.:EQUUS:.

So I’ve been thinking a bit of late of all the things I’d like to achieve in life - many equine related!  A firm believer in lists, I have a book that has all of these plans written down.  With that in mind, I think all equine lovers should have horse related dreams and goals to work towards - I even took the liberty of listing in an article some that you may consider worthwhile to add to your own list

For myself they vary greatly although many are horse related:

• Ever spotted a horse in a magazine, on a website or at a show or race and thought - man, I have to have the progeny of that mare or stallion?  For me, a Shatoor filly fits this situation.
• I’d love to acquire a Friesian somewhere down the line, also - and perhaps a Gypsy Vanner!
• I want to learn so much more about different jobs and disciplines and to take part in a Jackaroo course



• I’d love to learn to barrel race and try polocrosse
• Trek over the Snowy Mountains, travel to see the Lipizzaners in Vienna, Austria and visit an estancia in Argentina to learn about polo
• Do a chiropractic or equine massage course

• Finish my Degree in Equine Science
• Run my own agistment property

So, that’s the majority of the horse related ones - though I can’t say they will be achieved in that order - and that’s fine by me!  Life is so much about relationships and learning and it’s wonderful to know I’ll never stop learning about these gorgeous animals or experiencing different things with regards to them.

So!  What’s on your bucket list?

“If I had a horse, I’d ride off in the sunset, where dreams, and shadows lie. To a life, where pain and sorrow don’t exist, and to where hopes, and dreams become reality.” - Lindsay Turcotte

tag: horse goals, horse riding, Vienna, Spanish Riding School

So I got sent this link through uni and thought, ‘If only I had the money!’  Sounds like a great learning opportunity!

In Kings Canyon, the Northern Territory, Australia, this six day conference (June 21 - 26)  is “the perfect opportunity to mix science with travel, experience the Australian Outback and Aboriginal culture in one of the world’s best tourist destinations.”

Equine scientists from around the world will be there to discuss wild horses.  The countries/areas represented are:

• Australia
• New Zealand
• America
• Europe
• Africa

Places are limited with 50 on offer, the first paid being the ones who will secure these places.  Areas covered include the wild horse’s foot, ecology of feral horses in the Australian central desert, mustang behaviour and GPS tracking, Przewalski horses, photograph presentation of wild horses, desert horse GPS tracking, Konic horses and Kaimanawa horses of New Zealand.

As well as daily evening seminars, there will be observation of feral horses  and camels during the day and an activity at the waterhole at night.  Throw in a half hour helicopter ride, a 2.5 hour quad motorbike safari and you still haven’t covered it all!  Handling and quietening of brumbies will occur over a four day period as well as a camel sunset ride and guided tours around the area.

The cost is $1700 AUD per person.  This includes the conference, associated activities and accommodation as well as breakfast and dinner.  Further details as well as the daily program can be found at http://www.wildhorseresearch.com/.

tag: wild horses, brumbies, australia, horse conference

A few times I remember at the Thoroughbred yearling sales seeing a gentleman wander around, making use of handlers while he assessed particulars on horses.  It wasn’t until the Melbourne Premier Sales just passed however that I was holding a few of the horses for him and got to ask what it was all about.

Generally as the gentleman went about assessing each horse, he had a good look at the width and depth of their nostrils and nasal passage, the space under their jowl and had a feel underneath here as well as assessing the windpipe and how the neck was placed into the horse’s shoulder.

Curious, I asked what exactly he was assessing.  The fact that he had a look at every horse on our draft also had me querying if he was assessing particular horses for clients or just going through the whole catalog.

I was informed that he was assessing the horse’s physical make up with regards to it’s airways and the potential to get oxygen into the lungs when running at high speeds.  The idea was that based on how the horse was put together, that he made an informed assessment on the likelihood of the horse running into airway or breathing difficulties when stressed at a fast pace - as is the case for racing.

Based on this assessment, potential buyers had more information to go on, possibly lessening their gamble.

For example, if one was to chose between two horses that looked good on paper and appeared to be reasonably well put together but one physically appeared to have better potential for the passage of oxygen through nostrils to the lungs, then the buyer may choose this horse rather than the one that hadn’t fared so well on the airflow assessment.

As for the number of horses being assessed, as time permitted he made an assessment on every horse and noted this on an item that looked somewhat similar to a palm pilot.  This way if clients asked after a particular horse, results were already available to be passed on.

Having not heard of this assessment form before for buyers, I asked if a lot of clients requested such a service.  Although relatively new, apparently quite a few do make use of these results.  Air Flow on Bloodstock cater to horse sales in Australia and New Zealand, having assessed over 10,000 horses to date.

“He is pure air and fire; and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him, but only in patient stillness while his rider mounts him: he is indeed a horse: and all other jades you may call beasts.” - William Shakespeare. King Henry V.

tag: bloodstock agent, auction, australia, thoroughbred, horse sales

So you may argue that stallion handling isn’t a particular job.  Perhaps that’s the case but despite being a rather narrow job description, there are definitely people in the Thoroughbred industry (and I’m sure other horse areas) that are known for that particular role.

Don’t get me wrong, they do so much more than solely handling a stallion or stallions but there are specific people for specific stallions when it comes to breeding on Thoroughbred studs.

A largely male dominated field, I’ve worked with one very capable female stallion handler and know of a couple of others.

Consequently, I was surprised and interested to see a stallion management course on offer at the National Centre for Equine Education, Victoria, Australia.

“This program is designed to enhance the knowledge, skills and professionalism of stallion managers, and to develop the skills of stallion handlers for career pathway promotion opportunities. Participants will be required to study under the guidance of Stallion Manager Mentors.”

What a great idea!  Especially for the minority females eager to get into this area of the Thoroughbred industry - or any other breed for that matter.  Put together specifically to further the knowledge and training of people involved with the breeding of racehorses, perhaps it’ll become something that many use to get their foot in the door.

Expressions of interest are being invited by the NCEE for this part time one year course that focuses on management of the stallion.

“You can tell a gelding, you can ask a mare, but you must discuss it with a stallion.”

tag: horse course, part time course, equine education, stallion handling, stallion management

Quite a few years back a mate asked if there was a short course they could do with regards to horses.  The idea was to gain a piece of paper to say they had been trained in one area or another for a job that involved a small amount of horse work.

Back then I wasn’t really aware of such short courses and think they’ve really come out in full force in recent years.

Today at the Melbourne Premier Sales one of the teachers from an equine education centre stopped by and handed out some information with regards to the short courses currently on offer.

The National Centre for Equine Education currently have short courses is:
- the safe handling of horses
- equine enterprise OHS
- running your horse business
- first aid for horses
- understanding your horse - equine behaviour
- marketing your horse business
- equine whole farm planning
- the sound horse
- equine nutrition - feeding your horse
- leadership and supervision in horse enterprises
- preparation and care of horse breeding stock
- foaling down
- equine staff management
- sustainable grazing and fodder for horse farms
- horse health
- manage horse breeding operations

These courses range from $128.00 through to $474.00 and are run over two to four consecutive days.  For those interested in perhaps pursuing a higher qualification, the majority of these short courses can be counted toward the Diploma of Equine Performance Management and the Diploma of Equine Stud Management.

Short courses are a great way to get a feel for a particular line of study, gain a piece of paper, some skills and perhaps a foot in the door of your desired industry.  If full time study isn’t possible, perhaps a shorter course is worth considering.

tag: horse course, short course, equine education