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Hi Welcome to this month’s HorseConscious Newsletter. I hope you are enjoying the spring weather we are starting to experience now. The clocks have ‘sprung forward’ over here in Europe so we are starting to get the benefit of the lighter evening too. Of course, if you live in the southern hemisphere, the opposite will be happening, so you will be looking to those longer autumnal evenings in front of a log fire. You see, there’s always an upside! Now, I have to admit to being a little under pressure this month. We are going away this weekend (in less than 4 hours to be precise) and I still have not completed the newsletter. Yikes! OK, so better get going! [In the interests of honesty, I must declare that large swathes of the newsletter are prepared in advance during the month through the tireless efforts of Tessa and Rose, so I can actually claim very little of the credit. Thank you to both of them.] A series of very intersting items have found their way on to my desk this month and I wanted to bring them to your attention as well as pass on some parish notices. Amongst all the doom and gloom of the economy, some good news has emerged. On March 11th, the Federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today there will be no more wild horse roundups through the end of summer, and likely none in 2011 due to budget woes. Whilst this sounds like good news and indeed it is, we mustn’t forget the degree to which the wild horse population have been marginalised even within their substantially reduced Herd Management Areas (HMAs) of the public lands to which they are entitled. In a reent speech to Phoenix Meeting of National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board, Wildlife Ecologist As seems to be usually the case, these supposed public servants have buckled under when confronted with the ruthless demands of greedy ranchers, big game hunters often represented by state fish and game departments, water monopolizing and contaminating mining corporations, urban sprawlers, subdividers and alternative energy developers. The moral of the story: money talks and power corrupts. Changing tracks for a moment, thank you to Juergen from Ontario, Canada for the following contribution.
Why was that gauge used? Because that’s the way they built them in England, and English expatriates designed the US railroads. Why did the English build them like that? Because the first rail lines were built by the same people who built the pre-railroad tramways, and that’s the gauge they used. Why did ‘they’ use that gauge then? Because the people who built the tramways used the same jigs and tools that they had used for building wagons, which used that wheel spacing. Why did the wagons have that particular odd wheel spacing? Well, if they tried to use any other spacing, the wagon wheels would break on some of the old, long distance roads in England, because that’s the spacing of the wheel ruts. So who built those old rutted roads? Imperial Rome built the first long distance roads in Europe (including England ) for their legions. Those roads have been used ever since. And the ruts in the roads? Roman war chariots formed the initial ruts, which everyone else had to match for fear of destroying their wagon wheels. Since the chariots were made for Imperial Rome, they were all alike in the matter of wheel spacing. Therefore the United States standard railroad gauge of 4 feet, 8.5 inches is derived from the original specifications for an Imperial Roman war chariot. Bureaucracies live forever. So the next time you are handed a specification/procedure/process and wonder ‘What horse’s ass came up with this?’ , you may be exactly right. Imperial Roman army chariots were made just wide enough to accommodate the rear ends of two war horses. (Two horses’ asses.) Now, the twist to the story: When you see a Space Shuttle sitting on its launch pad, there are two big booster rockets attached to the sides of the main fuel tank. These are solid rocket boosters, or SRBs. The SRBs are made by Thiokol at their factory in Utah
So, a major Space Shuttle design feature of what is arguably the world’s most advanced transportation system was determined over two thousand years ago by the width of a horse’s ass. And you thought being a horse’s ass wasn’t important? Ancient horse’s asses control almost everything… and today’s horse’s asses in Washington want to control everything else. I had an email from Berenika in Poland who wrote to tell me about the abuse of horses that goes on her country. I have to admit that reading Berenika’s email was pretty gruesome and gave some indication of the disdain with which the horses are treated. I will include a sample here but be warned, it does not make for easy reading.
“But the worst part is that when the sun raises the trucks leave. No one knows they were there. A merry crowd comes to watch the rest of those animals, who are so stressed after the night, that they immediately fall asleep or fall into such depression that they do not react to anything. Those people bring their children, they buy riding equipment at many colourful stalls, they buy bits and whips, they laugh and listen to music playing everywhere. This is all happening around those horses who did not leave to slaughterhouses but were there all the time, watched all this, heard it and smelled the odour of death. They are so tortured after the night that do not even dare to move. And people do not see." Berenika and her fellow supporters are organising action against these fairs as well as campaigning for fairer treatment of the horses. On the 26th of April, they have organised ‘The Day of The Horse’ in Warsaw and on the 14th of May, they have another orgainsed another action against horse abuse at the Pajeczno livestock market. They have a Facebook page called "Through the Horse’s Eye" (Okiem Konia), where they have posted pictures and information about the horse fairs. Here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002047458409 There is also a website http://www.stopskaryszew2012.pl, which is currently only in Polish but contains some very powerful images and video if you can bear to see them. Space does not allow for me to print all of what Berenika sent me but I think you’ve probably seen and heard enough to get the gist of what’s happening over there. I’m afriad it’s just another case of horses coming way down the economic pecking order. Apart from the worlds of competition and breeding, there is little or no financial reward for owning them and they have therefore become just another commodity. Tragic. Monica Bretschneider also wrote to me about the possibility of bitless dressage becoming a reality in Canada in the near future. This is what Monica had to say: "As the Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS) have approved a rule that allows riders to compete bitless for the next three years, I wondered how this news was received for our Canadian counterpart. As Joanna Crilly requested more information regarding the Dutch trial or any related information, I passed on the good news to the Bitless Bridle Company (Dr.Cook). Dr. Cook was invited by Ms. Crilly to put in a formal request so that his bridle could be considered for 2012 competition season without any need for a trial. Which makes sense as this same organization had its Canadian Endurance team in 2010 compete at the “Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games” all using a cross-under bitless bridle supplied by an Ontario manufacturer called the Nurtural Bitless Bridle. Maybe the time has come for the Canadian Dressage to make the leap. Actually, at ttp://www.interdressage.com an online worldwide organization that allows riders of all ages and from any country to compete from the convenience of home in monthly online video competitions the bitless bridle is accepted.
