Issue 1 - March 2011 Quarterly
Holistic Equitation Australia 1
Changing the conversation
Jason and Jo McInnes and Kailie Nott
se and Owne r r Ho YANG Hot
BLUE
RED GREEN
Pe r rso nality Decode PURPLE
YELLOW
YIN Cold
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Personality Decoder Download
FREE
Training Equipment
Holistic Equitation For Advertising or Editorial Enquiries please Contact: Jo McInnes info@holisticequitation.com.au Tel: (03) 5773 4236 www.holisticequitation.com.au
you have with your horse has become the driving force behind the team at HE. The dedicated team have spent years studying and working with trainers and self development coaches across the globe to bring you a collective force of knowledge to help you better understand yourself and your horse. We have come to the understanding that to have this deep connection and understanding with your horse requires you to also have an equal understanding and connection with yourself. The more authentic and congruent you are as a person and the more at ease you are with yourself, the more connected you become with your horse. It's ultimately a spiritual experience. When we let go of our own agenda's, our own issues, shake off our stiffness, inflexibility and limiting beliefs we shift into a new paradigm of being. Our horse's then shift with us - It is us that hold them back. Horse's mirror us in such truth and honesty yet without prejudice or judgement, their innocence and ability to teach us is truly a gift that runs straight over the top of most people's head. Growing as a horse person requires that you grow as a person, this magazine has been developed to help you do both. We share strategies for horsemanship and strategies for humanship! Holistic Equitation is not just about training horses it's about education and it's about connecting with like minded people across the globe who have
Holistic Equitation Australia 2
a similar ways of thinking and bringing them together in our publication. We have connected with many people over the years and continue to connect with more and more amazing people who want to create a better place for horses and people. Our first edition has articles from international Equine Facilitated Experiential (EFEL) Learning coach, Carol Roush who is planning on visiting Australia early next year. Carol travels the globe teaching EFEL and shares her insights in this issue. International Artist, Kim McElroy shares her inspirational story, "The Spirit of The Horse". Victorian Photonics Teacher, Eric Thomas has written a very in depth story on Photonic Therapy, it's an amazing modality and anyone owning a horse should have a torch in their kit. Tanya Mitton, NLP Master Coach and Practitioner, explains how she combines her unique riding instruction and NLP techniques to coach riders from Pony Club and Adult Riding to the elite level. We share an interview with International author and speaker, Bruce Lipton PhD, who helps us to understand the complexities of our beliefs - a must read! Dr John DeMartini also an international speaker and author of dozens of books and workshops shares his process of getting to know yourself through identifying your values. This is a great exercise for everyone to do. We have an interview with Animal Communication expert with Sharon Callahan and
students from Body Talk and Animal Talk expert Loesje Jacob share their amazing results. Andrew and Nicky Bowe share their insights to Barefooting which has now become very popular in Australia. Nicky and Andrew are leading the way in Australia with Barefooting. Our story introduces why you should consider going down that track. James Shaw is also inspiring and helping riders achieve a more balanced and relaxed ride with Tai Chi for Riders, James has a very busy international schedule but made time to gives a quick outline of what he is achieving with horse and rider. The gorgeous Tammy Raine has also kindly contributed her latest fashion collection from Giddyupgirl. The clothes are amazing and I strongly suggest you take a look. The range of clothing will keep everyone in the family happy, they are fun and very stylish. Of course the HE team will be supplying regular stories and Kailie Nott has put together a great story on Nosebands that is definitely worth the read. Last but not least I have put together part 1 of our "Horse and Owner Personality Decoder" articles. The Decoder is our first communication tool that starts the awareness process. This tool helps you to firstly understand yourself and also your horse's personality so that you have more acceptance of their innate way of being and learn strategies to communicate more effectively with them. We hope you enjoy our first issue, the magazine will be coming out at the start of each season, if you have a great story you would like to share with us or articles you'd like to contribute we'd love to hear from you. We look forward to sharing stories, news, strategies and the love for horses with you in each of our issues. Jo McInnes Publisher/Designer Holistic Equitation
Contents Pages 4 - 12 - Horse and Owner Personality Decoders - Jo Mcinnes Page 13 Holistic Equitation Clinics - Jo McInnes Pages 14 - 17 - The Nosebandwagon - Kailie Nott Pages 18 - 19 - Dressage Naturally - with HE Page 20 - 23 - Wisdom of the Nature - Carol Roush Pages 24 - 25 - Book Review - Jo McInnes Pages 26 - 29 - Spirit of the Horse - Kim McElroy Pages 30 - 31 - Horse Riding ebooks Pages 32 - 33 - Intuitive Listening - Sharon Callahan Pages 34 - 35 - Horse and Rider Clinics - with HE Page 36 - 37 - AEFL - Elaine Hughes Page 39 - Performance Training - Jason McInnes Pages 40 - 41 - Body Talk - Loesje Jacob Page 42 - Tai Chi for riders- James Shaw Page 43 - About HE - Jo McInnes Pages 44 - 47 - Equestrian Fashion - Tammy Raine Pages 48 - 55 - Photonic Therapy - Eric Thomas Page 56 - 57 - Getting the right start - Jason McInnes Pages 58 - 61 - Riding under the Radar - Kaye Hall Pages 62 - 63 - Trainers Program - Jason McInnes Pages 64 - 65 - Determining your Values - Dr John Demartini Page 66 - 67 - Are you a master or slave to your mind - Tanya Mitton Pages 68 - 71 - Interview with International Author and Speaker - Bruce Lipton Page 72 - Job Review - Jo McInnes Page 73 - Job Tips - Jacinta Thomas Page 74 - 77 - Why Barefoot - Nicky & Andrew Bowe Page 79 - 81 - Ross River Virus in Horses - Hints and Tips Guide - Simon Healey and Dr John Kohnke Page 82 - 85 - HE horses for sale Page 86 - Photo Art - Jo McInnes Page 87 - About the Publisher - Jo McInnes
Holistic Equitation Australia 3
d n O a w e s n r e o r H YANG Hot
BLUE
RED GREEN
Pe r rso e d o nality Dec PURPLE
YELLOW
YIN Cold
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HORSE AND OWNER PERSONALITY DECODER Understanding more about yourself and your horse’s personality, empowers you and strengthens the relationships you create around you. By Jo McInnes, Holistic Equitation Personality is made up from the characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that make a person unique. Personality arises from within the individual and can remain fairly consistent throughout one’s life. We can determine a beings personality by the display of their collective combination of traits that are then grouped together to form a “Personality Type”. Personality profiling is not a new thing. Swiss psychiatrist, influential thinker, and the founder of analytical psychology, Carl Jung was regarded as the first modern psychologist and established the foundation thinking for The Myer Briggs personality profiling system. “Personality is the supreme realization of the innate idiosyncrasy of a living being. It is an act of high courage flung in the face of life, the absolute affirmation of all that constitutes the individual, the most successful adaptation to the
universal condition of existence or vice versa you are more coupled with the greatest possible empowered to make changes in freedom for self-determination”. - the right direction. Carl Gustav Jung, 1934 It is of no co-incidence that the It was through Carl Jung’s issues people are having with philosophy that we were able to their horse will always be showing create the “Horse and Owner up in other areas of their life. As Personality Decoder”. Years of energy beings with strong belief working with people and horses systems, we attract and create gave us a great deal of insight into repetitive situations in our life with particular horse owners and their the people and animals that we horses. We also observed strong come into contact with. We then mirroring dynamics taking place in say “Why does this always these relationships. happen to me?” The Mirroring can be displayed as a projection of one’s self or the projection of those feelings and emotions not owned or recognized in one’s self. The being with the strongest focus or problems will become the one to dominate the relationship – good or bad! Understanding your own personality and how that is projected or transcended onto the horse opens up a whole new level of understanding for the person. When you know how your personality is affecting your horse
When we become consciously aware of ourselves and our interactions with the world we can start to see the patterns that we create and we will then realize that the outcomes we have in our life directly mirror our belief system. Unfortunately, less than 10% of people in the world live in conscious awareness. The rest are being controlled by the Ego or basic self. Interestingly enough the 90% of people who are not conscious also listen to the voice in their head believing that it is
If you put Jesus Christ, Buddha, Shakespeare, Socrates, Arjuna, Krihsan at a dinner table, I can’t see them having an argument. ~ Hugh Jackman
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theirs. The Conscious 10% have come to the realization that the voice in their head is separate to them and they become aware of the conversations and choose what is hurting them and others or what is serving them and others and respond accordingly. Getting to know yourself and your horse empowers the relationship that you have and flows onto the relationships you have with the people in your life. Horses will forever try to raise the consciousness of people as they are pure energy beings that live in the moment with no judgment. When we realize that putting our relationship first with our horse instead of the “ribbon, prize or ego” our achievements will be more than we could possibly
hope for. What appears to be the long way has been proven time and time again to be the short way. Cutting corners and resorting to forceful aids only damages the trust, relationship and outcomes of your training.
