Natural Horse World Newsletter

Autumn is almost over and the days are so short, it seems there's never enough time to do everything, especially with a long list of projects that include preparing for the next TAFE Hoofcare course, book writing, developing and marketing products like the Light Rider Bitless Bridle (more on this further down), and finding more 'horse endorsed' products for my web shop.
Still I can't complain because being self employed allows me the time to look after my horses the way they'd like to be. I have time when I feed them to 'smooch' a bit with each one, trim some hooves, move some fences for more feed and prepare them for various future events like travelling and the horse dentist.
There's nothing like practicing small steps each day as a routine to eventually get to the big picture - much easier and better for the horse than forcing them to accept whatever you had planned for them that day. Feeding your horse on the float or gently holding his tongue for a few seconds, or giving him some treats when he takes the empty wormer tube in his mouth sets him up for success when the real thing has to be done.
All it takes is a little forward planning and a being organised enough to fit these short exercises into the routine.

GPS TRACKING RESULTS: Another 'project' of mine is to find better ways of providing a more natural environment for my horses to live in, that fulfils their physical and emotional needs. This led me to offering my two herds to be part of a study on how much movement a horse does in a typical daily domestic situation.
Brian Hampson is studying movement of domestic and feral horses to gather information for his PHD with the University of QLD. He provided the GPS collars which were fitted to one horse in each herd for a period of one week on a track around the perimiter of their pasture, and a second week in the centre of the track.

I fitted the collars to my youngest mare in the riding herd who was at the bottom of the pecking order, and to my rising 2 year old filly in the breeding herd, also at the bottom of the pecking order.
The results were interesting and correlated with other similar domestic situations which have found that the horses on the track move less or the same amount compared to being in the centre.
The riding herd were in a 5 acre pasture and the movement was a little over 5km per day both on the track and in the centre. The breeding herd were on a 2-3 acre pasture and the movement was 3.5km on the track and 4.13km in the open pasture where there was more opportunity for the horses to run and play (as young horses do).
This suprised me a little as I've always thought, like many others, that the track would surely cause them to move more - and I'm sure it would in different situations but all the variables would need to be tested to find this out.

Most of the research has been done with pastures and tracks that offer constant grazing and in my case, I was also strip grazing the track by moving the fence in a few metres in various places to offer a small amount of fresh pick each day.
More research would need to done on tracks that have little or no pick and hay placed in various places as the main source of food. Where the water was positioned in relation to the hay would also influence the amount of movement.

Even if the research shows that a track system offers no difference in the amount of movement, the big benefit of using a track is the ability to restrict the amount of grass intake, and that has to be a whole lot better than shutting a horse in a small yard or paddock to achieve the same.

Brian is continuing his research and presenting a paper on the findings so far at a conference in France in June. To keep up with the results you can register for updates on the web site at www.wildhorseresearch.com and to learn more about how you can provide a more natural living environment for your horse, go to this new page I've added here.

The protoype for the English style Light Rider Bitless bridle has been tested and refined so now examples will be made in various materials.
Pictured is the brown 'Apollo' synthetic which features a padded noseband, adjustable chinstrap and a ring with connector strap under the jaw that enables it's use as a halter also.

A quality leather and a synthetic 'Beta' material which is soft and very 'leatherlike' in brown and black will be made next in order to cost these products and get them onto the web shop.
The next step will be to produce a 'Western' style and an Australian 'Stock' bridle in all those materials too.
The rope version of the Light Rider bridle has also been upgraded with a padded noseband and will soon be available with an adjustable chinstrap too. Take a look at the new rope style in the Natural Horse World Web Shop and you can read more about bitless bridle if you click here.

Here are some questions you need to ask yourself:

What is the future for the colt - will he be a riding horse for pleasure or performance?
You will need to be a highly skilled horseperson to ride a stallion amongst other horses for pleasure or performance and if your intention is not to breed, then a gelding will be much more pleasureable to keep.

What is his conformation and temperament like?
A colt is of no benefit to horse breeding if he doesn't have an amenable temperament or correct conformation ie: no physical faults. There's a saying that goes 'A good colt makes a great gelding'.

Does he have proven bloodlines that are worth preserving? I know you can't ride a pedigree but there are lines proven for certain types of perfomance, eg. endurance, jumping etc. so only keep him a colt if he has useful bloodlines that will be sought after, otherwise he will not attract breedings and it will be harder to sell his progeny.

Can you offer him quality of life if he's kept as a stallion? This is the most important consideration from the horse's point of view. A life of solitary confinement in his own paddock, yard or stable is akin to us being confined alone in our house, lounge room or toilet for the rest of our lives. If you can't offer a stallion constant equine company (including mating) and room to move then you will have to deal with all the behaviour problems that come as a result of un-used energy, hormones and equipment! Please consider the future life of a colt before you keep him that way.

