.:EQUUS:.

As someone who’s collecting as many horse books as possible with the view to have them available in a library on my property for all to read, it seemed it was about time I started to review the books I own… and other horse related books that I’ve read.

The plan for my library is to have a room full of books (hopefully in excess of 800) that line the walls and on a day that the weather doesn’t allow horse riding, all the agistees and clients of the riding school will be able to spend the day in my library just reading about horses.

Recently I was checking out a friend’s packed bookshelves while at her house and stumbled across In Search of a Wild Brumby.  Even though I had four on the go at the time, she insisted I borrow it and there was no rush with regards to getting it read and back to her.

Once I started to read it, I realised returning it wouldn’t have been an issue due to the book being hard to put down.

As someone who grew up on the likes of the Silver Brumby series by Elyne Mitchell, it’s fascinating now at 23 years of age to read about these places in the high country but from a non fiction point of view rather than the fictitious series I adore.

Keenan after being asked his opinion on the mass shooting of brumbies in the Australian High Country in a culling effort, struck out to meet those who inhabited the areas of northern Victoria and just over the New South Wales border that brumbies were found.

Through meeting such people his plan was to find the small number of remaining brumbies scattered over the country and observe them in their natural environment to determine if they were detrimental to the high country land.

A great look at the start of horses in Australia and our horse riding history, the book has been a great read and caused me to want to go check out some areas in Northern Victoria that I hadn’t before known existed.  I think the Blue Duck Inn will have to be on the list with some planned horse riding.

In Search of a Wild Brumby is well worth the read.

Author: Michael Keenan
http://www.michaelkeenan.com.au/
Non Fiction
In My Library? Absolutely!   A very interesting read with some great Australian history.

“Ride a wild horse against the sky, hold tight to his wings before you die, whatever else you leave undone, once ride a wild horse into the sun.”

tag: horse story, equine book review, michael keenan, equine author, horse library, horse writing

Relive a sport that is 900 years old: jousting.  Founders of the American Jousting Federation, the Ravenswood School of Jousting is located in Alamogordo, New Mexico.  Karl Anderson, the owner of the school kindly took the time to answer some questions regarding the school and jousting.

Have you always been interested in horses and when did your interest in jousting begin?
I have always loved horses, and all animals for that matter. I became interested in jousting around 2000, but the opportunity to actually start a school did not happen until 2005 when I was living in Washington.

How much of your day/week is hands on with horses?
I try to spend at least 2 or 3 days each week working with horses.

As a business offering the service of teaching jousting to others, is it possible for someone to be a full time professional, earning a livable income?
Perhaps someday that might be possible, but at the present it seems to be seasonal, and therefore, part-time. I think as more people find out about our school, we may very well develop a waiting list for students. One of my goals is to develop an on-site living situation with chuck wagon meals, which would make it easier for students to travel from longer distances for an all-inclusive package (tuition, boarding, and meals). As for a “liveable income” — I think it is possible — with enough marketing, good horses, and good staff.

What are some of the necessities for running such an operation? Was it difficult to set up?
Sound horses, good staff, and liability insurance are all essential to such an operation. And of course, a passion for it is key as well. You have to love what you do — no matter what it is — in order to make it an enjoyable experience for others. If you get burned out, it will show in your teaching.

Any advice for those interested in pursuing this horse related discipline? Are there opportunities to compete?
I would encourage anyone who is interested to take our courses. But that is only the beginning. Practice has to continue, both for rider and horse. An excellent place for someone to compete is at the World Jousting Finals, held each year in Estes Park, Colorado. They offer a handsome purse for that competition, which is broken down into Heavy (full) Armor Class, and Light Armor Class. We hope to one day establish a competitive event in New Mexico as well.

Is there anything else with horses you’d love to learn about or try?
I am always up for learning more about horses. As animals, they are each as different as people are, so getting to know each horse on an individual basis (i.e. their disposition, character, loves, and fears) is something I enjoy. Endurance riding is something I am interested in trying.

Favourite horse memory?
I think my favorite horse memory is when I rode Freya, a 17.2 hand Percheron mare, in a parade on the Oregon coast during their 4th of July Jubilee Parade. When I was being positioned in the parade (#5 spot), I learned there were going to be 2 Scottish Bagpipers right in front of me, and there was a 40-foot fire truck 2 entries behind me — that was going to be blaring its horn and sirens throughout the event.
As I was sitting on her, waiting for the parade to begin, a lady walked up to inform me — out of courtesy –that she was unloading 4 llamas from a trailer about 20 feet from where we were. When the llamas came out of the trailer, Freya simply ignored them. Then during the parade, as the bagpipers finished each piece, she whinnied! The fire truck’s noise didn’t matter to her at all. She was a big hit, and I was really proud of her. It was her first parade ever, and she passed with flying colors!

Future goals?
The current issue of RENAISSANCE MAGAZINE features a story about our school. I think this will hopefully establish that waiting list for students we have envisioned and hoped for. Other future magazines articles will also help, I am sure. Getting the word out is what it’s all about, along with providing a safe experience that students will truly enjoy.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
I think the best thing about doing this is seeing the reactions that students have to simply accomplishing it, and the pride they have in their horse, or in the horse they are using for the class, and how the horse takes them through it all.
For a lot of people, trail riding becomes “old hat” — and they want something new and different to do with their horse. Jousting certainly offers that, and Ravenswood School of Jousting is an excellent place to do it!