There is many blogs and specialized websites that promote the bitless bridle use. By visiting these sites you can understand like the Ontarian blogger Stacey Kotow states: “Bitless bridles of all kinds have taken horsemanship by storm. There are so many options and people are realizing that not only is it just as easy to control your horse, it’s usually easier because there’s not the anxiety on the horses part as well as some physical problems. Five years ago bitless was taboo. … I get e-mails weekly from people who are now riding their horses faithfully bitless because of this blog. They have seen myself and others do just about every discipline bitless. “ http://www.bitlessbridle.com Dr. Cook, USA http://naturalhorseworld.com/blog/ Cynthia Cooper, Australia http://www.bitlesshorseblog.com/ Sydney Kotow , Canada http://www.nurturalhorse.com/newsHorseRelated/index.shtml Gerry Guy & Zoe Brooks, Canada http://www.bitlesshorse.org/ forum http://www.lgbridle.com/ Claudia Chavis, USA http://www.thegoodhorsemanshipsociety.com/membership.html Good news indeed and a step in the right direction for sure. Well done to Monica, Berenika and everyone who is campaigning for a better future for horses. We all know equines can speak but the problem is those who really need to listen can’t hear them. It is through the sustained efforts of the many that the horse world will change. Keep up th good work. Right, time for those parish notices I promised. Well, what I mean by that is news of some upcoming events I hope you will support. First taxi off the rank is a long-time friend of HorseConscious Stina Herberg. Although I must apologize to Stina because she wrote to me some time ago about this and it should have been mentioned in an earlier newsletter. Anway, despite the (very!) short notice, it is still worth mentioning as Stina made another one of her lovely videos to accompany the event, which is a combined Yoga for Riding and Carolyn Resnick Clinic and starts on the 4th of April. You can find the details of this and Stina’s future events in the Caribbean by going to: http://stinaherberg.wordpress.com/clinics. Here’s that video:
Next up is a friend from the UK this time, Carolyn Bourchier, who is holding an Open Day at her new stables in Shaftesbury, Dorset on Saturday 9th April. Amongst the highlights will be:
Sounds like a great day out if you can make it and you can find all the details by going to Carolyn B’s new website: http://www.thenewhorse.co.uk Please check the Diary Dates below for more upcoming events. Finally, just to update you that I have now booked my flights to Canada for the special HorseConscious E.A.R.T.H. Retreat, which is taking place from May 28th – June 4th at Liz Mitten Ryan’s wonderful Gateway 2 Ranch in British Columbia. We still have a few spots left open at time of writing, so if you would like to join me and the rest of those that have already booked, then please go to: http://www.horseconscious.com/horseconscious-retreat To remind you, there are no qualifications for attending, so the event is open to all HorseConscious Members, newsletter subscribers and Facebook fans. The price is an all-inclusive US$2,995, a 25% discount off the regular price of the E.A.R.T.H. retreats. There is just a $250 deposit to book youre place with the balance payable by April 30th not March 31st as I said in the last newsletter. That’s it for this month and I look forward to speaking with you next month. Have fun! Best wishes |
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‘A horse is a thing of beauty. None will tire of looking as long as he displays himself in splendor.’
- Xenophon |
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BEHIND THE SCENES: GREAT BRITAIN’S ROYAL MEWS Romantics never tire of the vision of Cinderella, off to the ball in a splendid horse-drawn coach, and nobody brings fairy-tale scenes to life like the British, whose knack for pomp and circumstance makes a royal occasion a sight to behold. That’s why royal-watchers everywhere are gearing up for one of the biggest celebrations of them all: a royal wedding.
