down pretty quickly.
We had about half an hour to register & saddle up, & have a gear check. We are now putting sports boots on her back & front plus bell boots on the back to protect her hoof from when she injured it about a month ago. With the sporting events there were a number that involved poles so we didn't want her to hurt herself again.

Here we are at gear check. That's Rosie & I on the right, the chestnut & I am dressed in navy blue with a black helmet.

After we had all been through gear checked we met up again to wait until we were told where to go. By now Rosie was as calm as could be, not worried at all by the other horses, makes it great to take her out.

Here's the 3 of us. From left to right.

Rosie & I, Galaxy & Jen, Angel & Sarah

We all had a great day, I was wrapped to win 5 ribbons,

Diamond Flag - 3rd

Half Hitch - 6th

Key Hole - 4th

Trail - 5th

Zig Zag bounce - 6th

Here's a pic of Rosie & I doing the half hitch.

Jen & Gal did really well, they have one of the most competitive age groups, 17 - 25 years, in the end she came 2nd overall for her age group.

A great day all round, we even managed to win a few prizes in the raffle.

Next weekend I am riding Galaxy at Redcliffe, We are doing 1 dressage test & 1 jumping round, I really dont expect to do well here because I have done limited dressage & jumping, plus Gal is not a dressage horse, but Rosie is not ready for jumping either. Cath is riding the big fellow Rocky, can't wait to watch them in action, he is such a beautiful jumper.

Albany Creek Pony Club

2010-02-18T14:38:00.000-08:00

This is our little Pony Club. We only have 12 members, but we have a lot of fun.

www.albanycreekponyclub.com

At the Club

2010-02-18T14:30:00.000-08:00

This is Landy, he's 23 & semi retired, he now teaches the kids how to ride.

Amazing Golden Horse Head on display - first time in 1400 years

2010-02-17T17:32:00.000-08:00

http://equineink.com/2010/01/26/amazing-gold-horse-head-on-display-for-first-time-in-1400-years/

Wouldn't it be fantastic to see if you lived in the area.

The solid gold horse is about two inches tall and covered with an intricate filigree pattern. It is in almost perfect condition. Most of the items in the collection appear to date from the 7th century although it is not yet known when the hoard was buried.

I have to say that I find ancient gold artifacts like this one enormously attractive. When my daughter and I visit museums we make a bee line for ancient gold and something of this quality would have us drooling outside the case.

The details on this gold artifact are amazing!

It goes on display at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent between 13 February and 7 March.

Unbelievably, this cache of artifacts was only discovered in 2009

so there is still hope that more is out there!

Rain Rain Rain

2010-02-16T14:19:00.000-08:00

It just didn't stop raining last night. I don't know about you, but at some point you start to worry about just how much water is overflowing from you gutters. That point was about 10.00pm last night. There was a small river running past the front of our door (slight exaggeration) but when it is right outside your door it looks alot better. On the news they were showing people who's cars had beed washed away in car parks & houses flooded.

Last year we had a very bad cyclone come through & we had were flooded down stairs. So once we dried out we painted the whole base of the house with a cloth & tar mixture. Anywhere we couldn't put this we siliconed. Well I'm pleased to say that it must have done the trick. Everything is still dry inside this morning. Now lets just hope it fines up for the weekend to go riding.

But a memory.......... - Doggers Horses Available - Storm

2010-02-12T15:07:00.000-08:00

Storm has been waiting for a home for a while now. She really sounds like a lovely mare with lots of potential. If you are looking for a new horse or know someone that is. Please spread the word & lets make Storm feel loved.

But a memory.......... - Doggers Horses Available
Storm, a big 16.1hh thoroughbred mare, 8yo, and is a lovely looking mare, and a nice mare to ride also. Easy going enough, she did throw her head a bit, but nothing crazy, not forward moving anything and a martingale would probably solve the problem. Great natured mare, not nasty, easy to pick up feet and tack up, and would suit someone that is looking to move on from their beginner mount. If you know the basic?s you?d be fine with Storm. $800. Call Angela on 0409 628 615 angela.nuhn@bigpond.com

Planning for the sports day

2010-02-09T18:48:00.000-08:00

Hello All, well Rosie is cantering around the paddock with no sign of slowing down or discomfort. What a relief. So that's her holiday over. The rug is back on & this weekend we are back into lessons. I hope she isn't to frisky after 3 weeks off. I had only just started to canter her. So we might be back to trotting everywhere. Going to practice some Gymkhana events as we are going to a local clubs Open sports day on the 21st of this month. I don't think she has ever done anything like this before.

