Life goes on and is renewed
in the birth of a new foal, perfectly formed and so delicately beautiful.
Pepsi (my QH mare) delivered a bright chestnut colt who is nearly the
image of his brother Cola, with a little star and stripe and a white
front foot. She surprised me just after Christmas while away catching
up with relatives – luckily Angelie (live in student) was there
to see that all was ok, in fact the birth couldn’t have been more
natural with mum foaling in with her pasture mates, her yearling daughter
and broodmare friend.
I’m sure her natural diet (supplemented with cider vinegar, garlic
and minerals) along with a stress free environment assisted with such
an easy birth for a 22 year old mare.
Royale Solo as he will be called, will be for sale so anyone interested
in the last of this wonderful QH – arabian cross known as a Quarab,
should come and see him soon.
Young Horse Day
The last Young horse day 3 years ago was such a success I decided its
time to offer the knowledge again to all those interested in raising
their own youngster, naturally.
On Sunday the 22nd of February Lee and Nadeen Davis will host us at
their property Wallbrook, 124 Church Road, North Motton which is 10
minutes from Ulverstone.
It’s a great opportunity to see their beautiful Friesian and Friesan
Warmblood horses ranging in age from 10 weeks to 10 years.
If you’ve ever wondered how to give your young horse the best
start in life or what you should be doing with your youngsters up to
and including starting under saddle, then this is a day for you.
From my 30 years experience of raising over 30 youngsters myself, I
will share with you how to handle and imprint your foal at birth, teach
to lead and tie up, have hooves trimmed and be wormed, float load, discuss
weaning methods and the best approach to starting under saddle. We will
also discuss issues such as feeding, gelding and the best equipment
for handling young horses.
The start you give your young horse is not just something, its everything….You
can shape their responses, attitude and acceptance of most things they
will meet later in life by using a natural, knowledgeable approach.
There will be a series of demonstrations using young horses of various
ages and stages starting at 10am and finishing around 4pm. There will
be a lunch break and free sausage sizzle with hot drinks provided.
BYO other food, cold drinks and chair and leave the dogs and kids at
home unless they are 12-16 and interested in learning. The fee is $25
per person or $40 per couple for the day and bookings are essential
with Nadeen or Lee on
64 257287.
January Camp change of venue
After 7 years of going to ‘Benham’ at Avoca we are going
to break tradition and hold the Annual January camp at the Deloraine
show grounds. There were a couple of reasons – but mainly it was
the due dates of my old arabian mare carrying Roy’s last foal
(the only purebred of his I will keep), that instigated a change of
venue closer to home.
The show grounds offer a nice grassy oval to ride on, an area we can
fence in for liberty arenas, a dressage arena, cross country jumps and
large indoor areas in case it rains.
As there are plenty of food options in Deloraine, this is a self catering
camp so all auditors need to BYO food, cold drinks and chairs. I would
also suggest an umbrella may be useful as the only thing lacking is
some shady trees around the arena.
We have 14 riders booked in who will ride for half a day each in 2 groups
and observe for the other half except on the first and last days which
are half days. The whole group will have orientation together with their
horses on the first day (Sat. 24th from 2pm) and face some challenges
together on the last day (Wed. 28th from 9-1pm).
Auditors are welcome on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday at $20 for the day
or $15 for a part day and observing on the Wednesday will be free. There’s
no need to book in – the daily start time will be 9am and we’ll
finish each day around 5pm. It’s a great opportunity to see what
goes on at a camp, the progress of riders at a medium to advanced stage
and the results they achieve in this concentrated time of learning.
Christmas & New Year Play Days
With fantastic weather, a great venue and riders traveling from afar,
those who couldn’t be there don’t realize what a great day
of fun challenges they missed out on. Sharelle and Al had put a lot
of thought and effort into some useful tasks like ‘putting the
fire out’, carrying the flag, dragging the tyre and river wading
which everyone seemed to succeed at no matter what their level. It was
good to see the kids having a go in pairs, sharing ponies and after
lunch they honed their skills in a time trail around the obstacles after
Helen and Cynthia raced around on pint sized ponies to demonstrate the
tasks. It was a blast to re-live those gymkhana and pony club games
days!