Unlike previous royal brides, Kate will travel to the wedding by car. The royal couple will then journey from Westminster Abbey to the wedding reception at Buckingham Palace by horse-drawn carriage. Horses and carriages play a role in nearly every important British royal ceremony–so much so that the royal stables and carriage houses, called the Royal Mews, are situated beside Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the monarch. As you might expect, all that gleaming horseflesh, sparkling harnesses, and dazzling coachwork require much care. Here’s a peek at what goes on behind the scenes. The Royal Mews “Mews” originally meant a falconry, so named for the royal falcons’ molting or “mewing” of feathers. By 1527, the Royal Mews were being used as horse stables; in 1825 the mews were relocated from nearby Charing Cross to new buildings in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, where they stand today. The Royal Mews comprises stabling for the current string of 34 horses (a mixture of straight stalls and “loose boxes,” or box stalls), housing for the royal carriages and state motor vehicles, a spacious indoor arena, a large quadrangle, and apartments for staffers or families with connections to the mews. Visitors can tour the facility to view the vehicles and some of the horses. Although everyday activities, such as putting to harness and cooling out, are conducted away from public view, you might be lucky enough to see a vehicle and horses leaving for or returning from a training session on the London streets or in nearby Hyde Park. The Horses Queen Elizabeth II is an avid horsewoman and takes a keen interest in the occupants royal stables’ occupants, naming each horse herself. Nearly all of the royal carriage horses are either Windsor Greys or Cleveland Bays. The former is not a breed but a type: gray in color, at least 16.1 hands, of sturdy warmblood-type conformation with possibly a bit of draft thrown in, and with the all-important placid temperament. The Greys are named for Windsor, where they were originally stabled. The Queen breeds Cleveland Bays, which are a light draft breed, uniformly bay in color with black points and similar in size to the Greys. Most of the bay horses at the Royal Mews are Cleveland Bays or part-bred Cleveland Bays, aside from a couple of bay warmbloods. As with the Greys, “bombproof” temperaments are a must, and all of the horses receive intense training to desensitize them to everything from cheering throngs to flapping flags. The royal carriage horses-to-be are broke to saddle around age 4 and come to the Royal Mews for their introduction to harness and their training, which takes about two years. During their approximately ten-year careers they receive two daily morning outings, sometimes first under saddle and then later in harness. They might be driven in the indoor arena or on the streets. Grooming and cleaning of harness, both time-consuming activities, occupy the stable staff’s midday hours. Then come afternoon chores and feeding. Retired horses live out their days in the English countryside. The Vehicles The four-wheeled residents of the Royal Mews are nearly as spectacular as the four-footed. Visitors often marvel at the ornate coaches, each with its own history and significance. Royal wedding fans might recognize the Glass Coach, which carried Princess Diana and many royal brides before her to their weddings. The real show stopper is the world-famous Gold State Coach, which has been used for openings of Parliament, for coronations (including Queen Elizabeth II’s), and for the Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilee celebrations. Built in 1762 for King George III, it is gilded, weighs nearly four tons, and is drawn by eight horses at a walk only. No whip (driver) sits in the Gold State Coach; instead, the horses are controlled by postillions (riders). The Royal Mews today also houses the royal limousines, mostly Rolls-Royce Phantoms. The oldest model, known as Rolls-Royce No. 3, is a 1950 Phantom IV in a hue called Royal Claret. Equestrian Traditions Horses, riding, and driving are important British traditions. The Royal Mews not only houses living history in the royal horses, but also preserves priceless artifacts–the coaches themselves. The slow-moving horse-drawn vehicles afford spectators a better and more lingering view of the royals. On April 29 the world will be watching eagerly as Will and Kate re-enact a horse-drawn fairy-tale scene for the ages. thehorse.com, Jennifer O. Bryant,March 06 2011, Article # 17880 |
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‘A prince is never surrounded by as much majesty on his throne as he is on a beautiful horse.‘"- William Cavendish |
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SLOW FEEDERS As I talked about last week, boredom for horses can cause health issues such as weight gain, ulcers, stall vices (chewing, pawing, weaving), bickering or fighting between horses, and even colic. Last week I talked a bit about horse toys. This week I’m going to cover another option to help deal with boredom: slow feeders. Slow feeders are a novel approach to feeding horses. In my travels while doing Horses for Clean Water work I’ve seen a variety of approaches and talked with a number of people who’ve implemented some type of slow feeder system and are pleased with the results. Basically, slow feeders are a means to offer restricted yet free-choice forage for the horse. There are a number of ways to approach this, and I’ll cover a few here. The easiest way is to feed smaller, more frequent meals mimicking a horse’s natural behavior. Even going to three to five meals a day would be an improvement for a creature designed by nature to eat many small, frequent meals over the course of a day. Another simple option would be to leave out additional, lower-quality hay (high-fiber, low-non-structural carbohydrate) for your horse to browse on during the day, giving them more “chew time.” A short-coming to this approach is that horses often waste hay when they have a surplus of it.