“Feeling down? Saddle up, Its the only cure.”

tag: jousting, equestrian event, horseriding, equine association, renaissance fair

October already.  As someone who is moving once again at the end of the year and possibly getting into teaching full time, I’m rather aware at the moment of the school term, end of year exams and preferences.  And let’s face it, it wasn’t that long ago that I was having to put in preferences for after high school.

For those who are considering the horse industry and related studies, don’t let a course acceptance ascertain if you’re going to do something with horses or not.

I got into my Diploma of Horse Studies with no worries but got knocked back for the Irish National Stud the first time round (and found the extra twelve months experience before going to the National Stud to be invaluable).  Now I’m applying to do an equine nursing course dependent on finding a job that will allow me the one weekday off a week to study.  I’m also applying for a teaching position.

The worst thing that can happen is I end up with too many choices.

If you’re not sure, just put out feelers to all possibilities that appeal to you and wait to see which doors are opened for that particular season of your life.

There are many places out there that are willing to:
- take on working pupils (especially competition and riding school properties)
- run apprenticeships (such as jockeys and farriery work)
- employ you and allow one to two days a week of study (such as studs/veterinary practices).

For anyone but especially those of you going through your final years of high school make sure you take the time to shop around for what best suits your funds, available time and interests.  And remember, it’s not the end of the world if you get halfway through a course or a few months into a job and then decide it’s not for you - better to find out sooner and just put it down to experience, not a resulting failure.

“I believe it’s been the most gratifying experience I’ve ever felt. Once you sit upon the saddle, and place both feet on their proper recess, and whisper the horse into a gallop, you realize you’ve only begun to live once you’ve met the riding horse.” - Carlos Astudillo

tag: equine nursing, horse course, apprenticeship, farriery, jockey, stud work

***Know that you want a career with horses but not sure what exactly?  Check out the Vocation 100 page for a growing list of possible vocations with horses and relating posts.***

I’m stumbling across more and more horse blogs (would you believe I am subscribed to 155 of them on my Googlereader?) and among these am finding a lot of endurance related blogs that point to Easy Boots for the care of their horses feet.  Of course this list wouldn’t be complete without the Team Easyboot Blog.

I got to see these boots in action while in South Africa as the owner of the property I stayed at used them on her endurance horses with great results.

At work in Euroa we’ve used such boots to help keep on poultices in mares out in the paddock that were suffering from an abscess at the time.  Previously in Wangaratta while out on road rides with my gelding I’ve also seen others out riding with Old Mac boots rather than having a shod horse.

If you have an interest in alternative foot care, then perhaps work in such a company or helping to promote such a product may be the way to go.

If you’re an advocate of the EasyCareInc products, then perhaps you want to look in becoming part of Team EasyBoot.  They’re currently accepting applications to join the team, so take a look if you love the product, are interested in trialing new products and advocating what you use and why.

The majority of members are in the US/Canada, then Australia, Europe and South America.  Perhaps you could be the first in your area?

“No foot, no horse.”

tag: old mac, endurance, natural hoof care, easyboot

This week teaching the Cert. II class has been focused on the rules of jumping and different types of jumps and it got me thinking about the knowledge behind those that design such courses for competitive events.

If you have a love of jumping and an interest in how courses are built, put together and the specifications, then perhaps course design is for you.

Before designing a course, it would be expected that one is familiar with riding courses themselves, after all, how difficult would it be to make something that you’ve never been through before?  The same person would also need to be familiar with different types of jumps.

The Wikipedia Show Jumping page takes a look at this equestrian sport and lists a number of different jumps.

The Equestrian Federation of Australia website has a .pdf file stipulating rules for FEI jumping and requirements for being an accredited jumping course designer.  These can be found from page 6 and state:

Level 1 Course Designers must have:
- Competed at 6 shows / year for at least 4 years or acted as assistant on 4 occasions over past 2 years with Level 2 or higher Course Designer and
- Must have passed open book theory exam at seminar or been nominated by 2 Course Designers of Level 2 or higher level

Level 2 Course Designers must have:
- Acted as a Level 1 Course Designer on at least 6 occasions over the past 2 years and
- Worked as an assistant at a minimum of 2 separate shows (one at least 2 days in length) in the past 2 years with a Level 3 or higher Course Designer and
- Attended an Official Seminar endorsed by the EFA within the previous 2 years and
- Satisfactorily completed a theory exam at said seminar

Applicants will be listed as a Level 3 Course Designer if they have:
- Acted as a Level 2 Course Designer on at least 6 occasions in the past 2 years and
- Worked as an assistant, on a minimum of 2 occasions in the past 2 years with a Candidate International or International Course Designer and
- Attended an official seminar, both for judging and course design endorsed by the EFA within previous 2 years and
- Satisfactorily completed a theory examination at said seminar

If you’re interested in course design, becoming a member of the Equestrian Federation of Australia or Internationally and working with other course designers would be the way to go.

“A basketball game can change a mood for the week, but a horse can change the course of a lifetime.”

tag: job, shows, show jumping, course, course design, horseriding, training, eventing, career