.:EQUUS:.

So reading through another horse magazine, I stumbled across the promise of a Free Equine Course.  Need I say more?

Yes, there’s always a catch.  This one however, I believe is quite small and worth the look if you’re interested in pursuing study relating to Equine Anatomy.  Equinology.com are the owners of this particular offer.

The ‘course’ is offered via distance education and is one subject or module from a few of their different courses available through the website.  Able to be done at your own pace and ending with an exam, the only fee incurred is a $20 (USD) set up fee.  For a subject that is estimated to be about 100 hours worth, this is very cheap!

For those interested, take a look at http://www.equinology.com/info/course.asp?courseid=73.  Course content includes Anatomy and Veterinary Terminology and Vocab, the Muscular System, the Skeletal System and Palpating Bony Landmarks and Surface Anatomy.

Perhaps those of you planning on improving your equine knowledge in 2011 may find this just the nudge in the right direction that you need…

“There comes a point in every rider’s life when he wonders if it’s all worth it. Then one look at the horse, and he realizes - it is.” - Kelly Stewart

tag: equine education, horse goals, new years resolutions, short course, online course

So because of this blog, there should be no surprises that I’m a big fan of educating oneself.  This doesn’t however always have to relate to doing a course and getting a piece of paper (although I’m a little addicted to this one!).

December is the time of year where people often consider what they’ve achieved in the past twelve months and what they would like to achieve in the twelve months following.  It’s very easy to be optimistic coming into a New Year and it’s worthwhile making use of this optimism to propel you into the New Year.

What are your equine related goals for 2011?  Having recently read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, I plan to further invest in myself for 2011.  Robert talks of using money to invest in one’s knowledge bank.  This can often be in the way of a course and with the way the equine industry is going, having a piece of paper that certifies you know how to do particular tasks with horses can be of great benefit.

Consider for 2011 the things however that you could be doing to increase your knowledge base without spending too much.  Some suggestions:

• Volunteering with horses - this really is an awesome way to develop contacts, help out some absolutely beautiful people and gain experience!  And as someone who teaches - yes, when you’re applying for a horse course, we love to see that you’re so dedicated as to have volunteered for a length of time with an equine related organisation!
• Reading - this is a big one that is so easy to do - find a topic and start to learn about it!  I get excited when I have new assignments to do for uni that I know nothing about; I know I’m going to do a whole heap of learning!
  • Sign up at the local library and start at one end of their equine section and work your way through - set a goal to read one book a week, month or bimonthly depending on the time you have available
  • Make use of the internet and research online (making note to take all you read with a grain of salt; some are very informed writers; others think they are)
  • If able to control your spending, consider the likes of eBay - it is possible to find some absolute bargains on here in the way of horse books; just make sure you set yourself a spending limit and stick to it!

Whatever your plans for 2011 with regards to your own ‘equine education’, consider telling a mate or two that are likely to hold you accountable, ask after what you’ve been doing with regards to the goals and more importantly, encourage you!  Blessings for Christmas and the New Year, may this next one be more awesome than the last,

Chris

“No one can teach riding so well as a horse.” - C.S. Lewis

tag: equine education, horse goals, new years resolutions

I’ve had an awesome day today at a free Jane Myers event put on by the ever kind, Melbourne Water.  Did you know that they help with funding for those wanting to protect waterways on their property within a certain area?

The day was focused around horse property management and directed at those that own land in the Cardinia area that has water frontage.  Now, arguably I fit neither of those criteria, but it was free, around the corner from mum and dad’s and I didn’t want to miss out!

I’m very much glad that I didn’t miss the day - it afforded the chance to learn so many practical ways to improve a property and make use of it’s strengths while turning the weaknesses into positives, also.  As Robert Kiyosaki says, “your greatest assests are your mind and your time.”  Today was definitely a good investment for both areas.

For those of you not familiar with Jane or Stuart Myers, do yourself a favour and take a look at their Equiculture website.   The site is focused around being responsible horse owners and how taking a little effort to look after a property will result in the property looking after your horses.

Although in Australia, they do travel around, both being from the UK originally and their ideas can be applicable to many horse owners and horse property owners.

I think I have a half dozen ideas for new articles on account of today!  For those interested in this topic, Managing Horses on Small Properties by Jane Myers would be worth the investment.

Horses comment on a car -”150 horsepower, big deal. I’d be impressed if it ran on hay.”

tag: property design, property management, equine nutrition, pasture maintenance, pasture management, Jane Myers

I took a trip down the coast with a mate from Sydney not too long ago with the main focus being to stop in at Free Rein Australia, a place that offers Equine Assisted Learning/Psychotherapy.

We stopped in for a chat on account of my curious mate researching this field with the view to enter it.  Of course, being something horsey, a business and completely foreign to me, I was up for joining in on the road trip.  The hour and a half or so there gave us the opportunity to see some gorgeous gardens, a lovely property and two people passionate about their horses and fairly recent career change.

Established in 2005, Free Rein Australia utilises horses to help people learn about themselves and their capabilities to work as a team based on how they interact with others.  Loosely based around EGALA, Cindy Jacobs informed us there were others nearby that utilised similar methods to work in a niche area, for example with troubled teams, victims of abuse and other people able to be helped by working with horses.  This far from exhausts possibilities.

For those interested in defining an area within this line of work and developing a focus and niche, Cindy Jacobs recommended reading Walking the Way of the Horse by Leif Hallberg. Not the be all and end all by any means, this book is a good eye opener for those considering therapy with horses.

For those keen, consider:

• Profile On: Cindy Jacobs, Equine Assisted Learning
• EAGALA
• http://www.gestaltequinepsychotherapy.com.au/files/location.html
• Hippotherapy
• Profile On: Barbara Smith, Horse OT

“A dog looks up to a man, a cat looks down on a man, but a patient horse looks a man in the eye and sees him as an equal.”

Tag: equine assisted learning, physical therapy, equine therapy, free rein australia, occupational therapy, Cindy Jacobs

Today is Blog Action Day; this year’s topic being Water.  Blog Action Day is an initiative to raise awareness on topics that are important globally.  Consider taking the time to sign the petition with regards to providing water to those in need.

Water is very much a relevant topic to horse owners.  An important source that isn’t inexhaustible, being water wise with regards to one’s property is a wonderful skill to have and something to strive toward.

There are many ways you can take advantage of water on your property and try to get the most out of it.  Some include:

• planting trees in windbreaks that are drought tolerant
  • using trees along fence lines can also help to stop soil erosion from water running down the property
• establish dams in areas where rain is known to travel down to
• establish dams or other large water areas on the property where northerly winds can travel across them first and then the rest of the property
  • this will assist in cooling down the breeze as it continues across the property
• make use of water run off or opportunities to collect wasted water
  • whether this is from gutters, water from the washing machine after washing horse rugs or excess water in the shower, this water can be used on plants on the property that provide fodder, shade and wind breaks

Water is such a vital resource that can’t afford to be wasted.  Consider how you can maximise it on your property.
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Last year Blog Action Day focused on Climate Change - check out the Equus post ‘Climate Change Effects for Horse Owners’

“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”

tag: blog action day, water and horses, greater cause