What is a race caller?  Perhaps others might refer to them as commentators - the person who (very quickly) enlightens listeners and watchers to the position of horses throughout the duration of a horse race.

At this point in time, race calling is a male dominated area so I found this article to be of particular interest.

Perhaps you have an interest in pursuing such a position as well as a passion and knowledge of racing horses, be it trotters, pacers or the gallops.  Take a look at Talk the Talk and Profile On: Travis Stone, Race Caller.

Sometimes breaking into a particular field can be daunting - especially if it hasn’t been done before with regards to a particular gender, age or country.  But who’s to say it can’t be done?

tag: self education, networking, racing, racecalling, racehorses, thoroughbreds, career

***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.***

Have you always been interested in horses and how long has Amazing Grays Ministry been in existence?
When I was four years old I rode my first full size horse; fell off… got stepped on… and I’ve been in love ever since. I’m not sure what that says about me, but horses have been a life-long passion even though I didn’t get to really concentrate on them until I was over thirty!

The ministry itself developed as the publication process for Amazing Grays, Amazing Grace began in the summer of 2009. If you had asked me about a ministry before that I would have been quite surprised!

What exactly does Amazing Grays do?
Amazing Grays Ministry is a non-profit Christian lay ministry dedicated to sharing God’s messages of Grace and Victory through Jesus Christ to all the family of God, in particular the equine community, as convicted by the Holy Spirit, through written, spoken, and broadcast word, music and images.

We are always looking for opportunities to speak to groups as well as conduct hands-on horse clinics.

Due to being a non profit organisation, where do the funds come from?
One of the goals of Amazing Grays Ministry is to offer something to those we meet rather than to ask for anything from them. Contributions to the ministry are tax-deductible, but we do not solicit direct donations. We sell the book and study guide, and are adding to our list of titles and products that may bless others as we move forward. At times the ministry is given a donation when we do a program or clinic although it is not a requirement. When offered, we do accept. Other funds are made by private donors who support the ministry’s work.

How much of your day or week is spent on this amazing ministry? How much of this relates to hands on with horses?
The ministry is pretty much a full time job although I continue to write both articles and books. Promoting and marketing are a big part of a ministry just as any organization that is trying to get a message out to the right audience in a world already filled with noise and input.

The hands-on part is growing. We will be taking horses into neighborhoods with church-operated summer programs to offer a really unique way to show the children how trust and confidence in a leader can change our lives. Additionally, we are booking horse-rider relationship clinics and I go to other equine ministries to do programs.

I go wherever I’m invited for the most part. If anyone would like to visit about an opportunity to hear our message, please ask them to contact me.

What do you do to earn an income alongside Amazing Grays Ministry?
This is it. We are officially retired, though I am a writer. Can’t say I plan on making a fortune that way, but even if I did I would give it to the ministry. We were blessed to be successful in both our business-world and horse-related careers and now share with others.

Any advice for those eager to pursue an equine related ministry?
Christian ministry of any kind is an assignment from the Lord. There needs to be a calling first. Whenever there is, the Lord is always faithful to make a way. But specifically, I would simply tell folks that the Bible tells us we are not to teach what we have not first mastered. I think only experienced horsemen and women should lead equine ministries. As a horse trainer, judge, and professional, I always put safety first. That hasn’t changed.

Is there anything else with horses you’d love to learn about or try?
There is one thing left on the list – to ride my own horse on a beach somewhere. We’re hoping to do that soon, but just haven’t ever had the opportunity. Other than that, every day with horses is both a blessing and a learning experience. As long as I keep going out to the barn I will keep learning.

Favourite horse memory?
That is so difficult. I have had so many wonderful horses. Winning World and National championships wasn’t bad, but each time a new horse looked at me and offered me their trust – it was a great day.

Future goals?
There will be more books. Other than that we just take one day at a time. I really look forward to working with people and including the horses in more appearances. We just hope for invitations to come and share our message.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
My relationship with the Lord. That is the foundation of everything. After that, being able to take the decades of experience gathered as an equine professional and use it to serve Him, his family, and the horses.

