.:EQUUS:.

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

So I’m ashamed to say I bought this book about twelve months ago and haven’t touched it until now! A friend borrowed it and insisted I get on with reading so that I could review.

I’m glad she did! Rachel L. Burkum’s 2008 published novel Silent Ride was a delight to read. Interestingly, the book has remained exactly as the author intended, “verbatim, without editorial input.”

Randi Steel hasn’t been in touch with her brother for nearly a decade. Despite a difference of six years in age, she used to have an incredibly close relationship with her older brother. This changed drastically when she was twelve.

Now, at the age of 21 she finds herself living with Brad, who is none too happy about the interruption to his life.

Consumed with an endurance race that he’s training for, Brad finds his sister’s presence poor timing and irritating. Brad struggles to communicate with his younger sibling, making it a rough ride for Randi. The fact that she is deaf seems to make this all the harder for her older brother.

Two months out from the race Brad is suddenly unable to continue with his training due to an accident. With the accident dies his hopes of making a good name for his farm and showing the worth of his Arab cross Morgan mare. On the surface Brad’s sister and staff can understand his disappointment but are confused by Brad’s defeated attitude.

What they don’t realise is that more is at stake due to Brad not being able to race. When this information comes to light, it is Randi who is forced to consider taking her brother’s place – in a four day endurance race against eighty plus competitors, all of whom are male and all of whom can hear.

Silent Ride is a wonderfully written story, focusing on determination, second chances, God’s grace in an ever changing world and how going it alone is never the answer.

Author: Rachel L. Burkum
http://www.rachelburkum.com/
Fiction
In my library? A resounding yes for this one. I loved the characters, the horses and the way the story progressed.

“In the steady gaze of the horse shines a silent eloquence that speaks of love and loyalty, strength and courage. It is the window that reveals to us how willing is his spirit, how generous his heart.”

Tags: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Rachel L. Burkum

So a lot of people in business are familiar with life coaches these days.  They seem to have created themselves a little niche.  Well, to take things further, you can specifically get a horse related life coach!

Because riding can be a full time career in today’s society, it’s not so surprising that others have made a career out of coaching riders.

Chances are that they don’t just coach those wanting to become professionals either.  Even learning to have fun on your horse while being safe can be goals to work towards that can be progressed with the aid of a coach.

Whether one is looking into coaching - and the sort that is specifically related to the equestrian - or looking to acquire a horse related life coach, there are a couple of qualities that should stand out.

The equestrian life coach should:

• have experience with horses
• be familiar with the stresses of competition and peak performance
• have skills, experience and/or qualifications with regards to coaching
• be familiar with the psychology of people and/or horses

Perhaps the best horse coach is the one who has been there, done that.  This doesn’t necessarily make them good at communicating with others how to achieve their goals, however.  The successful life coach is a true people person.

Some links worth checking out:
Jane Savoie Dressage
Equestrian Life Coaching

“Show me your horse and I will show you what you are.” - British proverb

tag: horseriding, coaching, instructing, competition, riding with purpose

A gift from some mates, it only took a day or so to devour this book that is well suited to early teens. Living in Australia is thirteen year old Shelby, her mother, father, two younger brothers and pony Blue.

Shelby lives and breathes horses. Having ridden for a few years, she daydreams about being recognised by those at Pony Club for the great rider that she is.

Concluding that it’s her skewbald pony Blue that is holding her back, Shelby responds to a ‘for sale or swap’ ad in a horse magazine. Very quickly things escalate once she swaps the reliable Blue for a gorgeous mare named Maxshine Celtic Copper.

With her newly acquired horse, a gorgeous brown mare with a ‘three-barrelled name’, Shelby is convinced everyone at Pony Club will recognise her capabilities and she’ll be put up to the next riding level. What Shelby doesn’t bank on is Brat (Maxshine Celtic Copper) being a lot more flighty and less reliable than Blue.

To top things off, Brat’s stunning brown coloured coat washes out with shampoo, leaving the young woman questioning the actual origins of the mare she acquired. The pieces fall together and Shelby soon realises she has a stolen horse. Worry and fear take over when she also realises that her reliable pony Blue could be anywhere.

For Sale or Swap takes the reader on a chase as Shelby and her friends work to catch the horse thief and return Brat to her rightful owner. The catch is even if they manage to do so, there’s no guarantee of Shelby being reunited with her trustworthy Blue.

A good read for the pre-teen or early teens, For Sale or Swap nicely catches the obsession that young girls have with horses – who’s to say anything else matters, really?

Alyssa Brugman
www.alyssabrugman.com.au
Fiction
In my library? Indeed. Given as a gift, the first in the series provides a great introduction to a well-suited horse and rider.

“Horse terminology… Reluctant = Sale Comes with Title Deeds to Sydney Harbor Bridge.”

Tag: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Alyssa Brugman

I’ve recently discovered in town a gorgeous bookshop called the Already Read Bookshop. Now on the weekends where I’m working and have a gap in the middle of the day where time needs to be spent, it’s not uncommon for me to head into town and browse through the bookshelves of this shop that sells on old library books – at a rather cheap price.

Last visit my poor workmate thought if she helped to find horse books with me, it’d mean exiting the premises quicker. I figured it just gave me more time to seek out horse books! A few of the latest acquisitions included three from the library of Thelwell.

Thelwell’s Riding Academy, which is based on a series that appeared in the Sunday Express, provides advice in a comedic way with regards to having a pony. Many who get a first pony for their children will be able to relate the cartoons and quotes that accompany them.

This book covers:
- The Mount
- First principles
- The Academy
- Care of your pony
- Safety precautions
- What to wear
- Good manners
- Academy pictures

A very entertaining read with over a hundred pages of cartoons and accompanying text, Thelwell focuses on the sense of humour that is required of those owning and working with horses.

The opening cartoon involves a picture of a riding instructor with a dozen young female students, coaching them on confidence with regards to being around horses. The picture itself has an extremely angry looking pony below a stable block. Seated safely above, high on the roof are the twelve girls and their instructor who is saying, “Remember what I told you girls, never let him see you’re afraid.”

Any Thelwell book I think would be a valuable addition to one’s horse book collection and I was rapt to find some in this second hand bookstore. For those seeking out any of Norman Thelwell’s books, a visit to eBay may be the way to go.

Author: Norman Thelwell
http://www.thelwell.org.uk/
Fiction - cartoon
In my library? Indeed! Along with Thelwell Country and Thelwell Angels on Horseback and Elsewhere.

“Never try out novel ways of getting into the saddle… you’ll enjoy quite enough variety – getting out of it.”

Tag: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Norman Thelwell