Events at the sports day are:
Bramble Bay Mystery
Mug Race
Diamond Flag
Half Hitch
Key Hole
Nambour nuisance
Trail
Wagon Wheel
Zig Zag Bounce

It's going to be a lot of fun.

Rosie on the mend!

2010-02-03T19:09:00.000-08:00

Well, finally Rosie has improved yesterday morning she was starting to walk on her back leg again & putting more weight on it. By the dinner time she could slowly walk as per normal it is only when she goes faster that she is limping & then every now & then it will catch her painfully.
We are so relieved that she is on the mend. It has been a worrying few days with hardly any sign of improvement & now heaps of improvement. We are over the moon.
We also went & saw a naturopath last night & got some drops from her that we have to give 3 times a day until Monday, this will help speed up the healing process. She also said to give them to any of the horses should they ever slip or fall or even after a hard days workout. it will help them recover faster. Very handy to have. We won't be riding this weekend but hopefully with another weeks rest we will be able to do some light work the following weekend. She has already lost muscle tone & has a flabby but again. Although I think she has actually been enjoying the extra attention, hay & not wearing a rug. So at the moment she is flabby, fat, sun bleached & dirty.
NOT FOR LONG.

Update on Rosie's lameness

2010-01-31T00:33:00.000-08:00

Well it's still a bit of a mystery. My friend & I have been all over her leg & cannot find any heat or swelling. We cleaned out the hoof again to check for any damage or other problems & even though it seemed uncomfortable for her she didn't kick out or really struggle. She really is a sweat heart.
We felt all over & she doesn't flinch when you push on areas. It is definitely sore though as she is walking very gingerly. She can put full weight on it & use her other back leg to shoo flies away or scratch her head. From watching her we think it is sore in the hock.
Oh well she does seem a bit better this afternoon. It has after all only been 24 hours since she hurt it. If there is no improvement over the next few days we will call the vet out. Here's hoping that it is only bruising & a bit if rest will take the soreness away.

Photos from our first Pony Club muster

2010-01-31T00:21:00.000-08:00

I received some photos today from one of the Mum's that was at our first PC muster a couple of weeks ago. It's really nice to receive them. Now I can critique my posture. I just have to remember that we are just starting with dressage & Rosie has never done anything like this before. It made me sad to see them especially now that poor Rosie is lame.

Rosie is limping

2010-01-29T20:52:00.000-08:00

Well poor Rosie banged her leg on something this afternoon. We think that Galaxy cornered her next to the bath tub & when he bullied her she has crashed into the tub while trying to move out of his way.
She has opened up an old wound she had from her rug removal antics & also had a small mark just above her hoof. It's quite sore as she is very tender on it.
We have separated her into the small shed paddock with Midnight the old retired Brumby rescue as she is bottom of the pack & won't challenge her or push her around while she is sore. I washed it down with cold water & we have put butadiene on it to stop any infection & then a spray to keep the flies off it.
By the time we had all the new hay packed into the shed & sorted out which rugs were staying, going home & being thrown she was putting more weight on it & i saw her scratch her head with that back leg so movement is fine. Hopefully she will just need a week off. What a shame as she has been coming along nicely & Cath was going to take her out in the morning with some other friends as I have other commitments.
Will let you know how she is in a few days.

Great deal on Business, reward, membership cards

2010-01-28T23:17:00.001-08:00

http://eepurl.com/g-H0

Hay on order - time to clean the shed out

2010-01-28T15:10:00.000-08:00

We've just ordered 50 bales of hay to cram into our little shed at the paddock. Everything is going to have to come out & what's not needed taken home, because there just isn't going to be room for it. At least it is going to be a good chance to give the shed a good clean.
I must admit that I am always a bit wary when delving into the depths of the shed, there could be snakes you know. And after all I am from New Zealand where we don't have snakes, they really do frighten me & I prefer to stay well clear. I find the best thing is to not think about it & just get on with the job.
The hardest part about all this lovely fresh hay is going to be convincing the horses that they can't have ay until winter when grass is short & they need a bit extra to keep their bellies warm.

