In Cadence with the Horse-Lessons Learned

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 05:34:41 PDT

Finally NEW Business WEBSITE!! Cadence Horsmanship Center

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:18:07 PST

http://cadencecenter.webs.com/

Lessons, Training, Education, Fun, Links...

Check it out!!!!

Equine Education Balances Econimic Woes

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:10:52 PDT

I need to step away from the issue of rescue horses for a moment. I believe with all my heart that they way to reduce equine "abuse" is to educate novice horse owners about what it really takes to keep a horse well and safe. If education can be achieved, and issues of the economy aside, perhaps horses will not suffer at the hands of ignorant people. I do not mean that in a rude manner. Ignorance, then embarassment for hurting the horses, and then anger becuase people do not like to be told , or arrested...

For every horse owner you meet there are 100 opinions about how to care for horses.
The problem is only exacerbated because the internet provides so much information that sounds plausible and sensible for people who want to do the right thing.

Professional horsemen are always learning and comparing and trying things to make their operation the most efficient and keep the horses the most healthy. I do not understand why some people resent horse trainers or individuals trained/expereinced in horse husbandry. I have been told on more than one occasion, "You trainers are all alike, you hoard the information and Lord it over us, dole it out for a fee. I can just get the information on the Web, and it contradicts what you tell me."

However, the irony is lost on those 5 or 6 people out of the 300 some people I have had as clients, when they are telling me about their anger as they have the horse on the trailer to come back to me because what they were told by two more internet trainers did not fix a problem....

I cast this out to the blogosphere..

How about a novice horseman series of classes this winter at a nice covered barn area or an indoor pet/feed store...Or a list of reputable horsemen that novices can turn to for information before, and during the first years of horse ownership. Boarding horses is a great option, but I ran across several Pony Clubbers who did not even know what their horses ate every day and what sort of feeding schedule. This type of horse ownership does not create lifelong horsemen.

I seem to be controversial in these last few posts, and it troubles me. I guess it is because I see so clearly that proper education and practice would help children and their parents keep horses smarter, cheaper, and more efficiently, and reduce the number of horses dumped on the market in harder times....or turned loose in the woods...

Your opinions are welcomed.

cadencecenter@hotmail.com or comment here. You need a blogger account to comment.

Slaughterhouse closures fuel horse abandonments

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:23:38 PDT

By WILLOW WILLIAMSON,
AP
Posted: 2008-06-21 13:17:56
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) - Royal Gigolo, or Gig, wandered slowly around the yard, sniffing for a bit of grain, his skin hanging lankily over his ribs. Chunks of his hair have fallen out, and his hooves, though recently trimmed, show the cracks of neglect.

Gig's new owners, Garen and Don Albert, have wrapped his legs and used a salve to help heal the scabs on his ankles.

The Alberts, who own 11 horses that are mostly adopted, recently took in Gig. Garen Albert believes Gig's previous owners could no longer afford to take care of him.

Buhler Police Chief Bill Tracy said the department had received several calls about this horse. However, he was told by officials from the Reno County Sheriff's Office, which has jurisdiction in area, that Gig was just a case of an old horse who could not eat very well.

"I haven't put a thing under his nose he hasn't eaten," Garen Albert said.

Though officials from the Reno County Sheriff's office were unavailable to comment specifically on Gig, Wayne Baughman, patrol captain at the sheriff's office, said officers often receive neglected animal reports and when they check on it, the animal is just old and looks unhealthy.

He said if the reports turn out to be a true neglect or abuse case, they take action.

"Around here, for the most part, people take pretty good care of (their horses) even in the winter," Baughman said.

Gig's previous owners allegedly told police he was 30 years old, which could account for his poor condition, but Garen Albert believes the horse is about 15 years old - still relatively young for a horse.

"It is a very tough call between is this horse neglected or is this basically a rundown old horse," said Dr. Ron Keeler, with Ninnescah Veterinary Service.

Keeler, who often checks on possible neglect cases, said he does a series of tests, which will hopefully show whether a horse is unhealthy because of its age or because of neglect.

Don Albert said it can be difficult for anyone to afford a horse with the rising prices of feed and fuel.

"There's more pressure on the average income," he said.

The Alberts said it costs nearly twice as much to care for their horses than it did five years ago. Grain alone costs them about $60 per month per horse.

Along with the feeding prices, Keeler said, his clinic, like most other businesses, has raised prices. He said it costs about $300 per year for typical medical care that every horse should receive, such as vaccinations.

Jane Harder, director of Reins of Hope, a therapeutic riding school in Hutchinson, said she has felt the pinch of the rising prices.

"It's tough because feed prices are going up," she said. "We depend a lot on donations."

Harder said she has had enough money to continue running Reins of Hope without program cuts, but some students have been unable to continue the program because of high fuel prices. She also has seen other horse owners struggle with higher prices.

"Feed prices are going up," she said. "People can't feed their horses, and the horses are starving."

Though the prices for certain food items are high, such as corn and grain products, there are some alternatives.

Greg Farney, manager at the Farmers Coop in Hutchinson, said he works with livestock nutritionists to create feed mixes that are healthy and less expensive. Farney also raises, breeds and trains horses, but he has cut back because of high prices and because the horse market is down.

"We've got a decent market built, but the horse market's been in a definite lull for several years now," he said.

The economy is hurting the market, but Farney said the recent closure of all U.S. horse slaughterhouses in the past two years is another reason for the market's lag. The American Quarter Horse Association reported there were roughly 90,000 horses sent to the slaughterhouses each year.

"There is a population of horses out there right now that normally would have been sold in the slaughter market that are now just waiting in a pasture to die," Keeler said.