we start putting the relationship first and taking the time it takes. Identifying your horse’s personality will give you a language, understanding and training principles that will start to make life easier and more enjoyable for you both.
The use of forceful aids don’t teach your horse to yield to There are 4 basic personality pressure, they teach your horse to types that will be covered for both evade out of fear. horses and owners, Blue, Red, Most people just can’t tell the Yellow and Purple. difference as the problem There is another Colour that we “appears to be fixed”. Wouldn’t it have identified which is Green, be great to know yourself and this relates to the ability of you your horse on such a level, that and your horse. you never had to use this type of equipment ever again? Next issue we will look at the Personalities of Horse Owners. So getting to know yourself and your horse is not that hard, the journey can start right here where
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TRUE BLUE The Blue horse is a horse that loves to express its nature mentally, physically and emotionally. They are extremely quick learners and need creative leadership as anything repetitive will drive them mad. They are very confident and love to show off, they love attention, people and playing. In the wrong hands their play can become dangerous and intimidating as they are very good at inventing games and taking over. They love to rule the roost and be the centre of attention, playing with everything and anything in their paddock. They are often the ones that undo the gates, through the buckets around and stomp on anything they share their paddock with. Key Personality Indicators: Desirable Traits: Forward, Thinking, Inquisitive, Clever, Playful, Quick Learner, Confident, Creative, Honest, Likes to Move, Sociable, Smart, Athletic Undesirable Traits: Challenging, Takes Over, Intimidating, Invents Games, Pushy, Dominant, Defiant, Bad Mannered, Excitable, Mischievous Training Strategies: Variety is the key to training this horse, flat work in an arena will drive them mad and before long they will be inventing games, shying and spooking. Try to be creative in how you train this horse, use multiple strategies, such as applied dressage rather than teaching the end goal. The Blue Horse needs to be entertained and will detest a monotonous approach such as mindless circles and lunging, they will start to look like yo yo’s on the end of your lunge. It’s essential that you do regular, creative ground work with this horse. They need exceptionally strong leadership, time and feel. Trying to keep this personality under control through dominance rather than leadership will shut the horse down making him insecure, dangerous and grumpy. In the wrong hands these horses can be very intimidating and have been known to become dangerous to handle. Their playful, inquisitive nature can also make them chase other animals such as dogs and sheep around the paddock, stomping on them. If you can capture their natural flamboyancy, they make excellent mounts at dressage, games, hunting, cutting cows and activities that are energetic and interesting. Perfect Owner: A creative, energetic person, who is willing to make this horse’s life interesting, be competent with handling and training and provide strong leadership.
Dakota
True Blue ~ Dakota is owned by experienced horse owner, Bri, he became a little unmanageable being so young and playful and started to show silly, dominating behaviours. Bri had never owned this type of personality before and with the help of Jason they are now speaking the same language and Dakota is now a wonderful “Desireable True Blue”.
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Red Hot The Red horse is a highly sensitive, instinctive, intuitive, emotional horse. They are very quick learners and extremely willing as they will do almost anything to avoid pressure. They need to move and love a job. Their sensitive nature requires super consistency as they are born worry warts and can easily become fearful and panic. They tend to react first and think later, shying and spooking easily, leaving you fearful. They are the most likely to be herd bound and notice the smallest changes in their environment. They wear their hearts on their sleeve therefore you always know where you stand. Key Personality Indicators Desirable Traits: Energetic, Motivated, Eager, Forward, Likes to Move, Perceptive, Soft, Willing, Honest, Action Rich, Expressive, Vocal, lateral thinkers, Intuitive. Undesirable Traits: Reactive, Bolts, Emotional, Panics, Crowds You, Shy/Spook, Accident Prone, Herd Bound, Distracted, Restless, Hyper Active, Lose the Plot, Dominate out of Fear. Training Strategies: The Red Horse needs to be kept busy and tuned in to the rider at all times. They like to move so you need to be able to go with the horse and not hold them back. They are easily distracted so you need to keep them focused. They are ultra sensitive so you only need to think what you want with a horse like this and they’ll know. When the Red horse “Loses the plot” they will often need a pattern interrupt. Do something that takes their mind off their problem. Exceptionally skilled riders can apply more pressure to exhaust their attitude and to build their confidence. A good way to get a Red under control is to do small circles. They need consistency as change really bothers them, so don’t keep changing the rules on them, congruency is paramount. Don’t try and work with this horse if you’ve had a bad day and then try and put on a brave face. They just won’t cope as they will see that the outside and the inside are not a match and will become rattled. Forceful aids, punishment and bad timing will send this horse completely over the edge. They make great horses for Eventing, Show Jumping, Dressage, Barrel Racing, anything that is forward moving with a strong focus attached. Perfect Owner: The perfect owner for this horse is someone who can control their energy and emotions, confident, super consistent, congruent, sensitive, loves a forward horse, is sensitive to the horses emotions, supportive, caring and can stay focused when they can’t.
Max Red Hot ~ Max , now I know he doesn’t look it. In fact butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth!! These shots were taken after one of the Holistic Equitation Clinics. Amber was in tears the first day and refused to ride him. He was dangerous, angry and very unsettled. Amber continued lessons with Jason and they are both very happy and content.