Rocky in particular will eat hay over his hard feed, he is very amusing to watch in winter, a mouthful of hay mmm a mouthful of hard feed, oh & then some more hay - it takes him for ever to eat his dinner

We have to keep Galaxy tied up or he will chase him off his dinner. None of the others have a chance of making him move though.

Soquilichi

2010-01-27T01:06:00.000-08:00

Soquilichi have now expanded their horse rescue devision of their business. It's great news.
Check out both of their websites.
Soquilichi Rescue

Soquilichi

Benny our Bengal

2010-01-25T14:31:00.000-08:00

Meet Benny our Bengal. We purchased Benny (then named Goliath) back in September from Little Paws Cat rescue. He was only 4 years old & had already had 4 owners. His last owner had surrendered him to the local pound because he had been hunting Wallabies in her paddock.
We couldn't believe that we had managed to find him. He is just beautiful - all 9 kilos of him. He is now really fitting in, he has become more sociable & will come down & spend time where ever you are working. I don't think he will ever be a lap cat but he is happy enough to stretch out beside you on the couch or floor.
Benny's favourite past time is sleeping, eating & playing hard. We have cat tunnels & a big basket of toys that he will help himself to. His favourite game is to sit half way up the stairs & for you to throw a scrunched up envelope to him so that he can either bat it back to you or catch it & then kill it.
From the beginning he hasn't been worried about the dogs. Jazz our Weimeraner is actually scared of him. Our old tabby cat Puss tries to boss him around & he could beat her up quite easily but he just backs off & moves on.
We love our Benny boy, or Slug boy as he is often called. What a great find! Here's just a few photos of him.

A great muster / sign on day

2010-01-24T01:27:00.000-08:00

What a great day we had at our first sign on & club muster. 3 new members! & a couple of girls from a nearby club also came over to practice a dressage test with one of our instructors as they don't get much of a chance to do this at their club as they have a lot of members.
Rosie had her first dressage lesson today & I am so very proud of her efforts. We started off pretty rough, with a crooked entry down the centre lines & a bit of fighting in some of the corners. By the time we finished she was maintaining a steady trot throughout the test, cornering well, & I have found out that she has very good transitions from walk - trot & back. It was exactly the lesson I wanted to have with her. We really bonded & were working as a team. No cantering today, but now that we have a lovely controlled trot from her it won't be long & we will move onto the 20M canter circles & see how she goes. I have learnt how to do a half halt & she is responding well. Hope to have some photos later so will post these soon.
Some of the other members went with our other instructor & they practiced a few sporting events. Barrels, bending & flagging. Afterwards we had a sausage sizzle & a drink. It was very hot, approx 32 today so we were all in need of some shade & water, especially our horses. Of course they were looked after first!
Then we had our AGM meeting & elected the committee, planned for our dressage day in March & made a date for the Oldies day we will now hold in July.
Can't wait for the next muster, it's such fun to get out & ride with everyone.

Albany Creek Pony Club Official/Unoffical Dressage day

2010-01-17T23:49:00.000-08:00

The Albany Creek Pony Club Official / Unofficial Dressage Program is now available. Approx 80-100 riders are expected at the event. It's a great day to attend.
We are also looking for sponsors for the event. Either sponsorship of medallions $250 - where your name is engraved on the medallions, mentioned throughout the day & you can also leave advertising material.
Or we are looking for either monetary or product donations for our raffle table. As we are a small club & help is greatly appreciated.
If you would like to help please contact me.
Albany Creek Dressage Program March 14th 2010

Manure - what do you do with yours?

2010-01-12T15:00:00.000-08:00

I'd really love to hear from you all how you manage manure when you have limited paddock space for your horses. We have 3 paddocks that we rotate ours through. In Winter they are mostly in the shed paddock so we don't have to lug heavy winter rugs to far in the mud.

I have read how you can collect the manure & then spread it in the resting paddocks as it has grass seeds & is after all a great fertiliser. The same article also encouraged you to spread out any old hay or feed in the empty paddocks. These were suggestions for those of us who don't own the land & therefore didn't want ot spend a lot of money on fertilisers & other equipment.