Keeler said he has also seen an increase in the number of horses being euthanized in his clinic, which he said could be linked to the number of horses and the financial difficulties of horse owners.

The Alberts said they were aware of more people having trouble caring for their horses, and they pointed out there are many people who will adopt horses, as long as owners take the time to look and advertise.

"If you can't feed them, give them away," Garen Albert said.

"These animals didn't ask to be born. They didn't ask to be on this earth."

Information from: The Hutchinson News, http://www.hutchnews.com

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
06/21/08 13:15 EDT

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:06:51 PDT

Horses and the Economy Links

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:05:28 PDT

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/01/13/Strapped_owners_leaving_horses_to_starve/UPI-31341200267806/

http://www.newser.com/story/28892.html

Horses and the Economy Continued

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:55:53 PDT

The shock value of the last few posts were, I admit, perhaps, over-the-top. The point I was trying to make was that the problem of too many horses and what to do with horses that are no longer useful is many-faceted. There are no easy solutions. I was wondering if it would be worth starting a group in the Central PA area to assist pleasure horse owners down on their luck. I saw a segment in the news today about a young girl who started a movement, freekibble, to feed dogs who are victims of natural disasters.

Why couldn't we start something like that for horse owners who have lost jobs or homes...You know, be part of the solution? That might protect good family horses from ending up in the auctions.

As far as the broken racehorses, lame horses, old horses and horses abandoned I am still horrified with enormity of the problem.

Feel free to comment below each blog post. I would like a discussion to develop.

Also, think about an equine "food bank" idea. Anyone have extra hay to donate, stockpile for winter months?

I guess one of the lessons herein is: do not have a horse if you can not afford to keep it up. Average horse maintenance costs run upwards of $3000 per year if done right with foot care every 7 weeks, proper nutrition, dental care once a year, blankets, worming, shots...Perhaps it is up to those of us who sell horses to new people coming into the industry to educate new families BEFORE selling the horse to them about how much each horse requires.

So, fellow horse lovers, ponder these postings and let me know how you feel.

Abandoned horses, More Discussion

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:57:37 PDT

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1809950,00.html?cnn=yes

Ok So here is the other side-Caution, Graphic

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:48:49 PDT

Found this on Craigslist. Humane slaughter? So what is the answer? Stop breeding, stop owning, Wow I am overwhelmed. Again, be cautious if you have a weak constitution. I am not sure that is what really happens but I have a tendency to believe it is so.

horse facts get them straight before you post !! (california)
Reply to: sale-732743564@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-06-25, 5:22PM PDT

Please get your facts straight before you post
First of all The women is pleaing for money or the horse goes- The husband is planning to buy another race horse, or will trade for a truck . How is that going to feed the baby?? \
There is no increase of neglect or abuse related to the slaughter ban, in fact the horse theft and neglect cases went down (look it up) . The increase in horses being dumped is due to a poor economy , those trends have also been proven . There is also an increase in other pets being dumped , surely you have heard that on the news as well.

Learn about horse slaughter before you guess about horses being used to feed zoo animals, or dogs or poor people. Horses are not able to be put down at the slaughterhouses the same way cattle were ,its not the right equiptment. Those foreign slaughterhouse owners refused to obey the US laws to make it humane and left . Horses are very different than a cow , pig or chicken. They are built different react different and fight and have been raised (most) to trust humans , if horse owners can't be responsible and find a new home or spend the money to put it down humanely then they should have never owned any horse. Its all about squeezing that last 50 bucks out of a horse they probably ruined themselves or didn't have the intelligence to plan ahead for . They live a long time , eat a lot if you can't get a second job to support it- no matter what_ don't get one in the first place , but don't just dump it .
The below is prior to the foreign owned slaughterhouses leaving because they could not comply with our laws on transport or humane slaughter. They paid a whopping $5 in taxes to the US and ruined sewer systems as well as operating poorly managed places where many workers were injured . Its crappier in Mexico and Canada and some argue a longer trip even though the only ones in the US were Illinois and Texas so longer trip depends on where the horses started. The pro slaughter people will say its all about the horses they will starve. People in favor of slavery said the same thing. That seemed to have turned out ok . You know what, there have always been neglect and starving animals its worse in crappy economies such as the one we are in. Always will be no matter what. There is also rapists, child abusers, murders etc. Should we go back to allowing the foreign owned companies to kill our horses ignore our laws or should we use our heads to think of a better way, oh wait we already are so why on earth do people want to bring slaughter back, so they can have an easier place to dump their mistakes . There are humane euth programs, shelters, rescues. Or here is a novel thought make owners responsible , stop breeding crap horses, stop ruining them at young ages. Stop saying I can't afford to put them down but go out and get another one once you got your $50 bucks from the auction
The Trip To A Slaughterhouse
Video www.kaufmanzoning.net/horsemeat/reclaimingtheamericanhorse.wmv (This video takes 1 1/2 minutes to load, it's worth the wait.) Its early in the morning when you arrive, the corrugated metal building of the plant is already operating in full swing. Sounds and smells roll from the structure and crash against your senses like a wave. The sound of horses can be heard across the parking lot -- not the pleasant nickering or occasional whinny that greets you when you enter your barn at home, but a rapid, frantic neighing. You can almost feel the panic, fear and discomfort in the sound of the horses. Soon enough you will see the cause of the terror that is almost palatable in the air around the plant.

Each horse awaiting slaughter in the chute leading to the "kill stall" is suffering symptoms of terror that few ever witness, but are the routine at these facilities. Another sound mingles with the cry's of the horses and pierces into your soul, the strange muffled whine that can only come from a saw cutting bone still encased in flesh.