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Purple Pain The Purple horse is very independently minded and often known as the “bombproof” horse. They’re unflappable, reliable and a loyal friend. However, these horses can also be one of the most frustrating horses to own, bruising ones ego as they are not easily motivated, giving them the name of “Royal pain in the butt”. We also call them the “Boggwart” as they can seem like they are bogged in mud! They are often not worried about what the herd is doing and are happy doing their own thing, which normally involves eating or standing. To train a horse like this you need to offer many rewards and think laterally, as they can be very contrary. Key Personality Indicators Desirable Traits: Reliable, Calm, Accommodating, Consistent, Tenacious, Congruent, Confident, Loyal, Bomb Proof, Unflappable, Non-reactive, Thinking, Strategic, Relaxed. Undesirable Traits: Defiant, Doesn’t Like To Move, Contrary, Buck/Rear, Sucks Back, Over Powers, Bores Quickly, Rebellious, Tunes Out, Calculating, Rigid, Lazy, Tough Minded. Training Strategies: The Purple Horse requires a very clever, patient owner. This horse is naturally oppositional, and will nearly always be inclined to do the opposite of what you ask. You will need to be equipped, with exceptional lateral thinking skills and not be someone who gets hot under the collar quickly or you’ll go mad. They didn’t get the name “Purple Pain” for nothing. Because these horses love standing around and eating you can use this to your advantage, using food and lots of stops as a way of getting the horse to work with you, soon they will be willing to go where ever you want. The Purple Horse is not that sensitive and not that motivated so kicking and whipping and applying more force will just cause them to tune out and ignore you completely. You can never get the trust or respect of this horse with that style of training. Once you have your Purple Horse understanding their job they are exceptionally reliable, unflappable mounts. They make great kids ponies, nervous rider mounts, mounted police horses, carriage horses, hunting horses and activities that could put them under a lot of pressure. They are great for jobs that could be normally quite stressful for other horses as they are very level headed and don’t get bothered easily Perfect Owner: To own this type of horse, you will need to be patient and be able to apply lateral thinking strategies. Once trained this horse is ideal for the beginner or nervous Nellies, and make excellent mounts for kids. They are often good horses for those who lack sensitivity, time or feel or are green riders. If you have a hot seat and like action this is not the horse for you.
Dante
Purple Pain ~ Dante - and boy was he a pain. Dante had been to several different trainers before he arrived at Holistic Equitation (HE) . He reared, was unable to be led and had trashed his last paddock and left the trainer in tears. Julie-anne was desperate to find answers and with the guidance of Jason and a HE Clinic learnt the art of reverse psychology and a communication strategy that worked, making life easy for all concerned.
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Yellow Belly The Yellow horse is one of the most challenging horses to own, train and read. They internalize their feelings and emotions until they all boil over and then everyone knows about it. They care a great deal about their relationship with you, even if they don’t show it. Trust, comfort and safety are what motivate this horse. They are very sensitive but can also be bossy and aloof. If your timing is out then they can go from being super quiet to explosive in milliseconds, causing you to feel very insecure. Once you have the trust and a solid relationship with this horse they are truly amazing, very reliable, calm and super responsive. Key Personality Indicators Desirable Traits: Agreeable, Soft, Easy, Disciplined, Submissive, Bonding, Quiet, Responsive, Reliable, Kind, Tries Hard, Solid, Gentle. Undesirable Traits: Insecure, Fearful, Unstable, Hard to Catch, Disconnected, Aloof, Evasive, Shutdown, Doesn’t like to Move, Reserved, Defensive, Explosive, Robotic, Solitary, Unreliable, Hide at the back of the Herd. Training Strategies: The Yellow Horse can be difficult to read as they don’t externalize their emotions. They need someone who is ultra patient, puts the relationship first and understands that this horse needs time to make decisions and should not be forced into things. Ask and wait. The Yellow Horse is very sensitive and cares a great deal about how much you care. They are driven by comfort and security and need to trust their riders and handlers. To train these horses you reward them with comfort. Eg. Get the change and let them stand around, they need time to process and reflect on information. They can become very evasive, aloof and bossy with the underlying manipulation of an explosion if you push too hard. So take your time, be patient, but be firm and have a strong image of the outcome you want to achieve. They make excellent horses for Western Pleasure, Camp Drafting, Cattle Mustering and Trail Riding. Perfect Owner: This horse requires someone who always puts the relationship first and takes their time, is very patient and is not in a hurry to achieve outcomes. Once you have the relationship established with this horse they will be very reliable. Because these horses don’t share their feelings and are not that people oriented they require an understanding person that appreciates how they operate as it can feel like there is not a lot of love coming back at you.
Denver
Yellow Belly ~ Denver was given to Jason after putting his 4th generation horse owner in hospital one to many times. Traditional approaches with a Yellow tend to result in such outcomes. Denver spent several years with Jason being retrained. Jason worked on developing the relationship through trust and leadership and as you can see building a strong rapport. Although very sensitive he never threatened or became dangerous with Jason.
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Green and Ever Green The Green and Ever Green Horse are horses that may appear to be red as they are anxious and flighty or Purple, nonresponsive. They may definitely have the character traits of a particular personality but it is important to be able to decipher the difference between character traits and an untrained horse. We don’t analyze the Green horse in the same way we would their personality. Instead we look at how well they are able to do things we ask of them. To assess the “Greeness” of your horse we ask how well do they do the following: Catching/Haltering, Leading, Saddling, Bridling, Grooming, Girthing, Clipping, Worming, Needles, Rugging, Trimming/Shoes, Tying Up, Float Loading, Water Crossing, Bridge Crossing, Traffic, Strange Animals, Strange Objects, Plastic Bags, Jumping, Trot Polls, Jig Jogs, Head Tossing, Snatches Reins, Head Shy, Herd Bound, Anticipates, Dominating, Stays in Gait, Holt/ Stopping, Back-up, Transitions, Leg Yielding, Yields to Pressure. Once you know where your gaps are and the personality of your horse you can then start using the appropriate training strategies to start developing your horse’s education and confidence. Some horses could be 15 or 20 years old and still have Green tendencies. We call them “Ever Greens”. Unfortunately, these horses have never been given the opportunity to really learn our language as it has not been consistent, so they are confused and often very frustrated. It would be like going to high school and having each teacher educate you in a different language in each subject before you’ve actually learnt the language. We expect a lot from our equine friends! Green horses are young uneducated horses that have yet to experience the world of humans and riding and are generally willing participants. Sometimes the new things are scary so we need to be consistent when building their confidence.
Lily Ever Green - Lily - this is a story that has a very happy ending. Lily was purchased at the market by “dad” for his teenage daughter, Hariette (also green) and then sat in the paddock for a few years as she was unridable. Lily ended up with Jason for retraining and I was sure she had gone to the dark side never to return. Having started her life out as a race horse and being ultra sensitive, Lily struggled to make sense of our world and was frightened and defensive. Lily is a red but she was also unbelievably Green and did not know what was expected of her. Jason spent 10 weeks working with Lily, establishing communication and not putting time frames on her, she evolved into a beautiful, responsive, loving mare that was able to be ridden on trails and at our clinics and was perfect which pleased everyone concerned! Harriet also had lessons with jason.