If you would like to see some photos from the day, go to: http://www.users.bigpond.com/hcvv/
Paul and Karen Lockwood hosted the New Year Fun Day at their Jackey’s
Marsh property which has some great built in challenges including a
beaut new dam we all had a go at putting the horses in. The pony pals
group did extremely well with their approach to the water and we all
enjoyed the mini trail ride around the property.
Here are some photos and you can see more at the above website
ural
Natural Treatments - Reiki
Reiki is an ancient ‘hands on’ healing energy that promotes
a natural healing in all living things. It is medically proven and can
reduce anxiety and restore the animal’s natural balance physically,
emotionally and mentally.
Recently I met Dianne from Animal Magic, who is a level 2 Reiki practitioner
with seven years of experience, practicing on her own pets (cats, dogs
and horses) as well as practicing natural animal care for most of her
life.
Her Reiki experience has been with a wide range of native, commercial
and domestic animals quite often spontaneously, on site at the time
of their injury. Animals with shock symptoms respond very quickly to
Reiki and it can reduce secondary problems/infections and trauma to
other areas of the animal as they respond immediately to the treatment.
Animals intuitively understand and are very receptive to Reiki practitioners
and Reiki identifies through the practitioners hands, the areas requiring
the most healing. Reiki energy also goes on healing long after the treatment
has ended and because it heals the cause of the injury/sickness, it
reduces the use of long term medication.
Dianne’s 2 ponies, Stardust 32 and Sash 29, immediately understood
when Dianne had been attuned to Reiki and place themselves where they
want their daily treatment or to identify an area that requires additional
treatment.
Reiki, combined with lots of walking for all types of colic has become
one of Dianne’s specialties who says the horse has a quick recovery
with less injury and more pain alleviated quickly and naturally.
As a complimentary therapy, Reiki can certainly do no harm and has been
shown to help diagnose areas of injury to assist treatment by veterinarians.
It can save time and money on nerve blocks traditionally used to identify
problem areas.
If you would like to find out more about Reiki or Dianne at Animal Magic,
look up http://austarnet.com.au/animal_magic
or phone Dianne on 63 931177.
Tasmanian Natural Horse Events Calendar
January
13/14th Barefoot trimming workshop at Deloraine – Ph. Jen on 63695555.
24-28th January Camp at Deloraine Showgrounds – Ph. Cynthia.
February
1st Natural Nous Playday at Harveydale – Ph. Catherine on 63 911105.
7/8th Mountain Cattleman’s Get Together at ‘Cluan’,
Westbury. See Steve Brady demos there.
10/11th Steve Brady Workshop at Churchill indoor arena, Campania.
14/15th Steve
28th Freestyle Riding & Energy management workshop with Cynthia
at Harveydale Brady Workshop at Topline Rugs indoor arena, Westbury.
22nd Young Horse Day at Lee and Nadine’s, North Motton. Ph. 64
257287.
March
6,7,8th Campout playday at Bakers Beach – contact Deb. On 63302136
to book in.
Study Group
Contacts
Natural Nous (North) - Deb Johnson Ph. 63 302136 1st Sun. mth.
Lilydale - Liz Stanfield Ph. 63 951590 last Sun. of month
Central Coast (NW) - Lee Davis Ph. 64 257287
Pontville - Tammy Miller Ph. 62 686699. Meet every Wed. PM
Ask Cynthia - Floating problem
Sheba has a bit of a problem
with floating. I can get her on ok (eventually) and am practicing with
her, however, she
rushes off when I ask her to back off. She generally stays there until
I tell her to go (but not always), but how can I slow her down? She
usually comes off the ramp crooked, and so hits her legs etc. I have
been practicing putting her on with me standing at the ramp.
I got a new float last week and have practiced with her twice. It took
30 minutes or so and a few arguments, but she went on with me at the
back, but the rushing off thing has always been the case.
Someone suggested to me backing the float up to water, so that when
she rushes off, she will get her feet wet. She doesn't like water much!!
The other thing is washing her. She gets up tight about it, but I cannot
hose her rump, she just runs circles to get away. I always start slowly,
backing off etc, and she is ok around her shoulders, but not back from
her belly. Obviously I don't bath her really regularly to get her really
used to it. I guess I can do it more in the summer months.
Cynthia’s Answer: Sheba
is probably still feeling unsure about the float as a comfort zone which
is causing her to want to get out of there fast so you need to change
her perceptions of the float.
Firstly, I would keep it parked in her paddock and feed her near it
or on the ramp so she has time to get a bit more friendly with it in
her space.
Then take some time to prove to her that she is not going to get forced
to go on or to stay on by playing lots of circling, sideways and squeeze
game around the float, making the ramp the only place to stop.
If you keep her active for 15 minutes or so, she will be glad to rest
with at least 2 feet on the ramp.
Then wait for her to lick her lips and relax before asking her to back
off.
Don’t force her to stay there if she wants to come off, just ask
her back on straight away and try to time it so that you ask her off
before she decides to come off herself.
You may need to repeat this a lot until she is comfortable in the one
place before you then ask her to go a little further in before she gets
to rest.
Play the games actively again before asking her to load a bit further
in so she starts to see the float as a resting place and therefore a
comfort zone.
If you can have the attitude that its ok for her to come off - in fact
every time she comes off its another opportunity for her to learn to
go on better. Horses are good at feeling if we are too direct line and
want to get them on and keep them on straight away.
Maybe you can do this over a whole week so you can quit when she goes
that bit further in each day and she will feel less claustrophobic.
Once she can stay on without you having to hold her there, you should
spend some time gently lifting the tailgate up and down in a friendly
game with rhythm.
If this causes her to come off, then she wasn't mentally on there yet
so just allow her to come off, but put her straight back on and continue
with the friendly tailgate until she can stay there without a tail chain
or butt bar holding her.
Sometimes, horses have to go on and come off a few times just to know
they can if they need to, and by forcing them to stay there we are confirming
their fears of not being able to escape from a scary situation.
Take as much time as she needs and be happy with a little progress each
time.
Then, you could really make the float a comfort zone by putting her
on to have her feed and not driving anywhere for a few times. For every
3 float trips I do with my horses, I like to do a friendly floating
with feed and going nowhere so they don't always associate the float
with a scary, uncomfortable time.
Backing her off into water won't help much - it will increase her fear
about the whole float issue if anything.
To get her happier with the hose and being washed, get a short length
of hose and without water on, play the friendly game with it until she's
happy with that. Then you could try dipping a sponge in water and holding
that and the hose together as you play friendly with it. From there,
see if she can handle you washing her from a bucket with the sponge
then maybe try progressing to longer pieces of hose before adding running
water - very gently at first so its hardly even coming out.
Often we don't think to break things down enough for the horse or we
run out of hose and have to back off before she is desensitised. Keeping
her in a confined area like a small yard or stable while you’re
doing this also helps you stay with her until she relaxes. If you remove
the hose or water or sponge before she is relaxed, you are rewarding
her fear instead of developing her confidence.
Pat Parelli has a good DVD available on Float Loading which would be
very helpful to watch, or we could focus on this issue in a lesson situation
if you find you’re not having success.
I hope this advice helps - and let me know how it goes.
Classifieds
For Sale
4yo buckskin gelding, approx 14hh, lovely nature, has had natural training
and is ready to start under saddle.
Also – 43cm Isabel Werth Wintec dressage saddle in new condition
with wide gullet.
Plus near new Parelli sports reins - $45. Ph.
Bev. On 64 262188.
Wanted to Buy
Quiet trail riding horse for adult. Around 14.3hh, solid build, coloured
horse preferred, but will look at anything except a pacer. Phone Maree
0409 431 861.
For Sale:
"Leia" Anglo Arab Mare Rising 4 years. 15hh. Grey. Started
under saddle but still green.
Good to float and trim feet. $700 Ring Kylie & Scott 63695214.
Wanted:
Quiet gelding for riding. 14-15hh.
Prefer Quarter Horse or Appaloosa, but will look at anything. Ring Kylie
& Scott. 63695214.
Moving
Interstate Sale
Percheron/Th’bred Warmblood yearlings to 5 year olds started under
saddle. Also black Thoroughbred mare empty or in foal to Percheron +
Percheron Draught mare in foal to Percheron. Phone Sharelle on 63 954187.
Looking for natural
horse equipment?
Check out the following web site:
www.naturalequine.com.au
www.horsemanshipaustralia.com.au
www.horsesandhorsemen.com
The latest Savvy
Up News on www.parelli.com
is well worth reading – just make sure you have lots of time!
