Natural Horse News 51, January/February 2005

Join in at the January Camps
Its summer fin time again for you and your horse and we would love to see you make the most of this fabulous learning opportunity – it’s a great investment in your horsemanship and a chance to learn so much from others just like you.

At this stage there is 1 place left at the Beginners/Kids camp from the 20th to the 23rd and there are several rider positions available at the Intermediate/Advanced camp from the 26th to the 30th.

I did forget to mention in the last newsletter that there is the option of coming as a day rider or camping out at the horse paddock if you need to save some money. Those staying at Mountainside Retreat get to sleep in a dorm style room or shared cottages and can enjoy the evening activities of special video screenings, pool, badminton or just socialising with friends.

There will be a variety of topics including Qui Gong for horse riders, Natural Hoof Care and saddle fit, plus games for horse fun and extra help from Trainee instructors.

Can’t bring a horse to the camps? Come anyway to observe and absorb for $33 a day (lunch included with pre-booked positions) otherwise, byo lunch and drinks for $22 a day. Accommodation and evening meals also be available – please enquire with Cynthia about the options.

Peter Laidley here for Hoof Trimming

Peter Laidley from QLD who did demos at Agfest this year, will be conducting a Beginners/Intermediate Natural Hoof Trimming weekend on the 12th and 13th of February at ‘Mountainside’, Golden Valley. If we can get 10 people, the cost will only be $150 plus food and accommodation if required.

You will learn what a natural hoof looks like, hoof anatomy, how to use the tools, how to teach your horse to be trimmed with no fuss and how to trim a variety of hooves. You can bring your own horse and/or horses will be supplied.

Check out Peter’s website at www.hoofworksaustralia.com
Studying his CD (which is available from me for $33) prior to the course is recommended.
Bookings must be confirmed with a $50 deposit by the 21st of January so post a cheque or money order to Cynthia at the address below.

Hoof Trimming Guru coming from USA
Pete Ramey from the USA – famous author of Making Natural Hoof Care Work for You, is coming to Tasmania on April 16/17th for an Advancing hoof trimming workshop.

Pete is one of the most experienced natural hoof care practitioners in the world being an instructor for the American Assoc. of Natural Hoof Care Practitioners.

He is offering clinics designed to provide a high level of hoof rehabilitation knowledge and understanding to owners, vets and farriers, but in an easy going style that everyone can understand. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Reading his book (available from Petrach’s bookshop on Launceston) prior to the workshop is a pre-requisite – and you can learn more from his web site www.hoofrehab.com . Contact Jen Clingly on 63 695555 for more details or bookings or email Jen on jenclingly@yahoo.com.au.

Congratulations – 2 New Level 2’s

Lee Davis of North Motton has finally done it – he achieved Parelli Official level 2 just before Christmas on his warmblood mare, Daisy and is looking forward to the challenges of level 3.

Tamasine Smith of White River in South Africa who organises my courses in her area, also achieved Level 2 at the end of November with her Quarterhorse mare, Tamboree and is already filming her level 3 tasks. Tamasine will be in Tasmania as a live-in student and trainee instructor from mid January to mid February with her friend, Carin who is also a level 2 student.

Le Trec Competition Play Day

To our knowledge this is the first time such an event has been held in Tasmania although it is quite popular in the UK and France where it originated – hence the name.

When someone suggested it would be a good event for natural horse people as it provided a variety of challenges and competition mostly against one’s self, Helen Vagg convinced friends, Kristine and Markus their West Tamar vineyard property would be a perfect location to hold the event. And so on the 1st of January, a few riders who were sensible about New Years eve celebrations, gathered at ‘Shuruga’ to try out Le Trec.

And what a fantastic day we had – Kristine and Markus and their family had put in a huge effort to mark the courses, provide score sheets and time/judge the event for us.
After an informative briefing on what Le Trec is all about and the rules of the first stage, we were sent off on a mounted orienteering course at 10 minute intervals – just so you couldn’t see the rider in front if you stuck to the suggested pace to try and do the course in the optimum time of 37 minutes (which we weren’t told of course).

After having 10 minutes to view a map of the property and where the course went, we set off with a paper to mark at all 10 checkpoints with blue tape tied here and there to give us a clue as to where we should go. Even so, some of us got a little off course but no-one was lost.
It was a lovely ride with time to enjoy the scenery and the varied terrain and time with just you and your horse as you searched for the markers and checkpoints.

The second part of the event was a precision riding phase where we had to do the slowest canter and the fastest walk over a 150m straight line course – sounds easy? – try sticking inside a 2m wide track and maintaining gait over undulating ground with course stewards coming into view over a rise suddenly! Some were disqualified for breaking gait twice and others managed to complete with a few penalty points for having a hoof over the 2m line.

After a relaxing lunch, we all walked the cross country obstacle course which was to be judged against the clock with full points gained for completing all the tasks mounted and less points for the un-mounted option.

The course included several jumps, downhill sections on a dam bank, carrying ‘Fred’ the life sized dummy, opening a gate, going through the longest ‘squeeze’ between rows of vines and carrying a bucket of water over the finish line.
What a blast it was to do the course as fast and as accurately as we could.
At the end, scores were added up and prizes awarded for first in each section and then overall. Joylene Dargan on Anawa Mahushka walked away with most of those, Deb Johnson won a prize in the precision section and I was second overall riding Kristine and Markus’ bay arab gelding, Roy who was a delight and helped make the day so much fun, even with a slight New Year hangover! Liz and Louisa put in a good effort too.

I predict we will see many more Le Trec events in the future and those who missed this one, missed a fantastic day where everyone’s skills were challenged just enough to be thoroughly enjoyable. Thanks very much to Helen, Kristine and Markus and family for the wonderful organising and the beautiful scenic venue. I can’t wait to do another one.

Principle to Purpose with the Lockwoods

THE SLED 12-12-04 By Paul and Karen Lockwood.
I was talking with Ron Morgan from TMCA one day and he mentioned having to get a load of roofing iron up onto the February Plain to re-roof Basil's Hut. He could get the iron to within 1 km of the hut but it was then a fairly steep walk up onto the plain and across to the hut. He was hoping that the occasional bush walker would carry it in one sheet at a time, trouble was there was 26 sheets.
I suggested that we use horses to drag the tin, maybe on a sled or something like that, I volunteered Spike for the job as he had already pulled a sled with a human on it, had also dragged many other objects and pulled a cart.
I had to design and build the sled, we needed something that was light weight, long enough to carry 8' sheets of tin, and strong enough to endure the rocky terrain. I used 2" poly pipe as runners with timber inserts for strength, a small hardwood deck, and a roofing iron bash plate underneath.
Next came the fun part, introducing it to the horses at home. I introduced it to Spike on line, and then pulled the sled around next to him, the rest of the herd all "helped". I had made a harness from an old solid breastplate so I hooked him up to the swingle tree and sled and led him around until he could handle it, then I had him on long reins but decided that it was too difficult to control him from the ground in difficult terrain. I decided that riding was a better option so I attached the 22' line to the sled and dallied around the saddle horn which made for a quick release if we got into trouble. This worked very well and after seven sessions with the sled we were ready for the job.

So on the morning of the 12th December Karen and I loaded up the horses and drove to meet Ron Morgan and Philip Griffin on the road to the February Plain. They had all the tin and the sled and went ahead to unload and clear a little of the path. We rode to the meeting place and on with the job. Loaded up seven sheets of 8' tin, secured it, checked it for the weight as both Ron and Philip were needed to manoeuvre it in some of the more difficult terrain. I took up the lead rope and off we went with Karen on Bluey bringing up the rear and taking video of the day. All went well apart from some minor snags on saplings and big rocks, we made another two runs with eight sheets of 8' on one load and then one 8' sheet and ten 5' sheets for the last load to the drop off point just near the hut.
Spike did the most amazing job, he was really with me and by the third load he was even anticipating the places where we had to manoeuvre around obstacles. He is a true partner. Bluey also did well with following the sled while Karen handled the video and also having Phil ride him part of the day, only the third person to have been on him.
Both Karen and I are very proud of what our horses achieved on this day.

