.:EQUUS:.

Shameless self promotion!  So with December comes all the Christmas talk.  Thought about Christmas cards yet?

I love making use of SendOutCards online to be able to send cards out to anyone I like with pre designed cards, or ones that I create myself.  There’s nothing like using a photo of a friend on their horse and sending them a card with that picture on it!  For those interested in the networking side of things, SendOutCards can also be a way to generate income.

Interested?  Check out https://www.sendoutcards.com/christhomas/. Feel free to ask me questions about the online system I use

“You know you’re a horse person when… …your mother, who has no grandchildren, gets cards addressed to Grandma, signed by the horses and dogs.”

So there were some women being shown around the stables today.  They were from Racing Victoria and Racing Tasmania.  A couple of weeks ago we had two new staff start at the stables and one is keen to do track work.  Through these women, it was determined that in January, Racing Victoria is holding a track riders camp, where he may be able to be assessed and given the correct licensing to be able to legally ride track work in Australia.

For those keen on the idea of pursuing a career riding racehorses, Pony Club or a riding school can be a great place to start at a young age.  Racing Victoria offers a Cert III in Racing (Track work), which would be worth pursuing for those in their teens or higher.

• Further information on the training package can be found at http://training.gov.au/Training/Details/RGR30108
• Also check out http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/p_Track_Riders.aspx

“It is easier to attach reins to a freight train and practice pulling to a halt than it is to slow down some of our horses.”

So one of my students is actually undertaking an equine course to gain a qualification to attract clients.  What does she do?  Look after people’s horses for them whilst they’re away on holidays - what a great idea!

At this point I only have one horse, and that is enough to worry about when I’m heading overseas!  To know that there is someone who can come into the property and deal with rugging and unrugging, checking waters, feeding and turning out horses and mucking out would be great!

Of course, there are places where perhaps you could send your horses and have them looked after.  But to have someone come to me, that’d be something I’d be up for!  I haven’t grilled this person for information, but thought it unique and another worth mentioning.

“If anybody expects to calm a horse down by tiring him out with riding swiftly and far, his supposition is the reverse of the truth.” - Xenophon

So one of my lovely students turned up in class the other week with a heap of horse books for me to add to my collection!  I think I’ll be enjoying a few good reads from these!  The first was a lovely surprise by Karen Wood.

Diamond Spirit is set in Australia and written by an Australian.  Based around two horse crazy teens that love games on horseback, this novel is realistic and full of authentic horse information.

The shock death of the main character’s horse Diamond leaves young Jess devastated.  She not only loses her horse, but feels that she has lost her best friend who is obviously keeping something from her.  Sulking at home, a couple of girls come across Jess whilst she is outside with her cousin’s horse.

The pair invite Jess to look at some foals at their uncle’s place and from here the friendship blossoms.  Jess is suddenly introduced to the world of camp drafting and a gorgeous little appaloosa filly.   Feeling that this filly and her beloved Diamond are in some way linked, Jess and her friends concoct a plan to be able to purchase the filly.

Diamond Spirit is a great read, entertaining and educational.  A wonderful choice for a present.  For a more in depth review, visit my articles at Suite101.com.

Author: Karen Wood
Fiction: 11 years and up
In my library? Absolutely.  A great story that is educational and entertaining - the best combination in my books.

Tags: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Karen Wood, Diamond Spirit

So one of the women at work forwarded this information onto me and I thought it worth sharing… note the deadline is only 8 days away though!

ABARES is encouraging people to apply for the 2012 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, with applications closing 18 November.

There are 12 individual categories, with each offering up to $22,000 for project funding.The awards are open to young people aged 18-35 who have an innovative project that will benefit Australia’s agriculture, fisheries, forestry, food and natural resource management sectors.

Grant recipients can use their funding for a range of activities including research projects, industry visits or to attend conferences and workshops that will support their project. The awards aim to encourage science, innovation and technology in rural industries and help to advance the careers of young scientists through national recognition of their research ideas.

The 2012 Science and Innovation Awards are supported by: the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Australian Pork Limited; Australian Meat Processor Corporation; Cotton Research and Development Corporation; Dairy Australia; Fisheries Research and Development Corporation; Forest and Wood Products Australia; Grains Research and Development Corporation; Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation; Horticulture Australia; Meat and Livestock Australia; and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.

For further information: http://www.daff.gov.au/brs/science-awards