Look forward to hearing about your methods.

http://www.saddletrampshorsegear.com/store/addWishList.asp

2010-01-10T23:01:00.000-08:00

Saddle Tramps Horse gear

http://www.saddletrampshorsegear.com

A good supply of horse rug straps & clips for when your rugs get trashed.

working together

2010-01-10T15:47:00.000-08:00

The weekend riding lessons have paid off! I now feel like Rosie & I are starting to work together & the bond between horse & rider is growing. She is a fast learner, definitely faster than me. Reads my mixed signals & does what I ask, which isn't pretty because my signals were mixed. But now that I am getting used to her stride & how responsive she is I am sitting alot more comfortable. Still need to work on the canter.

We tried out 2 saddles that we picked up off ebay. A Wintec dressage & a Status All Purpose. I really felt out of sorts in the Wintec - my canter was attrocious - bouncing all over the show & I just couldn't get comfortable. The next day we used the Status - ohhh what a difference. I felt quite at home.

We have also put the drop nose band on the bridle & Rosie is not holding her head so high & for most of the trot she is quite relaxed, we can even do a few complete circles with only a small amount of contact on the reins & the occasional half halt to slow her down. She also has a lovely halt.

We also practiced some figure 8's around a couple of bending poles, first at a walk & then at a slow trot. She turns well to the right the left isn't as tight but we just need to practice this some more. She really is a treasure. I still cannot believe that she was destined for the meat works - it just makes me shudder.

Made it to the weekend

2010-01-07T22:40:00.000-08:00

Well we have been back at work for a week now & for the most part it has gone fairly smoothly. I have how ever really missed the daily riding.

Tomorrow my friend Cath who is a Pony Club instructor is going to give Rosie & I our first official lesson. I am so looking forward to it - but know that it is going to be very hard work & I am going to have to be patient with myself. I never loose patience with my horses, it's myself that I get frustrated with & angry that I cannot master the skills that I need to get the best out of my ride. Cath says I am going really very well, but I have high expectations of myself.

So tomorrow we are going to put the drop noseband on her bridle & see if this improves her putting her head up so high in a trot & canter. I don't think she has ever done any dressage work, but she does move well off the leg & always canters on the right leg so we have good basics to work with. It is also a major learning curve for me. I have always ridden Caths horses who are great & if given the right commands will respond with the right anwser, now I have to learn how to teach Rosie what I want.

i will let you know how we go after the lesson.

Albany Creek Pony Club Sign on & first Muster

2010-01-06T04:03:00.000-08:00

Hey All, Albany Creek Pony Club Sign on and first muster 24th January 2010 8am start. New members welcome. Please pass this on to anyone you know who may be interested.

An old dog & his best little friend

2010-01-03T13:59:00.000-08:00

Our 3 year old nephew stayed over so Mum & Dad could have a break, he's a real delight. Loves animals which in our house of 2 cats & 2 dogs & horses is very important. He is especially close to our old dog Fleck. He is a 15.5 year old German Shorthaired Pointer - still full of life & they both have the same passion for food. Here are a couple of photos of the duo.

Update on Rosie

2010-01-01T23:09:00.000-08:00

Well, we are very pleased with how Rosie our thoroughbred that we rescued from the doggers through But A memory horse rescue. We went on a long trail ride with all four of the horses this afternoon. Quite a bit of trotting & a small amount of controlled Cantering. She definitely would love to go for a good run, but at this stage everything is controlled. Not worried at all about the others, never kicked out of tried to bite when they were up close. And at the end of it all she was sound, so fingers crossed we have a good one. Either way we would still love her to bits & provide her with the 'forever home she deserves'.

Now that we know her a bit better we can start some schooling. Things we have to work on are, Learning to stand & wait while we are out. Dropping her head when we go into a trot or canter, she is trying to gain control. Not fighting to much but would like her to drop her head into a more relaxed position. And just general listening, but that will come with regular riding & practice.

Here's an updated photo of her, only 3 weeks & her coat is already a lot softer, can't wait until the shine comes through.

My Nephews First Horse Ride

2010-01-01T22:47:00.000-08:00

Well it was great excitement, we went to visit the horses at the paddock this afternoon with my 3 year old nephew. He just loves them, no matter how big they are, & he pats them ever so gently, like you would a cat or dog. First he helped to wash down Rocky, as Cath had given him a workout prior to us arriving, then we caught Angel & saddled her up, he wasn't afraid at al. Jumped on with me & then we led him around on his own - of course Cath lead & I maintained a hand hold on him to make sure he maintained balance. For a 3 year old he did very well.

