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What a week! Patriot anyone?

What a week!

Well, let me first just say, congrats Norway! We (or Alexander Rybak) won the Eurovision song contest.

For those of you who are reading this for the horses just jump down a few scrolls ;) this first bit is dedicated to Norway, my country ;)

Then last Sunday it was Norway’s “birthday” and let me tell you, that is a big deal here in Norway. Everyone walk in parades, sing the national anthem, school bands march, we say… Continue

Added by Hannah on May 21, 2009 at 6:05am — No Comments

PSDD and BPPV

Back to normal life often seems a bit dull in the aftermath of such an amazing event. I think it is known as PSDD (Post Show Depression Disorder). Symptoms are lots of paperwork to catch up on, empty bank account, large amounts of washing and cleaning, and (if one has been overseas) disbelief that the weather could have got so bad so quick...

To add to the tedium of it all I am currently incapacitated (can't ride or drive - aargh, kill me now!) with BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional… Continue

Added by Ottilie on May 20, 2009 at 8:08pm — No Comments

Why the heavy hands?

When I started riding seriously 38 years ago, one of the top achievements of any serious rider was to develop SOFT & EDUCATED hands. Beginners rode with loose reins until they developed an independent seat, advanced beginners through intermediate riders concentrated on developing soft hands, and advanced riders were acknowledged for their soft, educated hands. In fact if you did not have soft, educated hands you were NEVER considered an advanced rider, and were spoken of just as a…

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Added by Jackie Cochran on May 20, 2009 at 2:30pm — 6 Comments

Grooming Tips From the Top

Show groomers share secret techniques for making their horses stand out on show day.

Every top show groom has his or her own bag of tricks out of which they pull some secret technique to make their horses stand out. Here's a list of tips to help you shine on show day:

For really white socks or stockings, dust the legs with baby powder, corn starch or French white chalk.

To cut down on static electricity in the mane and tail, use dryer… Continue

Added by Sarah at HorseJobs.ca on May 20, 2009 at 1:00pm — 2 Comments

Ride Better 1-2-3: Fitness for Riders Week 12- Get a Better Back

Hi,

I love to get your comments and questions for this blog- so don't be shy! Attach them to the comments section of a fitness blog that interests you. I select one rider's question each week (if there is one- this week there wasn't) and provide some feedback and fitness tips.

We're officially into the swing of show season now. You still have time to do a little work to boost your stamina. By July, I see riders wilting in the heat, and by the end of season just plain… Continue

Added by Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com on May 20, 2009 at 12:30pm — 3 Comments

Canada secures fundraising for World Equestrian Games

May 20, 2009

Canada's Equestrian Team has joined up with Masterfeeds to raise funds for its campaign up to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in 2010.

Dr Lyons, CEO and founder of Alltech, and Rob Flack, president of Masterfeeds Inc, seal the deal for Masterfeeds as Official Gold Feed Partner of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

This fall, Equine Canada and Masterfeeds will launch a year-long fundraising initiative leading up to the 2010 Games.… Continue

Added by Sarah at HorseJobs.ca on May 19, 2009 at 10:30pm — No Comments

New Western Learn to Ride program offered in Alberta, Canada

From the Alberta Equestrian Federation

May 15, 2009

The AEF is very excited to announce that we are now offering a brand new Western learn to ride program! This program is designed for children 5 years old and up and their parents and/or coaches. It is a program devoted solely to the initiation of equitation and to the horse world so that young children can discover the pleasures of western equitation and understand how to care for the horse. This program fills a need with young… Continue

Added by Sarah at HorseJobs.ca on May 19, 2009 at 10:30pm — 1 Comment

Chloes progress

We took Chloe to jump in Herefordshire yesterday and she qualified Hip Hop for the Scope Festival Staffordshire England Chloe has now qualified two ponies and we are extremely proud of her Hip Hop she has on loan and her own pony Jet

Added by Anne Marie Turnbull on May 17, 2009 at 1:11pm — No Comments

Sydney CDI ***

Hi all, I'm new to all this but wanted to share my experiences at the Sydney CDI, I went with two other NZ'rs Ottillie and Lisa, they competed small tour and we did the big tour. It was really great, I have an Irish Hunter who is NOT designed to be a dressage horse but we did ok, we had a couple of costly mistakes in both lines of changes in both the Int II and GP tests… Continue

Added by Karen on May 17, 2009 at 1:00am — 4 Comments

Were Back

Sorry to have taken so long to return to action. The virus that has plagued so many people over the last two or three weeks threatened to "take" us - as we had a good day followed by a bad day - but through it all we managed to get three horse shows and tournaments in.