Will injury keep him from being more than a companion gelding? Sometimes, if a colt is badly injured as a youngster, and the prognosis for performance is poor, then you may want to wait a couple of years before you geld him. That way you can see if youthful healing will help, and whether the injury will stand up to the work he gets as a riding horse. Even then, if he can't be a performance horse, all the other factors must be weighed up as life being a frustrated stallion would be much worse than a companion gelding lounging around the pasture.

Once you have taken into account all these factors and made your decision to geld (hopefully within the first two months of age) then you need to decide at what age it's best to operate?
Any colt can be gelded from as early as a week old, provided he has both testicles descended and if you can find a vet willing to geld that young. Many vets prefer to wait until the colt is several months old as they feel they will handle the anaesthetic better.
Some vets will perform a castration under sedation with just the scrotum anaesthetised and this would be preferable for very young colts.

In the past though, it was more common to leave a colt until at least two years old before he was gelded. This most likely became the accepted age because that's when a colt's behaviour can become a problem around other horses.
On the other had, a stallion can be gelded at almost any age, but the stress on the horse and risk of complications increases with age.

Now owners are gelding colts younger for many good reasons; most importantly, they realise that the smaller the testicles, the smaller the operation and the easier it is on the horse.
Another step in the right direction is to geld a colt before weaning. While he's still nursing he will not only have the comfort of his dam, but he will move around more and that reduces the risk of excessive swelling and therefore infection.

Another benefit of gelding young is that behaviour generally doesn't become a problem and if your colt is running in a herd of mixed sexes, then you don't risk an un-wanted foal. A colt can sire a foal as young as twelve months of age if he's healthy and has a willing partner!

Sometimes owners worry that gelding at a young age will slow development and growth. Yes, this can happen when a colt is gelded during a growth spurt, usually between one and two years old, but if gelded before a year old, they often grow taller than expected.

An early gelded colt will also have a finer neck and more uniform body muscling while a mature gelded colt or stallion (after the age of 4 to 6) will have a thicker, crestier neck and heavier muscling. They may also develop sexual or stallion behaviours which sometimes equate to vices such as biting, rearing, self mutilation (out of frustration) and excitable behaviour around other horses.

if your colt doesn't have two descended testicles, you may need to wait and geld after he is two, or if it looks like he will be a cryptorchid (only has one testicle) then a larger operation will need to be performed.

The time of year will also dictate when best to geld your colt. It's better done when the weather is cooler without being freezing, and the flies have gone. Mid to late autumn usually has the best weather and allows the colt to recover before winter sets in.

So now you've decided when, it's time to prepare well ahead of the operation date. Ideally you've been handling and touching your colt all over (including between the back legs) since birth.

If you haven't, then at least a month before gelding, the colt will need to be educated to being caught, accept a halter, to lead and have it's whole body touched. It's also helpful to get him used to being sponged with water and hosed gently, especially around and between the back legs in case major swelling or infection after operation needs to be treated.

It goes without saying that your colt will also need to accept strangers (such as the vet) close to them and you can even simulate giving an injection by pressing the neck with a hard object such as a hoof pick. Remember to do this for short sessions and your aim is to have him standing in a quiet relaxed manner. It's helpful to have a 'horsey' friend the colt hasn't met, to visit and test his reaction to strangers prior to the vet coming.
It's also wise to organise enough helpers for the big event - a handler for the mare and one for the colt is ideal.
Before you book the vet, check the long range weather forecast as it's better to keep him outside after the operation (for movement and to reduce the chance of infection) and a spell of wet weather will only reduce his desire to move.
Make sure your colt is healthy and well - it's not a good idea to geld a sickly or otherwise injured colt.

On the day of the operation, move the colt and his mum to a clean paddock so risk of infection is minimised when the colt lays down. The site of the operation should ideally be a clean, flat grassed area (shaded if it's warm) and free of objects the colt could stumble into when recovering from the anaesthetic.
Other horses from their herd should be kept nearby but out of the operating area.

Photo: The anaethatised colt has his scrotum cleaned before operating.

It's helpful to have them all relaxed and settled in their surroundings well before the vet arrives so get them in a few hours beforehand and provide a feed of hay, making sure water is also close by.

When the vet arrives, halter both mare and colt and keep the mare close but out of the way while the vet does the operation. He may ask for assitance to hold a leg or keep an eye on the breathing monitor so choose someone who isn't squeamish to handle the colt. The vet will generally give the colt a tetanus injection and an antibiotic after the castration.

After the operation, keep the mare and colt haltered until he is standing and walking well, and able to nurse again. If something frightens him while he's under the effect of the sedation, he may hurt himself accidently running into something. It would be kinder to have the mare and colt seperate from the other horses for a few hours to overnight providing they aren't stressed by this, so the colt has time to recover from the operation a little before having to get out of anyone's way or play with other youngsters.
Then it's important for him to have plenty of natural movement (not enforced fast exercise) to help the wounds stay open and drain.

