.:EQUUS:.

As a Christian who’s in love with horses, I’m always keen to read and hear about equine ministries around the world.  And even more eager to see the day when mine comes to fruition!  Although I still have a lot to learn and achieve before setting up my dream, I’m sure there are people out there with a dream in mind that are ready to start - they’re just lacking the funds.

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

So I’ve been thinking a bit of late of all the things I’d like to achieve in life - many equine related!  A firm believer in lists, I have a book that has all of these plans written down.  With that in mind, I think all equine lovers should have horse related dreams and goals to work towards - I even took the liberty of listing in an article some that you may consider worthwhile to add to your own list

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

So study for my Horse Management subject at uni has me going over the anatomy and physiology of the stallion currently.  Upon looking at artificial insemination I realised I’d planned to do a piece with regards to Equitainers and after a quick search on this blog, it appears that I haven’t!

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

So I got sent this link through uni and thought, ‘If only I had the money!’  Sounds like a great learning opportunity!

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

A series created by Joanna Campbell, this Thoroughbred story is written by Alice Leonhardt. Team Player focuses on Parker Townsend, the son of Brad and Lavinia Townsend of Townsend Acres.

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