Next he helped with feeding, carrying the buckets as best as he could, making sure that each one had their dinner. He even had to say goodbye to each one before we could leave. I don't think he stopped smiling the whole time we were there. Not 5 minutes up the road in the car & he was sound asleep. We now know next time he visits how to wear him out!!

Awesome ride

2009-12-29T14:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had the best ride. 3.5 hours. We took out Angel & Galaxy, the faithful go any where duo & headed up the road. Took a few turns, & then looked for a cross county route back home. Found an old track that my friend used to use years ago & it took us through the bush, it was great being able to canter along the paths, not a care in the world, at palces it was quite wet, even had to go through water that was up to there bellies, they weren't worried though I think the 2 of them were just enjoying being in a different place. There is a whole network of trails thorugh this part, it's council land that surrounds the old tip/rubbish dump so mostly mountain bikers etc go in there. We had heard about it as the local pony club members had mentioned how they head in their to clean out the cob webs in their horses. It was just so nice to let the horses be horse & pick their way through the long grass, trees when the path was blocked & not have to worry about idiots on the road. Can't wait to go again.

Wishing for better weather

2009-12-28T16:15:00.000-08:00

Rain, Rain & more rain. O.K I know we needed the rain, & it has certainly turned everything green again, & the paddocks that were being rested are now starting to get some grass back in them, another week & we will be able to rotate the horses back to the beginning & give the big paddock a break. But come on! We're on a weeks holiday & were hoping to do lots of riding!!! Instead we have had to stick to the roads & footpaths & not go for the trail rides we were hoping to do. It's even to slippery to float them to the pony club & practice some sporting. I suppose I really shouldn't complain at least we are not having snow blizzards like some of my Twitter friends in America.

A very Merry Horsey Christmas to you all

2009-12-24T13:21:00.001-08:00

Christmas Eve ride

2009-12-23T13:39:00.000-08:00

Well we are hoping to go out for a Christmas eve ride, but the weather isn't looking good. Rain rain go away & come back another day. The tinsel is ready to decorate the horses (much to their delight) & we were going to spread some christmas cheer. I really can't think of a better way to spend my afternoon - out with my best friend riding & having a good laugh. Will post some pics should we manage to have fine weather.

Horseland Sale

2009-12-22T13:44:00.000-08:00

Just received my magic flyer in the post from Horselands - they are having a big sale on the 28th Dec, looks like there will be some pretty good deals. Might have to go & check it out.

Rosie Girl

2009-12-22T02:04:00.000-08:00

Finally I took some photos of Rosie our recent rescue horse. She thought the camera was something to eat, & was very curious as to what I was doing. Not the best day for photos, we've had a lot of storms today & it was very wet at the paddock, although dinner certainly lifted their spirits.

OTTON Thoroughbred Rematch Service

2009-12-20T18:47:00.000-08:00

I stumbled across this website as I was searching the internet for horsey things - as you do when all you do is think horsey, which can get in the way of work. It's one ladies project to help home thoroughbred horses from studs & trainers. They are very affordable, beautiful creatures & it looks like she has helped re-home quite a few. Check out her website - you never know, you might find your next best friend there.
OTTON Thoroughbred re-match service

Providing a service matching Affordable Thoroughbreds with a new Career and loving homes

Rosie & Treats

2009-12-20T01:53:00.000-08:00

We'll Rosie finally took a treat from us - she likes bread! and the next day she accepted a carrot from me. Maybe it was a trust thing or she simply had never had treats before, she is a mystery. Anyway we are pleased that she will not miss out now on the little extra goodies. I always pack lunch for my horse when we go out to an event & really wanted to be able to share with her.

It's Raining - good for the grass

2009-12-19T15:51:00.000-08:00

Yeah - it is finally raining, & not just a drizzle. Means we won't be riding this afternoon, but we really need the rain as the paddocks are low & the 2 we had closed off to recuperate have just been sitting there waiting for rain. I think we will move the horses into here for a couple of weeks anyway to give their current paddock a rest. They haven't lost any condition, the 2 thoroughbreds are the ones to watch, the other 3 run on the smell of an oily rag. We are currently giving them hard feed at night but not a lot. The weight lifter mix is brilliant at keeping weight on, you just have to find the balance of not giving them so much that they get all hyper & silly.