You had tried to prepare yourself for this, but now realize that you are not prepared for what you are about to experience. Nausea, your companion for the duration of your stay at this facility, engulfs you as you catch the first whiff of the oddly sickening odor of newly slaughtered flesh. Carcass after carcass, row upon row, steaming as it hangs in the freezer storage area. You had thought you were prepared a little bit for the visual experience, but you are caught blindsided by the almost unbearable smell that permeates the entire plant. Choking back the bile, as it rises in your throat, you enter the structure.

You enter the same room the horses do, the "kill shed". The kill shed consists of one room in which various operations are performed by one of six butchers at four stations within the room. An inspector from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is also present to examine parts of every horse who goes through the kill shed.

The first station is the killing station. One man works the kill chute, his job is to herd the animal into the killing stall, slaughter him or her, and begin the butchering process. This stage of the process takes about ten minutes for each animal, and begins with the opening of a heavy steel door that separates the killing stall from the waiting chute. The man working this station goes into a corridor adjacent to the waiting chute where the panicked horses are trembling violently and urinating on themselves, prodding his next victim into the killing stall with a high voltage electric cattle prod.

The building rings with the cry's of the horses, the sounds echoing off the surrounding walls. This is the most time-consuming part of the operation because the horses are fully aware of what lies ahead, and are determined not to enter the killing stall. They thrash around, trying to reverse their direction, trampling over any smaller pony, foal or weaker animal in their desperate effort to escape. The physical symptoms of terror are painfully evident on the faces of each and every animal you see either in the actual killing stall or in the waiting chute. During the 40 seconds to a minute that each horse or pony has to wait in the killing stall before losing consciousness, the terror becomes visibly more intense.

The animal can smell the blood, and see his or her former companions in various stages of dismemberment. During the last few seconds of life, the horses thrash about the stall as much as its confines allow. The first horse whose deaths you witness is a sorrel mare. A mare, maybe seven or eight, mane freshly pulled, new shoes, and a coat that gleams from a curry comb, she is prodded into the killing stall, slipping and sliding on the blood, urine and feces from the previous victims. She strains frantically, futilely, and pathetically rearing towards the ceiling -- the only direction that is not blocked by a steel door. Death comes in the form of a pneumatic nail gun that is placed against her head and fired. The horse's bone fragments are driven into the animal's brain along with the nail.

The gun is designed so that the nail never completely leaves the gun, but simply is blown into the animal's head and then pulled out by the butcher as the animal collapses. Sometimes , it does the job on the first try but this mare struggles a good deal and collapse only after the third blow. After she has collapsed, the side of the killing stall is raised, and a chain secured to the right hind leg. The mare is then hoisted by that one leg, still alive, to a hanging position. At this point, the butcher drains the body of blood by slitting the mare's throat.

When the blood vessels are severed, an amazing torrent of blood so profuse that the butcher is unable to step aside fast enough to avoid being covered with it. This steaming torrent of blood lasts only about 15 seconds, the crimson flood mingling in the copper hairs of the mare's coat and spilling to the floor. The only task left to the man at the first station is to skin her and remove the mare's head. This he accomplishes rapidly. The air is thick with the acrid, salty odor of fresh blood, you can almost taste it in your mouth as you inhale the fetid air.

At the second station in the kill shed, the headless animal is dropped to the floor. The body is propped up on the back and relieved of hooves and milk sack and udder. At this time, any urine and feces that didn't drain from the body during the first few seconds of death now pour freely onto the floor. The body is then slit down the middle, and the hide is peeled partially away. A yoke is then hooked to the stumps of the hind legs, the body is lifted upwards, and the rest of the hide is pulled past a roller secured to the floor and peeled off, the once gleaming hide crumpled in a barrel with others to be "processed". The animal's body is now at the third station of the kill shed where it is gutted and then sawed in half, becoming two "sides of beef" or rather "sides of horse".

The sides of horse are sprayed down, to rinse the congealed blood from them and weighed at the fourth and final station. The sides are placed in the cooling locker where the residual warmth of life steams away slowly in preparation for the deep freeze storage locker. From the cooling locker, the meat goes into a main storage area where it is kept for as long as a week. This locker exits to a butchering area where the sides of horse are reduced to parts for the supermarket which end up on dining room tables.

The Slaughterhouse

In the last 10 years more than three million American Horses have been butchered in the U.S. for human consumption abroad.

Sadly, horsemeat is considered a delicacy in some countries. France and Belgium buy most of America's horsemeat, but Canada, Mexico, and Japan are also consumers, and all of America's Equine slaughterhouses are foreign owned.

Here's what they do

After being lead into the killing stall, a pneumatic bolt gun is placed against the head and fired. The horse's bone fragments are driven into the animal's brain along with the bolt, which then retracts back into the gun. Unfortunately, even after several applications, this torturous procedure often leaves them totally conscious.

Horses that are supposed to be unconscious at slaughter can be seen writhing - fully conscious - in terror as a conveyor belt carries them towards their gruesome death.

These still aware horses are then hung by their heels, their throats are cut, and they are bled to death. This live torture is executed in order to meet our United States Department of Agriculture's guidelines

All this is even more shocking when you consider that most American's consider the horse as a pet and companion animal. They have a status in our society comparable to dogs and cats. We believe they are not an agricultural commodity!

The pipeline that supplies the slaughterhouses is very clandestine. Typically, when owners give up a horse, they assume it will end up in good hands. But when that animal enters "the market" it goes into a different world, a world of price for pound and auctions, horse traders, and slaughter houses.

The women is pleaing for money or the horse goes- The husband is planning to buy another race horse, or will trade for a truck . How is that going to feed the baby??

