The Second Annual Salute to Driving event will be held in Aiken and Windsor, South Carolina, on February 18 to 20, 2012. The event is being held to help raise awareness and educate different audiences about the discipline of driving. Proceeds will go to benefit High Performance Driving programs for the United States Equestrian Team Foundation. Many activities, including silent and live auctions, are scheduled during the event. One of the live auction items going up for bidding is a lesson with top driver Chester Weber during this year's Live Oak driving competition. Weber, who is…
Equine
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Most Topular Stories
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Lesson with Chester Weber, KER-Sponsored Driver, Offered
KER News24 Jan 2012 | 1:30 pm -
World Series of Cutting Announced
KER News17 Jan 2012 | 10:28 amDates for shows in the 2012 Mercuria NCHA World Series of Cutting have been set. From the first show in late January to the last contest in France in October, competitors will have an opportunity to show in six states and two countries outside of the United States. Cutting, an equestrian discipline in which a horse "cuts" a designated calf out of a herd and keeps it separated until signaled to quit, is gaining popularity among riders and spectators in many parts of the world. For show dates and more information, click here. -
International Summit on Horse Hoof Care
KER News17 Jan 2012 | 10:24 amThe International Hoof Care Summit, to be held January 31 to February 3 in Cincinnati, Ohio, offers an opportunity to learn more about the structure, management, and problems of the equine hoof. Attendees can attend workshops, clinics, and lectures where expert professionals will explain a wide variety of hoof-related issues. Interested horse owners, veterinarians, and farriers can download a registration form here. -
Horses and Husbands
Taking the Time it Takes25 Jan 2012 | 5:59 pmAnother conversational blog by Jamie Greenebaum & Jolene McDowell Jamie: My husband is not a rider. I started to say not a horse lover, but that is not quiet true. While he is not comfortable around them himself, he totally supports my horse addiction, even enabling it. I broke my arm a few years ago when Cici was stung by a bee on her belly and leapt in the air. I fell to the ground. As I was waiting for the bones to heal, Robert drove me to the barn every day. “Take as long as you need” he’d tell me, and he’d sit in the car reading a book. I would sit in the paddock with Cici and… -
Best of Horsey Crib Bedding for the Little Cowboy
Regarding Horses24 Jan 2012 | 12:48 pmHave I mentioned that we’re having a little cowboy? Oops, I didn’t think so. I’m currently at 26 weeks, and at our 20-week Ultrasound (the one and only I get!), we saw not only an active, healthy little baby, but that … It’s a boy! Now that the official stuff is over, please lament with me that I couldn’t convince my husband to let me go with a cowboy-themed nursery. Granted, it had nothing to do with the cowboys or the ponies at all all – and everything to do with the fact that he just didn’t want any kind of theme, period. Fortunately I…
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Regarding Horses
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Best of Horsey Crib Bedding for the Little Cowboy
24 Jan 2012 | 12:48 pmHave I mentioned that we’re having a little cowboy? Oops, I didn’t think so. I’m currently at 26 weeks, and at our 20-week Ultrasound (the one and only I get!), we saw not only an active, healthy little baby, but that … It’s a boy! Now that the official stuff is over, please lament with me that I couldn’t convince my husband to let me go with a cowboy-themed nursery. Granted, it had nothing to do with the cowboys or the ponies at all all – and everything to do with the fact that he just didn’t want any kind of theme, period. Fortunately I… -
Thoroughbred Racing Eclipse Awards 101
19 Jan 2012 | 8:56 amGrowing up, I wore out enough books about great thoroughbred race horses to know that winning the “Horse of the Year” award was the pinnacle for these equine athletes. What I didn’t know about Secretariat winning Horse of the Year in 1972 and 1973 was that he was just the second (and third) horse to win the official Eclipse Awards. If you didn’t tune in to Horses In the Morning yesterday, hop over and take a listen to their fun version of announcing the Eclipse Awards winners that were released on Monday night. Glenn, Jamie, and our good friend Frankie Lovato - an… -
Adjusting to Life Without Riding
12 Jan 2012 | 1:22 pmIt has now been 13 weeks – aka a good three months – since I have sat on a horse. I’m pretty sure I’ve gone through the five stages of grief and have finally landed at the end: Acceptance. Unfortunately, I think Ace is somewhere between #3 Bargaining and #4 Depression. Fortunately, he’s moved beyond the #2 Anger stage, where he undoubtedly spent a few weeks recently. I think Ace must have thought that aliens abducted me and replaced me with a boring and significantly less demanding version when I suddenly quit riding cold turkey. We went from riding multiple days… -
Why I Chose to Stop Riding During My Pregnancy
29 Nov 2011 | 10:19 amEven writing that phrase “stop riding” is a bit painful, now that it’s been a full six weeks since I’ve been on the back of the horse. After the cursory “How are you feeling?” (fine) and “Are you going to find out what it is?” (yes, if baby cooperates for us to see), the third question I’m usually asked is “Are you still riding?” And STILL every time I say no and explain why, I get a little choked up. I’ve read articles for years about riding while pregnant, which all pretty much boil down to doctors saying not to ride at… -
Whose Idea Was It To Share My Horse Anyway?