Another type of slow feeder comes in the hay net variety. This is basically a large hay net with rather small holes. Horses expend more effort to pull hay out from between the net’s holes, thus spending more time eating. Different types of nets go by different names are on the market, and some are sold specifically as ways to slow your horse’s hay intake. I’ve also seen double-bagged hay nets and even old hockey nets made into slow feeders. Large canvas hay bags with small holes are also available as slow feeders. These probably don’t restrict the horse’s intake as much as other options, but they might be a good solution for some. Different types of slow feeder bins are additional options—or you might be able to create something useful yourself. One example is a large wooden box with a grate to hold down the hay. Horses have to pick carefully at the hay to get it out, only removing one small mouthful at a time. This means less waste and more time spent eating. Academic research shows us that smaller, more frequent meals are healthier for our horses, resulting in increased chewing time, smaller particle size, and increased salivation– resulting in fewer overall health issues. If you have concerns about your horses being bored, or if you have some of the health issues mentioned earlier, you might want to look into some type of slow feeders. thehorse.com, Alayne Renée Blickle,smarthorsekeepingblog |
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OKLAHOMA RACING COMMISSION HELPS RETIRED, UNWANTED THOROUGHBRED Retired Oklahoma-bred Thoroughbred racehorses will get help retraining for a second career thanks to a new rule passed by the Oklahoma Racing Commission last week. Under the rule, Oklahoma Breeding Development Fund Special Account funds may be used to help qualifying equine welfare organizations care for retired and unwanted Oklahoma-bred Thoroughbreds. Funding for the program will come from the state’s Thoroughbred owners who have agreed to pay double registration fees to support it. Racing Commission Executive Director Tino Reiger said funds will be used to create so-called pension funds for retired racehorses; provide retraining for animals suitable for off-track second careers in dressage, hunter/jumpers, and other disciplines; and to help equine welfare organizations prepare unwanted Thoroughbreds for new adoptive homes. “It’s a multi-faceted program,” Reiger said. “We’re not just going to toss a bale of hay at them and forget about them.” Reiger said it is difficult to determine just how many horses will benefit from the program. But Robin Brookins, co-founder of the nonprofit Oklahoma Thoroughbred Retirement Program said the funding will help reduce the number of Thoroughbreds that become unwanted after their racing careers have ended. “Ex-racehorses (that) have started a retraining program in another discipline are much easier to adopt and are more sought after,” Brookins said. “We believe we can increase the number of adoptable horses placed in new homes and careers with the help of this additional funding for retraining.” The new rule now moves to the Oklahoma legislature for approval, Reiger said. “Hopefully, the Governor (Mary Fallin) will sign it in May,” he said. TheHorse.com offers a listing of free horses available all across the country. Please check out the list if you are able to give one of these horses a home. thehorse.com, by: Pat Raia, February 24 2011, Article # 17836 |
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”Kissed by sunlight, and embraced by open fields. The horse is the center of all beautiful things" |
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REJUVENATING HORSE PASTURES WITH SPRING OVERSEEDING The dead of winter can lead to daydreams of horses grazing in lush, green pastures with the sun on their backs. But first, you have to prepare those pastures for those warm, sunny, summer grazing sessions. Ray Smith, PhD, forage extension specialist with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, has tips for rejuvenating those pastures this Spring:. 1. Use high-quality seed of an improved variety. Use a variety that has been proven to be a top performer under Kentucky conditions. The University of Kentucky forage testing program tests the survival of cool-season grasses under grazing by horses (see Forage Variety Trials). High-quality seed has high rates of germination and is free of contamination from weed seed. Quality seed will produce a pasture that last for years; “cheap seed” will only lead to headaches. 2. Plant enough seed at the right time. Follow the seeding chart below for ideal seeding rates for horse pastures. Higher seeding rates provide insurance for a good stand. Grasses and clover can be seeded in either spring or fall. Early fall is the preferred time for cool-season grasses, but when seeding in the spring make sure that seed is in the ground by mid-March so the seedlings have a chance to grow before warm weather. Perennial ryegrass grows rapidly and is an excellent grass for high traffic areas that are overseeded every year. Since it only lives one to two years, it should be less than 25% of seed mixtures, otherwise it will out-compete longer lived grasses. 3. Use the best seeding method available. The best method for seeding horse pastures is using a no-till seed drill. It will cut through the existing sod and then firm the soil over the top of the seed. Make sure to set the no-till drill so that seed is no deeper than ¼ to ½ inch. An alternative seeding method for clover is “frost seeding.” This refers to the practice of broadcasting seed on top of the ground during mid-February and relying on the freeze/thaw cycle of late winter to work the seed into the soil. This works well with clover, but is “hit or miss” with grasses. 4. Control competition. Many seedings fail due to competition from weeds. The best weed control is a healthy grass stand that outcompetes weeds. Mowing helps but many pasture weeds can still grow below mowing height. Herbicides can be very useful to control tough weeds, but always read and follow label directions. For most herbicides grass seedlings should be at least 3-4 inches tall before spraying (see Weed Management in Grass Pastures, Hayfields, and Fencerows. 5. Allow the immature seedlings to become established before putting the pasture back into full use, if at all possible. It can take over a year for a grass pasture to develop a strong dense sod. Overgrazing newly seeded areas is a major cause of seeding failures. When it is not possible to keep animals off the pasture, while the grass is getting established, consider splitting the field and seeding half the field at a time.
thehorse.com, University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, February 24 2011, Article # 17837 |
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‘’The joy with horses is it brings us in contact with elements of grace,beauty,spirit,and fire.’- Sharon Ralls Lemon |
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NEW ARTICLES ON HORSECONSCIOUS |
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ANNA TWINNEY: REACH OUT TO HORSES 2011 SPECIAL COURSES Don’t miss your chance to work with a talented, supportive and enlightened team, led by Anna herself, committed to building and enhancing the relationship between horse and human through positive understanding and genuine communication.