Back in the Saddle, so to speak

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:42:26 PDT

Well, it has been a long while. Most of you subscribers have given up, I am sure. But is am back for good. There is so much to talk about. I have learned so much in the last few months.

One thing that really worries me is the economy and the shape of things to come in
the horse industry. You know what I am talking about. Some of us are marginal horse owners, at best. What I mean is, we used to be in the socio-economic middle class, but the downturn is making our dollars stretch less far. But we have horses that we may have had for years, and they are family. We struggle to keep them as we always have, but the cost of feed is rising at an alarming rate.

My friends in Washington State met last week to try to determine how to solve the problem of unwanted horses, or those that can no longer be kept by families falling on unfortunate times. I spent some time lurking on WA blogs about how horses are being purchased as "dealer" horses and being sent to Mexico to be killed. The issue of slaughter in the USA is a difficult one. If the horse is in pain or cannot be used, perhaps it should be destroyed. If you just Google bad equine rescue
you will discover a whole plethora of so called rescuers who are nothing but hoarders or dealers...of poor horses that are in pain or otherwise unsuitable for the beginners who are "saving" them from death.

Tough subject.

Let me hear your thoughts.

Welcome

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:30:43 PST

Interacting with the horse becomes a lifelong journey. Many years are spent developing a relationship with your horse. More years are necessary to develop the skills it takes to progress through a riding program. Some have spent decades, and some have spent a lifetime. As one level is mastered, there is ALWAYS more to learn--about the horse, about yourself, and about life lessons in general. That is why horses become more than just a means of travel, or a sport. They become a confidant, and partner, a friend. At Cadence Horsemanship we emphasize the journey. We encourage relationships with horses, whether it be for a reason or a season....Come live the dream every little girl has...to know and be known by horses. Feel free to share the dream and tell us how horses have changed your life.

Reclaiming Lost Lives

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:10:50 PDT

My story about Chloe's first ride of the spring (Horse Whispers blog) was written in a humorous vein, but the fact is, reclaiming horses that have been given up on as riding horses is no laughing matter. You see, I have never just gone out a bought a horse that I found suitable for myself. I gravitate to the horses that everyone says cannot be ridden. I find that most horses have had trauma in their lives. If we are quiet and listen to what the horse tells us, we can discover where the trauma happened and begin to take steps to erase the memory. The key is to supplant the bad memories with good ones. This is not a task, as many adopters of rescue horses have discovered, for the unskilled horseman. Most horses of the type that I am describing here are, in fact, rather dangerous. It takes much time and concentration to stay in the moment with these animals to avoid getting hurt. Staying in the moment is also important because you become aware of the smallest try, "the give" that the horse offers in the relationship. I will talk more about the concept of "the give" in later posts. For now, lets just say, we need to listen to be safe.

In this time of cowboy clinicians and TV trainers, the secrets of the horse whisperer are available to anyone with high speed internet or enough cash to purchase DVDs. As a professional, I find myself called out often to help people who have fallen in love with a horse with dangerous issues. I do not lump myself with the so called horse whisperers, and there are some horses that I cannot help. I prefer to tell people that it is the listening part that is important. A horse listener would be more appropriate. If we observe closely and move slowly, we can rebuild the story around a horse. In doing so, we can take that horse to the places that scare it and many times we can bring the horse back into use.

In Chloe's case, I was called out to see this beautiful mare that was difficult to mount, who refused to stop, reared, and threatened to go over backwards. The "neighbor fellow" weighiing over 250 pounds (mare is 15.1 and 950) put a Tom Thumb in her mouth, tied her head to her chest , and "worked her down" for two hours before he could ride her down the road. When I showed up to ride her, she was terrified of being ridden. It took me an hour to get on her, and an hour to get her to stop running headlong in terror toward barns, fences, cars, etc.. She was in a blind panic. I suspect it was the nutcracker bit that had made her mouth sore, the sense of feeling her nose attached to her chest making it hard to breathe at that angle, and the ill fitting saddle that made her back sore with that heavy man aboard that set off the panic. Any one of those situations alone could trigger a fight for her life. And fight she did. I am sure she thought that we were going to kill her that day. I cried for her. And I took her home.

With this mare, less is certainly more. I ride her in a fat, three piece wonderbit with a bean in the middle. This sort of bit is lifted by the horse and carried where it is most comfortable. It is not a busy bit, nor does it pinch or clank in any manner. My first rides on her were bareback, so that she could feel me, and so the saddle did not evoke panic. No saddle also meant that I could swing off and on without fear of being hung up. It seems to be working. Now I also use a neck strap for steering and my seat and legs for stopping. Less is more.

Over the last few months, I discovered that Chloe is still making milk. Still spinning her story, I believe that broodmares earn their keep, so someone might have bred her a few times before she ended up at auction and then with a dealer who dumped her on the first family he could find. On the ground she is the sweetest thing. Broodmares who are 10 are not really the best riding horses. Broodmares live in herds of horses. That fact would explain her lack of response to humans and her extra sensitivity to her environment as the bell mare.

Another thing that I learned early before I decided to keep her was that she did not understand how to communicate with a human. In fact, she was unaware that a human represented any sort of security. Chloe is a loner in the field, choosing to be at the highest point in the pasture. I believe she is an alpha mare and ran in a herd of horses most of her life. She is not happy alone in the barn and has not yet transferred her herd instinct to me. She did not whicker at me even though I lived with her in the barn and saw her over ten times in a day. I bribed her with treats, fed her, groomed her. But it wasn't until I began teaching her to target things that the breakthrough occurred. After 6 months and a looong winter of "playing" with this mare something changed.

I didn't realize this until today.