2 Nov 2011 | 3:38 pmAce and I officially have someone to half-lease him, and she’s going for her first solo ride tonight. I feel like a first-time mom putting her kid on the bus to school for the very first time (which I will be in just a few short years, too!). Whose idea was this? Oh, right. It was mine. I decided to half-lease Ace during my pregnancy ages and ages ago, when I very first started to even entertain the idea of having a baby. First, I knew I wouldn’t ride the whole time and didn’t want him to go out of condition. Second, I won’t be able to keep working at the barn to…
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Equine Now Horse Classifieds
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Nice AQHA colt
28 Jan 2012 | 4:51 amThis colt is ready to start under saddle. Very athletic gelding that has personality plus. Slider has been handled since birth. He leads, ties, stands for farrier and has had quite abit of round pen work including being saddled with no problems. This colts pedigree includes Sun Frost, Firewater Flit and Hollywood Jac 86 The only reason I am selling him is due to lack of time to be consistant in training. Vet checks are welcome and I will consider all offers or possible trade for a broke quarter horse gelding. -
KID SAFE MOTHER APPROVED APP
28 Jan 2012 | 2:04 amSAMMY IS GENTLE FOR ANYONE TO RIDE.KIDS OR ADULTS. UTD ON EVERYTHING. NECK REINS, CROSSES ANYTHING YOU ASK. CALLS ONLY PLEASE..336-341-0174... -
KID SAFE MOTHER APPROVED MULE
28 Jan 2012 | 1:44 amBUZZ NECK REINS, AND IS AS BROKE AS A GREAT QUARTER HORSE. WILL CANTER FROM A STAND, BEST TRAIL MOUNT EVER. UTD ON EVERYTHING. 336-341-0174... CALLS ONLY PLEASE... -
RIDES AND DRIVES GENTLE
28 Jan 2012 | 1:43 amBRUISER IS GENTLE FOR ANYONE. ANYONE CAN RIDE HIM. HE RIDES AND DRIVES. HE IS UTD ON EVERYTHING. CALLS ONLY PLEASE....336-341-0174 -
Toomy Vara Safe, honest, showjumper
28 Jan 2012 | 12:54 amToomy Vara is a 14 year old Thoroughbred gelding. He was started late (age 9) so has plenty of show years left. He is 100 safe and honest- he will jump absolutely anything you would like. He has jumped hunters, jumpers, Grand Prix, and Medals. Has schooled over x-country obstacles. He is constantly in the ribbons, willing to do anything for his rider and take care of them. Jumped 1.30 in a 3-bar last Xmas. Has shown up to 1.10m (3'6) with ease. Scopey. Loves any other animal (has experience with pigs, goats, dogs, cats, and cows running between his legs without a flinch!) incredible…
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KER News
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Kentucky Equine Research Sponsors Horse Show Series
24 Jan 2012 | 1:36 pmThe Rocking Horse Winter Horse Trials series will be held in Ocala, Florida, beginning in late January and continuing through the spring. These shows are USEA/USEF recognized and offer competition from Beginner-novice to the Intermediate or Advanced level. Kentucky Equine Research is a sponsor of this competition series. Interested persons can go to www.useventing.com or www.evententries.com to get more information. -
Lesson with Chester Weber, KER-Sponsored Driver, Offered
24 Jan 2012 | 1:30 pmThe Second Annual Salute to Driving event will be held in Aiken and Windsor, South Carolina, on February 18 to 20, 2012. The event is being held to help raise awareness and educate different audiences about the discipline of driving. Proceeds will go to benefit High Performance Driving programs for the United States Equestrian Team Foundation. Many activities, including silent and live auctions, are scheduled during the event. One of the live auction items going up for bidding is a lesson with top driver Chester Weber during this year's Live Oak driving competition. Weber, who is… -
KER Linked to Eclipse Award Winners
24 Jan 2012 | 1:25 pmWhen the Eclipse Awards were announced in January of 2012, Kentucky Equine Research (KER) and its Team Member Hallway Feeds had a share in the glory. The common factor for Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, named top three-year-old male, and Royal Delta, chosen as top three-year-old female, is that both horses trained and raced on products manufactured by Hallway and containing a fortification package supplied by KER. Bill Mott and Bob Baffert finished one-two in the contest for top trainer, and both trainers are Hallway clients who choose these products to keep their horses in optimal… -
World Series of Cutting Announced
17 Jan 2012 | 10:28 amDates for shows in the 2012 Mercuria NCHA World Series of Cutting have been set. From the first show in late January to the last contest in France in October, competitors will have an opportunity to show in six states and two countries outside of the United States. Cutting, an equestrian discipline in which a horse "cuts" a designated calf out of a herd and keeps it separated until signaled to quit, is gaining popularity among riders and spectators in many parts of the world. For show dates and more information, click here. -
International Summit on Horse Hoof Care
17 Jan 2012 | 10:24 amThe International Hoof Care Summit, to be held January 31 to February 3 in Cincinnati, Ohio, offers an opportunity to learn more about the structure, management, and problems of the equine hoof. Attendees can attend workshops, clinics, and lectures where expert professionals will explain a wide variety of hoof-related issues. Interested horse owners, veterinarians, and farriers can download a registration form here.
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KER Success Stories
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KER Linked to Eclipse Award Winners
24 Jan 2012 | 1:25 pmWhen the Eclipse Awards were announced in January of 2012, Kentucky Equine Research (KER) and its Team Member Hallway Feeds had a share in the glory. The common factor for Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, named top three-year-old male, and Royal Delta, chosen as top three-year-old female, is that both horses trained and raced on products manufactured by Hallway and containing a fortification package supplied by KER. Bill Mott and Bob Baffert finished one-two in the contest for top trainer, and both trainers are Hallway clients who choose these products to keep their horses in optimal… -
KER and Team Member Pennfield Feeds Sponsor Top Eventing Rider
17 Jan 2012 | 10:18 amBruce "Buck" Davidson, Jr., an eventing rider who is a Promise Partner for Pennfield Equine Feed Technologies, made history at the recent United States Eventing Association (USEA) annual meeting. Davidson was the first rider to collect Rider of the Year, Horse of the Year, Mare of the Year, Advanced Horse of the Year, and Adequan/USEA Gold Cup Series Championship honors in the same year. Davidson's father, Bruce Davidson Sr., was named USEA Rider of the Year fifteen times, and more recently Phillip Dutton, another top rider sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER), won the honor for eleven… -
KER Diet Dramatically Improves Condition of Malnourished Broodmare
11 Jan 2012 | 12:55 pmLola, when first purchased and one month later.When Catherine Smith contacted Kentucky Equine Research (KER), she had real concerns for the health of her newly purchased 17-year-old Warmblood-cross mare, Lola, who was significantly malnourished, and the mare's week-old foal. Six weeks later and with the help of a KER nutrition advisor, Lola and her colt are a picture of health. The recommendation was for a diet of Barastoc Breed N Grow and KER Equi-Jewel. Catherine reported, "I am amazed at how quickly she has gained weight considering she has a nursing foal! We didn't think we would be… -
Hallway Feeds Young Thoroughbred Winner
21 Dec 2011 | 10:07 amLiaison, a two-year-old Thoroughbred colt by Indian Charlie, won the CashCall Futurity (Grade 1) at Hollywood Park on December 17. The victory was the horse's second win in five weeks, following a first-place finish in the Real Quiet Stakes on November 12. Liaison has a lifetime record of three wins and a show in his four-start career. Liaison's win is an important step on the Triple Crown trail. This destination will be the focus of leading three-year-olds after their January 1 birthday. Trainer Bob Baffert saddled Liaison for the race, also sending out fourth-place finisher Sky… -
Big Red Mike Wins Queen's Plate
8 Jul 2010 | 3:59 pmThe Queen's Plate Stakes, the first race in the Canadian Triple Crown, had a celebrity guest this year. Queen Elizabeth II was in attendance to watch Big Red Mike pull away in the stretch at Woodbine Racetrack to win by a length and a half. Big Red Mike, the wire-to-wire leader in the $944,316 race for Canadian-born three-year-olds, is trained by Nicholas Gonzalez. Kentucky Equine Research Team Member Brooks Feed Store in Port Perry, Ontario supplies feed to Gonzalez' training stable. Big Red Mike is owned by the Terra Racing Stable and is named for owner Dom Romeo's red-haired son. The…
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equestrian OR horseback riding OR horses - Google News
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Cowboys, horses, guns … and tennis? - USA TODAY
28 Jan 2012 | 4:22 amUSA TODAYCowboys, horses, guns … and tennis?USA TODAYIt had great horseback riding and we took advantage of the on-site racquetball courts, but the food was poor and our cabin infested with mice. Peak season for dude ranches depends on the location. Ranches in Montana, Colorado and Wyoming often close and more » -
Teen turns love of horses into career - Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
28 Jan 2012 | 4:04 amTeen turns love of horses into careerRochester Democrat and ChronicleA large barn houses her seven horses. / Jamie Germano/staff photographer Find out more about City View Equestrian at cityviewequestrian.com. Mary McCormack found a profound love of horses at the age of 7 after horseback riding for the first time.and more » -
Wellington equestrian center to give HomeSafe youths backstage tour - Palm Beach Post
27 Jan 2012 | 7:23 pmWellington equestrian center to give HomeSafe youths backstage tourPalm Beach PostPatten, who has been riding since she was 2, said she wouldn't be surprised if some of the HomeSafe youths were afraid of the horses. "They're huge animals," Patten said. "But they wouldn't hurt anyone. When I'm on the back of a horse, I always have a -
The surprising connection between Wilsonville, Ireland and horses - KATU
27 Jan 2012 | 6:15 pmIrish Medical TimesThe surprising connection between Wilsonville, Ireland and horsesKATUIt was the equestrian events, as well. "You're on these huge Irish draft horses and you're traveling through scenery that is just amazing and you're looking at castles from horseback," Hereford said. "It's something you'd never get in America.Horses for coursesIrish Medical Timesall 2 news articles » -
TripShock.com Offers Horeback Riding Tours Near Destin - PR Web (press release)
27 Jan 2012 | 8:02 amPR Web (press release)TripShock.com Offers Horeback Riding Tours Near DestinPR Web (press release)TripShock.com is now selling horseback riding tours in the Destin and South Walton areas in 2012. Customers will be able to book these tours online through TripShock.com, which will include free introductory lessons prior to the trail ride.and more »
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Chamfron Stud
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Exbury Ghost Daughter
24 Jan 2012 | 3:42 pmThanks to Lucy Victoria Phillips for the photos of her Exbury Ghost mare (out of a QH/App dam). Always lovely to see photos of his older stock. -
Angel Dust - seven months old.