Learning to Trot

2009-12-18T00:14:00.000-08:00

Learning to trot is probably the most difficult gait to master as it feels rather bumpy at first and you could bounce in the saddle. To try and have a more comfortable movement for you and your horse, you should try to sit up as straight as possible with your shoulder back. Keep your knees bent and try and put your heels down and look forward between the horse's ears. Trot very slowly at first and new riders may learn to trot whilst their instructor lunges the horse or pony as this is a very effective way for the rider to learn balance. The horse is being controlled by the instructor and the rider can hold onto the saddle or neck strap to help their balance without having to control the horse. A common problem when first learning to trot is that riders tend to hold onto the reins to gain their balance which is very uncomfortable for the horse and may confuse them as your signals are giving different advice. If you have a fit parent or adult friend, then they may run slowly alongside your horse/pony controlling them whilst you practice your trotting. Another option is to tie a knot in the reins and hold onto the reins with one hand whilst holding the saddle with the other hand to maintain their balance.

Travelling with the Stars - Logo

2009-12-17T23:03:00.000-08:00

I've just created a new logo for a friend of mine. Had it printed onto a t-shirt for her as a brithday present, really please with how it came out.

No Apples or Carrots

2009-12-16T15:51:00.000-08:00

Well we're a bit suprised - I have never had a horse that would turn down apples & carrots. But our Rosie girl doesn't eat either. Is it because she has never had any? She will nuzzle it in your hand, give it the squeeze test with her teeth & then leave it in the palm of your hand. If only she could speak & tell us about her past.

Recognise correct leg at canter and how to change lead at canter through trot

2009-12-14T17:33:00.000-08:00

It is easy to recognise the correct leg at a canter as the horse/pony should strike out with their inside foreleg and this leg will appear to be in front of the outside foreleg. It is important to ensure that your horse/pony is on the correct canter lead particularly when turning or undertaking circles. If the horse/pony is on the incorrect lead, then they are more likely to stumble or fall as they are not balanced. It is generally easier to ask your horse/pony to canter in a corner and this can be undertaken in a round yard or a dressage arena if you have one available. Make sure that your horse/pony’s head is placed to the inside and sit trot a few strides before asking to canter. Keep your body upright and move your outside leg back behind the girth keeping the inside leg on the girth and use your inside calf muscles rather than a tapping squeeze. Should the horse/pony strike off with the incorrect lead, ask them to come back to the trot and try again. Upon changing direction, you need to sit deep in the saddle, gently squeezing and closing the rein slightly until the horse/pony comes back to the trot. Once you have come back to the trot, give the same commands previously used but as you are going in a different direction, you will need to use your opposite legs.

Darren Simpson Clinic

2009-12-12T12:31:00.000-08:00

Wow, I attended a Darren Simpson Natural Horsemanship clinic at our Pony Club yesterday. There is so much to learn about controlling your horse! We each had 2 x 1hr lessons in a small group of 3 or 4. The first lesson was ground work. Reversing by using your lead rope & halter, teaching the horse to maintain your personal space & when leading not letting it run over you when you stop. We also did side pass over a pole & getting the horse to engage their hind quarters & having them pivot around in circles.

The 2nd lesson we did in the saddle, it covered the same ground except you are on the horse. Sounds easy! but believe me it wasn't. Gal was being naughty because he has a separation problem from his mother & she was catching a ride home in another float so we only had to make 1 trip back to the paddock ( we had 3 horses there) an his mother was throwing a wobbly because she didn't want to get on a strange float & leave Gal. So we also had a lesson on floating a difficult horse. And I got a lesson on keeping his attention & making him do what I wanted not what he wanted.

With the reversing we also learnt to stop. Very important. One particular rider had a problem with getting her horse to stop & had a very harsh bit on. Darren changed this to a snaffle & taught her to stop him by first teaching him to reverse & listen to her. It had also developed a habit of rearing to get out of doing things that he didn't want to. She was also taught how to turn the horse as soon as his front feet left the ground, & he soon worked out that it had no effect.

Anyway it was a great clinic to not only take part in but to also watch the other lessons. If anyone would like more information I have posted a link to his web site.

Equine Communication

Rosie

2009-12-10T13:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday afternoon my friend & I purchased a rescue horse from But a Memory. She is gorgeous. Rosie a 15.3 Chestnut mare. Rosie is the kind of mare that loves a cuddle & is happy standing there having a pat while you chat. We both took her for a ride & she has a lovely trot & in a canter went onto the correct leg either direction. A soft mouth & moved off the leg as well. We would love to know how she ended up at the doggers.