I stopped by the barn this evening and Chloe was at her usual spot, high up on the knoll in the pasture. I have moved out of the barn and have been gone for a week now, only seeing the mare once a day. Tonight, I repeatedly called to her as I was dressed to go out for dinner and would not step in the muddy field to get her. Finally I just said, as I do every time we work, "Do you want to play?" She watched me for a long time with her ears up, and as I turned to give up on her, she whinnied at me from across the pasture. I looked back , and could not believe my eyes. My little mare was raising her front leg in a salute from atop the hill! She wanted to play and was telling me so.

I ran into the barn to get cookies and a lead rope as she started down the hill, not really believing what I had just seen. When I got to the gate she had chased all the other horses off and came right to me. What I feel tonight is something amazing. I have taught my little unwanted mare that people are ok and that she can trust me. We can now communicate, even if it is just by lifting our legs!

I guess what I want to say by this rambling post is that sometimes if we listen and stay in the moment with our animals, our friends, and our family, perhaps we can see deeper into where they have been and why they behave as they do. Horses have taught me that if we are not judgemental, and we wait long enough, good things happen.

Relationships are important, and if you are not building one with your horse at liberty and you still have to control them with ropes and whips, you are missing out on the true communication that these animals are capable of. I was a non-believer, horses were just horses...animals. But I am discovering that by listening to the horses, they talk loudly and clearly about what they need and how they want their lives to be.

My buddy Chloe accepted me today. She is no longer lost. I have found a good friend.

Cita Normark on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:22:56 PST

Cita Normark on Flickr - Photo Sharing!: "Cita Normark

View Rock and Racehorses' map
Taken in a place with no name (See more photos here)
CITA Normark is a lovely Knabstrupper mare. She is a Danish import and was Danish Vilhelmsborg grading champion in 2005.

'Believed to have originated from the prehistoric spotted horses of Spain, the Knabstrupper is one of the oldest breed registries in Europe. Established in 1812, the Knabstrupper started with a single chestnut blanketed mare purchased by a Danish butcher named Flaeb from a Spanish cavalry officer. The mare, who became known as FLAEBEHOPPEN (which literally means 'Flaeb’s mare'), was purchased by Major Villars Lunn who owned an estate called “Knabstrupgaard” in Holbaek, Nordsealand, Denmark. Flaeb’s mare was bred to a Fredricksborg stallion and produced a wildly colored stallion son who was named Flaebehingsten. Between the two of them, Flaebehoppen and Flaebehingsten were bred to a large variety of good quality horses, producing loudly colored offspring and grand offspring and establishing the Knabstrupper horses as some of the most sought after in Europe at that time.

By the 1870’s the breed’s continuation was severely threatened as the limited numbe"

CITA Normark - A Horse of a Different Color on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:21:46 PST

CITA Normark - A Horse of a Different Color on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Clinic with Wendy Murdoch

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 02:11:25 PST

Wendy Murdoch clinic Westmoreland Fairgrounds, PA
We're sorry, but this discussion has just been closed to further replies.
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Pennsylvania Natural Horsemanship Association in conjunction with Westmoreland Horsemen’s Association is proud to present:

Wendy Murdoch!!

May 15 – 18, 2008

Westmoreland Fairgrounds

This will be an intensive 4-day clinic given by Wendy. If you have not seen or ridden under her, you are really in for a treat! Wendy has so much to offer. She is world-renowned, having trained under some of the finest names in the world. I have had the opportunity to ride under her briefly twice and cannot even put into words what I have learned from her. Please take the time to look at her website as her qualifications and what she offers as it is too extensive to print here! http://murdochmethod.com

If you are interested in attending, we only are able to take 16 horses/riders, so, please respond quickly.
Auditing is also an option if youc so choose. Please download the registration form and send along with your check quickly if you are interested.Share Feature on Main

Discovering Wendy Murdoch

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 02:09:12 PST

If you like to watch educational video and do not have a lot of time, check out this link

Video Minutes
minutesthumb.jpg
The video format of Wendy's popular Murdoch Minutes. Simple solutions to common riding challenges.
Video Minutes - Better Hand Position Wendy Murdoch
Video Minutes - Your Ankle Alignment Wendy Murdoch
Video Minutes - Finding Good Thigh Contact Wendy Murdoch
Video Minutes - Stop Pulling on Your Horse Wendy Murdoch
Video Minutes - Help For Unsteady Hands Wendy Murdoch
Video Minutes- Your Wrist Connection Wendy Murdoch
Video Minutes - Level Your Seat Wendy Murdoch
Video Minutes - Elbows Sticking Out Wendy Murdoch
Video Minutes - Elbows By Side Wendy Murdoch

* Articles ( 21 items )
Read articles from Wendy Murdoch and from other respected authors such as Dr. Joyce Harman and Dr. Hilary Clayton.
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Improve your riding in a Murdoch Minute. Simple solutions to common riding challenges.
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Horse Whispers Network

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:29:38 PST

Sorry I have been away for awhile! I have been putting my energies into a new social networking site called Horse Whispers. It is a by-invitation only site like Facebook or My Space. So far there are 34 members from Washington State, Pennsylvania and Florida. The way it works is that friends invite friends. The site has blogs, a forum, questions and answers, videos, how-to information and the social aspect. It has been on-line for two weeks. The traffic was heavy until a few days ago when it slacked off. I am not sure what happened. I suppose without so many people on it, it only takes two weeks to see everything, and unless something changes daily, the novelty wears off. I am willing to give administrative privileges to another who wants to take the reins and make the site hop--if sites can hop.

Any suggestions from experienced social network users? e-mail to cadencecenter@hotmail.com or comment here. If you want to join the network, send an e-mail as well. Since I am new at this tech stuff, I can use all the advice I can get.