21 Jan 2012 | 6:49 amJob for today was to get some new photos of the mighty midget, I tried to sneak in and snap but it was no good, she was there... right there... on the end of the lens, hmmm no Mark to distract her, what now. OK, bring in the hugely scary space hopper and snap the foal as it looks shocked and startled... errr no, she dashed over to see what it was and carefully nosed it all round the pen until she was back, with the space hopper, there, right on the end of the lens... again...So I kicked it... (The space hopper, not the foal!) and over the pen it sailed, followed without a moments hesitation… -
More of The Reds!
17 Jan 2012 | 12:33 pmQuick walk in the woods today, probably about ten squirrels hurtling around the trees above our heads. I don't have the patience for wildlife photography but I do want to use these guys for some serious practice this year. Not today though, unsuitably dressed and the day was running away from us! -
Bad day for Chamfron Westminster.
16 Jan 2012 | 11:48 amVets visit this morning, the new girls have been swabbed and turned out and poor old Wills is now a gelding. -
New Girls.
9 Jan 2012 | 3:21 pmTwo new additions to the broodmare band! Both imported from Uruguay, the bay mare is Llamita (ex David Stirling polo pony) and the chestnut is Fatima (Criollo). Both will be covered by Arrayan in 2012.
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for the love of a horse...
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Just a warm little miracle on a really cold Sunday morning...
22 Jan 2012 | 8:49 am"Fairy tales can come true, they can happen to you, when you're young at heart..."-from the song Young at Heart, written by Johnny Richards and Carolyn LeighThis is Haliluyah MH, an El Halimaar son out of RDM Maar Hala, as photographed by the very talented, Christine Emmert. When I think of Haliluyah, I think of his miraculous beginning,“Desperate to produce another foal or two, Maar Hala was left with an equine reproduction specialist in Santa Ynez, CA. The vet was given carte blanche to ‘do whatever it takes to get her pregnant.’ By this time, Maar Hala was 21 years old but… -
He Was a Goosebump Horse
18 Jan 2012 | 8:37 pmThat's what my friend, Anne-Louise Toner said about Asfour, an Egyptian Arabian stallion bred by Dr. Hans Joachim Nagel and purchased by Marion Richmond in 1985. Asfour was a son of Malik, a Hadban Enzahi son out of Malikah, who traced in tail female to Halima. Asfour's dam is the legendary queen of Katharinenhof, Hanan. It had been more than a few years and thousands of miles since Anne-Louise last saw Asfour at Simeon Stud. Ahhh, Simeon, the magical place where a mighty mare by the name of 27 Ibn Galal V once lived. This mare had made a profound impression upon Anne-Louise, changing… -
We Three Kings...
5 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am"We three kings of Orient areBearing gifts we traverse afarField and fountain, moor and mountainFollowing yonder star..."-from the lyrics of the song, We Three Kings, written by Rev. John Henry HopkinsMelchior cantered into the darkness, away from his camp, where his friends lay sleeping. It was early morning and by all appearances, still night. The cool morning air rushed past his face and the sound of the wind filled his ears, blocking all other sounds. He needed to be alone, to meditate and to pray. So, he drove his horse farther and faster into the desert. His mind was… -
A Quiet Dignity: The Story of Imperial Falaah
31 Dec 2011 | 8:00 am"For 'twas not into my ear you whispered but into my heart,'twas not my lips you kissed but my soul."-Judy Garland I had walked into the broodmare barn, focused on a conversation with Beverly Sziraky on the suitability of Egyptian Arabian horses for Dressage. I was really excited, as it had been a very long time since my last visit to Imperial and the barn we were walking into, was a veritable HALL OF FAME of crucially important broodmares like BB Ora Kalilah, Imperial Safilla, and Imperial Mistilll. I am embarrassed to tell you that I didn't even notice Imperial Falaah at… -
NK Nadeyrah
28 Dec 2011 | 5:00 am"Promise me you'll never forget me because if I thought you would, I'd never leave."-A.A. MilneI have sad news to share with you today. The very beautiful straight Egyptian mare, NK Nadeyrah has died. She was one of Usamah Alkazemi's most treasured broodmares and a NK Hafid Jamil daughter out of NK Nadirah (a full sister to the perennial Queen of Ezzain, NK Nada). She had a very interesting pedigree, having four lines to the Ansata Halim Shah son, Salaa el Dine. However, what I liked most, was the fact that at the very top of the pedigree appears the Alaa el Din daughter, Lotfeia, as well as…
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Horse Book Reviews
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Prepare for Your Summer Riding Program
13 Jan 2012 | 6:45 amNow is the time to start planning your summer riding program. If you have been hired as the riding director for a summer camp, teach youngsters at your stable during summer months, or volunteer for a handicapped riding program, learning new skills (or sharpening known ones) will benefit both your students and yourself. Having a fun program, but also a safe one, is the key.Besides books, there are numerous resources online that assist riding instructors in organizing a program. One site, Ehow.com, has professional submitters send in articles on a variety of subjects. Below, is an article I… -
The Dogs of Proud Spirit (Equine Rescue)
6 Jan 2012 | 6:28 pmThe Dogs of Proud Spirit By Melanie Sue Bowles Pineapple Press, Inc. Hard Cover, 2010, $18.95 ISBN: 978-1-56164-478-0 Available at Amazon or www.horsesofproudspirit.org Sale proceeds help care for the rescued horses at Proud Spirit Reviewed by Carol M. Upton And so, this was our life: challenged, but always enriched by the animals who somehow found their way to the gates of our sanctuary and into our hearts.Encompassed by our love, they loved us back. ~ Melanie Sue Bowles There is no stronger seasonal message for animal-lovers than that found in The Dogs of Proud Spirit Proud Spirit sanctuary… -
Season's Greetings!