To read the compete article and more of Anna’s articles, visit Anna Twinney on HorseConscious |
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HORSEMANSHIP IS LEADERSHIP – KLAUS FERDINAND HEMPFLING Leading a horse means first of all to lead yourself, your spirit, your entire appearance. Hempfling, with his professional background in communications has shaken up the international horse world. He is working with these powerful, dignified creatures in accordance with nature. To watch the video and read more of Klaus’s articles, visit Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling on HorseConscious. |
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BECOMING THE BEST FOR YOUR HORSE BY DEVELOPING YOUR MAGNETISM- CAROLYN RESNICK To create a deeper connection with your horse, put yourself in a state of happiness before you see your horse. It will help you to discover yet another core strength within you. Your intentions to elevate your awareness will grow your magnetism. Growing your magnetism will draw your horse to follow your lead. It will cause your horse to trust in your leadership. So how can we do this? To read the compete article and more of Carolyn’s articles, visit Carolyn Resnick on HorseConscious |
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ANTIOXIDANTS FOR TOP PERFORMANCE Oxidation is a normal metabolic process that allows horses to transform the carbohydrates, fats, and proteins they devour in meals into energy. An unavoidable side effect of oxidation is the creation of free radicals—compounds that have the potential to irreparably damage cells. Free radicals are particularly harmful to the cell membranes (structures responsible for keeping destructive entities away from delicate inner organelles). Under normal circumstances, substances called antioxidants thwart much of the wreckage caused by free radicals. However, oxidation speeds up during athletic effort due to increased oxygen consumption and accelerated aerobic metabolism. The end result of unchecked oxidation in the bodies of equine athletes could be muscular fatigue severe enough to compromise performance. In instances of strenuous exercise, natural stores of antioxidants have difficulty providing sufficient protection against the cascade of free radicals generated from aerobic metabolism. Thus, supplementation of antioxidants is particularly helpful in warding off the ill effects of mass-produced free radicals associated with intense exercise. Horses with an inadequate reserve of antioxidants might experience muscle soreness or stiffness during an exercise bout and prolonged recovery following hard work. Vitamin E Vitamin E contributes most generously to the natural antioxidant defenses of the horse. Feeds typically fed to horses have variable vitamin E concentrations. Cereal grains such as corn, oats, and barley contain minimal vitamin E, and processing might further decrease vitamin activity. While vegetable and soybean oils possess substantially more vitamin E than grains, refining can diminish content. Even if they undergo only minimal refining, these oils have such low inclusion rates in diets that their contribution to total vitamin E intake is miniscule. Horses can derive sufficient amounts of vitamin E from fresh forage or hay, however, the vitamin content abates as forages mature and are harvested. Up to 90% of the vitamin content might be lost between the pre-bloom or boot stages and complete heading out in grasses. Losses also occur in legumes, although to a lesser extent. Storage negatively impacts vitamin composition as well. In one month, for instance, a 50% loss in vitamin E can occur in stored hay. Because of the irregularity in vitamin E content of forages and other feedstuffs, the nutrient is often added to fortified feeds. Synthetic forms of vitamin E are absorbed well by horses, however, natural forms are far more digestible. Vitamin E deficiencies are often thought to precipitate nervous disorders such as equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM), a disease characterized by deterioration of the brain stem and spinal cord. Ataxia (incoordination) is the foremost sign of EDM, usually beginning in the hind limbs and progressing to the forelimbs. Equine motor neuron disease, a debilitating neurologic affection that can cause profound paralysis and death, is often partially attributed to vitamin E insufficiency. Treatment for both diseases centers on the provision of megadoses of vitamin E, often 10 to 20 times the normal daily requirement. In some cases of EDM, supplemental vitamin E has completely arrested signs, although few horses return completely to normal. Vitamin E is often linked with selenium, a micromineral that possesses potent antioxidant properties. Because it is an essential component of glutathione peroxidase, an intercellular enzyme that helps prevent the formation of free radicals, selenium is integral in the diets of performance horses. In addition to inadequate antioxidant defenses, a selenium deficiency can be detrimental to the muscular, reproductive, and immune systems. Vitamin C Vitamin C, often referred to as ascorbic acid, also plays a pivotal role in neutralizing free radicals. Because of its water-soluble nature, vitamin C can work both inside and outside the cell to combat free radical damage. In the exercising horse, perhaps the foremost contribution of vitamin C is its synergistic relationship with vitamin E. Once a molecule of vitamin E inactivates a free radical, its ability to short-circuit others is forsaken. In the presence of vitamin C, however, vitamin E can be regenerated to continue its raid on free radicals. The rejuvenating properties of vitamin C, therefore, make it an essential ingredient in an effective antioxidant supplement. Vitamin C is not included in most horses’ diets because the liver synthesizes sufficient quantities under normal circumstances. In periods of stress, such as during sustained exercise, vitamin C levels might drop and reduce the efficiency of antioxidant mechanisms in the body. In one study completed by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 35 endurance horses competing in 80- and 160-km races incurred vitamin C depletion, suggesting supplementation might be necessary to maximize antioxidant defenses. An antioxidant cocktail has been advocated by human physicians for several years, and its positive effects have proven effective in nourishing the equine athlete as well. A triad of antioxidants including vitamin E, selenium, and vitamin C ensures a degree of coverage not afforded by vitamin E alone. Want to determine your horse’s weight? Learn how with our video tutorial and Horse Weight Calculator. thehorse.com, by: Kentycky Equire Research Inc, December 19 2010, Article # 17418 |