Keep a close eye on him for the first twelve hours after the operation and call your vet right back if you notice continual bleeding (it should have slowed to the odd drip within the first hour), or anything protruding from the wounds - that could indicate a herniation of the gut.

For the next two weeks after the operation you will need to check the scrotum with scrubbed clean or gloved fingers for excessive swelling, bleeding or (hopefully not) infection every day. By running your finger along the wound gently, you can help keep the wound open a little so it continues to heal from the inside first.
If the area seems to be overly swollen then gentle sponging twice a day with luke warm lightly salty water will help remove scabs that could be stopping drainage of the wound. There should be clear to yellowy-red serum dripping from the wound if all is normal. If you notice creamy pus oozing then call the vet to check if it has become infected. If so, there will be injections to give and washing the wound daily.

If you are gelding a sexually mature colt or stallion, remember that it takes a couple of months for hormonal activity to stop and sexual behaviour to moderate so keep him seperate from cycling fillies or mares at this time. Semen is also be stored in a resovoir that is not removed during the operation so impregnation may occur for up to a month after gelding.

It's possible men may view a castration operation as the 'un-kindest' cut, but for a horse, gelding is the 'kindest cut' you can give him for a future of interaction with other horses and people.

For more information on gelding visit Cherry Hill's Horsekeeping web site here or myhorse.com and for info on cryptorchidism visit thehorse.com

Luscious Leather products are now available through the Natural Horse World shop. These high quality leather trimmer protection poducts are designed and made by Leonie Quick in Victoria (who's partner is a hoof trimmer).
The soft leather apron shown on the left is extremely comfortable and lightweight for an all leather product. The stitching, finish and design are all superior to all of the store bought products I've seen.

The wrist guards and rasp/knife covers are an excellent idea for protecting your wrists, sleeves and tools. There is also a canvas tool roll for those with lots of expensive tools to look after.
Photos and prices for these can be found in the web shop.

CONGRATULATIONS to Ann Batt of Queensland for completing the TAFE Cert. 3 in Equine Hoof Care. Ann is an endurance rider and full time trimmer and horse trainer in northern QLD and is the first 'mainland' student to complete the course.

New Booklet on Natural Hoof Care by Jenny Lomas - Jenny has put together a wonderful resource for New Zealand horse owners but every bit applies to most horse owners worldwide. While not a trimming manual, it does contain lots of advice on natural hoof and horse care, giving the newcomer a very useful overview. It has lots of quality full colour photos and is available direct from Jenny's web site on equine rehab.

TAFE Equine Hoof Care - the next course intake will start in June with the two week live-in block from the 16th to the 27th.
For Trimmers Australia wide wishing to gain a National Trade Qualification at an affordable price, TAFE Tasmania is still taking enrolments for this next course.

TAFE offer a practical, hands on course perfectly suitable for trimmers wishing to either start or take their business to the next professional level. This course is also suitable for the horse owner who wants to learn more than could be covered in a clinic, for trimming their own horses.

Certificate III in Equine Hoof Trimming gives trimmers a thorough grounding in all facets of hoof care, also including business management, marketing, horse handling and OH&S.
Trimmers completing this course will be able to present themselves as professional tradesmen and giving them a background of training that will allow them to work with veterinarians on hoof pathologies and provide a service to the horse owner as a competent and knowledgable trimmer.

For further information please contact Cynthia Cooper or Marg Richardson on 64 272255 or apply for an enrollment form with Loretta at TAFE - loretta.satterly@tafe.tas.edu.au

HOOF PROBLEMS SEMINAR with Darrall Clifford - For all who are interested in learning more about hooves and how they affect the horse above the hooves this is an amazing opportunity to attend these informative lectures - this is a “MUST SEE” lecture for all horse owners, farriers and vets!!

Darrall Clifford has been a farrier for over 30 years and now works exclusively as an equine hoof care specialist, educator and professional speaker in orthopaedic balance and complex hoof problems.
Equine Hoofcare Services travel the world lecturing and educating veterinarians, farriers and the general horse community on these often un-addressed however critically important subjects.
Over the years Darrall has formed a close working relationship with Dr. Rowan Kilmartin, veterinary surgeon with a master’s degree in animal chiropractics and together they lecture for the Veterinary Chiropractic Post Graduate Degree course at RMIT.
Darrall’s lectures are a “must see” for all horse owners – showing the hoof as you have never seen it before with fascinating pictures explaining exactly what is going on with different case studies.