24 Dec 2011 | 3:36 pmMerry Christmas to all my fans!Thanks for your support - I'm looking forward to interviewing more horse lovers to include their story in my fifth Beloved Horses book to be released in 2012. Process begins in January and there is still time to submit your special equine; e-mail me at sharonminer@yahoo.com with the names of you and your horse, pony, donkey etc, breed, age, location and a fond memory.If you are the author of a book (fiction or non) and would like me to review it on this blog, contact me at the e-mail above.Enjoy the ride in 2012! -
Ground Manners
6 Dec 2011 | 5:12 pmGround Manners - A Novel By Cynthia D’Errico Xlibris, Soft Cover, 2011, $19.99; Hard Cover, 2011, $24.99Available at: www.groundmannersnovel.com or on Amazon Reviewed by Carol M. Upton Learning that horses were butchered for meat left many people feeling raw and lied to, like suddenly finding out that your neighbour had barbecued your retriever or microwaved your cat. Like so many others, Yanne was clearly unaware that, whether for meat or other reasons, horses were slaughtered at all. ~ Part Three, Chapter Four, p. 116 Ground Manners. A Novel is an innovative synthesis of adventure,… -
Painting & Drawing Horses by Jennifer Bell
13 Nov 2011 | 6:08 pmI bought this book for my great-granddaughter. She is only 6 years old, but she not only LOVES horses, but also loves to draw them. She's always asking me to show her how - all I can draw is a cartoon horsehead...The author includes text with her artwork - about what started her "horse doodles" as she calls them, and instructions with the sketches. She explains that one must use geometry (circles, ovals and triangles) as well as different shapes such a a kite for the horse's head. Very clever and imaginative.She shows poses and horses in action, breeds, different disciplines, foals and even…
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MiKael's Mania - Arabian Horses
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Old Man Winter 2012 New Challenges
25 Jan 2012 | 12:21 amOld Man Winter took a big shot at us in the Pacific Northwest late last week. Places hit worst were the foothills of the Cascades as well as Thurston and Pierce counties. Our farm happens to be in both the foothills and Pierce county so we took quite a beating. We had warnings a big snow storm was on it's way but it was immediately followed by an unpredicted ice storm, (also known as a silver thaw, I'm told). These pictures were taken after the frozen rain hit the 17 inches of snow we had last Thursday. The ice formed a crust atop the snow about 3 to 4 inches deep that seemed to hold the snow… -
The Current State of Affairs...........
9 Jan 2012 | 3:57 pmI know they say a picture is worth a thousand words but I'm not really sure what this one has to say. From an artist's perspective it sucks and not just because the background is cluttered and the lighting is off but if you're wondering what I've been up to, it's pretty spot on. I know it's not really the view I had in mind when I asked Dave to take a picture for me. What I was interested in were the two characters laying across my pillow protected lap while he obviously saw a much wider perspective. I imagine you can tell from the picture I spend a lot of time on that couch. Most of the… -
A Little on Christmas
25 Dec 2011 | 4:07 pmNormally, I do a post on Christmas eve, some form of variation of Twas the Night Before Christmas This year I did think about the famous poem and my usual yearly mutilations to make it fit life on our farm but to be honest, I just couldn't do it. In former variations I tried to reflect true Christmas spirit and happenings here. I began this tradition in 2008 Twas the Night Before Christmas Each year there was some kind of change, no matter how subtle it was. Twas the Night before Christmas 2009 Good or bad the changes were noted T'was the Night Before Christmas..........2010 Somehow the… -
That Second Page.......
19 Dec 2011 | 8:18 pmGypcy I cannot believe is has been Thanksgiving since I did a post. I sure thought I'd be back to regular posting long before now. Actually I was really counting on it. I had added a second page to my blog hoping to raise some money for the holidays. Before my colonoscopy I actually got many of the pictures taken thinking I would be able to get everything up during the two weeks between that test and my surgery. Instead I ended up on my back for those two weeks trying to heal up enough so my surgery wouldn't get postponed. I guess once my stay in the hospital dragged on, I should have… -
Happy Thanksgiving
24 Nov 2011 | 9:09 pmI'm most thankful to be alive this holiday even if I'm not up to celebrating. Funny how life's bumps can change one's perspective. Now if I could just get back to eating like normal. I sure am wishing my stomach would tolerate turkey with all the trimmings. Maybe by Christmas I'll be to that point. In the meantime, here's wishing everyone a great Thanksgiving and a wonderful holiday season to come.
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Nuzzling Muzzles
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Rich Moments Around the Ranch
27 Jan 2012 | 1:51 pmIt's such a nice day, I thought I'd go outside and take pictures of the horses. They are all a mess, but there's not much point in grooming as long as there is mud on the ground. Here's Bombay itching and Gabbrielle taking a stroll in the background... Gabbrielle licking a remnant of a salt lick and Lostine pigging out in the background... This was about 30-seconds into my photo shoot, and -
A Follow Up
26 Jan 2012 | 10:44 amSometimes I write blog posts and forget to mention their resolutions. My blogger friend achieve1dream is really generous in commenting on almost every post I write when she gets time to read them, so sometimes she makes a comment on an old post and that reminds me that I never followed up on the subject. I'm like a rubber bouncy ball, only staying in one space or mind-set for a short period -
My New Profession
25 Jan 2012 | 5:08 amI'm a deer chaser now, by profession. The deer have been coming around so often that the horses complain by kicking their stall walls, which triggers the dogs to run for the door barking because they've come to associate the horses kicking with deer being in our yard. I let the dogs out to do their business, and they can sometimes chase off the deer, but usually the deer just stand there and -
The Home Search
24 Jan 2012 | 10:48 amEvery couple of days I've been searching real estate sites for a new home in the areas my husband and I are considering, and all it does is get my blood pressure up. I find a potential home with horse facilities on a few acres within my price range, and then I look at the aerial view of the neighborhood and see my current neighbors living right next door or across the street. If there aren't a -
Look What Blew In With the Storm
22 Jan 2012 | 6:44 pmReally big rats. Lots of 'em. Ten to fifteen inches of snow is due to fall over the next few days. It's been spitting on and off. Thanks to those who shared the brands of their favorite coats in the last post. Keep adding comments if you haven't bragged about yours yet. Hmmmm. Maybe I can make a deerskin coat.