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‘One reason why horses are not unhappy is because they are not trying to impress other horses.’ - Dale Carnegie
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MADELEINE PICKENS RESPOND TO BLM’S REQUEST ON COMMENTS AND PROPOSALS ON FUTURE CONTRACTS Dear Friends, There was a recent announcement by Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey that they would request comments and proposals on future contracts with the program. Below is our official response to our own plan by Saving America’s Mustangs for Mustang Monument: A Wild Horse Eco- Preserve in Nevada. You can also join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/mustangmonument or Twitter: @mpickens Sincerely, Madeleine Pickens and all the mustangs! Read About the Future of Excess Wild Horse Holding here Meanwhile, here’s a video on the recent round-up where a baby born from a mare run during the antelope stampede in Nevada at Palomino Valley Complex BLM facility was killed. Watch the video. | |
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‘Under his spurning feet, the landscape sped away like an ocean flying before the wind.’ |
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IT’S TIME TO GO ORGANIC! NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) may help mask lameness while reducing pain, swelling, and inflammation, but they can also be very harmful to the equine, whether pet or athlete. NSAIDs can contribute to GI ulcers, diarrhea from colitis and colic, which all may trigger bouts of laminitis. Even short term NSAID use has the potential for renal (kidney) and liver toxicity, and may decrease a horse’s health and performance. Research has shown that NSAIDs may also slow down the healing process of soft tissues. This means that the patient using NSAIDs may look normal and not have pain evident, but the tissue is weaker longer and at a higher risk for re-injury during the extended healing period. The USEF now requires an “NSAID Disclosure form” to be filed with the Steward/Technical Delegate if more than one NSAID is used during a competition or in the five days preceding a USEF competition. The use of Bute and Banamine together is currently prohibited. Starting December 1, 2011, the presence of only one NSAID will be allowed! The seven NSAIDs currently allowed with quantitative restrictions are Bute, Banamine, Naproxen, Ketofen, Arquel, Equioxx, and topical Surpass. There are other options available for use to treat inflammation and pain. Many of the natural products are very effective while being much safer than prescription NSAIDs. Some of these may be herbal, botanical, nutritional, and/or homeopathic blends. Keep in mind not all “natural” products are safe or effective and some of them will test positive on drug screens. KAM Animal Services offers FRE Choice Liquid as a safe effective NSAID alternative. FRE Liquid has been used in show and race horses for years with great success and is veterinarian tested and endorsed. FRE Liquid will not test positive on a drug screen (blood or urine). It is safe to use in combination with any and all other NSAIDs and any medications your horse may be receiving. This tip was brought to you by Dr. John Hanover and KAM Animal Services, home of KAM’s “Equine Learning Circle” FREE webinars, which take place every month. Go to www.kamanimalservices.com to sign up for their next webinar. If you attend when they are live they are free. If you want to be able to listen to them again or download them the annual fee is $89 and includes all the webinars. These webinars will conclude with a question and answer session, so be ready with your nutrition questions. by Newsroom Associate, Staff Writer – HorsesintheSouth.com, support@horsesinthesouth.com | |
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‘Kissed by sunlight, and embraced by open fields.The horse is the center of all beautiful things’.–Unknown |
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IN DEFENSE OF GRADE HORSES Many people are under the impression that grade horses (those whose parentage is unknown, unidentifiable, or of significantly mixed breeding) are largely to blame for the horse overpopulation issue. The May 2010 issue of The Horse had a letter to the editor that again stated horse overpopulation would be reduced if people stopped breeding grade horses. Grade horses provide a great pool of genetic variation and generally lack many of the genetic diseases that currently can afflict purebreds. Their lack of papers does not decrease their functionality, with the exception of not being able to show at breed-specific events. Papers increase a horse’s value only by showing potential based on parentage. Papers do not prove an animal is sound physically or mentally, free of genetic illness, or capable of performing well. Grade horses that sell do so based on their own merits of soundness and functionality. In purebreds, as you continually select a specific trait or breed type, you diminish the amount of genetic variation within that breed. When this is done, genetic problems, which nature previously reduced through genetic variation, can become focused. Many species of animals that humans breed for specific characteristics develop genetic diseases. In many cases these diseases have decimated breeding populations of purebreds. Foundation breeds may not be available to “restart” the breed. An example of disease related to the purebred horse industry is HYPP (hyperkalemic periodic paralysis) in the Quarter Horse. Arabians have six genetic illnesses currently in their lines; lavender foal syndrome and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) are two. Belgian draft horses can carry genes for junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB), a disease that causes skin lesions over pressure points of the body. This is not an all-inclusive list of disease-prone breeds–these are just a few breeds currently popular in the United States. Owners of purebred horses subject to genetic disease who don’t know if their animals