The May Tournaments at Spruce Meadows were a great success as the unpredictable Alberta spring weather raised its ugly head. Evie had made a quick trip to Nelson, B.C. the week before May I and as she flew over Spruce on… Continue

Added by Evie Frisque on May 16, 2009 at 10:15pm — 1 Comment

Rachel Alexandra wins Preakness Stakes, Canadian champ Mine That Bird second

Rachel Alexandra wins Preakness Stakes, Canadian champ Mine That Bird second

Lee-Anne Goodman, THE CANADIAN PRESS

BALTIMORE- Canadian champ Mine That Bird stunned naysayers on Saturday to come within a length of repeating his jaw-dropping Kentucky Derby victory at the Preakness Stakes, proving he's far from a one-hit racehorse wonder.

Rachel Alexandra became the first filly to win the Preakness since 1924, but she did it with a feisty Mine That Bird nipping at her… Continue

Added by Sarah at HorseJobs.ca on May 16, 2009 at 9:57pm — No Comments

Lesson Time!

It's been a funny week, I had a small FM flare up and that is just about starting to settle down. I feel like I have been trampled by a herd of horses at the moment, which is really annoying and very painful!

My lesson went well, though I wasn't as focused as I have been the previous weeks. I think because I was in a flare, it was messing with my concentration.

Pink was so good, bless him, he had a good warm up by my instructor in the previous lesson, so I didn't have to… Continue

Added by Cat on May 16, 2009 at 4:19pm — No Comments

What do you know...?

... About the Fjord horse?

Since so many people are asking me about my horse I thought I would make a blog about Fjords. The text is copied from wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fjord_horse) and http://www.fjordhorseint.no/default.asp but the pictures are mine (unless anything else is written) If there is anything else you would like to know about fjords, please ask… Continue

Added by Hannah on May 16, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments

Jersey Fresh CCI3* - a show of ups and downs

Last weekend, we travelled to NJ for the Jersey Fresh CCI3*. It was a chance for us to visit our sponsored-riders and do some product testing.

It was a show of ups and downs and mixed emotions. Sadly, Phillip Dutton had a fall on the cross-country course with Bailey Wick, in which the horse was fatally injured. I was at the water jump & saw him jump the first part of the course, leave for the woods and never come back on the other side. It… Continue

Added by Patricia at ECOGOLD on May 15, 2009 at 8:05pm — No Comments

The Odyssey - Sydney CDI 3* Part 2: The Nitty Gritty

The CDI itself formally began on the Wednesday with veterinary inspection and the Trot-up which went smoothly for us with many compliments on our uniforms (and a few jokes about tea or coffee, chicken or fish - we did look a bit like flight attendants). Later in the evening there was an official welcome party in the VIP marquee where we had a chance to meet some of the other competitors over drinks and nibbles. I left early to pick up my friend, Kellie, who would be my groom for the show, at… Continue

Added by Ottilie on May 15, 2009 at 7:00pm — No Comments

The Odyssey - Sydney CDI 3* Part 1: Departure and Arrival

This year Dressage NZ sent three horses and riders to Australia to compete at the Sydney CDI 3* International Dressage Event. I was lucky enough to be chosen to go, here is my take on the whole experience...

Mr B and I set off from home on the 27th of April headed for our first stop, Brooklands Park where we stayed for a couple of nights and some final tune-up lessons prior to… Continue

Added by Ottilie on May 15, 2009 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Riding the Spooky Horse

I know that riding a spooky horse can be challenging and frustrating so here are some tips to help you understand why your horse spooks and to give you some tools to help cope with shying.

*You might be more patient with your spooky horse when you understand that horses have survived in the wild all these years because of their natural flight response. So, when you think your horse is being unreasonable because he's shying from something that seems benign, change your…

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Added by Jane Savoie on May 15, 2009 at 9:30am — 3 Comments

Tips for the Ring: Part 2

Continuing with last week’s blog, here are 6 more helpful tips for the ring:

Plan your corners. A typical course builder’s challenge is to place a jump so that you are jumping towards or into a corner. Deliberately designed to test you and the horse, as this naturally stifles the jump and may tempt your horse to jump off centre as he anticipates the turn you will be making. So keep straight, jump the centre of the jump… Continue

Added by Tim Stockdale on May 15, 2009 at 9:30am — No Comments

May 11/09 - A Filly is Born

Appasianata DS or Apple arrived tonight around 10pm. Black bay filly with what appears to be no white (will have to check more closely as mom tends to hide white on her babies until after the application papers have been sent in requiring photos and money for changes.

Sire: *Rhoson Pasiant - imported Section B Welsh bay stallion

Dam: Clovercroft Lucky Jenny - Hackney Horse black mare

Many thanks to stallion owner Darlene Morton, Morton Welsh & Sport Ponies for the… Continue

Added by Diana on May 14, 2009 at 7:48pm — 2 Comments

Back again

Still waiting on surgery for my gall stones and gall bladder to be removed and have had some health issues tied to that - my iron is rock bottom, as well as a few other things not where they should be- explains the great need I have for naps! LOL Hopefully got that problem straightened out and in a few weeks, have a consult with my surgeon and then hopefully surgery. Until then, I am okay for riding as long as I stop when it hurst (like that will happen) but until my iron is up to specs, I have… Continue

Added by Andrea Hard on May 14, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments