Horse Sense

Stop the abuse of Arabian horses in hand showing

 

Jordanian Princess Alia Al Hussein  spoke out against "abusive trends in the training of show horses" at the World Arabian Horse Organisation in Quatar on 4th November.

She said that spectators "don't come because it is not a pleasure to see a vast majority of frightened animals."

Arabian horse judge Nigel Fuller says, "I've seen handlers shaking bottles with stones and waving whips with plastic bags on the end." "In-hand handlers can be extreme in their methods."

 Arab horses shown in-hand are frequently shanked (jerked with a chin chain)to make them raise their head, whipped about the head and allegedly some handlers cut underneath the dock and apply astringent to make the horse hold it's tail higher.

"The bottom line is that judges reward these methods, so handlers will keep doing it, to win. Many owners are ignorant or don’t care, or think a smack or shank is not SOO bad"

 Princess Alia Al Hussein can be contacted via email at [email protected]

 You might also be interested to read Princess Alia Al Hussein's reply to concerns voiced over the Shankers video  

Please remain vigilant to prevent animal neglect

A recent cruelty case in Northern Ireland highlights the need for us all to be vigilant in the prevention of animal neglect / cruelty.

Janice Watt from the Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary explained that a lot of neglect cases happen on private land, "It is normally a neighbour or someone who notices something, maybe a dead horse lying in a field that alerts us to the problem and that normally is just the tip of the iceberg once you get in there."

How many horses are there in the UK?

According to research conducted in 2004 by the Henley Centre for DEFRA and the British Horse Industry Confederation there are over 600,000 horses in the UK with 1.4 million riders.

Robert Whittaker Jumps 2.2m Bareback - New Bareback Puissance World Record

26th November, 2011, Stockholm International Horse Show. Robert Whittaker, international showjumper,  son of legendary showjumper John Whittaker, achieved a new bareback Puissance world record on Waterstone by jumping 2.2metres

 

How to make a poodle costume for a horse

If you've ever wondered how to make a poodle costume for your horse or pony Jaime has written a whole series of posts on how to make one, see Flatknees & Fotography

Old Friends - A Kentucky Facility for Retired Thoroughbreds - The Documentary Project

Old Friends began as a retirement and rescue facility for pensioned Thoroughbreds. Then news broke of the inconceivable death of Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand in a slaughterhouse in Japan in 2002 . The discovery gave even more impetus to our organization. "We went from getting five emails a day to hundreds," noted President and founder Michael Blowen. We knew such a death must never happen again. And so the plan became to bring at risk racehorses--those whose racing and breeding careers had come to an end--to Old Friends, provide them with the dignified retirement they deserve, and open the space to the public. By promoting these one-time celebrated horses through a campaign of education and tourism, we realized we could draw attention to all retired Thoroughbreds and all equines in need.  

We are the only thoroughbred rescue / retirement facility that accepts stallions, & so we take exceptional pride in our pensioned champions, among them 1988 Eclipse-winning Turf Champion, Sunshine Forever & one of  the last great sons of Damascus, Ogygian.  In addition to our pensioned stallions, Old Friends is home to some very deserving retired mares & geldings."

Now film makers, Dan Rhema and Dave Henry have just launched their new documentary project about Michael Blowen and the Thoroughbreds of Old Friends Farm:

"Old Friends, the film, will tell the story of the farm and its extraordinary athletes through interviews with Hall of Fame jockeys, trainers, owners, celebrity fans, volunteers and visitors. With your help, we will be able to complete production in time to premiere Old Friends during the 2012 Kentucky Derby Festival.

The grace and power of thoroughbred racehorses stirs something deep within the human spirit. We cheer them on, pay big money, and shower them with an affection bordering on idolatry—so long as they continue to win or breed more winners. Once their usefulness is gone, their entertainment value exhausted, many are cast aside. Out of the public eye they are neglected, abused, euthanized, or sold overseas to countries where they can be legally slaughtered for consumption. Not even Kentucky Derby winners are safe.

In 2002, retired Boston Globe film critic Michael Blowen learned that 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand had been slaughtered in Japan. When he found out that champion racehorses Sunshine Forever and Criminal Type were awaiting the same fate, he immediately began raising money and negotiating with their owners to secure their transport back to the United States.

Today, Blowen and his wife, former Globe columnist Diane White, share the rolling pastureland surrounding their home with 68 cashiered thoroughbreds and are hosts to more than 20,000 visitors each year. Supported by donations and scores of volunteers, Old Friends is a favorite destination for former jockeys, thoroughbred owners such as A&M Records co-founder Jerry Moss, and celebrity fans that include Albert Brooks, Angie Dickinson, and Jack Nicholson.

Old Friends will present the stories of these extraordinary athletes and their passionate advocate and rescuer Michael Blowen, who went from being a newspaper critic with zero interest in horse racing (“I thought it was stupid”) to an insatiable fan who apprenticed himself to famed trainer Carlos Figueroa so he could be a better handicapper, to owner of a 52-acre thoroughbred retirement home in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Old Friends will show how one individual with a passionate belief has rescued so many thoroughbreds in jeopardy and inspired others to join the cause. Our production schedule includes interviews with Hall of Fame jockeys, trainers, owners, celebrity fans, and an assortment characters who populate the colorful world of thoroughbred racing. As we go about conducting our research and filming interviews, we’ll be making use of these opportunities to compile an important archive of photos, memorabilia, and oral histories surrounding these extraordinary athletes.  With your help, we’ll be able to complete production in time to premiere Old Friends during the 2012 Kentucky Derby Festival."

Please take a moment to visit the Kickstarter site to learn more about the project and how you can help.

Life Lessons Horses can Teach Us - an anonymous essay

My daughter turned sixteen years old today; which is a milestone for most people. Besides looking at baby photos and childhood trinkets with her, I took time to reflect on the young woman my daughter had become and the choices she would face in the future. As I looked at her, I could see the athlete she was, and determined woman she would soon be.

I started thinking about some the girls we knew in our town who were already pregnant, drop outs, drug addicts and on the fast track to nowhere, seeking surface identities because they had no inner self-esteem. The parents of these same girls have asked me why I "waste" the money on horses so my daughter can ride. I'm told she will grow out of it, lose interest, discover boys and all kinds of things that try to pin the current generation's "slacker" label on my child. I don't think it will happen, I think she will love and have horses all her life.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she has compassion. She knows that we must take special care of the very young and the very old. We must make sure those without voices to speak of their pain are still cared for.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned responsibility for others than herself. She learned that regardless of the weather you must still care for those you have the stewardship of. There are no "days off" just because you don't feel like being a horse owner that day. She learned that for every hour of fun you have, there are days of hard slogging work you must do first.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned not to be afraid of getting dirty and that appearances don't matter to most of the breathing things in the world we live in. Horses do not care about designer clothes, jewelry, pretty hairdos or anything else we put on our bodies to try to impress others. What a horse cares about are your abilities to work within his natural world, he doesn't care if you're wearing $80 jeans while you do it.