are carriers should spend the money for genetic testing. To reduce the frequency of the disease, those animals that test positive should then not be bred. Many owners don’t test; others might test their animal and, if he tests positive, will still breed, but only to other individuals that test negative. This does not eliminate the trait but, rather, dilutes it, and the disease can reappear with more animals affected. In addition to genetic disease, some purebred horses have problems carrying foals to term. Studies have been done to determine how much estrogen must be given to a mare, unable to maintain a pregnancy on her own, to obtain a foal. Continuing to breed these horses has the potential to develop a horse incapable of producing a foal without human intervention and hormone therapy. Anyone breeding a horse, be it grade or purebred, mare or stallion, is responsible to breed for a quality animal. Horse overpopulation won’t be solved just by castrating stallions. Mare owners carry as much responsibility as stallion owners to evaluate quality and remove animals with unsoundness or genetic disease from the breeding population. One stallion, purebred or grade, can sire many foals, but only if the mares are bred to him. If multiple foals from a stallion have crooked legs, then you should not be using that stallion. Horses with poor feet or other unsoundness issues shouldn’t be bred, regardless of the financial value of the horse on paper. Consider the canine mutt, often one of the longest-living and healthiest dogs around (G. J. Patronek, et al., 1996). I don’t know if research has been done with horses to determine the longevity of grade horses versus purebred, but if you compared longevity and health I believe you would find the same trend with grade horses as we find in our canine mutts. Yes, we have a horse overpopulation problem that needs to be dealt with. But do not attack every breeder of grade horses. “Grade horse” does not mean poor quality. Likewise, purebred and papered does not prove good quality. Keeping a population of crossbred and grade horses is a healthy means of maintaining the genetic variability of the horse population as a whole. thehorse.com, by: Marla Trowbridge,MS, August 01 2010, Article # 17673 |
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THE SOUNDS IN SILENCE- SANDRA WALLIN The Art IN Horses: How horses help humans become their own masterpiece.
What I want to share however, is a new way of looking at horses, through stories that pay homage to the master artist in each horse. Instead of the painted, they are now the painters, transforming the at times tattered canvas of the human spirit into glowing masterpieces, alive with the colours of love, compassion and joy. My story begins in the grey mist of a wet, west coast day. Matthew was a young boy from a school I worked at as a counsellor. I met him for the first time in early September while I was out on playground supervision. To read the complete article and more of Sandra’s articles visit Sandra Wallin on HorseConsious. | |
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DOES LUKAS KNOW HE’S LUKAS?-The World’s Smartest Horse Will Experiment with Self-Awareness
For this experiment, Murdock will utilize the mirror test, developed by Gordon Gallup in 1970 (based on observations by Charles Darwin). It determines whether an animal can recognize its own reflection in a mirror as an image of itself. Only humans (after the age of eighteen months), great apes, bottlenose dolphins, orcas, elephants and European magpies have passed the mirror test (Surprisingly, pigs, parrots and pigeons have not conclusively passed the test, to date). This duration of this experiment will be approximately three months. Interestingly, the Bronx Zoo used eight-foot mirrors in their elephant enclosure to test the pachyderms’ responses. Prior to this, small mirrors kept out of reach of the elephants had been used without success. Murdock will borrow this concept, and a four foot by six foot Plexiglas mirror will be used for Lukas’ experiment. Lukas will be introduced to his mirror and his response will be gauged. The test will be conducted by covertly marking Lukas with two odorless spots: the test spot will be on a part of Lukas which will be visible in front of a mirror, and the control spot will be in an accessible but hidden part of his body. A videotaped recording will document if Lukas reacts in a manner consistent with his being aware that the test spot is located on his own body rather than on the mirror, while ignoring the control spot. Indications of awareness will include: turning and moving his body in order to better view the marking in the mirror, or poking at the test marking on his body with his muzzle while viewing the mirror.
According to most animal intelligence ranking scales, equine statistics are dismal: horses rank anywhere from fifth to ninth inintelligence comparisons between species. In addition, the horse population in general is thought to be a typically reactive group at the mercy of flight instincts and walnut-sized brains. Murdock believes that the commonly used repetitive machine trials to assess horses’ learning capabilities are missing some important components: a social and interactive element, voice prompts (particularly intermediary/guiding markers) and reinforcement variations. Furthermore, she proposes that the prevailing methods of force training are inadequate and even counter-productive. In contrast, Lukas’ lessons resemble those used for children: fun, gentle and a mutual exploration into possibilities. Murdock, a psychiatric nurse for the last twenty-six years, and an animal trainer for over forty, will use her own particular blend of techniques, as always. Self-awareness training sessions with her dear friend Lukas will be brief, fun and sequential and will include the following guidance: “That’s you in the mirror, buddy. You’re a horse. I love you.” For more info, visit Lukas and Karen Murdock at playingwithlukas.com | |
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‘Whether you regard the horse with awe or love, it is impossible to escape the power of his presence.’‘ -Mary Wanless |
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DIARY DATES: |
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| March 29-April 3 | Kathy Pike, EFLC Level One Training-US, support@coachingwithhorses.com |