“It is the difficult horses that have the most to give you.” - Lendon Gray

Tags: Equine Ministry, Lynn Baber

Upon my return to Australia, I spent close to two years doing yearlings for Arrowfield Stud. I am a big believer in education, and I decided to go to Uni, where I studied a Bachelor of Agriculture (Animal Production).

I then returned to Arrowfield for a year and then returned home to work for a local trainer to gain some strapping experience as my next challenge was a stint in the UK.

I worked the yearling and mare sales in England and France and was lucky enough to gain an office manager position with Gary Witheford, a Natural Horseman who specialised in starting thoroughbreds and re-educating barrier rogues. This job gave me massive amounts of exposure to European Racing and I worked closely with many industry leaders including Godolphin and John Oxx to name a few.

I have always had an interest in becoming a Steward and whilst I was still in the UK my current position became available and I was successful in my application.

I am a Cadet Stipendiary Steward employed by Racing Services Tasmania, which is a government Department responsible for maintaining the probity and integrity of the thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing in Tasmania. As a Steward I am part of a team who enforce the rules of racing and ensure integrity throughout the three racing codes.

We deal with drug testing of animals and humans both on race day and out of competition and on race day we conduct inquiries into racing related incidents – but this is just a brief description of what we do! Basically a race meeting could not go ahead without the Stewards. In the lead up to a meeting we ensure all horses are eligible to race as well as Jockeys/Drivers.

On race day, we check to make sure that the racing surface is safe to race on. We identify the horses to make sure that the correct animal is being presented and that they are wearing the correct declared gear such as blinkers and pacifiers.

We make ourselves familiar with the racing patterns of the runners. During the race, we watch to make sure that all the jockeys / drivers are riding / driving in a fair manner and that there’s no undue interference. After the race, jockeys are weighed back in to ensure they carried the correct weight and all clear is given. We go back to the Stewards room and give our observations and review the patrol films. If there are any suspected rule breaches we inquire into them and act accordingly.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
Being a Steward does not actually involve working hands on with horses, in a way it’s more of an administrative role. As a steward I have no set working days although I can usually clock up 40 hours a week which is mostly spent at race meetings with the odd day or two spent in the office.

I work nights and days and no week – or day – is ever the same! We also spend a lot of time on the road inspecting Stables and Kennels and also attending track work and trials.

In this field of is it possible for someone to be a full time professional, earning a livable income?
Very much so. Every state has a panel of full time Stewards - Tasmania is somewhat unique in that Stewards are cross coding. Most other jurisdictions have separate bodies for each code which deal with Stewarding - and we also have part time Stewards to assist on race day.

There is a current shortage of stewards in Australia and around the world, so a career is definitely possible.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
The path that most full time Stewards take is similar to mine in that they start as a cadet and progress through the ranks. Becoming a part time Steward is also a good way to get your foot in the door.

Ideally you would have experience within racing and an interest is definitely a must! You must also have good decision making skills and be able to perform under high levels of stress.

Any advice for those interested in pursuing this line of work?
You need to be tough but fair, and don’t expect to have too many friends!! All conflicts of interest need to be declared and you always need to have your mind on the job. Being a steward is not a 9 – 5 job and people need to recognise that if considering it as a career path.

Is there anything else with horses you’d love to learn about or try?
Pedigrees are something that I’ve always had an interest in so I guess when my stewarding days are over I’d like to give breeding the next champion a go!

Favourite horse memory?
I’ve been fortunate enough to look after or be involved in some way in the career of many good racehorses, such as Makybe Diva when she was a yearling, Vintage Crop in his retirement and Sea The Stars when he was being started.

I also got a pretty big kick when my favourite yearling (Miss Bussell) that I prepared came second to Excellerator in the Magic Millions 2yo race – but she should have won!!