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Yields to Pressure
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR PERSONALITY DECODERS Horse and Owner Personality Decoder© Expressive - Action Orientated
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Holistic Equitation Australia 12
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Catching Haltering Leading Saddling Bridling Worming Injections Rugging Round Pen Principles Ground work Float Loading Picking up feet Mounting Feeding Hoof Care Walk Sitting Trot Rising Trot Diagonals Ride without stirrups Ride on Loose Rein Bare Back Riding Ride in Halter Canter Canter leads Riding Out/Trails Back-up/Halt Leg Yielding
Side Pass Scary Objects Jumping Equine Psychology
Horseman, Jason McInnes, Classical Dressage Instructor, Kailie Nott and Communications Professional, Jo McInnes
“Bridge the Gap” Teaching you a holistic approach to training and riding from the ground up. The HE Team have combined their years of experience to present, Holistic Equitation. Holistic (Holism) is a Greek word meaning all, entire, total. It’s the idea that all the properties of a given system (biological, chemical, social, economic, mental, linguistic, etc.) can’t be explained by its component parts alone. Instead, the system as a whole determines in an important way how the parts behave. The art of horsemanship develops the emotional and physical control of the horse and finds a functional aspect to our use of them. The classical aspect to Holistic Equitation is primarily restorative. It brings the horse to straightness. The training helps the horse to develop the muscles needed to carry out a job without injuring themselves. Ultimately, the horse should then be athletic enough to perform with beauty at their given discipline. Holistic Equitation is a matter of mind, body and spirit. The greatest gift the horse will teach you in your journey with them is to internalise what you learn. They will help you find courage, empathy, patience and humility. Holistic Equitation presents the total knowledge of the horse’s physique and psychology – and beyond that the total knowledge of the training possibilities. Each rider has to be the coach of his own horse and has to learn what it means to train gradually, naturally, systematically and with love. No matter how great the teacher or system, nothing happens quickly. We don’t become equestrians in a month; it is a lifetime process. The 2 main attributes you can teach your horse is compliance and trust. Holistic Equitation is knowing what to do when and why.
a Organise r clinic nea you
So, come and join us, our horses and the valued instructors who are all dedicated to learning and teaching. For more info call: 03 5773 4236 or email on info@holisticequitation.com.au
www.holisticequitation.com.au Holistic Equitation Australia 13
To put a noseband on will not resolve any of these underlying issues, although you have in effect told him to shut up and stop complaining about the quality of your riding!
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The Nosebandwagon: Have we been taken for a ride? Have you noticed that nosebands come in two main categories: decorative and restraining? This was not always so. By Kailie Nott The modern use of restraining nosebands restricts the horse’s ability to choose his response and works at the symptomatic level. Other training methods rely on working with the horse’s psychology. In the past, nosebands were solidly made of leather or rope and were a form of headstall, (see images right of the war horses) separate from the headpiece supporting the bit. We call these cavesson nosebands. You could tie a horse with the rope attached to the noseband knowing the cavesson would not break too easily. If the horse pulled on the rope, he would not be pulling on his mouth and risking injury. You can see these sorts of nosebands in old photos of the Australian cavalry. Most cavesson nosebands today are not strong enough to be used as a headstall. If you look at old paintings, you will sometimes see decorative nosebands. Some nosebands helped stabilize the bridle and hold the bit in place by running down the front of the horse’s face and then fork each side to the bit. To use a noseband to hold the horse’s mouth shut is a relatively new idea. It seems that people are tying them tighter with every passing decade. It is rare to see one done up where you can fit two fingers between it and the horse’s jaw, no matter what style it is. There are even nosebands especially designed to be able to tighten very strongly around the horse’s nose. We want
the horse to relax his jaw and quietly move his mouth, yet we tie the noseband up so tightly that it does not allow them to move their jaw at all. Nosebands are often being used to force the horse to keep his mouth closed, but why would he open it in the first place? If bridled horses can stand quietly unmounted without opening their mouths, then it is not the bit that is the issue, but the rider. Horses cannot communicate with us verbally, but only through body language. A horse opening his mouth is doing his best to communicate. He could be saying that; he does not understand your aids; you are pulling too much without well timed releases; that your body and your hands are saying different things; that he would prefer it if you didn’t use his mouth to keep your balance. He may be telling you he feels safer in the company of other horses and is prepared to push against your hands to get there; or he may be frightened and needing to move to where he feels safe. Some horses with very tight muscles may stretch their heads and necks, open their mouth and twist their jaw in an attempt to get relief. These are just a few issues. To put a noseband on will not resolve any of these underlying issues, although you have in effect told him to shut up and stop complaining about the quality of your riding. Right: Horse happily accepting the bit
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Cavesson acting as a headstall
The horse has many good reasons to open his nosebands and the like that come from the centre mouth. If you are using a single jointed snaffle, of the nose before going around the front of the bit when you pull on two reins at once the joint pushes were designed to resolve the breathing issue. Any up into the roof of the horses’ mouth. This action tight noseband can stop the horse from using his can actually break the soft palate. The horse has tongue to swallow properly. It also prevents the some chance of avoiding the bit making contact horse from quietly moving his mouth and salivating, with the palate, and avoids injury, by opening his considered a sign of relaxation and submission. The mouth. The bit will also squeeze resulting tension will travel all the together and pinch the tongue. If down the horse’s back and be Nosebands are becoming way you ride with low hands, as is counter-productive to the rider’s ever more common, usually aim of getting the horse to use his commonly taught, then the bit comes against the bars where the being included as part of the back effectively. If the noseband is skin is thin and the bone close to done up incorrectly behind and too purchase when you buy an the surface. Try hitting your close to the bit, then the horse’s shinbone with a metal stirrup iron English bridle, on the lips will be pinched and injured to get a sense of what this is like. assumption that you will every time the rider uses the reins. Horse dentists are coming across Horses live in the present moment need one. This is not a horses with fractured jawbones and are on a constant search for reasonable assumption. because of bits. The joints on comfort. They are social animals on French snaffles can run across the the bottom of the food chain. A bars more easily than some other types of bits and horses’ survival depends on being aware and cause damage. Generally, though, it is less about responsive to tiny changes in his environment. the bit than the way you use it. No bit is ‘soft’ in bad Horses avoid discomfort, as it may signal hands, but some bits will always be severe or cruel something potentially life threatening, although, he (such as barbed wire, which can never be will not tolerate discomfort if he perceives his life to comfortable for the horse). be under threat. We all know that horses can feel a Tight nosebands can interfere with the horse’s fly and will twitch to shake it off. Yet we look at their breathing and cause excessive discomfort to the strong bodies and assume they have strong minds nerves running down the front of his face. Grackle to match, when actually their minds are very
Horseʼs skull: showing key points where bridles and nosebands can cause pain and damage.
This noseband contacts many pressure points. It looks very uncomfortable on the lips where it passes over them. It also forces the bit high in the horse's mouth and does not allow the mouth to relax into a more natural position. The martingale will pull down on the horse's poll and force the bit more onto the jawbones as the head gets higher.