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:29:24 PST

RFD-TV Announces New Show with Mary Midkiff Equestrian World Announced Equine Tips with Mary Midkiff

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:24:06 PST

Equine Tips on RFD-TV - Hosted by Mary Midkiff
read complete news release

Watch it on:
Direct TV - Channel 379
Dish Network - 9409
Mediacom Cable
NCTC Cable

Upcoming Equine Tips by Mary Midkiff will include:

Connect with your horse on both sides when leading: Establish leading a horse from both sides for balance and safety. We often learn to lean and mount and saddle horses from one side because of convenience. This is not helpful to the horse and can cause lameness issues over time. Learn to lead your and work around your horse from both sides in everything you do.

Massage the withers to bring down blood pressure: Massage and rub the horses withers whether you are on the ground or mounted as a calming influence. When your horse gets nervous while you are mounted or on the ground with him use wither massage to lower the blood pressure.

Keeping the horse's back and neck relaxed when tied: Make sure your horse's head and neck are relaxed and lowered when tied. I see many horses in cross-ties and hooked up to trailers with their heads and necks held tight and high. This only causes a hollow back, unnecessary tension, poor neck and back muscle development and is counter to relaxation. I prefer not to use cross-ties, I've seen too many horrific accidents with them, however, if you must make sure the lines are long enough to allow the horse to hang his head at least on a level plane with his back. I do prefer to tie with a short but loose rope in a safety knot with the horse's head level or low.

Keep chestnuts or night eye's tidy: Keep chestnuts neat and trimmed for looks and health reasons. What horse chestnuts are, where they are on all four legs and the variety in them per breed. Each horse has chestnut characteristics which will make them easy or difficult to peel. Use baby oil, lanolin or a moisturizer to soften the chestnut and peel off.

Mouth Massage Techniques: Use mouth massage on your horse before you bridle them. Horses typically hold a great deal of tension and stress in their mouths and jaws which can lead to headaches, biting, head tilting, anger and frustration in training. First have a master dentist give your horse a complete dental exam. Ideally after the dental exam you would have your horse chiropractor come in and give the horse a good going over to make sure his body is in alignment. I have seen so many mouth and jaw issues cause neck and back problems. Once the horse is comfortable begin working in and around the mouth. Start with the nostrils, corners of the mouth, gums, soft palette and tongue. Place your hand in the bars of the horse's mouth where there are no teeth. Be careful with geldings that still have their wolf teeth as these can be very sharp.

Bubble Gum Shoulder Exercise: Use the Bubble Gum shoulder exercise to bring your shoulders into alignment. Demonstration.

Notice Placement of stirrup bars: Placement of stirrup bars can be helpful to women's position and balance.

When saddling, always make a space for the horse's spine: Always lift padding up to the saddle to allow air and space for the horse's spine.

Blanket fitting: Tip for the day is to allow plenty of room for movement under your sheets and blankets.

Types of blankets and sheets: Tip for the day is to select and change sheets and blankets with conditions.

Stretching Exercises on the Ball: Use the ball to stretch at home everyday and you will notice a significant change in your riding. Your horse will appreciate your commitment to the stretches.

When there's a problem always look to the inside of the horse first: Always look to the internal systems of the horse first when there is a problem. Some typical problems and issues and how to approach it differently than with training techniques and gimmicks. Whether it's a young horse and everything is new, a trained horse that develops problems, a made horse that begins misbehaving or a horse that stops performing, always look to the nervous system for answers.

How should a healthy horse look? My tip for the day is learning to recognize a healthy horse. Take a few steps back and observe a horse standing either held or tied. Answer these questions: Does the horse have a peaceful expression in his/her eye? Is the horse breathing slowly and without nostril extension? Is there any visible tension in the body or appearance of this horse? Does the horse look like one whole package or is he/she broken up into many parts? From the side, does the horse have muscle definition without bulges? Is the horse's back lifted to its full potential? Does his coat shine and is it soft and supple? Are his feet round and trimmed in proportion with his body? Is his manure soft but formed? Are his ribs visible? Does he have hollow spots?

Safety stirrups: Consider riding with safety stirrups.

Check for body alignment in the saddle: Use a checklist on your own back for alignment in the saddle.

Women need to maintain an open knee position for best results: Keep your knees off the saddle and open for best flexibility and movement in the saddle.

About "Horses on RFD-TV" - A daily two-hour program block offering a wide-variety of training and event coverage to serve the entire equine industry. The nation's premiere trainers are featured weekly including Pat & Linda Parelli, Clinton Anderson, Linda Tellington-Jones, John Lyons, Dennis Reis, and Lynn Palm, among others. Dressage, Western, Rodeo and features from all major breed associations and shows satisfy the demands of the horse owner, and horse lover. Baxter Black contributes cowboy poetry & humor. Campfire Cafe cooks on the trail, under an open fire. Horses on RFD-TV broadcasts weeknights at 4pm (eastern) and again at 10pm, with weekend repeats.

Watch it on:
Direct TV - Channel 379
Dish Network - 9409
Mediacom Cable
NCTC Cable
HORSE ENTHUSIAST
FEEDBACK REQUEST

About RFD Communications, Inc. Based in Dallas, Texas, RFD-TV is the nation's first 24-hour television network dedicated to serving rural America and agriculture. Programming is produced and uplinked via Ku-Band satellite G-11 from studios and facilities leased from Primedia Productions, in Carrollton, Texas. Distribution includes DISH Network, DIRECTV, Mediacom, and NCTC cable systems.