Future goals?
Become a fully fledged Steward and eventually work in Thoroughbreds on the mainland . I would love to have a stint in the UK as well.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
The challenge! Apart from working with an animal I love, the horse industry has given me the opportunity to travel and work all over the world, including England, Ireland, France and New Zealand.

“A racehorse is an animal that can take several thousand people for a ride at the same time.”

Tags: Horse Racing Steward, Cadet Stipendiary Steward, Kim Meredith, horse racing, racing course, racing marshall, racing official

As someone that age who has huge aspirations for the rest of my life, I was amazed to see that at 23 years of age she started on this dream to give back to the animals who had given her so much.  Negative words were spoken over her with regards to her lack of experience, age, finances and facilities.  Thankfully, they made no difference!

The end result is Second Chance Horse Rescue, an organisation set up by Jessie Barbour in July, 2006.  Based on the short segment featured on Can We Help?, it takes an average of $5,500 to rehabilitate a horse.

Obviously this would depend on the condition they first arrived in, but doing sums on the 75 horses mentioned that had passed through Second Chance Horse Rescue, this comes to in excess of $400,000!

If I had access to those kinds of funds, I’d eagerly be stepping towards my dream of 300 acres to house horses and educate people.  However, because they are lacking at this point in time, I’m sitting quietly - well, working towards the land in other ways!

A lack of funds didn’t stop Jessie, however and they don’t stop her today.  The large majority of funds utilised to support these gorgeous animals and restore them back to health is donated.

If you have a particular dream or goal for your life - especially one that involves making the world a better place for animals and humans alike - don’t let a lack of funds pull you up!  You may just need to take a different approach to get the desired outcome.

“All I pay my psychiatrist is the cost of feed and hay, and he’ll listen to me any day!”

tag: equine rehabilitation, horse goals, horse welfare, equine organisation

• Horse riding on the central coast of Sydney
• A beach ride in Daintree, Queensland - while here, it’s a perfect opportunity to check out Daintree Rainforest.
• School holiday horse riding camp in Sydney
• Private and group lessons in Sydney
• Introduction to polo in the form of a 2 hour session - individual or group
• Jackaroo/Jillaroo 5 and 12 day courses in country New South Wales

Covering a myriad of prices from $45, there are different disciplines in a couple of States of Australia - perfect for those wanting to see different areas of this great country.  For further details, check out http://www.adrenalin.com.au/all/&searchterm=horse.

“Wild oats aren’t meant for sowing - but they make a nice trail snack.”

tag: australia, jackaroo, cattle driving

Now I say ‘just’ because this is an obstacle that can be overcome - and sometimes by others rather than yourself.  On LightFM they’ve been advertising of late the $100,000 giveaway by Mission Travel.

The gist?  “Missiontravel.com.au will be giving away $100,000 to Christian individuals, churches and ministries nationwide. We want to know how you would like to serve God and how a grant could make that happen. The $100,000 is available in $5,000 and $10,000 Overseas Experiences, Bible College Scholarships and Cash Grants.”

“But where do the horses come into it, Christine?” I hear you ask.  Well, if you’re one who has a heart for reaching people through horses and are dreaming of running your own equine ministry, that’s where they come into it!  For those who have the plan but are just lacking the funds to get started, consider applying for the $10,000 or $5,000 grant for a ministry group or individual.

What you’ll need to tell them about if applying for an individual grant:

• What you plan on using the funds for and what you plan to achieve on account of receiving the funds
• How would you ensure that the use of your funds remain sustainable in furthering God’s kingdom?
• Provide a simple budget overview to show how the funds would be used.
• Provide a simple timeline to demonstrate when the grant will be used in each quarter, to be completed by the end of 2011.
• Please share anything else that we should be aware of when considering your application. (250 words or less)

What you’ll need to tell them about if applying for a group ministry grant:

• Describe your organisation.
• Briefly outline the mission and vision of your organisation.
• How would you use this cash grant?
• What are 3 main outcomes you hope to achieve from the funds?
• How would you ensure that the use of your funds remain sustainable in furthering God’s kingdom?
• Provide a simple budget overview to show how the funds would be used.
• Provide a simple timeline to demonstrate when the grant will be used in each quarter, to be completed by the end of 2011.
• Please share anything else that we should be aware of when considering your application. (250 words or less)

Applications close Monday 21st of June.  Perhaps you’re looking at that date and thinking - but I haven’t enough time to document all of that to apply!