These lectures will suit both professionals and the horse owner just wanting more information about their horses hooves. Darrall specializes in all hoof problems including navicular syndrome, club feet, laminitis, hoof reconstruction, high heel/low heel, wall cracks, wall separation, contracted heels, under-run heels, medial-lateral imbalance, seedy toe and hoof flares.

It's on Saturday 21st June at “Mountainside” Highland Lakes Rd, Golden Valley. To make a booking Ph. Marg on 64 272255 or 0419 572255. Cost $50 - Starts 12.30 pm - finishes approx 5 pm. Afternoon tea provided. Click here to view Equine Hoofcare Services website.

A love of books has led me on an incredible journey over my lifetime with horses. There are those books that mark a true turning point in the direction my horsemanship and life.
And there are books that add to the information, confirming the direction, making it clearer and inspiring me to keep exploring.

One of the those major 'turning point' books has been 'Bobby's Diaries' by Jenny Pearce (and Bobby!). This book gave me a much clearer understanding of how to do anything with a horse while taking into account their physical, mental and emotional needs, always!

Bobby's Diaries urged me to get back in touch with Jenny and invite her here for a three day clinic. Prior to that, it led to me sharing the journey with a lovely group of horse lovers at our Comfort Zone Days, most of whom attended the clinic on the Anzac Day long weekend.

It has also inspired me to get on with writing my own books (yes I have several on the go!) which is why I'm not instructing, training horses or hosting workshops these days.

Photo: Toni with her thoroughbred gelding, Romulus made some important discoveries about themselves.

Jenny and I had known each other from early Parelli days. We met at the International Study Centre in Pagosa Springs during the first year it opened in 1996. Then I watched Jenny and Bobby at a couple of the Braidwood Instructor camps and although we shared mentors in Ken Faulkner and Philip Nye, we lost touch as our lives took different paths.

Looking back, it was actually fortunate that Jenny had trouble with Bobby, or Bobby's Diaries might never have been written.
But it was, as was Jenny's new book 'Pathway to Heaven' and between them, there is a wealth of information on how to give your horse and yourself a life of joyfulness.

The philosphies in these two books formed the basis of Jenny's teaching at the clinic and made for some interesting and though provoking discussions amongst the group.

All eight of us were given the freedom to do what we needed for our horses, and seek out Jenny's 'one on one' help when we needed it. This clinic format was a revelation in that it worked so well for us all, especially our horses. No more trying to keep up with the rest of the class or asking our horses to do a particular exercise if they were not ready.

We could explore how it felt to get true connection and relaxation from our horses - how to stretch them just far enough out of their comfort zone in small increments that they learned so fast.

Photo: Bernie and Easy take a break from some liberty to watch what else is going on.

And we could do this for ourselves too - if we were out of our comfort zone for too long, then learning could not take place. We realised that fear or frustration is an emotion we should listen to, not ignore and tough it out, for to do so often results in a fearful, unconfident horse - they are our mirror after all!

While the weather wasn't always bright and sunny (typical after weeks of glorious autumn days) we had enough breaks in between showers on the wet day to try out some ridden exercises and test our Dry seat saddle pads (which worked a treat I might add).

Three days whizzed by but the emotional discoveries within us and those moments of pure magic with our horses gave us a taste of how good it can be if we just listen to our horses and to our hearts.

This journey of discovery will be a fascinating one I'm sure .... and it all started with a book! Thanks Bobby for sharing your mind with Jenny and thanks Jenny for sharing those insights it with us.

Photo: Laurel and Belle enjoy a sightseeing ride around the Deloraine showgrounds.

"Bobby's Diaries - Straight from the horse's mouth to you - How your horse can teach you to become a confident and gifted rider" is available from the Natural Horse World Shop as an E-Book, ready to read now.

Product Reviews - Enhanced Foal Training DVD

Allen Pogue from www.imagineahorse.com has quite a selection of horse trick training DVD's and among them, two on Enhanced Foal Training. Allen says his methods help to instill correct behavior in the horse from the very beginning. Enhanced Foal Training is a methodology for bringing up young horses to be honest, highly intelligent and most importantly, adaptable. The education of the foal begins shortly after birth in conjunction with traditional imprinting because foals are ready, willing and able to learn.

Enhanced Foal Training includes non-stressful exercises and challenges that are fun, and infuses trust while creating a lasting bond between foal and handler. Additionally the logic of the method teaches a foal to learn how to learn, while it promotes skills and respect that are easily transferred to a foal's higher education requirements upon physical maturity.
With Enhanced Foal Training, foals begin to learn a life long work ethic that applies to independent work and schooling in unison with foals and other adult horses.

I found this DVD fascinating to watch as I'd always wondered why and how you would teach a foal to sit in a beanbag (having seen photos of this before). Now I understand that this exercise is a great first step to teaching the horse to lay down, to building confidence in the trainer and to give the horse a safe resting place that keeps the horse still and relaxed.