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sensitive and timid. We actually ride the horse’s mind, which is expressed through his body. It is easier to relax on a relaxed horse than on a tense one, even if it is the same horse. To put gear on a horse that is uncomfortable in itself is to set off on a bad footing. The horse will be trying to make himself more comfortable and may be distracted or difficult, and if he cannot get relief he will switch his mind off to some degree (disassociate). As we mostly communicate through body signals when riding, it is better if he is not trying to ‘play up’, or tune out from his body, dulling him to our aids. There will always be some level of discomfort due to our tack and to carrying us, but the capacity to hardly disturb the horse is what makes the truly great horsemen different to the rest. If we allow the horse to open its mouth, we can use it as a diagnostic tool to inform us of where we need to improve ourselves, or the horse’s understanding or confidence. We have all done things that in retrospect we wish we had not, through lack of skill, knowledge, awareness, good guidance, or authority to do things differently. This is part of learning. Nosebands are becoming ever more common, usually being included as part of the purchase when you buy an English bridle, on the assumption that you will need one. This is not a reasonable assumption. For centuries, people relied on horses and trained them without the use of restraining nosebands, and still many working and
Compare this horse with those on the first page. Note the softer ears, eyes, mouth, and flexion at the poll. This horse is free to relax his jaw and his whole body and does not resist the contact.
performance horses do not wear them. Horses do endurance, stock work, trail riding, cutting, barrel racing and tent pegging, confidently and athletically, often without any noseband at all. They are often trained in snaffle bits without tight nosebands, or with no bit at all. It is possible to train any horse in any sport without a tight noseband if you are prepared to listen to the horse, take the time he needs, and develop the skills you need yourself. You may need no more than to know how to slow your horse without pulling on two reins at the same time, or to improve your balance enough that you never need the reins for balance and are able to keep a soft hold on the horse’s mouth. Or perhaps you are asking more than his body is physically ready for, which is common among competitive riders. In all my lessons and clinics, I have never found anyone who has felt less in control without the noseband than with it. The reverse is true, as they learn new skills, understanding and strategies that improve their riding experience for themselves and their horse. We interact with our horses with our own agenda. It would be nice if we had the courtesy to at least listen and try to understand our horse’s needs better. When we succeed, our relationship with the horse is rewarding and our shared experiences are positive for both parties.
Trust and respect must be mutual.
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ABOUT KAILIE NOTT Classical Dressage Instructor and Trainer I have always worked to improve my horse’s way of going and in my youth I had some very influential instructors – particularly, Virginia Creed (now international dressage judge); Paul Johnson and Charlie Moffat, who created a small furore among the pony club parents for their contrasting approaches to show jumping, but which helped open my eyes to the realization that there is more than one way to be effective and so created an interest in looking for a common theme that made all the different approaches work; miss Kay Irving, and Brian Schrappel and Art Utendaal also left some lasting impressions. At 19, my limited capacity to stay quiet while I watched someone attempt to do things the hard way got me my first regular riding students. At this time I was studying to be a primary school teacher. After graduating I decided I couldn’t dedicate myself fully to school teaching as well as horse riding and so I stayed with my primary passion – horses. Since that time I spent 10 years studying classical dressage with Olympic level coach, Freddy Mercay, and was also introduced to the thinking behind natural horsemanship. This led me to investigate the western approach to horse training. Because I am always searching for what the best horsemen in any discipline have in common, I found the western and european systems compatible and
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complimentary, and each has something to offer the other. Although I had been a successful competitor in dressage, jumping and eventing, I had lost interest in competition as I had become more interested in my horse’s performance compared to his daily performance than how any judge might rank me. One aspect of competition I did appreciate was to be challenged on a new jumping course that someone else had erected. I found I was competing against my own training rather than against others and that I didn’t need to go to an organized event to do this. Training people to get more our of themselves and their horses, with an attitude of rapport, has been my primary focus since the age of 19. Most of my time is spent giving private lessons, but I have also held clinics, taught at Pony Clubs and Adult Riding Clubs, judged dressage, jumping and at shows and gymkahnas. I am always looking to improve my communication with my own horses, as well as with my students and their horses. I see understanding horses as a life long mission. Stay Connected! Kailie Nott Holistic Equitation
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The Wisdom of Nature
In order to survive as animals that are preyed upon, they are keenly aware of the most subtle changes in other horses, people, and the environment. Therefore, they have an exquisite ability to teach and mirror to us the importance of being present and congruent in each moment.
Photoart ~ Jo McInnes
Horses teach you how to listen to your emotions; the voice of your inner guidance. By Carol Roush Medicine Horse Ranch, USA
Horses can teach us the art of being present and by being present we heal the past and free the future. Horses live in herds that are similar to human Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning is a leading edge personal development modality that is families. Their individual survival as well as the quickly replacing traditional talk therapy all over the whole herd's survival is based on their relationships world; largely due to the work of author and clinician within the group. Clear communication is the cornerstone of their relationships. Horses live in the Linda Kohanov. here and now. Linda Kohanov brought this work into the main stream with her first book, published in 2001, The In order to survive as animals that are preyed upon, Tao of Equus they are keenly aware of the most subtle changes in Carol Roush is an advanced instructor of the Epona other horses, people, and the environment. Approach to Equine Experiential Learning. She Therefore, they have an exquisite ability to teach ownes and operates Medicine Horse Ranch in and mirror to us the importance of being present Tucson, Arizona USA. Carol has created a series of and congruent in each moment. introductory and advanced personal development Traditionally, riders have been told to never, ever, workshops called NOW as well as an show fear to a horse. Life at the barn would be so apprenticeship training program for those who are much simpler if only we could comply with this ageinterested in becoming Equine Experiential Learning old request. However, recent studies into the instructors. The NOW programs are based on the neurophysiology of emotion suggest that it’s Epona Approach. actually impossible to hide what you’re feeling from your horse. To make matters worse, it may actually HORSES AS GUIDES be dangerous to try. In today’s primarily urban society, horses are the voice of nature. Interactions with horses in their For centuries, people have struggled to suppress natural environment offer opportunities for insight negative emotions, to emphasize logic over and healing. No previous horse experience is feeling---as if emotions were by-products of an necessary to learn from these gentle teachers.
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undisciplined mind or imagination run amok. Then scientists in the late-twentieth century discovered---much to their chagrin---that the human brain wasn’t actually in charge of this process, not by a long shot. Work by Candace Pert, Ph.D. and other researchers active in the field of psychoneuroimmunology proved that the molecules carrying emotional information (called neuropeptides) are not only generated by the brain, but by sites throughout the body, most dramatically in the heart and the gut. Physiologists now know that sixty percent of the heart’s cells are neural, and there are more neural cells in the gut than in the entire spinal column. As a result, both areas can act independently of the brain in gathering information and adapting to the environment. In this way, the body serves as a magnificent tuner, receiver and amplifier for all kinds of information. It feels, learns and has definite opinions that sometimes contradict the brain. Think of your body as the horse that your mind rides around on. Like any horse, you can form a mutually respectful partnership
with it, or you can rein it in and spur it on, refusing to listen to it, only to have it throw you during stressful situations and head for the hills when you need it’s cooperation most. What’s more, when you’re taught to focus exclusively on what an authority figure is saying, suppressing gut feelings and wildly fluttering heartbeats, your body’s intuitive wisdom and natural warning systems are muzzled, allowing others to corral you for any number of purposes against your better judgment.
EPONA EQUESTRIAN SERVICES
At the barn, your mount is paying attention to your body as if it were another horse. What you think you’re communicating is much less important than what you’re unconsciously conveying through heart rate, muscle tension, breathing, and the various emotions that cause those physiological responses to rise and fall. As animals possessing extremely large and sensitive guts---and hearts for that matter--- horses exhibit a prodigious talent for receiving and responding to emotional information. In order to survive, animals preyed upon in nature are highly sensitive to
Linda Kohanov Linda is an author, speaker, riding instructor and horse trainer who has become an internationally- recognized innovator in the field of Equine Experiential Learning and a respected writer on the subject of Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy. Her book The Tao of Equus: A Woman’s Journey of Healing and Transformation through the Way of the Horse was selected as one of the Top Ten Religion and Spirituality books of 2001 by Amazon.