Previous Tips:
Saddle Padding
Neutral Pelvic Position in the Saddle
Neutral Pelvic Position While in Motion
Stretching Hip Flexors
Stretching before Mounting
Stretching before Mounting 2
How to Mount Safely
Using Protective Headgear
Fitting Protective Headgear
Calming the Anxious Horse
Mouth-Related and Dental Issues
Take a Holistic Approach
Protecting the Legs in Work
Cleaning the Horse's Head
English Saddle Fitting
Western Saddle Fitting
How to Promote a Horse's Healthy Back
Rider Shoulder Alignment Exercise
Loosening Hips using a Chair
Loosening Hips Lying on the Floor
Finding Neutral Pelvis
Maintaining Pelvis Position Mounted
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female equestrian fitness training and riding tips

Women and Horses--New Fitness Paradigms

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:14:36 PST

Mary D. Midkiff, a rider and horse business professional, believes this female perspective is bringing with it a revolution in the way horses are understood, equipped and ridden. In FITNESS, PERFORMANCE AND THE FEMALE EQUESTRIAN (Howell Book House/Macmillan USA/Oct 1996), Midkiff takes us through the changing dynamics of women on horseback to arrive at a new approach to riding effectiveness. Combining insight into the relationship between women and their horses with practical advice on exercise, equipment and nutrition, she provides a blueprint for better performance with less stress, greater comfort and maximum enjoyment.

Midkiff, who is president of Equestrian Resources (EQR), a Boulder Colorado-based marketing firm, says female equestrians now represent over 80% of today's horse enthusiasts and participants. But, she adds, since the techniques, equipment and teaching methods used with horses have not moved in step with the growing involvement and influence of adult and young women, "it's time to catch up."

* Biomechanical and anatomical considerations for women;
* Stretching and strengthening exercises to enhance performance;
* Steps to balanced riding;
* Saddle balancing, fitting tips, and equipment designed for the female rider;
* Riding and its relationship to aging, pregnancy and lifestyles;
* Nutrition and dietary considerations in daily and competitive riding.

A Rider's Success Starts with the Hip Joint
by Mary D. Midkiff

Maverick Press Article - December 2000

The Barbie doll era must have started many of us thinking that our bodies bend from the waist and that our lower section and upper section are separated by the waist area. After all the belt is cinched at the waist and provides a natural visual division. We can seemingly "bend" from the waist area when we slump our torso or we can falsely achieve an erect position from the waist upward. In the military, ballet and gymnastics, to name the most obvious, people are taught to lift the rib cage, pull the shoulders back and chin up to stand at attention or salute the judge. Sound familiar from one of your riding lessons?

Since all of my research over the past 10 years is based on the needs of the female athlete; since I am a female rider and since 80% of the riders and participants in horse sports today are female; I will be speaking mainly to the female issues. However, biomechanics of the body should be familiar to all riders.

In my clinics and presentations, I ask participants what they do when they hear the command of "sit up" or "bring your shoulders back" in their lessons. The instructor may be asking for improved posture and alignment but without body awareness and biomechanical understanding, the rider will usually go into a statuesque or military position by lifting the ribs, pushing out the chest, and rolling the shoulders backward. This automatically puts women at a disadvantage in her balance, effectiveness and comfort. Men, too, will experience imbalance and tension throughout the body with this stiff position. Compression of the spine is the result of this misunderstanding.

To "sit tall and straight" without compression in the spine and tension in the neck requires bending from the hip joint first which then leads to effective movement above and below and ultimately an even flow of oxygen throughout the many systems of the body.

All movement in the saddle begins and ends with a flexible hip joint, which is the joint just under the femoral artery connecting the femur (thigh bone) to the pelvic structure. We have flexibility and movement in the waist but it moves because of the chain of vertebrae and not because it is a joint. If the spine is straight and aligned over a neutral positioned pelvis, the hip joint can remain in full range of motion to access the leg below. Subsequently, all of the hinges toes, ankle, knee, hip to spine, neck and shoulders, wrists and fingers can align and flow together with the horse's motion.

To check your spine alignment, place your hand just under your belt and press on the lower back. Bend forward and you will feel the bones of the spine protrude, now bend backwards and feel the spine disappear. Somewhere between those two extremes of flexibility there is a middle where you feel the tips of the vertebrae and the muscles in the back soften. Check your spine in and out of the saddle and become familiar with your own alignment.

To learn to sit tall without compression and stiffness try this exercise. Sit in a chair or in the saddle and collapse from your waist by rolling your chin down to your chest and continue rolling forward until your head is almost in your lap. Now slowly bring your self back up, with your chin still against your chest, without lifting your rib cage. Go slowly and focus on raising up and becoming tall, as if you had a string connected from the ceiling to the top of your head like a puppet, without bringing the ribs up and rolling the shoulders back. Do this exercise in front of a mirror looking sideways to check your upper body alignment. This may take some practice and you may need to take a deep breath in and blow it out to make sure you are not holding your breath in your mid-section.

Once you are all the way up, slowly bring your chin up to a level position and check your alignment in the mirror. Do this exercise and check your lower back every time you get in the saddle and you will begin to adopt this "straightness" without having to review yourself in the mirror.

Understanding that your power and balance begin with movement in the hip joint is crucial to an effective and long, safe and comfortable life in the saddle. The horse will feel you as light and in balance leading to heightened performance and freedom of movement.

Return to Articles Index

Mary D. Midkiff's new book, She Flies Without Wings: How Horses Touch A Woman's Soul (Random House, Delacorte Press) is now on sale at Amazon.com

female equestrian fitness training and riding tips

Heel-first Landings are important

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:33:30 PST

This video is created by the Mission Farrier School. My shoer in WA, Mike Rumpza is an instructor there. This video is worth getting a copy. Note heel-first landings....