Ask Cynthia – Introducing my horse to a new herd.

“I'm about to move my horse to different pasture, where other horses are agisted and was curious if there are any particulars I should know about introducing him to the new herd? He's in his own paddock at the moment but will be sharing his paddock with probably 10 or so other horses. Also, I'm just a little worried he may get herd bound, any advice or is it just a 'need more savvy' thing to overcome him wanting to be with the herd more than me. He's very affectionate, loves company, very curious and playful and Idon't really want him to lose that towards me. I'm currently studying level I PNH-going really well.”

The Parelli.com website has an article written by Linda Parelli on Introducing Horses to a herd but basically, its best to first run your horse in a paddock or yard beside the herd and take notice of who he seems to like talking to or who hangs out with him. This horse would then be the best to put in the paddock with him as a buddy for a week or, until they have formed a bond, and then introduce both horses into the herd in a large, safe paddock which means no tight areas where anyone can get cornered and where there’s good safe fencing and nothing they can hurt themselves on if they all go for a gallop.

Your horse will be better accepted with his buddy who was previously a herd member but be prepared for some hierarchy battles anyway. Its safest if all the horses are un-shod so injury from kicks are minimised. If this isn’t possible, then dividing the paddock with electric tape and making the herd smaller by dividing in half (keep obvious friends together and it usually works better to have mares and geldings separate) minimises the risks of bullying.

When you release your horse into the herd, do it while they are well away from you otherwise, you risk being caught in the middle of the first introductions. Also, have another person or two on stand by in case there is a problem with a dominant horse being too aggressive towards the newcomer who may need to be rescued and removed until he is accepted over the fence a bit longer.

As for becoming herd bound – yes, your level of savvy definitely helps your horse have confidence in you and your decision to leave the herd.
Keep in mind that the herd will be a comfort zone and your horse will be happier staying close to that comfort zone and gradually being asked to go further away in approach and retreat steps rather than expecting him to just cope with leaving.

If you take your horse out from the herd to feed him, then you and the feeding area will become a comfort zone that your horse won’t mind going to. Try not to be too demanding when you first start asking him to leave the herd, as he will then think that all you do is provide discomfort. With small, gradual steps, you will be able to keep his affectionate, curious and playful attitude towards you by making it fun and comfortable for him to be with you in more demanding situations like going for a trail ride.

Classifieds
Wanted:Horse Around 14.2 to 15.2 hands, 3yrs upward, solid build, sensible temperament, prefer naturally handled but will look at others. Ph. Deb on 63 302136.

Offered for free lease to the right person only.Fletcher, Gelding. 12years old. Approx 14 hh part bred Arabian.Chestnut with four white socks and a blaze. Fletcher has a basic education only and to take him on you would have to be quite a competent natural horse person. He is for lease only because of current work commitments. For further information please call Chloe Amos on 62 680 534 or email me at pamos@tassie.net.au

For Sale: Standardbred gelding, 14yo, 15.2hh, rideable but needs work. $200. Ph. 0408138327.

Video Filming of Parelli Levels tests available by Cynthia – I can help you get the best shot at passing with minimal or hopefully no resubmits with advice on how best to approach tasks and all the technical requirements. I have my own camera and can produce the finished tape to mail in for official assessment for a reasonable fee (hourly rate) Ph. 63 695177.

For Free Lease for 6 months
Due to deteriorating health, I have been forced to give up riding and therefor Cairo has been idle for some time. I am looking for a female to take him on for a six month term with the possible of option of buying him.
Cairo is a 7 year old pure chestnut Arabian gelding of 16 hh. He has been raised and brought on naturally and is a level 2/3 horse. He is kind and willing, creative and a lot of fun. He has attended many Natural Clinics and loves to learn. He has also had many successful wins at halter and he has references! As this is a free lease, some conditions will apply.
For further details please email Jolanda at borzoi4dogs@yahoo.com.au or phone me on 62 67 1509.

Cairo photographed recently

Contact Details:

Cynthia Cooper- Natural Horse World
46 Wattle Lea Lane, Golden Valley. Tasmania. 7304.
Ph. 0363 695177 or 0419 372279.

Email Cynthia