.:EQUUS:.

To volunteer!

Last year I dobbed myself in for helping out at Equitana 2007 but a spread of EI caused that idea to disappear. Amazing to think it’s already around to that time where volunteers are being asked to put their names forward for the big horse event:

“Have you ever thought about volunteering at Equitana but have just never taken the next step? Well 2008 is the year to get off your horse and join the Hygain Equitana Volunteer Program!

We are currently seeking enthusiastic, passionate people to help at the event. In exchange for your services rendered you will be given a volunteer pack full of various goodies including an official “Hygain Equitana Helper” t-shirt and cap and a ticket to a clinic of your choice!

With various jobs available from customer service to working in the stables there is sure to be something that interests you! So don’t think about it this year, DO IT! Join the Hygain Equitana Volunteer Program today!”

Check out the volunteer page at http://www.equitana.com.au/volunteer/

A horse which stops dead just before a jump and thus propels its rider into a graceful arc provides a splendid excuse for general merriment. - Duke of Edinburgh

tag: education, competition, horse events, equitana

Ministry/Ministration - ‘The act or process of serving or aiding.’

When I have the 400 acres I am continually dreaming about, my main goal in life is to run an Equine Ministry. I see this as being a place that looks after the well being of these gorgeous animals and through them, reaches out to people. There are a lot around, many of which make a small profit or none requiring volunteers and whatever the case, all seem to be for a great cause.

Having been a volunteer for a branch of Riding For the Disabled, Australia I see RDA as a well known equine ministry that makes a huge impact on the riders and those volunteering their time and services.

Other Equine Ministries:
HopeWell Ranch - “To provide free, Christ-based equine therapy for children, adults and their families who are challenged mentally, physically and emotionally.”

Horse Haven Ranch Ministries Giving Girls Purpose - A non-denominational, multi-ethnic, Christian Ministry

Miracle Mountain Ranch Missions - The whole setup of the summer camp looks very appealing and Sermon on the Mount completely appealed!

Wild Horse Ministries - As the ministry listed above, this also seems to relate working with and educating a horse to scripture and our growth in life.

Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch - Where it all started for me. Mum heard Kim Meeder being interviewed and her book Hope Rising talked about on LightFM and immediately sought out the book as she felt it’d interest me. I now await the day where I’m able to set up a ministry and reach out to people like Kim and her husband Troy do.

I’m sure there are many more equine ministries around, all different in their own respect but still offering services to those in need and making use of the beautiful animal that is the horse. Perhaps there’s one nearby that you can help out at, volunteer, become employed or become a part of making a difference in someone else’s life. Or perhaps you need a place like this to make a difference in your life. They seem to me a very worthwhile ministry.

“An instructor does not criticize you, but what you have been taught.”

tag: equine ministry, horse goals, Hope Rising, Kim Meeder, riding for the disabled

So I’ve just been looking at the Equitana website and remember the fun a friend had as a volunteer a couple of years back. And through being a volunteer and getting a pass and therefore access to the likes of vet Ian Bidstrup, Andrew and Bettina Hoy, saddler Peter Horobin, Linda and Pat Parelli, Sandi and David Simons and many more, who wouldn’t want to be involved?

Equitana is run over the 15 - 18th of November 2007 at the EQUITANA Precinct, Melbourne Showgrounds, Victoria, Australia. If you’re horse obsessed, and have that weekend free, consider checking it out! Better yet, volunteer and get yourself in amongst some of the best in the industry! Probably wouldn’t look too bad on the resume, either

The site is http://www.equitana.com.au/ and while you’re there, do yourself a favour and check out the photo competition!

“An exhibitor went up to a horse show judge to complain about being placed below someone who made some sort of mistake, such as being on the wrong lead. The judge’s explanation:’the other guy did it better wrong than you did it right.’”

tag: training, australia, shows

Well, I’ve less than a week left in South Africa and I’ve had an absolute ball. The current group of work riders plus one staff and the proprietor of Wild Coast Horse Trails have just been out on a trail for five days. The trip in a nutshell? We rode from Kei Mouth to Trennery’s to Wavecrest, along the Eastern Coast of South Africa.

Consequently, you see a lot of sand and surf! Two nights are spent at each place in gorgeous rooms on the beach. The trail involved around 3-5 hours in the saddle each day, long canters up hills and across the beach; a gorgeous gallop and lots of breath taking scenery - a ship wreck, sand dunes, rocks, hills and beach, cliffs and valleys and South African culture.

Before the trail I had the time to ride 15 of the horses here - up roads working on fitness; on trails round the 400 hectare property and at the beach and school horses in flat and jumping - what a great riding experience!

I also got to work with a foal that was born the night I arrived, work with weanlings, yearlings and stallions; free lunge endurance horses and learn Join Up and start two 3 year old mares under saddle. Oh, and I’ve raided an impressive horse library here, making note of a half-dozen must haves for my collection and have read five books while here - relaxing!

Yesterday we got to go to the Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve and saw warthog, giraffes, a rhino, many types of antelope, lions, ostriches, wildebeast, kingfisher, elephants and finished up playing with cheetah and lion cubs - just gorgeous. Photos to follow when I get home!

For the horse riding enthusiast, you can’t pass this working/riding holiday up!

“Good horses make short miles.”

tag: horse books, join up, endurance riding, south africa

…and have a heart for helping others?

It’s amazing how you end up in the right place at the right time for the important things. I meet up with some gorgeous friends Thursday mornings as part of a prayer group from 7-9am and this Thursday just passed (when I was more than happy to stay in bed rather than go out!) I dragged myself out of bed to catch up with these friends and spend some quality time.

The partner of one of the girls’ mum’s was down for a visit from Darwin (Australia) and as he asked about what we each did with ourselves, talk quickly turned to horses as I mentioned what I do.

Turns out the guy - Andy - is on the lookout for ‘horsepeople’ who also have a heart for helping others from troubled backgrounds. His passion in life is focused on Tiwi College.

I’m still reading up on all this but from what I gather:
- Bathurst and Melville Islands (the Tiwi Islands) were proclaimed an Aboriginal Reserve on the 4th of December 1912
- The total land area is almost 780,000 hectares. Melville Island is the second largest islands off the Australian mainland and spans 570,000 hectares. Bathurst comprises 210,000 hectares.
- Tiwi College is an “exciting development designed to provide quality secondary education for all Tiwi young people. The college will be owned and operated by the Tiwi people through the Tiwi Education Board representing all Tiwi families and communities.”
- It is to be located at Pickertaramoor on Melville Island, where students will be accommodated in family group homes. The College features ‘24 hr education’ combining classroom learning with sport, life skills, outdoor education and contributions to the life of the College.

Where do the horses come into it?

Andy mentioned that there are thousands of horses running over one of the Islands and that to put them to use, it’d be amazing to be able to place these gorgeous animals with these gorgeous young adults and establish learning and a relationship between the two. Apparently staff are trained to be able to educate and work with the Tiwi people and some of the training involves the ‘Monty Roberts’ method - for the horses and the young adults!

I’m part of a young adults group at my Church and one of the girls with us that morning who is also ‘horsey’ commented on how amazing it would be for our young adults group to be able to invest in something like this - our time, money and any hands willing to work over there. And to think - selfish me was just thinking how much fun I’d find it!

Now I tend to job/holiday hop and can’t stay in one place for very long and it seems that this kind of experience would require a decent investment timewise (6, 12 months, I’m not sure but will find out!) But if you love working with horses, have a heart for young people and think a change of scene just might be your thing in the near future, then check out the site… and check back here for updates!

“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: australia