Photoart ~ Jo McInnes
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changes in the stance, heart rate and blood pressure of herd mates and predators at a distance. In the wild, for instance, horses, zebras and deer will often graze unconcerned as a lion who has recently eaten a big meal walks right through their pasture. Yet when an agile carnivore is on the prowl, the herd will scatter long before the cat can get so close. The experience of living with human beings has given domesticated horses even more sophisticated skills. I’ve seen even the gentlest gelding become noticeably agitated when his handler wears a mask of confidence and well being to hide anxiety or impatience. It’s as if this person appears out of focus to the equine awareness system. The body language of someone “putting on a happy face” is incongruent with the rise in blood pressure, muscle tension and emotional intensity transmitted unconsciously by an individual who’s actually afraid, frustrated or angry. This person may be more of a danger to herself than others, but a skittish horse isn’t likely to wait around and find out. Mainstream trainers explain this phenomenon by saying “the horse can smell your fear,” but it’s more subtle and complicated than that. A secure, well-cared-for animal will often relax the moment his owner simply acknowledges a hidden feeling---even if it’s still there. Let me say it again: The emotion doesn’t have to change in order for the horse to show at least some improvement. The handler just has to acknowledge what he or she is really feeling. You wouldn’t put a happy face sticker over the fuel gauge in your car to hide the fact that you are on empty, attempting to hide your emotions can lead to the same disastrous results. ( some of the information in this article has been extrapolated, with permission, from works of Linda Kohanov)
Photoart ~ Jo McInnes
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COMING TO AUSTRALIA The Nature of Wisdom Personal Development Programs Created and Facilitated by
Carol Roush, LMT, AAI, Epona Senior Faculty Medicine Horse Ranch, USA The Epona Approach to Equine Facilitated Human Development
Nature Assisted Human Development Courses Awakening to Your Life's Purpose Through the Way of the Medicine Horse This two-part advanced intensive program is an in-depth exploration of the Way of the Medicine Horse as a profound journey of self-discovery and transformation. With horses as your inspiration and guides, you will learn skills for increasing self-awareness, accessing inner peace, and developing an approach to life that enables you to live deeply and awaken to your life’s purpose.
True freedom demands relinquishing limiting patterns and beliefs. A part of you must die to be reborn. Linda Kohanov The Way of the Horse Cards
WHEN Week One - January 14—19, 2012 Week Two - April 14—19, 2012 WHERE North East Victoria, Australia Holistic Equitation (03)5773 4205 www.holisticequitation.com.au TUITION $2,000 US for each week. Includes training, core materials, and Lunch each program day. PAYMENT SCHEDULE ! $1,500 deposit due upon program acceptance, !" $2,500 due by November 15, 2011
The NOW program will further define and integrate essential skills for Authentic Community Building through reflective, active, and mounted work with horses and in group process work with two-legged herd members. No previous horse experience is required. The overall theme of the NOW program will focus on teaching you how to take new tools and expanded self-awareness back into your life, family, relationships, and community. You will learn how to be more authentic, attracting all that you desire, and actually living from a larger perspective of who you are and what’s possible for you. You will learn how to apply the following principals to everyday life: congruency over conformity, authenticity over perfection, and adaptability and inquisitiveness over methodology. The program will offer experiences in the following areas of the Epona Approach to Equine Experiential Learning: !" Energy Field Exploration; Active Round Pen Work; Horse Dancing !" Development of a Spiritual Practice through meditation for living deeply and more fully connected to your inner guidance !" Emotional Fitness Skills to consciously navigate life’s challenging transitions !" Ways to distinguish and shift between self sabotaging and productive beliefs and behaviors !" A deeper sense of your authentic self for creating the quality of life you want to experience every day !" Profound experiences in nature in the Native American traditions of the Vision Quest and Shamanic Journeys
In the end, what horses know is that everything changes...constantly. They teach us to be mindful of the present moment, free of preoccupation and REGISTRATION judgment. It is then that we are automatically imbued with lightheartedThere are twelve positions available in the course. ness; it is then that we can step far enough from our old survival beliefs and behaviors to make room for a sense of humor, self acceptance, and loving Please email carol@medicinehorseranch.com to rekindness. It is from this connected place within that we discover the true ceive an application, schedule an interview, reserve nature of who we are, create authentic relationships, and live in peace. In your space and make payment arrangements. the safe and congruent environment of NOW you will have the opportunity to explore what feels emotionally, physically, and spiritually, expansive for you and become truly awake to your life’s purpose!
www.natureofwisdom.com
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BOOK REVIEW By Jo McInnes
BUY IT NOW
BUY IT NOW
Riding Between the Worlds: Expanding Our Potential Through the Way of the Horse
The Tao of Equus: A Woman’s Journey of Healing and Transformation through the Way of the Horse
Author: LINDA KOHANOV Linda Kohanov is one of the most inspirational authors I have had the pleasure of reading. I started off reading “Riding Between the Worlds” even though Linda wrote “The Tao of Equus” First. These books had been surfacing in my world on and off for some time but I kept fobbing them off as “New Age Fluff”. I remember thinking, what will people write about next? Boy was I wrong!
I was pleased to see that Linda has an amazing gift with people and horses but also likes to validate her findings scientifically and with extensive research. These two books are anything but fluff.
Changing the way you look at horses for the rest of your life
I thank the universe for persisting with my stubborn attitude as these two books have had a life changing effect on my psyche. I already communicate with animals and have spent years studying and reading about horse and human psychology and behaviour, funnily enough I also like to have my beliefs validated by science, I donʼt want to be known as some kind of ʻKookʼ.
I was also taken back that I had read almost every book and or subject she refers to in her books, the synchroncities blew me away and I found it very hard to put the books down. I felt as if the books had been written just for me.
Linda's Background in music, extensive research into her work and vocabulary make reading these books equal to devouring a velvety block of dark chocolate - delicate, smooth, sweet and extremely palatable, leaving you feeling enriched and in a state of euphoria.
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Lindaʼs books articulated perfectly the experiences I and many other animal lovers I know have experienced.
The books explore a new brand of outstanding therapy that could challenge mainstream thinking if it were not for the phenomenal success that she has.
I thoroughly enjoyed both of these books wishing they had a never ending cover. If you are looking for a deeper relationship with your horse or Linda presents multiple cases would like some of your deeper studies of how the Horseʼs more spiritual experiences finely tuned intuition create an People who visit Linda's Epona explained then I highly urge awareness and mirror with Centre explore how the horses you to purchase these people that create emotional support them on many levels, inspiring, thought provoking and life changing leading them to unexpected books, "Riding Between the breakthroughs. The horses realizations about fear, love, Worlds" and “The Tao of become the ultimate counsellor. intuition, awareness, healing Equus”. and above all authenticity.