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Teachings of the Horse
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Winter At Last
21 Jan 2012 | 9:13 amIt’s hard to believe that January is three-quarters over and we’re just getting the first real snow of the winter. It’s a soft, fluffy, gentle snow, and I have to admit that I enjoyed going out to the barn early this morning before the rest of the world was awake. I was lucky to get a new Mountain Horse winter parka as a Christmas gift this year. It feels like I’m in a cave when I wear it with the hood up. It’s so cozy and waterproof that I am ready to venture out regardless of what Mother Nature throws down in my path.Stella and Siete are snow bunnies. The puppy leaps into the air… -
Rivers of Stone
14 Jan 2012 | 10:14 amThis is the time of year when trail riding and walking in the woods is the best, if you can bundle up enough against the cold. One of the things that I love about New England is the stonewalls that flow like mysterious veins through the woods here. The walls are so personal, each one with a story about the person who placed the stones in that particular, artistic way. There’s no doubt in my mind that this kind of masonry is art. When I first moved here, I wondered why so many of the walls were lodged into the deepest woods. Then, I realized that this land was once cleared of trees, and the… -
Time to Re-Balance
8 Jan 2012 | 6:28 pmI watched Silk and Siete eat their breakfast this morning, and my mind was full of “I should have’s”. Mostly, my thoughts centered on my battle to keep the endless mud off of their legs and hooves. I washed their muddy paws yesterday, but I could see that I probably ought to have another go at make their socks white again today. Silk had little abscesses in three of her hooves earlier this week. I ran out of Animalintex so I didn’t poultice them last night, and I wondered if I should have. For most of the month of December, I was running a litany in my head of all the things that I… -
Happy 2012!
1 Jan 2012 | 9:17 amHave patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked roomsor books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers,which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer. ~ Rilke -
Countdown to Christmas
18 Dec 2011 | 8:09 amWe’re coming into the homestretch here for Christmas, and around our house, things are moving a bit slower than usual this year. I’ve been wrapped up in a big project creating a book for my 97-year old mother that I’ve titled “A Hero’s Journey”. It tells her brave and amazing story during World War II as the only woman in the Polish Parachute Brigade and as the director of a United Nations camp after the war for displaced people who had been in concentration camps. I used audio interviews that we’ve recorded throughout the years, so the stories are told in her own voice. I’ve…
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About.com Horses
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Take the Horse Age Quiz
26 Jan 2012 | 12:25 pmHow much do you know about horse age and longevity? Image:2006 K. Blocksdorf Take this quiz and test your knowledge. Need to learn more ...Read Full Post -
Strangles–Disease Profile
23 Jan 2012 | 11:18 pmStrangles is a rather old fashioned name for a rather common equine respiratory illness. The name comes from the strangled breathing of a horse with badly inflamed glands in its throat. It's somewhat akin to the human 'strep throat' and can make a horse feel pretty miserable. When strangles hits, it tends to go through stables very quickly as it is very easily transmissible. This can shut a barn down for weeks, causing much worry and resulting in loss of income on top of vet bills. If you hear about strangles in a barn near you, you'll want to keep your distance until a few weeks after the… -
Is Your Horse Too Fat or Too Skinny?
19 Jan 2012 | 5:22 amHow do you tell if your horse is too fat or too skinny? Right now I can confirm that my horse is too fat. She is living unhappily in the 'diet pasture' with two other mares that also need to lose a few pounds. I know she's too fat by looking at certain areas on her body, and her overall condition. When she came to us, she was in very poor condition indeed. Within a few months however, she returned to a healthy weight and has never looked back. How do you tell if your horse is in good, but not too good shape? Read How to Assess the Healthy Weight For A Horse to be sure your horse is the weight… -
The Original Horse Bible–Book Review
16 Jan 2012 | 1:37 pmSome times you need advice, and you don't want to wait while your computer boots up, or filter through search engine pages to find information that is current, accurate and understandable. That's when it's handy to have a good reference book within reach. The Original Horse Bible: The Definitive Source for All Things Horse is such a book that every horse owner, whether just beginning or further on in their journey will find useful. I had a chance to review this weighty book and was impressed by the amount of information imparted as well as the clear photos and useful sidebars. Read my review,… -
What Not to Feed Your Horse!
12 Jan 2012 | 1:29 pmWhen you first get your horse, you have a lot of questions on how to feed it properly. But often times, because we like to share the good things we have to eat, our horses eat things that are not on the list of foods recommended as the ideal equine diet. Some horses are picky eaters-like my girl who doesn't care for apples and is suspicious of cookies, sugar cubes and mints, but loves carrots. And some horses will eat anything. But should you feed it anything it will eat? Here's a run down of the foods you probably shouldn't include in the healthy diet of a horse in What Not to Feed a…
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MidWestHorse Blog
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Getting Older Is a Pain in the Butt
22 Jan 2012 | 7:56 amFrom Teens to 50 everything is relatively easy ranging including1. Writing your name in the snow ( Guy Thing )2. Picking up 1 or even 2 50 LB bags of Horse Feed or Wood Pellets and lugging them around and keen to move more3. Reading small print for instructions etc.4. Getting some new gadget gizmo and not only learning the basics but seeing what else it can do5. Hearing everything the first time6. Remembering the smallest details7. Few bits of the body play up occasionally but in general does everything you ask of itEverything is not only possible also a challenge to be… -
Whats Changed ** Number 4 Pharmaceuticals **
22 Nov 2011 | 9:46 amI was originally going to make Number 4 "Healthcare" but quickly realized it would become to big and unwieldy to read or write about so decided to just pick on 1 healthcare specific for each post, this is the first.As we become older we rely on more and more drugs to keep us healthy, some of the most common are those that regulate our blood pressure for example ( Atenolol ) and ( Lipitor ) to regulate our cholesterol, the list of others is endless so I will just say these are but the tip of the iceberg. Whats Changed1. Increased use of drugs to prevent heart… -
Whats Changed ** Number 3 Elections **
20 Nov 2011 | 11:01 amIt would be easy when talking about the election process to consider we have not seen changes ,the same basic premise still applies that has for years, potential candidates are required to stand in a fair and free election for the right to represent the people who elect them, this applies to all forms of Government.Whats ChangedMore than we realize1. Most elections now require formal Proof of ID2. Voting District Boundaries are changed and put in place by those currently in power hoping to give them an edge in the demographics for the next set of elections3. -
Whats Changed ** Number 2 Student Protests **