Is Barefoot Better?-from Equisearch.com

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:29:35 PST

A growing contingent of hoof-care experts says yes. Here's what the natural-foot movement could mean for your horse.
By Jennifer Forsberg Meyer

The barefoot option. You've heard of it, but you know it's not for your horse, because (pick one or more):
it's a fad.
he has bad feet.
you ride on rugged ground.
you show.
You agree that going barefoot is healthy for a hoof, and that pulling a horse's shoes at least once a year to reestablish natural hoof growth is a good thing. But eventually those shoes must go back on, right? Permanent barefootedness is appropriate only for certain horses who already have tough, resilient hooves.
Right?
Four months ago, I'd have agreed with you on all of the above. But now I'm not so sure. By researching this article, I've learned amazing things about how a horse's hoof is designed to function. As a result, I'm beginning to understand why a growing number of natural hoof-care experts say barefoot is not just for horses with already-excellent hooves.
In fact, judging by the evidence, the opposite may be true. Going barefoot (as the result of a correct trim and combined with compatible living conditions) may be the way to make bad hooves better, and even excellent. It may also create hooves capable of supporting a horse--with rider--over most types of terrain. And (this is the most intriguing part) it may enhance a horse's overall health, comfort, and longevity.
What I learned, in fact, prompted me to consider the barefoot lifestyle for my own horses, who live and are sometimes ridden on hard, rocky ground.

In this article, I'll explain what I found so compelling. I'll tell how the barefoot movement began, share the thinking of some of its most prominent advocates, and detail what's necessary to make the barefoot option work. I'll also discuss an alternative approach that applies natural-foot principles to a nontraditional shoe.
In short, I'll give you the tools you need to decide if new-age foot care is something you want to pursue for your own horse.

As Nature Intended
The foundation for a natural approach to hoof care was laid 20 years ago primarily by the work of two farriers. Jaime Jackson and Gene Ovnicek independently conducted field research among feral mustangs in the mid-1980s. Each hoped to see what the hooves and habits of horses in the wild might tell us about foot care for the domestic horse.
Both were astonished at the hardiness and resilience of the feet they saw. Without metal shoes to restrict elasticity and contact with the ground, the mustangs' feet remained tough and healthy even traveling at speed over the roughest ground. Lameness was rare, and usually accident-related rather than caused by disease of the hoof itself.
The mustangs' feet were heavily callused across the toe. Ovnicek's research showed that, contrary to popular belief, the hoof wall is not the primary weight-bearing surface. Rather, the load is shared among the sole, bars, frog, and wall.

"Intuitively, it always seemed to make sense that the hoof wall is the weight-bearer,"says Ovnicek today."And that belief kept us stuck in old modes of shoeing."
In the 20 years since the first feral-horse research, interest in natural methods of increasing the hoof health of domestic horses has blossomed around the world. Jackson has gone on to write several books related to the topic. He also helped create the American Association of Natural Hoof Care Practitioners, which promotes research and trains/certifies professionals.
Ovnicek, who still supports the ideal of "barefoot where possible,"has gone on to develop an innovative shoe that takes the natural functioning of the equine foot into account. He also lectures and provides clinics around the world on what he calls the "natural balance" of the equine foot.
Veterinarians, research centers, and universities are increasingly taking notice of the natural hoof 's powers to prevent and in many cases cure diseases like laminitis and navicular. Moreover, word of mouth among horse owners is building demand for more information on natural hoof care and access to practitioners.
Just before I began work on this article, I heard an enthusiastic endorsement of the barefoot trim from my neighbor, who's pleased with the results she's getting with her laminitic gelding. That caused me to wonder: Just how does it all work?

The Underlying Science
Robert Bowker, VMD, PhD is a leading researcher in the natural function of the equine foot. A neurobiologist who teaches anatomy at Michigan State University, he became interested in foot function about 10 or 12 years ago, when students asked him about the correct placement of nerve blocks. The anatomy texts he check were incorrect, so he began examining the equine foor himself.
His research extended from the nerves of the foot to the blood vessels, cartilage, and bones, and more recently to the hooves and their laminae in health and disease.He supplemented his lab work with observations of free-roaming feral horses.
click to read the rest of the article with pictures.....

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Cadence

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 19:31:15 PST

- is the legs interchange in particular/certain time intervals.
Well-balanced horse will have relatively slow cadence and his gaits will be crisp and springy. For the slow cadence is important the longest possible time carrying period of the hind leg. A strong pushing-off, long advancement and prolonged carrying time of the hind leg causes free/relaxed/light, roomy and cadenced transition of the diagonal front leg. A horse that interchanges/alternates his legs quickly travels in a fast cadence and tires quicker.

Mounted Games, Run and Ride

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 06:04:40 PST

Mounted Games Mounts

noreply@blogger.com (Donna DeNoble) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 05:14:02 PST

The local Pony Club is going to begin training to participate in Mounted Games. This sport is not for the faint-of-heart. It is also not for horses. Much of the sport is spent climbing on and off, bending down to scoop objects off the arena floor, and running heck-bent for leather.

The video in the previous posting give s small taste of the sport.

I am writing this posting to appeal to everyone out there who may have a pony or shorter horse that has not really taken to the safe and sane world of round and round the ring, or will not dressage...These are the ponies we are seeking for the mounted games.

If your pony thinks too much or has a mind of its own, if it can go from zero to ninety in an eyeblink, and if they steer well, the Pony Club needs your animal.

If you have such a wonderful mount, send a video or pics to me at cadencecenter@hotmail.com, or respond here in a comment and embed the video.

Watch the video above and below this posting. This is fun stuff. Too bad adults can't compete, eh?