Photoart ~ Jo McInnes
In the beginning practice is not easy. You may encounter difficulties or experience a loss of enthusiasm. Or perhaps there will be too much enthusiasm then after a few weeks or months your enthusiasm may wayne. You need to develop a constant persistent approach based on a long-term committment. - Dalai Lama
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Spirit of the Horse
One Artist’s Journey of Inspiration by Kim McElroy
The earthly horse expresses itself in many beautiful forms, shapes, and sizes. Yet when seen through an artist’s eyes –other aspects and elements of horse spirits can be revealed. The catalyst to begin painting horses professionally happened in 1987 while I was visiting family friends. I was attending Art College with plans to become a professional artist – but it was their Arabian horses that inspired me to focus my work exclusively on horses. I had been drawing and painted horses since I was a child, but I lived in the city and didn’t have easy access to horses, so my drawings had been from my imagination or from still photographs. When I asked if I could draw the horses for my school homework, our friend Geska suggested we let them out to play in the sand arena. This was my first experience seeing horses at liberty. Their expressive movements and free spirits inspired me and filled me with excitement. At first I was daunted at how to capture their quick and dynamic movements on paper – but then something magical happened, I began to feel their movements
and see them as forms. I let my pencil draw what I felt rather than what I saw, and a new style was born in my art. From then on – I knew I wanted to be a horse artist. In my childhood drawings, I had often combined images of animals with images of other animals, women, or nature. These works always had a sense of the beings and elements becoming combined – metamorphosing into a shared being, or revealing the shapes of what was hidden. These drawings were expressions of a philosophy that was in my heart and soul from a very early age; that humans, animals, and Nature was all One. In 1989 I was driving through Wyoming to a horse show to exhibit my artwork, when a striking cloud formation caught my eye. I pulled the car off the road and took several photographs. I didn’t know what it was that so intrigued me about the clouds, but I was powerfully drawn to them. When I had the
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photos developed, I couldn’t stop looking at the “Brother Earth, Sister Sea” (left) in which a horse and pictures – there was something there that eluded a dolphin are blended as one being. These two me… then, I saw it. A horse head in the cloud! Then beings share many inspiring traits. another… and another. Their social nature welcomes the interactions of It was the beginning of a series of works I titled mankind, and they have similar “herd” dynamics and Horses in the Elements - horses revealed in forms of behaviors. nature. I began seeing horses in waves, mountains, The dolphin seems natural as mirroring the arc of desert sands, lightning, and fire. These works the horse's neck, and emerging through the horse's became one of my most popular series. forehead - portraying the expressions of intuition, My collectors were powerfully wisdom, and imagination. In each circumstance, I have intrigued by the subtlety of the My most recent inspirations horses hidden in the paintings, found that the imagery of the have evolved into what I call and often they themselves began Essence” Portraits. In vision and the art created from “Soul seeing horses in clouds and creating a Soul Essence portrait waves as well. I ask in meditation for guidance that experience has deep and My most recent painting of this perceive the horse's true self personal meanings for the clients to style is called “Drinkers of the and his or her purpose in a Wind”. (below) This piece person's life. inspired by a cloud formation in which I felt the I then create the painting from the visions that I see energy of horses expressed as a windswept storm in my meditation. I have learned to trust the process swirling above the solid and timeless earth. because invariably, something magical happens. Six horses appear in the clouds and one horse is In each circumstance, I have found that the imagery revealed in the sky beyond. Arabian horses are of the vision and the art created from that referred to as drinkers of the wind, so it seemed experience has deep and personal meanings for the appropriate that this become the title for these horses clients. of wind and cloud. I share the meditation with clients to assist in their Another series, called “Kindred Spirits” was born own process of defining and interpreting what the when I had the inspiration to depict horses with other symbolic elements mean to them personally. animals that shared their beauty and their spiritual and emotional qualities. One of these works is
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“Path Fulfilled” is a Soul Essence portrait of a mare named Kaylaa. In my meditation with Kaylaa I interpreted her spirit as a horse who had ancient connections with Afghan symbols. She had a strong will and it was powerfully important to her to fulfill any task requested of her. A Pigeon became a symbol for her as “Messenger” – and a desert path a symbol of her stamina and her purpose. This painting became a powerful talisman for her owner, who said that my depiction of her was very revealing and insightful both for her awareness of her horse’s strengths and challenges, and also how it reflected some of her own life’s journey as well. The spirits of horses touch us in many ways that are ever expanding. My life’s work is to create art that inspires the viewer to look beyond the beauty of the horse, into their powerful spiritual and emotional wisdom.
Kim McElroy’s illustratrations and writings appear in two published works: “The Way of the Horse” book and card set by author Linda Kohanov, and “Way of the Horse” Journal written and illustrated by Kim. Enjoy Kim’s prints, portraits, gifts, and writings on her Spirit of Horse Gallery website www.spiritofhorse.com. Also sign up for her Free weekly eInspirational emails. Kim McElroy will be teaching a workshop “Drawn to Horses ~ Discover your Soul Connection with Horses through Art” along with Sandra Wallin and the horses of Chiron’s Way in Maple Ridge, BC, Canada. June 24 – 26, 2011 Visit www.chironsway.com For more information. Kim McElroy has produced the DVD “Secrets of Drawing Horses” which shares her philosophies about how drawing is more about feeling, than seeing. Her techniques offer anyone who has ever wanted to draw – an easy and fun way to express themselves. Visit www.spiritofhorse.com For more information
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Airys Dream
Spirit of Avenger
Shahzareign Shadown Dancer
Moonlight
Marissa
Cougar Spirit Dance
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The Complete Horse Riders, Best Selling eBook Collection If you love horses then this is going to be the most exciting message you ever read. Here's why:
This unique set of amazing equestrian e-books, cover nearly everything you need to know about horses including, confidence issues, being nervous, physical benefits of riding, the almighty dollar, finding an instructor, choosing a riding style, buying horses, find a job in the equestrian industry plus loads more. Imagine being able to ride comfortably, safely and with confidence on your perfect horse!. Make this year the year you achieve your goals with your horse and be safely and confidently riding your ultimate horse. NOW WOULDN’T THAT BE GREAT? Or what about if you could be living your dream being safe, confident and capable? . How would that feel if you could do all of this? Imagine being able to finally be putting your foot into that stirrup, rising up over the back of your favourite horse and riding off into the sunset, confidence in hand, emotions under control. All our books are professionally written, beautifully formatted with loads of information to help you make the right decision and guide you through the steps of making your dream a reality.. It truly is possible, but you need to know how. Are you addicted to horses? We all know that horses are like having some type of disease, you just have to have more of them! Well if you love to learn then this collection will help you be safe, in control and having fun with your four legged best friend, guaranteed!
Our Best Seller: "Taking up riding as an adult"
•How to get fit for riding, •Feel confident •Be safe and reel good about achieving your goals •Picking the right instructor •Picking the right horse •Why Should you ride anyway?
E L A S N O lly rma
No
$24.95
.95
$69
So why is this set of books so popular?
for 15 ebooks
I am the publisher and owner of these books and no one else has anything like them Chances are if you are looking for a job in the equestrian industry, then you're probably pretty keen on horses too. So we've included our entire range of books for you to read as well. Simply, every book is here because "you asked for it." Well, not "you" really. But from real live questions. We are a professional equestrian training centre dealing with horsey people day in and day out, nervous people. nervous horses, people overcoming their fears and wanting to take up riding after time out of the saddle or taking it up for the first time, we deal with starting horses, selling horses, breeding, imprinting, competition riders and educating people and horses so we know the questions people ask so we know what answers you are looking for, we love horses and we love helping people. So we know you will absolutely love this collection of books. Which means no fluff. Just the real answers you want to know.
“Finding Your Place In The Herd” Working in the equestrian industry. Over 25 Jobs listed, maybe you can have your cake and eat it to. Imagine finding your dream job working with horses? Included in this jam packed book is: • How to find at job • What skills will you require • How to pick a job that suits you. • Lists jobs you probably never thought of. Holistic Equitation Australia 30
PLUS
Getting you confidently and safely back into the saddle. AMAZING! Discover in a matter of minutes how to be living your dreams on your favourite horse or pony and to know that it is normal to be nervous but you can do it. A dirt-cheap way to Get you riding - After all that is your dream isn't it? An easy way to work out what horse to buy, how much money to spend, what instructor to get, what style of riding you are suited to. Have you been looking for this for ages? Discover how to Get the physical benefits out of riding, be fit and confident and living your ultimate dream. REVEALED - you're not the only one who is nervous or lacks confidence, it's the biggest issue. Taking up Riding as an adult could just be Your secret weapon for getting you into the saddle fast!