18 Nov 2011 | 5:56 amI chose this subject next because we have seen what started as student protests and attracted the general population to support the protest have sometimes changed dictator based regimes .Over the last 30 or so years we have seen how political protests often started by students for a cause that is just and correct has changed societyThese range from the protests in South Africa against apartheid segregation that combined with political support from around the world with sanctions against South Africa to force changeTo the latest where protests started in Egypt, Tunisia,… -
Whats Changed ** Number 1 Tax Avoidance **
16 Nov 2011 | 5:54 amSorry about change of direction of Midwest Horse but it is something I wanted to sayTax Avoidance by Corporations and Large CompaniesFor as long as there have been taxes Corporations have employed accountants and lawyers to find Tax Loopholes, that is what big business has always done and will always do.How it's worked up till the last 20 years or so in America and around the rest of the world1. A way of paying less tax is found by corporations2. Corporations use the tax loophole to pay less tax 3. The tax authorities spend the next two years working with the elected government to close the…
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Our First Horse
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Valentine is a Ninja
21 Jan 2012 | 4:21 pmWe’ve written about Valentine’s unique ability to sneak around our pasture (The Invisible Horse). At 16.2 HH he’s the biggest horse we have and a little lanky when he walks (though his TWH gait is beautiful). Well one night he … Continue reading → -
Favorite Nap Spot
19 Jan 2012 | 9:12 pmOur horses don’t lay down very often but when they do it’s usually right where you see Moonshine in this picture. It’s a spot on top of the biggest hill, on the side of the hill that dries the quickest. … Continue reading → -
Horses Like Honey-Nut Cheerios
6 Jan 2012 | 1:16 amYou’re probably wondering why we’re feeding a horse Honey-Nut Cheerios. Well, it’s to mask the taste of the bute. And why are we giving someone bute? Well, let me just tell you. Monday night, we got home from Chattanooga late, … Continue reading → -
Christmas Figgy Pudding Horse Cake
26 Dec 2011 | 2:28 amEveryone seems to have holiday traditions. While we’re busy baking Christmas hams and pies and eating figgy pudding, our horses are left to eat the same old hay they get all year. Don’t think their super-sensitive nostrils aren’t picking up … Continue reading → -
Stall door protection concept – improved
9 Dec 2011 | 8:07 pmFour years ago we had a problem with Moonshine cribbing. Her bad habit was destroying the wood on her stall doors so I got an idea to cover the wood. This worked initially (see part 2) but eventually a tear … Continue reading →
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Sally Harrison's Blog
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2012 Mercuria NCHA World Series Augusta
27 Jan 2012 | 1:17 pmFollow links below for 2012 NCHA World Series Augusta results: All ages Non-Pro All ages Open Find results of other shows this year. -
2012 Augusta Futurity
27 Jan 2012 | 12:17 pmFollow links below for 2012 Augusta Futurity results: 5/6-year-old $100,000 Amateur All ages $35,000 Non-pro Find results of other shows this year. -
Augusta Futurity Mercuria World Series champions
27 Jan 2012 | 9:43 amPhil Rapp Dont Look Twice, 2011 NCHA Horse of the Year, posted an Augusta Futurity record of 231 points last night, as she captured the Mercuria World Series championship with Phil Rapp, the winning-est rider in Augusta history. “She’s one of a kind,” said Rapp, who shows the 7-year-old daughter of High Brow Cat for Waco Bend Ranch. “A tough cow, like her second one tonight, just takes her to that next level.” Last year, Dont Look Twice set an all-time NCHA record of 234 points at the Idaho Mercuria World Series of Cutting. With well over $600,000 in career… -
In the news
25 Jan 2012 | 8:58 pmBest of the Remuda Wimpys Hombre, consigned by the W.T. Waggoner Estate, Electra, Tex., topped the AQHA Best of the Remuda Sale on January 14, in Fort Worth. The 4-year-old son of Wimpys Little Step was purchased by Jim and Marilyn Helzer, owners of JEH Stallion Station, famous for its champion Quarter and Thoroughbred running horses. Greyt Big Diamonds, the high-selling mare at $11,500, was also consigned by the Waggoner Estate. The 5-year-old daughter of Greyt Whiz was purchased by Burnett Ranches, Guthrie, Tex. Held annually in conjunction with the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, the… -
Quarter racing champions named
23 Jan 2012 | 2:03 pm2011 running champions, announced by the American Quarter Horse Association on January 19, include: World Champion Champion 3-Year-Old Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding COLD CASH 123 (Oak Tree Special x Cash 123, Takin On The Cash) Owner/Breeder: Carolyn and Walter Bay (T Bill Stables) Trainer: Dwayne “Sleepy” GilbreathRiders: Roy Balddillez, Joe Martinez and Jacky Martin Richest win in 2011: $899,524 Rainbow Derby G12011 record: 6 wins in 8 starts, $818,447Career: 9 wins in 14 starts, $979,741 Champion 2-Year-OldChampion 2-Year-Old GeldingOCHOA(Tres Seis x Stolis Fortune, StoliBreeder:…
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Horsetalk.co.nz Headlines
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Horses removed from notorious slaughter area in Florida
27 Jan 2012 | 3:17 pmFour of five horses found apparently abandoned in an area of Florida known for its illegal slaughterhouses were thoroughbreds, it has been reported. -
Researchers look at prevalance of Cushing's disease
27 Jan 2012 | 3:11 pmCanadian researchers are carrying out an international survey of equine veterinarians to establish the prevalance of Cushing's disease. -
Humanitarian award for equine therapy proponent
27 Jan 2012 | 2:45 pmA pioneer in equine assisted activities and therapies has received the Equus Foundation's Humanitarian Award. -
No new EHV-1 cases, two facilities in lockdown
27 Jan 2012 | 2:35 pmNo new cases of the neurological form of equine herpesvirus 1 were reported on Thursday as California authorities worked to contain two outbreaks. -
Farmer jailed for animal neglect
27 Jan 2012 | 2:16 pmA British farmer has been jailed for a year after the discovery of rotting animal carcasses around his Nottingham farm.
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equestrian « WordPress.com Tag Feed
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Dressage champs, part III
19 Jan 2012 | 2:20 amDressage champs, part I Dressage champs, part II I was mortified by my reaction. Thank heavens only a few riders were scattered around the oval. I puffed air out in bursts and talked sternly to my inner self: Cut it out. It’s just a dressage test. But just like I couldn’t keep my horse together, I couldn’t keep myself together. I went off to a quiet corner, wiped away the tears and had some time out with Leo. Of course, now that the rain had passed and we were standing together he just blinked and sighed. I guess we probably had similar feelings. When I thought I was calm… -
Todd Trewin and Baccarat
19 Jan 2012 | 2:01 amTodd Trewin and his horse Baccarat compete in the three day event endurance phase during the Circle K Event in Cave Creek, Arizona in 1990. -
19 January 2012
19 Jan 2012 | 12:49 amFun new toy in the dungeon, used for the first time the other day. More intense than expected though so a little caution is required Pleasure can be torture too…. more on that when I write about this week’s sessions. In foot news (ongoing saga), today was my appointment with the orthopedic surgeon. All is healing well, dressings are gone, crutches are gone for the most part (YES !!!). Just have to get more xrays and the all clear in another 6 weeks. Until then, flat shoes prevail :/ Of course, I forgot to ask the most important question of all – when can I get back on the… -
My favorite picture of me and my Abby (18/365)
18 Jan 2012 | 7:43 pmThis picture was taken back in 2009. The next two photos were taken for a Wrangler Jean Add competit -
Real Volunteering....