The other exercises certainly set the foal up for success with practical applications like standing on a pedastal for float loading, leading, accepting a wormer and having hooves handled. While there is some skill required from the trainer with respect to timing and feel, this DVD will give you some great ideas for ways to extend your foal's repertoire of skills. Allen shows you just how much you can accomplish with a new foal that will aid it's fitting into the human world with much less fuss or trauma.

WIN THIS DVD! It's simple - all you have to do to enter the lucky draw is send me the email addresses's of two or more friends you think might be interested in reading this newsletter, so I can send them an invitation to subscribe for free. now. (Subscribers email addresses are protected and not used by anyone other than Natural Horse World).

At the Spirit of Horse Clinic I got to put this great new idea from mac's Equine to the test on a drizzly wet afternoon. And I was impressed! Not only did I stay dry, but very warm and felt comfortable and able to move with my horse, although we didn't try jumping!

It was good to have my saddle covered while warming up my horse on the ground - no wet bum when I got on!

The leg straps held the cover in place nicely despite the wind blowing and being made of a 'quiet' material, it wasn't scary for Zach when we moved a but faster.

After riding, it kept my saddle dry until I could put it away, and then the cover comes apart from the saddle pad so it's quick and easy to dry.

This wonderful product is suitable for all outdoor riders, especially those who ride trails, endurance, mounted search & rescue and at pony club.

It is available in English and Western sizes in both navy and maroon, and is a thin enough to go over another saddle pad such as the Theraflex air pad or other theraputic pads. To see more photos go to the Macs Equine web site or click here to read the product review.

Paul's percheron X mare, Tiny, has come a long way in 10 weeks since she was running wild with a herd of sheep. I wonder if she has aspirations to be a giraffe!

Claire Garden achieved her Parelli level 1 on Apache, the youngster she's leading from his mum, Honey who belongs to her mentor, Liz. Congratulations Claire!

Joylene and her Kelpie, Meg, move some sheep - what a great task for a young horse.

As I said in the last newsletter, I generally don't recommend to rug a horse. However, there are times when due to lack of shelter, you may need to provide cover for your old or sick horse.
If you do, then there's a new rug available that acts more like a shelter than an oven like most winter horse rugs do.
This is the only rug I'd recommend and here's why:

The Coolheat Blanket has many advantages over the average horse rug:
~ It can be used on horses that have been allowed to grow a winter coat, without risk of them overheating.
~ It can be put on the horse when they are wet from rain or sweaty after exercise.
~ It has superior fit, with shoulder darts that work properly and allow the horse to graze/drink without pressuring the neck.
~ The unique rubber 'fingers' inside the rug stop shoulder rubbing and help keep the rug evenly balanced on the horse - no sideways slipping.

For more information on the Coolheat Blanket go to the Product Review page or to purchase one, visit the Natural Horse World Shop where they are on special for just $199.

Here's some tips to help keep your horse safe and comfortable if you need to use a rug.

Alf Ellery was an amazing man with such a great attirude to life, horses and learning.
At the age of 70 he achieved Parelli level 1 after studying the program and having a couple of lessons. I will never forget his determination to succeed when we filmed his level 1 video for assessment.
Alf loved Hawkeye so much he constantly looked for better ways to look after him and improve their relationship. He had just joined the Comfort Zone group prior to his leaving this world, and we will miss his willingness to give it ago.
I reckon Hawkeye will miss this gentle man as much as his human family will.

A Place for a Horseman

In Gods own country lies a special horseman’s space
There’s a winding bush trail in some high country place
Where bubbling creeks sing and tall eucalypts grow,
A bush paradise where Aussie horsemen go,

Once more reunited with past horses and kin,
I believe great horsemen like Alf ….ride on again,
May we always remember the lessons you’d reassert,
Such as “If you do as you are told, you won’t get hurt”,

You’d call out “Gee Whizz” and “Good on ya mate”,
No Alf, I won’t forget to shut the gate,
“Pa Pa” to his grandkids and “Dad” to his own,
A “true can do” spirit readily shared and shown,

In Gods own country lies a special horseman’s space
There is a winding bush trail in some high country place
Where bubbling creeks sing and tall eucalypts grow,
A bush paradise where Aussie horsemen go .

VALE by Diana McCullagh: Alf Ellery was my Dad and he loved horses all his life. I am the youngest of four children and there were always horses.
Dad always wanted a horse stud and when I was about four he purchased a colt by Flash of Gold called Sunny Hill to begin his dream and his learning curve. Sunny had never been handled and broke his jaw in the float. Instead of having him put down, Dad propped him up with hay bales boiled pellets up like baby food and fed him through a tube in his nose. He slept in the stable with him and my older sisters, brother and Mum helped keep 24 hour watch. To exercise him they would make him take one step forward, one step to the right, one step backwards and one step to the left, and eventually Sunny started doing this himself. Sunny completely recovered and definitely became part of the family. Dad would of gone to these lengths for any of our horses over the years if it would help.
By this stage we all had a horse to ride (except Mum who did not ride but supported us in full) and would go on family trail rides. We all attended North West Pony Club where Dad was very involved and took on various roles over the years such as DC, Games Trainer etc. and was made a Life Member.