Maybe not.  But, have you considered doing it anyway?  The best way to achieve a dream, goal or plan is to document what you need to do and how you’re going to get there.  This is the first year that Mission Travel have offered these funds to kick start other ministries.  I doubt it’ll be the last.

“Forewarned is forearmed” - make sure you’re prepared for another opportunity like this when it comes knocking!

“I used to have money, now I have horses.”

tag: equine ministry, horse goals, travel, christian ministry

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

Those familiar with transporting semen with regards to breeding the mare, will be familiar with Equitainers.

For those who aren’t, an Equitainer is a container used to courier semen to mare owners so that the mare can be artificially inseminated within a particular time frame.  If the mare isn’t inseminated within this short time frame, chances are she will not conceive.  Consequently, the lining up work of the vet as well as expenses with regards to collecting from the stallion and the mare owner having to dish out a reasonable amount of money would all be wasted.

For those interested in the artificial insemination breeding side of horses, Equitainer.com of Hamilton Research Inc. provides information with regards to:
- reproduction courses
- different products to assist in the ease of preparing mares to be inseminated
- articles relating to transported semen, collection and general reproduction issues

In an industry where reproductive technologies are advancing at an impressive pace, someone stepped into a niche area, providing a product that is now recognised as one of the best for “equine cooled shipping semen containers,” says Paul Loomis of Select Breeders Services.

In the equine reproductive world, those making use of such technologies available may find themselves jumping ahead in the products and services that are able to be offered to equine breeders.

tag: artificial insemination, transporting semen, equitainer, breeding horses

“Breed the best to the best and hope for the best.” - Breeder’s axiom

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

Despite being the son of a rich and famous couple who clashed heavily with Ashleigh, the first main character of the series and later on with Samantha, Parker works for Samantha and Tor Nelson. The fiftieth book the in series, time has definitely moved on from the young Ashleigh who first worked her way into the racing industry.

Also taking a slightly different direction, Parker doesn’t ride racehorses. He is an eventer, through and through. And a good one at that.

Working as a riding instructor at Whisperwood, the riding school owned by Samantha and Tor Nelson, Parker’s riding dreams are obviously a labour of love, rather than a money driven career.

This appears to be where he clashes with his parents who are focused solely on the racing industry – and the large purses that are offered with wins. Not caring about the money – but recognising he needs it to be able to compete – Parker is more interested in showing off the talent of his Thoroughbred mare, Foxglove as well as his own riding skill.

When a colleague with similar riding achievements gets shortlisted for the eventing team headed for the Olympics, Parker is left questioning why he wasn’t given the same opportunity.

Determined to show his skill, Parker sets out to win the next one and three day events that are made up of top quality riders. The question arises though, will he push his horse too far and forget that he wants to be part of the equestrian team, not an individual rider obsessed and going for gold?

Team Player focuses on the dedication required of horse and rider as well as the skill needed to compete in such a gruelling discipline as eventing. It also leaves the reader questioning what the most important thing with regards to the sport is – the prestige and recognition of winning or a job well done and a horse in peak fitness?

Author: Alice Leonhardt
http://www.answers.com/topic/alice-leonhardt
Fiction
In my library? You betcha. I’ve not yet got the whole of the Thoroughbred series as created by Joanna Campbell but am working towards it!

“No locker room speeches. No playbooks. No contracts or free agents. Not even a word spoken between teammates. Doesn’t that make it the greatest of all team sports?”

Tags: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Alice Leonhardt