18 Jan 2012 | 2:11 pmPhoto Provided by animalassistedtherapyservices.org When discussing an athletic resume with a student last week she asked if she should list mandatory school volunteering on her applications or athletic resume. After our discussion I would have to say do not include it as a highlight. I consider “real volunteering” something each of us chooses to do because of a passion we have for that cause or organization. It might be a reading program, working at a shelter, or assisting at a therapeutic riding program, no matter how you started if it becomes something you want to do then…
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Taking the Time it Takes
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Horses and Husbands
25 Jan 2012 | 5:59 pmAnother conversational blog by Jamie Greenebaum & Jolene McDowell Jamie: My husband is not a rider. I started to say not a horse lover, but that is not quiet true. While he is not comfortable around them himself, he totally supports my horse addiction, even enabling it. I broke my arm a few years ago when Cici was stung by a bee on her belly and leapt in the air. I fell to the ground. As I was waiting for the bones to heal, Robert drove me to the barn every day. “Take as long as you need” he’d tell me, and he’d sit in the car reading a book. I would sit in the paddock with Cici and… -
Assessing Struggle
28 Dec 2011 | 7:26 pmI started thinking about assessing and how some people seem to move through the levels and savvys and assessing, and others, like me, get stuck. A long long time ago, in the dark ages, I did an in-person Level 1 assessment. Looking back I am not sure how I managed to even make the appointment. Remember my heart pounding and worrying about how my mare Jeepers would react to my nervousness. Fortunately, she was a LBI and just rolled her eyes and helped me out. Well that was until we got to passenger lesson at the trot. By then she had had enough and headed straight for the lone tree in the… -
Moving to LB
15 Dec 2011 | 5:56 pmLesson with Avery. In preparation I spent an hour online seeing how Cici was feeling. Started out with the 45 and touch it, step on the cone, sideways over the barrel, sideways down the wall without my moving my feet. A bit of friendly and porcupine for backing. And on to circling. Cici loves the 45. She loves to drift out and circle. I start to ask for changes of direction on the circle when she is moving slow. Noticing that she will now stop and just pull back when I ask for her to turn in to me. How interesting. After a number of changes of direction she agrees it is just easier to move at… -
Letting Go
3 Dec 2011 | 9:34 pmA Conversation Between Connect Friends about Grief & LossBy Jamie Greenebaum & Jolene McDowellLinda Parelli suffered a tremendous loss recently with the death of Westy. In the messages of comfort and show of support, a lot of people talked about their losses of beloved companions, both two and four-legged. As Jamie and I read these, we realized that Parelli has indeed become a community and a loss for one is a loss for all.Jo: It’s never easy letting go. We develop such an attachment with the beings we love. It’s hard to lose them. Unfortunately, we all know the experience of grief:… -
Avery - June - Round Pen
29 Jun 2011 | 12:59 pmLiberty is all about "the truth" of your relationship with your horse. Nothing to fall back on. Free fall!Start out online and checking the relationship. Asked for disengagement of hind end and then send front end around - just a couple of steps are fine to begin with. Building on 360 degree turn. Both sides. Wait for her to be soft and connected.Then remove the halter and do same at liberty. If Cici is not trying then tag and send her off. Which in the beginning we do a lot of. She quickly comes back to me within 1/4 of the way around. So we try again. Slowly, ever so slowly she gets it. And…
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TheHorse.com News
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UK Study on Muscle Mass in Older Horses Under Way
27 Jan 2012 | 4:00 amKristine Urschel, PhD, assistant professor in the University of Kentucky Department of Animal and Food Sciences, is working to understand why old age leads to the loss of muscle mass in horses.... -
Breeding Soundness Exams for Stallions
27 Jan 2012 | 2:00 amWith breeding season fast approaching, stallions should undergo breeding soundness exams before starting to breed mares, whether via artificial insemination or live cover.... -
Oregon Authorities Seize Thoroughbred Horse Herd
26 Jan 2012 | 6:00 pmA herd of allegedly maltreated Thoroughbred horses is in rehabilitative care after Sheriff's Department personnel in Crook County, Ore., seized the property on which they were residing.... -
Reward Offered for Information on Colorado Horse Shootings
26 Jan 2012 | 6:00 pmLaw enforcement authorities in Colorado are hoping a cash reward will help them identify who is responsible for the shooting deaths of 13 horses last December.... -
Federal Judge Declines to Prevent Nevada BLM Mustang Gathers
26 Jan 2012 | 6:00 pmA U.S. District Court Judge has denied wild horse advocates' request to halt Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wild horse gathers in Nevada on grounds that the court cannot rule on BLM round-up conduct that has yet taken place....
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Writing Horseback
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Queen City Cookies Equestrian Pack Product Review
25 Jan 2012 | 1:05 amDreaming of horses and ponies Like many girls (and boys) I had a life long dream of having my own horse. Each Christmas Eve I closed my eyes and visualized a pony standing next to the Christmas tree during holiday time. While I realize pets do not make good presents unless EVERYONE is on board with [...] -
Luxury Dude Ranch Vacation at Rancho de los Caballeros, Arizona
18 Jan 2012 | 1:09 amFamily first at Ranch de los Caballeros “I grew up coming here every Thanksgiving holiday,” says 49 year old Ande Torgerson McCally of Washington D. C. “My grandmother and grandfather came to Wickenburg in the 1940’s and built a house at Rancho de los Caballeros in 1972. Now we bring our kids here. They like playing [...] -
Picosa Ranch Horseback Riding Vacation, Floresville, Texas
11 Jan 2012 | 1:04 amHay bales and horseback riding at Picosa Ranch Sure you’ve heard of rock climbing, but at Picosa Ranch, these folks specialize in hay bale climbing. Guests won’t repel off granite cliffs. Instead, take your hay fever medication and start climbing to the top of the bale! Located 25 minutes south of San Antonio, the 2,800-acre ranch in [...] -
Explore the Cowboy Way in Fort Worth, Texas
4 Jan 2012 | 1:04 amHorseback riding vacation in Fort Worth, Texas While so many destinations allow you to play cowboy (or cowgirl) for a few days, a visit to Fort Worth gives you a chance to see the “Cowboy Way of Life” up close and personal. The Fort Worth Stockyards Visiting the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District is a bit like [...] -
100 Palomino Horses lead Tournament of Roses Roy Rogers Float
28 Dec 2011 | 1:05 amTournament of Roses Horseback Riding Vacation Imagine watching 100 palomino horses walk down Ellis Street, ending at Paloma Street – named for the Palominos – I don’t think so – during the Tournament of Roses Parade®. On Monday, January 2, this equestrian entourage will lead the “Happy Trails” float, one of the largest floats in the [...]