She learned how babies are planned, made, born and, sadly, sometimes die before reaching their potential. She learned how sleepless nights and trying to outsmart a crafty old broodmare could result in getting to see, as non-horseowning people rarely do, the birth of a true miracle.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she understands the value of money. Every dollar can be translated into bales of hay, bags of feed or farrier visits. Purchasing non-necessities during lean times can mean the difference between feed and good care, or neglect and starvation. She has learned to judge the level of her care against the care she sees provided by others and to make sure her standards never lower, and only increase as her knowledge grows.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned to learn on her own. She has had teachers who cannot speak, nor write, nor communicate beyond body language and reactions. She has had to learn to "read" her surroundings for both safe and unsafe objects, to look for hazards where others might only see a pretty meadow. She has learned to judge people as she judges horses. She looks beyond appearances and trappings to see what is within.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned sportsmanship to a high degree. Everyone who competes fairly is a winner. Trophies and ribbons may prove someone a winner, but they do not prove someone is a horseman. She has also learned that some people will do anything to win, regardless of who it hurts. She knows that those who will cheat in the show ring will also cheat in every other aspect of their life and are not to be trusted.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she has self-esteem and an engaging personality. She can talk to anyone she meets with confidence, because she has to express herself to her horse with more than words. She knows the satisfaction of controlling and teaching a 1,000 pound animal that will yield willingly to her gentle touch and ignore the more forceful and inept handling of those stronger than she is. She holds herself with poise and professionalism in the company of those far older than herself.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned to plan ahead. She knows that choices made today can affect what happens five years down the road. She knows that you cannot care for and protect your investments without savings to fall back on. She knows the value of land and buildings. And that caring for your vehicle can mean the difference between easy travel or being stranded on the side of the road with a four-horse trailer on a hot day.

When I look at what she has learned and what it will help her become, I can honestly say that I haven't "wasted" a penny on providing her with horses. I only wish that all children had the same opportunities to learn these lessons from horses before setting out on the road to adulthood.
Anonymous found via http://midlifehorsecrisis.blogspot.com/

Equine Atypical Myopathy cases reported in UK

World Horse Welfare has been made aware of several recent cases of Equine Atypical Myopathy (EAM) in the UK in the south of England and is urging horse owners to monitor their own horses. Liphook Equine Hospital in Hampshire has issued an alert that they have diagnosed five cases in the past few days. Two of the five diagnosed horses have died. Liphook are also aware of a further four cases attended by veterinarians which have died in the Hampshire/Sussex/Surrey area. 

EAM is a disease of unknown cause which results in significant muscle damage. The condition, which seems to be becoming more common, affects horses at pasture, often in the spring and/or autumn, and has a high death rate. Similarities of the disease have been made with Equine Grass Sickness as it is a pasture related disease that appears to be associated with an adverse change in weather conditions (e.g. sudden frost, heavy rain). 

Signs to look out for include:  

• Weakness and stiffness in horses at pasture – not related to excessive/unusual exercise 
• Dark coloured urine  
• Collapse  
• Muscle tremors  

Notably, for a day or two prior to referral to Liphook, the five horses also displayed clinical signs less well-recognised in atypical myopathy cases. These signs included: 

• Vigorous head shaking and nodding  
• Frenzied vocalisation  
• Recurrent choke-like retching neck spasms without a persistent oesophageal obstruction  
• Stiffness and lethargy when ridden  

Intensive treatment of any case is required as soon as possible to maximise its chances of survival. 

If you suspect your horse has atypical myopathy contact your vet immediately and remove the horse from the pasture. 

Any other animals that are grazing with the horse you are concerned about should also be removed from the affected pastures immediately, as it is possible that there is a toxin in the grass released only during changing weather conditions that causes the disease. 

Further information on the disease can be obtained from www.myopathieatypique.fr/en 

World Horse Welfare will update information as more details become available.

Autumn is finally out of hospital

 Autumn the premature foal who was born and orphaned at an auction yard where her dam was abandoned has left hospital and returned to Hope for Horses where she will contine to receive care 24/7.

Read the full story at Horse and Man who have been running a bucket fund to help towards the $8,500 vets bill.

We are horse people

We are horse people- you don't have to understand us!

We know that all external medicine is either waterproof,blue or yellow.

We have no problem eating a sandwich directly after mucking stalls.

We know, why a thermometer has to have a string attached to the end.

We are not welcome in laundromats.

We don't think anything sexual if someone talks about chains, whips or leather.

We can lower our voic............e instantly by 5 octaves to shout at a horse pawing at the floor.

We talk to our car to make it up the hill.

We have better insurance for our horse than our car.

 We know more about our horses diet than our own.

We buy grain and hay before buying our own food.

We have less to wear than our horse.

 Its common to see us wearing barn clothes in public.

 And we know that mucking a stable is the best cure for depression.