In 1974 Mum and Dad purchased a larger property and called it “HeatherLea Farm “. Sunny Hill lived in the paddock with his mares like a herd as nature intended and outside mares were hand served.
Dad also had a love of coloured horses and purchased a Pinto stallion called “HeatherLea Beau”. All of the horses bred at HeatherLea were sold on and when I was older Dad and I would break some of them in before selling them and gosh if he knew then what he learnt in his last few years we would have done things very differently. It was all rather old fashioned.

Also at HeatherLea we had quite a collection of riding horses – ex race horses, arabs and ponies from all over the place. Dad always had an excuse for Mum when he would come home with another horse. Children with non – horsey parents would be helped out by Dad also as he would lend them a horse, give them lessons and lifts with their horse to and fro –he would help out any child who had a love for horses. So it was quite a production at our house going to shows, pony club, eventing and trail riding etc etc.
We also had a One Day Event on our property a few years running that Dad thoroughly enjoyed hosting. Now I am a parent myself (of only one child mind you!) I wonder how Dad found the time, money and energy to do all of this but he was just so passionate about it that he could not do anything else.
Max Denney and my older sister Judy would also compete in endurance rides on Dad’s horses and he had a race horse trained and raced by George Blacker at one stage –so he really did have a go at everything and loved it all.
Dad always wanted to learn more and encouraged us to do the same so we were always having lessons and going to “schools” etc. Dad loved riding himself but only stuck to just trail rides as he was so busy helping us and other children.
Gradually as all us kids started working we stopped riding (much to Dad’s disappointment I think) and due to this and other reasons at the time “ HeatherLea Farm “ was dispersed and only a few horses were kept, although Dad’s interest remained as keen as ever.

As grandchildren came along they were always put straight in the saddle on one of our old faithful ponies. There were a few years without horses when the ponies died and then Mum passed away.
Eventually Dad re-married and while on a holiday interstate, purchased a filly (Cutie) from Cudglebar Stud and a new era with horses began.
Janina Strie rode Cutie for Dad as I told him there was no way I was ever getting back into horses (famous last words ) and my son took a liking to Cutie so Dad then purchased a little Welsh Mountain pony for the grandkids.
The next thing we knew my son and my sister’s two youngest children were mad keen riders and Dad was having the time of his life with them – and it wasn't long before we are all riding around together having “ family days” in the paddock with Dad at the helm again.

I should point out that it was not only the grandkids he helped, he also encouraged my husband with his riding too.
During this time Dad purchased the well performed Appaloosa gelding Hawkeye for himself and decided that as he had much to learn still, he was going to do things differently this time.
So he embraced natural horsemanship by learning the Parelli system as it was now his turn to be the student, and he loved it.
Dad wanted to have a closer connection with Hawkeye and I believe Cynthia helped him no end with this. In fact Dad did not tell us at all that he was working with Cynthia as he wanted to surprise us when he achieved Parelli Level 1 and surprised we were! Dad was over the moon with his achievement.
I had not asked him of late what he was up to with Cynthia as I knew he wanted to surprise us again with Parelli level 2 and I wanted him to have that moment.
The other big turnaround for us was that all our horse went barefoot as Dad was a great fan of Jeremy Ford. Who would of ever thought he'd change - in the old days any horse that was ridden had shoes on without question.

Dad was also enjoying being a member of the High Country Riders and would live for the next ride. He was also very proud of getting Hawkeye in a bitless bridle and to stay on a loose rein at the walk when he'd always jogged everywhere. My son, husband, Dad and myself had also started going on rides to the beach together. There was something wonderful about the three generations riding along the beach together, and I am so glad we got to do that.
Most mornings Dad would get up early to work on his Parelli 2 with Hawkeye and go for a ride up the road after which he'd come home and sit in the garden with his wife. Beryl would say “how are you? “ and he would say “jumping out of my skin! “ as he was loving life and life was 'horses horses, horses' - just how he liked it.

On the morning of the 16th of April he went for a ride and never came back. It seems he had dismounted and had a massive heart attack. Hawkeye waited patiently with him until he was found. I cannot explain the feelings as I walked Hawkeye home that day, as myself and my family had lost the most wonderful father and PaPa and although we were so lucky to have had him, there was still so much to do. Hawkeye stared at the gate for the rest of the day waiting for his mate to come home.
In the future the horses manes will soak up our tears (thanks for those word Cynthia) as my family learns to live without this great man. The HeatherLea name has moved into the next era also as Dad passed the name over to myself for my family property (he had kept the brand registered for all these years) and the first HeatherLea foal for us was born last year much to Dad’s delight who named him “HeatherLea Lightning Boy”.
He has taught us never to say never, never to give up and never stop trying to learn.