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LaRaedo Blog
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Equine Nutrition – Keeping It Simple
22 Jan 2012 | 9:53 pmUnlike other livestock such as cattle, horses have only one stomach and also unlike other livestock, very little digestion occurs in the stomach. When a horse masticates (chews and swallows) feed passes through the stomach and small intestine and heads to the hindgut where the majority of digestion takes place. In the hindgut, friendly microbes [...] -
On The Bit – Lining up in the Horse Business
13 Jan 2012 | 8:58 pmOrganization Do you find yourself always rushing and frequently late for appointments? Have you ever scheduled your Farrier only to be surprised when he shows up during a lesson? Do you have to hunt through the stack of paperwork on your desk for the sticky note your wrote your new clients number on? If this [...] -
Horse Business-Budget For Success
2 Jan 2012 | 11:47 pmA budget is a plan for the present to get you where you want to be in the future. Successful businesses whether horse business or other, always have a budget. If you are new to business, creating a budget may seem like a daunting task. Instead of letting it overwhelm you, consider breaking the process [...] -
Marketing Your Horse Farm For Success
25 Dec 2011 | 5:00 pmMost horse farm owners can spot a good conformation a mile away or tell the difference between an original Stubben saddle or Billy Cook saddle and an imitation. In fact, most horse farm owners have a wealth of knowledge on their equine friends but have no idea how to go about marketing this knowledge. To [...] -
Trail Blazin’ Time Management
18 Dec 2011 | 1:55 pmSometimes I wake up full of ambition and ready to take on the world. Then the phone rings and the neighbor stops in and before I know it, lunchtime has arrived and I’ve accomplished nothing. Instead of taking charge of my day, I realize my day has taken charge of me. Don’t become a procrastinator [...]
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Writing of Riding
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Why I Ride Without Stirrups
26 Jan 2012 | 2:17 pmDo you ride without stirrups on a regular basis? It has been 7 years since I began riding without stirrups, with one exception – when I go down the trail and spend a significant amount of time posting and two-point. This began as a pact with a good friend of mine to encourage one another to better our balance in the saddle and so we had a semi-official “removal of the stirrups” occasion and from then on my stirrups hand from their leathers off the saddle rack in my tack room. The benefits of riding without stirrups go beyond the traditional hour long longe lesson. There are… -
The Value of Ponying Young Horses
24 Jan 2012 | 10:18 pmI have been ponying horses for a number of years now, on a regular basis, and am absolutely convinced of its value and efficacy with young horses as well as older trained riding horses. There are many great benefits which give reason to implement ponying into your riding regimen that go beyond training the young horse. Ponying accustoms both horses to being in close proximity to one another and helps to desensitize each other to being bumped by another horse and having their personal space more closely occupied. Ponying builds your skills as a rider to manage control and direction of two… -
Being an Honest & Responsible Equestrian
14 Jan 2012 | 1:42 pmIt is officially the internet age, a time when it is all too common for someone to hurl insults, falsify personal information and simply be a person that is neither honest or responsible because the fear of being openly identified as such across so many miles of internet is almost nil. I used to belong to a number of email chat lists on various topics of horses, and most had instituted a regular mailing warning that if you were guilty of FLAMING other members you would be moderated or just kicked off the list. It was so common that someone would lose their temper and go bananas over someone… -
4 Ways to Make 2012 Spectacular
11 Jan 2012 | 9:00 amWe’ve heard all the hype about 2012 and what it means according to the Mayans, but what exactly does 2012 as a year of change mean for us as equestrians? I know that this year is one I want to make unforgettable. It is a year in which I would most like to see my bad habits vanquished and replaced with habits that not only support my goals but ultimately my happiness. Below are some tools I plan to implement this year to keep myself on track and to push myself further, perhaps you will find them useful for your own goals this year. 15 Excuses for NOT Making Ideas Happen I don’t… -
3 Inspirational Equestrians You Don’t Want to Miss
27 Nov 2011 | 9:18 pmEvery single one of us needs to be nurtured by an inspirational equestrian from time to time. Riding horses, whether you are conscious of it or not, is an art form – and like all artists there is something to be said for inspiration in order for us to be at our best. In our ever vigilant quest for perfection it is easy to miss those small nuggets of wonderful from inspirational equestrians that are out there, waiting for us to notice them. Are all riders perfect? No! Are all horses of top breeding and flawless athletic ability? Ha, you jest! But nothing in life is perfect and if we sit…
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Horses and the Law
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Rules of the Road
24 Jan 2012 | 8:06 amHorses and highways are a volatile and dangerous mix. Recent evidence was a tragic accident near Milton, a tiny town just north of the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border. Lincoln Geist, an elderly man driving on a rural road, hit a horse and rider. The teenage girl was thrown to the ground and suffered a fractured pelvis; the horse, named Blue, suffered severe internal injuries and was euthanized by a veterinarian at the scene. Geist briefly slowed his automobile after the collision, and then drove away without offering any assistance to the stricken horse and rider. Geist later called police… -
No Missouri Compromise
17 Jan 2012 | 5:33 amThe turf war between veterinarians and lay equine dentists rages on. The battle line is clear: who should be allowed to float teeth--the removal of sharp enamel points from the surfaces of a horse’s teeth that cause discomfort and can adversely affect the animal’s health--a duly licensed veterinarian or a non-licensed practitioner? Veterinarians argue that equine dentistry is a branch of veterinary medicine that should be limited to licensed practitioners; lay tooth floaters counter that competent tooth floating is a skill that doesn’t require four years of expensive veterinary school… -
Donations and Deductions
10 Jan 2012 | 6:51 amRulings handed down by the United States Tax Court are anything but easy reading. They’re usually long and complicated, and they frequently deal with obscure portions of the massive U.S. Tax Code that make sense to some tax attorneys and CPAs, but to almost no one else. Every now and then, though, a tax court decision has far-reaching implications. Van Dusen v. Commissioner is one of those cases. Anyone who volunteers for an animal rescue group that has IRS recognition as a charitable organization—it’s called 501(c)(3) status—should pay attention. The ruling doesn’t address horse… -
The Also-Rans
3 Jan 2012 | 6:53 amOne of the comments to last week’s "Best Of" column asked about interesting topics that didn’t make the Top Five of 2011. With one exception, the columns that generated the most reader comments last year were related to issues (slaughter, legislation) or events (road accidents involving Amish buggies, the shooting of a loose horse by a Sherriff’s deputy) and not actual cases. Rather than give court decisions short shrift—the name of the column is Horses and the Law, after all—a highly subjective selection of the columns that didn’t make the cut follows. Court Highlights ●… -
And the Winner Is
27 Dec 2011 | 5:37 amI usually wrap up the year for Horses and the Law with a chronological review of what I consider the most important, or interesting, or just plain weird developments in equine law during the previous 12 months. While I was putting this year’s list together, it occurred to me that I was ignoring the best barometer of interest—you, the readers who comment each week. I threw away my list and started tallying the comments generated by each of the columns in 2011. After discounting my own comments for tabulating purposes and deleting the occasional pingbacks (I’m still not sure what those…