| April 1-3 | Anna Twinney, Holistic Horse Day and Animal Communication Weekend,yorkshire.cowgirl@virgin.net |
| April 1-June 4 | Liz Mitten Ryan, Shoulder Programs |
| April 7 | Anna Twinney, Fundraising Speaking Event with Pat Dubois,patriciadubois@ranchdubois.com |
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April 8 |
Anna Twinney,Holistic Horse Fundraising Day, for www.ndnm.org. Contact patriciadubois@ranchdubois.com |
| April 9-10 | Anna Twinney,2-Day Natural Horsemanship Clinic, Day 1: Overcoming Obstacles thru Communication; Day 2: Trust-based Leadrship & Compassionate Communication,patriciadubois@ranchdubois.com |
| April 11 | Anna Twinney,A Day of Animal Communication,claudia@equinevoices.org and www.equinevoices.org |
| April 14 & 15 | Private Lessons with Anna Twinney,Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary, claudia@equinevoices.org and www.equinevoices.org |
| April 15 | Anna Twinney, Animal Communication Evening,Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary claudia@equinevoices.org and www.equinevoices.org |
| April 16 & 17 | Kathy Pike,Dance of Authenticity through the Wisdom of the Horse – Workshop support@coachingwithhorses.com |
| April 17 | Anna Twinney,Simple Solutions Horsemanship Clinic, Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary, claudia@equinevoices.org and www.equinevoices.org |
| April 19-23 | Anna Twinney,Colt Starting Clinic Shiloh Acres Horse Rescue, info@reachouttohorses.com. |
| April 29-May 1 | Anna Twinney, Animal Communication Evening,Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary, info@reachouttohorses.com |
| April 30-May 1 | Sandra Wallin, She Walks With Horses, www.chironsway.com/seminars.html |
| April 30- May 5 | Kathy Pike, EFLC Level One Training – UK, support@coachingwithhorses.com |
| June 3-6 | Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling, Entrance Package, www.hempfling.com |
| June 5-12 | Anna Twinney,Healing Horses at Bitterroot Ranch, Anna@reachouttohorses.comand Roz@equitours.com |
| June 7-8 | Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling, Horse Feedng, Saddles and Care, www.hempfling.com |
| June 11-13 | Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling, Rythm, Movement & Expression, www.hempfling.com |
| June 16-19 | Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling, Manager-Mentor, www.hempfling.com |
| June 24-26 | Kim McElroy and Sandra Wallin, Drawn to Horses – Exploring Your Soul Connection With Horses Through Art, kim@spiritofhorse.com, sandra@chironsway.com |
| July 10-12 | Anna Twinney, Reach Out to Wisdom- Three Days from Your Destiny, vin@reachouttohorses.com |
| August 27-29 | Anna Twinney, Reach Out to Wisdom- Three Days from Your Destiny, vin@reachouttohorses.com. |
| November 12-19 |
Anna Twinney, Animal Communication Ranch Retreat- An Extraordinary Adventure of Riding, Relaxation & Animal Communication, info@reachouttohorses.com |
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Various dates – Please quote HorseConscious when booking |
For details of all of all Anna Twinney’s events and workshops click here |
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Various dates – Please quote HorseConscious when booking |
Kathy Pike’s calendar and clinics can be found here |
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Various dates – Please quote HorseConscious when booking |
Details of Epona workshops by Linda Kohanov can be found by clicking here |
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Remember: |
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‘‘You took care of your horse, and your horse took care of you.’ |
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The US standard railroad gauge (distance between the rails) is 4 feet, 8.5 inches. That’s an exceedingly odd number.
The engineers who designed the SRBs would have preferred to make them a bit fatter, but the SRBs had to be shipped by train from the factory to the launch site. The railroad line from the factory happens to run through a tunnel in the mountains, and the SRBs had to fit through that tunnel. The tunnel is slightly wider than the railroad track, and the railroad track, as you now know, is about as wide as two horses’ behinds.
I live in Poland, a country that has a great tradition of love for the Horse. Unfortunately the truth is different. We have wonderful Arabians, that’s right, but at the same time we breed horses to be sold for meat in Italian slaughters. Before those animals are killed they travel for thousands of kilometres in terrible conditions. But before even they enter the trucks they are sold at secret night fairs which very often happen before famous horse fairs that are advertised as "The Feast of Horses" or "Our Love for the Horse". I have been to one of those places and I do not have words to describe the pain and the misery of those animals. They are gathered at night, tied to trucks and trailers on very short ropes and the traders go around and around to choose meat. Horses are scared and nervous so they beat them without any mercy, they put chains and ropes in their mouths until they bleed."
On April 29 HRH Prince William of Wales will marry Catherine “Kate” Middleton at London’s Westminster Abbey. The event is the most anticipated wedding since Prince William’s parents, HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and the late Lady Diana Spencer wed in 1981.
To beat the wasted hay/bored horse conundrum, different kinds of slow feeders can be made or purchased to break up the monotony during the day and simulate a more natural feeding environment. Automatic feeders with slots for up to six (or more) feedings are a pricier, but reliable way to do this. This kind of system gives the horse multiple small feedings over the course of a day, more like their feral relatives on the plains.
Horses have inspired artists throughout the ages and in turn, those of us who look upon their art are captivated by the beauty and majesty of the horse. The cave drawings in Lasceaux, Leonardo’s sculptures, and the finger paintings that adorn kindergarten classrooms, created by little girls who dream of being a horse. 
If Lukas does not recognize his image initially, Murdock will attempt to teach this to him. No prior access to mirrors and not having the necessary experiences to use them could possibly be a factor in the event ofLukas’ non-recognition.
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