MAY
30-2nd June: Brumby Tour from Alice Springs, NT. with Wild About Hooves. See below for more info.

JUNE
7th - Endurance Ride at Sassafrass - Natural Horse World product display.
14th - Comfort Zone Day at Harveydale, Westbury. RSVP to Cynthia (see details below).
21st - Darrall Clifford Hoof Problems Seminar at Golden Valley (see Barefoot bits & pieces).
26th - Carlos Tabernaberri Private lessons (Fully booked)
27th - Carlos Tabernaberri Private lessons (Fully booked)
28th - Carlos Tabernaberri Clinic - Hobart - Fence sitter places still available.
29th - Carlos T. Young horse handling clinic - Hobart - Fence sitter places still available. For bookings call Kim on 0428 554 258.

THE WILD HORSE ADVENTURE - MAY 29 TO JUNE 1
Lets go Way Out Back! For those of you keen to observe the brumbies in their natural habitats in outback NT now is the time to book. Cheap flights are available!
Tiger Airlines have $59.95 flights from Melbourne to Alice Springs
Don't miss this opportunity - four day tour jam packed with brumbies, hooves, aboriginal culture, spectacular desert stars, and outback wildlife. enjoy luxury 4wd vehicles with awesome, experienced tour operators and guides of 'Way Out Back tour company ' catering to our every whim and wish.
Only $700 all inclusive (food, sleeping gear, drinks, transport and camping equipment).
Tax deductible for anyone running a hoof care business!
Contact Jen Clingly on 0408 838198 for further info and to book your tour place - spaces limited. (only 6 seats left!) $100 deposit will secure your seat.

COMFORT ZONE DAYS
The Comfort Zone Group now meet on the second Saturday of each month at 'Harveydale', Westbury from 9.45am to 3.30pm. This group study session is for people interested in deepening the level of communication and relationship with their horse through studying the E-Book 'Bobby's Diaries' by Jenny Pearce. All new participants must come along without their horse first and have the book, so they have a basic understanding of the techniques used.

Cynthia is available for instruction (payment by donation according to time) and the format we use is flexible and varied according to each horse and person's needs. Young horses are most welcome for an outing in a stress free environment and the arena provides a safe riding area for those needing an enclosed space to explore new ideas.

Cost is $5 for the use of the grounds - BYO morning tea, lunch and drinks. Intending participants must email Cynthia (address below) to book in, as numbers are limited.

FOR SALE: True black purebred arabian mare, Black Heart Shay, by Cherox Tchaikovsky. Rising 5, approx 14.3hh. Lovely movement and looks, ready to start her education. Ph. Marg on 64 272275.

HOME WANTED for Companion Pony - Honey is a 12hh buckskin 25yo mare - gentle and fits in with others easily. Ph. Colleen if you can help on 0409 349972.

FOR SALE : 'Moet' - Gadara Geronomo. 8yo Miniature Leopard Palouse Gelding 82cm, Reg Aust.Min.Pony Society. Absolute small gentleman! Has been shown, in harness, and taught children to ride and be around horses. A gorgeous little man, with a kind temperament. Moet is for sale due to no fault of his own, grandson has now moved interstate. He is a real character that thinks he is one of the family! a gem to have around. To a loving home only...$500. Ph: 0405 199 892 after 6pm please.
'Paris' 2.5yo pure bay young thoroughbred gelding. Paris is a rescue lad, who didn't have the best start in life. He is a real sweetie with a kind, trusting and quiet nature. He now has basic groundwork - worm, floating, rugging, feet, tie up, lead, grooming, bathing...
Paris should grown to about 14hh, and will make someone a wonderful riding horse. He deserves a home with love, patience and care... $500 (neg) Ph: 0405 199 892 after 6pm please.
Double Horse Float - older style, enclosed, electric brakes. Tows very well, and is solid & sturdy. Tail gate is steep but all my horses adjusted to it well. Will carry horses up to about 15.2ish, but not bigger. Registered until Nov 08. $2,500 (Firm) Ph: 0405 199 892 after 6pm please.
'Japanese Chin' dogs...rare breed, small toy dog bred for companion and to live inside with you. 1 male, 1 female. 4 weeks old at present, to go at 10 weeks old. Registered Tasmanian Canine Council, will be microchipped, wormed and vaccinated. To approved homes only. $900 each with desexing refund upon proof of desex papers at 6months old. For pictures and information please email: cheekycharm@yahoo.com.au or ph 0405199892 after 6pm.