No photo's just yet, will take some over the weekend & then post them for you all to see.

Natural Fly Spray

2009-12-09T18:32:00.000-08:00

Are flies bothering your horses? but you don't like to use chemical sprays. Here's a recipe that you can make yourself.

Ingredients
1 Cup vegetable oil
2 Cups white vinegar
1 Cup water
1 Tablespoon essential oil - either Citronella or Eucalyptus

Mix well & put into a spray bottle.
Shake before use & apply daily.

But a Memory

2009-12-09T12:27:00.000-08:00

But a Memory is a horse rescue site based in South East Queensland, Australia. They advertise 3 categories of horses, but their passion & ultimate goal is to change the lives of horses that are currently at the doggers yards awaiting their fate.

These horses have become 'But a Memory'. Their end fate is is that of the European meat market. But a Memory has built a relationship with the doggers in an effort to offer the horses a second chance, all the horses advertised are on a deadline, they are only for sale for a short period of time before the doggers will destroy them. But a Memory receives no profits from the sale, they take in the horses to their own homes, feed, handle & ride where possible in order to give them an opportunity at another life.

The 2nd category is the 'Rescue' page. These horses are often on their way to the doggers, or at a transitional property. They are classed as rescues because they are well on their way to becoming 'But a Memory'.

Lastly the 3 category, these are simply classified adverts that are run in order to assist their owners in finding the best possible home.
If you are looking at purchasing a horse, please have a look, browse through the previously rescued page & you will see the many happy owners who have helped to save a very loyal life.

"But a Memory"

2009-12-08T18:22:00.000-08:00

Train Your Horse & Cure Bad Habits
EBook(R) Package Revealing Powerful And Effective Horse Training Techniques Of Old Time Master Horse Trainers.

Natural Horsemanship Training Videos
Horse Training Software System Teaches Natural Horsemanship With 17 Horse Training Videos For $99.95. Also Sell Natural Horseback Riding Product.

Horse Health

2009-12-08T16:39:00.000-08:00

HORSE HEALTH
Signs of a healthy horse The following points may assist you in determining if your horse is well and further investigation should be undertaken if any abnormal symptoms are shown by your horse. Make sure that you get to know your horses habits as this will greatly assist you in determining if your horse is unwell.

Eyes – A healthy horse or pony’s eyes should be bright and clear and they should take interest in their surroundings. If the eyes look dull and lifeless, then you should investigate further.

Ears – A healthy horse or pony’s ears should be alert and they should follow your movements. Any horse/ponies with ‘droopy’ ears or unnatural lying of the ears flat back. Be careful approaching the horse or pony because the aggressive stance of the ears could mean that your horse/pony may be in pain and may lash out at you if you are unprepared.

Weight – Horses should maintain weight with very little change between seasons. Sudden weight loss should be investigated immediately as this could be a sign of colic. Make sure that if your horse wears a rug that you check under this rug every day as sand colic can come cause sudden weight loss very quickly.

Stance – If your horse does not appear to be standing in a normal manner, this could be due to a problem in the legs or hooves. Stone bruising is quite common so a check of the horses hooves should be undertake every day to ensure that no stones or other bodies have become lodged in the hoof. If possible, ask a friend or family member to walk the horse/pony out if you are having trouble identifying which leg is the problem as your horse/pony’s head may ‘bob’ when stepping on injured limb or hoof. Running your hands down the leg/hooves may identify any hot spots which could indicate the site of the injury.

Nostrils – If your horse/pony is unwell they may have a runny nose (just like us) which could indicate a cold or something a little more severe depending on the discharge. Temperature – It is helpful to regularly take your horse/pony’s temperature as any rise in temperature could mean that your horse is unwell.

Feed Patterns - A healthy horse will welcome its feed however a sick horse may fuss with their feed or refuse to eat at all. This requires immediate investigation as this could be the start of colic.

Manure Droppings – If your horse is unwell, their manure droppings may change so attention should be paid to their individual droppings. Runny manure may be a sign of constipation.

Here I am on Galaxy, he loves his food & is a very healthy, happy horse who loves going out to gymkhanas & Pony Club Musters.