I love making use of SendOutCards online to be able to send cards out to anyone I like with pre designed cards, or ones that I create myself.  There’s nothing like using a photo of a friend on their horse and sending them a card with that picture on it!  For those interested in the networking side of things, SendOutCards can also be a way to generate income.

Interested?  Check out https://www.sendoutcards.com/christhomas/. Feel free to ask me questions about the online system I use

“You know you’re a horse person when… …your mother, who has no grandchildren, gets cards addressed to Grandma, signed by the horses and dogs.”

For those keen on the idea of pursuing a career riding racehorses, Pony Club or a riding school can be a great place to start at a young age.  Racing Victoria offers a Cert III in Racing (Track work), which would be worth pursuing for those in their teens or higher.

• Further information on the training package can be found at http://training.gov.au/Training/Details/RGR30108
• Also check out http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/p_Track_Riders.aspx

“It is easier to attach reins to a freight train and practice pulling to a halt than it is to slow down some of our horses.”

At this point I only have one horse, and that is enough to worry about when I’m heading overseas!  To know that there is someone who can come into the property and deal with rugging and unrugging, checking waters, feeding and turning out horses and mucking out would be great!

Of course, there are places where perhaps you could send your horses and have them looked after.  But to have someone come to me, that’d be something I’d be up for!  I haven’t grilled this person for information, but thought it unique and another worth mentioning.

“If anybody expects to calm a horse down by tiring him out with riding swiftly and far, his supposition is the reverse of the truth.” - Xenophon

Diamond Spirit is set in Australia and written by an Australian.  Based around two horse crazy teens that love games on horseback, this novel is realistic and full of authentic horse information.

The shock death of the main character’s horse Diamond leaves young Jess devastated.  She not only loses her horse, but feels that she has lost her best friend who is obviously keeping something from her.  Sulking at home, a couple of girls come across Jess whilst she is outside with her cousin’s horse.

The pair invite Jess to look at some foals at their uncle’s place and from here the friendship blossoms.  Jess is suddenly introduced to the world of camp drafting and a gorgeous little appaloosa filly.   Feeling that this filly and her beloved Diamond are in some way linked, Jess and her friends concoct a plan to be able to purchase the filly.

Diamond Spirit is a great read, entertaining and educational.  A wonderful choice for a present.  For a more in depth review, visit my articles at Suite101.com.

Author: Karen Wood
Fiction: 11 years and up
In my library? Absolutely.  A great story that is educational and entertaining - the best combination in my books.

Tags: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Karen Wood, Diamond Spirit

ABARES is encouraging people to apply for the 2012 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, with applications closing 18 November.

There are 12 individual categories, with each offering up to $22,000 for project funding.The awards are open to young people aged 18-35 who have an innovative project that will benefit Australia’s agriculture, fisheries, forestry, food and natural resource management sectors.

Grant recipients can use their funding for a range of activities including research projects, industry visits or to attend conferences and workshops that will support their project. The awards aim to encourage science, innovation and technology in rural industries and help to advance the careers of young scientists through national recognition of their research ideas.

The 2012 Science and Innovation Awards are supported by: the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Australian Pork Limited; Australian Meat Processor Corporation; Cotton Research and Development Corporation; Dairy Australia; Fisheries Research and Development Corporation; Forest and Wood Products Australia; Grains Research and Development Corporation; Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation; Horticulture Australia; Meat and Livestock Australia; and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.

For further information: http://www.daff.gov.au/brs/science-awards

I absolutely love the unique subject matter that this story is worked around.  A fan of the anatomical equine paintings of George Stubbs, Finn has created a wonderful story that weaves English and French history of the 1700s in amongst the lives of a 15 year old English boy and the young French girl that he stumbles across.

Going by the name of Ling, the young French girl is in dangerous territory in the town of Horkstow, England at a time when the French and English are at war.  She is desperately searching for her beloved Belladonna, a white mare with a mane and tail the colour of barley.

Finn writes in such a way that the reader is able to imagine what the characters look like, can picture the countryside and the incredible events that befall the pair.  A more in depth review can be found as usual with my other reviews at Suite101.

Author: Mary Finn
Fiction: Historical, 11 years and up
In my library? A resounding yes.  I really enjoyed this novel, finding it a delight to read and an incredible telling of how the works of George Stubbs could have come about.

Tags: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Mary Finn, Belladonna

I was kindly sent along the first in the series, Quincy Finds a New Home, which was released in 2009 as well as Quincy Moves to the Desert, a 2011 release.

Aimed at 4 - 9 year olds, these stories are interesting, educational and with some gorgeous illustrations by Michelle Black.

Having a nephew that is almost two, I can definitely imagine reading these books to him when he’s a little older and later down the track, can see him delighting in being able to read them by himself!

Quincy Finds a New Home provides children with the important message that to be loved and be a friend is all that is ever needed.  Quincy Moves to the Desert educates kids about some of the states in the USA, as well as variations within horse breeds, how they look different and are made for different jobs or disciplines.

Both books are around 40 pages in length and tell a simple story from the point of view of Quincy, the ‘little read horse with a coat the colour of a new penny’.  A more in depth review can be found along with my other articles at Suite101.

Author: Camille Matthews
Fiction: 4 - 9 year olds
In my library? Definitely!  I’m delighted to be able to have some stories for younger children that will encourage a love for reading and horses.

Tags: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Camille Matthews, Michelle Black, Quincy Finds a New Home, Quincy Moves to the Desert

It seems to me that when horse owners fall on hard times financially, the cost of keeping horses becomes increasingly difficult.  This seems to be especially so with regards to the need to purchase feed.  Another time when this becomes difficult and expensive is in a drought.

When considering horse feeds, a few things could be considered by property owners to make things less difficult:

• invest in pastures that have a variety of species that have growth periods at different times of the year - this allows horses to consistently be on pasture whilst at the same time protecting paddocks from bare patches, erosion and other issues that can occur when pasture is lacking
• invest in trees in laneways that alongside providing shade, will be a great fodder source - the lucerne tree is a great example of this
• purchase in bulk - when feed is cheap, if storage is available, purchasing in bulk can be cost effective as well as guarantee the horse owner of having something stored away when drought or other issues restrict the possibility of acquiring feed

Horses are always going to consume food and as an animal that grazes 12 - 20 hours a day, the horse owner should be aware of ways to best ensure that their horses have access to food.

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

This year’s date is October 16, so look out for an equine related food post on this date and if you write a blog, consider signing up for Blog Action Day 2011.

“The horse! The horse! The symbol of surging potency and power of movement, of action, in man.” - D. H. Lawrence

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

Head, Heart, Horse
Aimed at horse owners who would like to improve their understanding horse/human dynamics.  A 2.5 hour workshop for $30, it is being held on October the 22nd.  Check out the Grey Horse Learning website.

Can’t make this date?  Don’t worry - there will be more scheduled in the future!

“Horse person’s glossary - Pinto: Green coat pattern found on a freshly washed grey horse left unattended in the stall for 10 minutes.”

Tag: equine therapy, riding for the disabled