Stb Gelding For Lease: Tommy is a 16y.o, dark bay 16.2hh standardbred gelding and he is
currently hanging out in my paddock not doing much. He would be suited to a light trail riding or companion home and to someone who has some time to spend with him. He is very quiet and pretty much bombproof, although he does need a confident handler/rider as he can be quite
dominant. Preferably to a natural home with some grass in the paddock. Can be ridden bitted or in a halter, and is currently barefoot. To approved home only. Call Christina on 0406 037 068.

GEAR FOR SALE: Parelli Hackamore, blue with white reins and lead - unused - $60
Parelli Hackamore, black with black reins and lead - in good condition (arab size) - $60
Complete Parelli Country Bridle (ie headstall, bit, reins, leathers, horseman reins, chinstrap etc), cob size - used twice and has been stored in a bridle bag so is like new - $200
New, never been used 45 foot nylon lariat rope - $50.00
Parelli Study Programs Levels 1, 2 & 3 (Videos) - $100 each. Ph. Tammy on 0414 539163.

FOR SALE: Reg'd arabian filly rising 2yo ( AHSA reg number: F 28953). Dee is a sweet natured filly, great temperament and always trying to please. Great to float, trim, lead, worm etc. For sale due to lack of time and space.
For sale to the best of homes only. would be an asset to any breeding program endurance or show homes. $2,500. firm. ph 63264785 or 0409515594 leave message.

FOR SALE: Reg Riding Pony, 5yo, 13.2hh gelding. Excellent to handle and ride. PNH handled and barefoot trimmed. Recently started, going nicely with flat work, trail riding experience with groups and solo. Knowledgeable, loving home only to further his potential.
Leather harness with silver fittings, will fit 11-13hh pony, excellent condition.
Saddle. Koln black all purpose training 17'', excellent condition. Ph 6395 1276, 0439 498 944.

FOR SALE: Double horse float... very solid and safe. red and white in colour. $4,500 It has: 1 years rego. NEW brakes, NEW coupling, NEW fold up jockey wheel, 4 brand NEW tyres, stallion divider, fully padded including padded chest, sides and divider, tie up points inside , double spring on ramp, very light., NEW wood on ramp, rubber matting floor, middle divider has rubber matting to the floor, always well mantained, ex pacing float so has sulky holders on back of ramp. fits horses up to 16.3hh (6'3 rugs) - a really good buy for any one... need to sell to pay for new float. for more pics or info please phone: 62 535 486 or 0428 838 921

Wanted: horse float, any condition considered with view to repair, to suit 14.2hh ph 0409 566 022.

FOR SALE: Bates Half Breed leather stock saddle with CAIR, including full changeable gullet kit range. 12 months old - very comfortable. New price $2,400 - this one only $1600. Ph. 0419 380889.

WANTED: Old Mac Hoof Boots - pair of size 3 in good condition. phone 6369 5167 (evenings or weekends)

FOR SALE: Nihal Nissaarn, purebred Arabian mare, 14.3hh. She was a very successful

endurance horse in her career so far, currently spanning less than two years, with an unblemished record including a win in her final race before being put into foal. She has had two foals and is an excellent mother. Apart from endurance, she is a level 2 qualified Parelli Natural Horsemanship horse and has exhibited at Agfest performing to crowds, including the central arena: riding bareback with a string around her neck around an obstacle course, backing into float at liberty, crack a whip from…
She has been used extensively as a search and rescue mount and carries a full swag without fuss, been on Cattleman’s Annual muster numerous times and some navigation rides.
She has done some eventing and has been ridden by children. Would suit an experienced child who wants to go on from a pony. She is good in traffic, easy to catch, trim/shoe, float, tie, inject, ride, rug, lead and serve. $9,500 Ph Liz 0400 671785.

FOR SALE: Excellent quality OATEN CHAFF - $20 per bag at Exton. Ph. David on 63 622015.

FOR SALE: Nissan Navara 4WD ST-R 2006 (nov 06) 3.0 litre turbo diesel - Tinted Electric windows - Remote central locking - Air con - Heavy duty tow kit - New tray liner -CD player - Air Bag - 53,000kms –Balance new car Warranty. As new vehicle in exc condition - REG TILL NOV 08 $33,500.00 must sell. Ph Kylie or Gene on 0407 021 135.

WANTED: Committee members for the Tasmania Horse Rescue and Rehab. Organisation. If you can help please phone Ph 0409 310 110. Web site: www.freewebs.com/thrro

If you have an add you would like included in the next newsletter please email it to me (in the body of the email written in lower case please) by the 1st of June for the June 2008 newsletter.
Advertising in the newsletter is free but exact wording must be supplied in the body of an email and photos must be reduced to less than 50kb as .jpg files.

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