BUY THIS COLLECTION NOW FOR JUST $24.95 CLICK HERE What's a resource like this worth?
To have someone do all this research for you would normally cost you $1000's of dollars in time and knowledge that you just can't put a price on - it's a life time of experience being around horses (I should know, that's what it cost me - a life time and the resources of a very amazing team of equestrian professionals, pictured left). The books have laser-guided accurate information - SPECIFICALLY for people looking at getting back into the saddle, building confidence and buying the right horse. Everything is explained in PLAIN English. Which means it's dead-easy to read and understand. And it's logically laid out. Which is why this ENTIRE COLLECTION is such a bargain at just
$24.95
I normally sell this collection for $69.95 and I sell each of these books for a minimum $15.95 each! So be Quick whilst the sale is on! That's right, a fraction of what it's really worth or what it cost me to research. Why would I make it so affordable? Simply because my costs to deliver it to you are so low. These are electronic books (e-books) that can be downloaded to your computer in a flash. Which means you can be reading it and discovering all these amazing secrets in as little as 5 minutes from now.
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SHARON CALLAHAN
HEALING ANIMALS NATURALLY WITH FLOWER ESSENCES AND INTUITIVE LISTENING By Dr. Bob and Susan Goldstein A Book Review and Interview with Sharon Callahan From the December 2001 Issue of Dr. Bob and Susan Goldstein’s Love of Animals Newsletter Healing Animals Naturally With Flower Essences and Intuitive Listening, By Sharon Callahan, forewords by Dr. Michael Fox, and Susan Goldstein.
offer her services. Sharon coached us spiritually through Annie’s passing. As a result, we discovered a lifelong friend, contributor and a new way of treating animals’ emotional challenges. We think Sharon’s new book Healing Animals Naturally With Flower Essences and Intuitive Listening is worth of ranking near the top of an animal lovers gift list.
“It is love that heals and flower essences are carriers of love.” Flower Essences, and ancient system of healing that was highly Sharon Callahan. regarded in Egypt and other Four Decembers ago, we cultures, have undergone a revival. experienced the despair that comes with the difficulty of letting go. The modern renaissance began 70 Our beloved Corgi, Annie, only years ago with Edward Bach, the seven years old, lingered for three English physician who created weeks with a mysterious, un Bach Flower Remedies. diagnosable disease, which at the The most well know of these is end caused her to suffer. Rescue Remedy, which has been Then an “angel of mercy” used widely over the past 50 years wonderful results by appeared in the night. Sharon with Callahan, in an act of random professional and lay people alike. kindness, called to comfort us and
ANAFLORA Anaflora flower essences and flower essence formulas made just for animals by Sharon Callahan internationally recognized animal communication specialist and leading pioneer in the use of flower essences in the treatment of animals.
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We recently interviewed Sharon to anxiety. Our clients are searching learn more about her new book. for alternatives to tranquilizers and other mood-changing drugs often used for emotionally induced Q: Please tell our readers what symptoms. Which of your benefits they can expect to see remedies might you recommend from reading your book and for the holidays and for which implementing your ideas and conditions? suggestions. A: It is true that many people A: The intention of the book is to suffer terrible stress, loneliness empower people to assist their and depression at the holidays animals directly and intuitively, trying to live up to some something for which we all have a unrealistic ideal. This stress deep capacity. I feel that the most directly impacts our beloved important aspect of animal animals. Although the holidays can communication is listening, and be trying times, through the use of we can all learn to listen quietly to flower essences and other holistic our animals and receive treatments we can greatly reduce information from them about their stress and create a peaceful and state of well being. Through joyous atmosphere for our learning to be quite, we will families, including the non-human simply know what they need in members. order for balance to be restored. Of the Anaflora formulas, I would My hope is that people will use the recommend Return to Joy for any flower essences intuitively rather animal new to the home who has than trying to make too much of a come from a less than perfect science out of it. It is really love background. that heals, and the flowers are simply carriers of love. For those Special Stress formula can help who are more clinically minded, shield your animal friend from all of the essences are cross- your own stress. For yourself, this referenced by symptom, so the flower essences will help you book is an easy to use guide. avoid “catching� the holiday blues from those around you. Q: In our veterinary practice, we treat many physical conditions Tranquility formula is for the brought on by holiday stress. animal who is nervous by nature These include diarrhea, vomiting, and needs a little extra help during poor appetite, and personality the holiday season and other changes such as depression, stressful times. Certain anxiety apathy, excessive sleep and behaviors such as compulsive
grooming, hair pulling, pacing, over-vocalizing, and hiding can add to holiday stress and make us feel like we want to pull our hair out, too! In such cases, use Special Stress and Tranquility together and take them yourself as well. For dogs with an increase of licking, use the Lick Granuloma formula along with Tranquility and Special Stress. For an increase in aggressiveness, the Aggression formula would be appropriate in combination with any of the others. Essence of Nature formula can be very helpful for the animal who must be confined indoors during the winter or when, because of company, the animal must be confined or left alone. If a new arrival will be joining your family this holiday season, us New Beginnings and Harmony formulas for optimum results. As you mentioned, the loss of an animal, especially at the holidays, can be devastating. As well as our own suffering, other animals in the family may deeply grieve the loss. At such times, the Bereavement formula can be very helpful for all members of the family. As you look through the book, trust your intuition, try the essences out and have a blessed and peaceful holiday season.
Order books and CD’s from Anaflora
BUY IT NOW Reflections of the Heart: What Our Animal Companions Tell Us
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Holistic Equitation Training Philosophy There are as many opinions about horse training as there are horse trainers. Any body and every body who comes in contact with a horse is a horse trainer, whether you think you are or not. The reason for this is we are influencing horses every minute of every day that we are around them. This comes in the form of our body language and physical contact. Believe it or not, all training methods work! The catch is - on some horses. The good news is, contrary to common belief, there are some methods that will work on ALL horses. Fortunately, horses and humans are never too old to learn new ways or change bad habits. My concern isn't about what the horse has done before or what possible negative experiences the horse may have had in the past. The horse's past is helpful in developing a lesson plan but from the day we meet, I deal with today only. We can't change the fact that someone has mistreated the horse or that someone has trained it badly, so it's pointless spending time dwelling on it. The problem is NOW. Sometimes we get so caught up in the cause of the problem that we lose focus on what we can do to change the horse for the better, TODAY. "Keep a molehill, a molehill. This too shall pass, look for a solution." The horse is a very adaptable animal, more so than a human, and quite capable of
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changing its behavioral patterns once given the opportunity to make it's own decisions. Horses by nature will always look for the easy way out of an uncom-fortable situation. So by releasing the pressure when the horse offers the desired response and allowing the horse to relax and think about what has just taken place, this is how we are able to educate and establish desirable behavioral patters with the horse. The great trainers from all disciplines believe that no horse is either vicious or beyond being educated. Educating horses is a cumulative journey, each step will build on the information presented in previous lessons. I believe patience, knowledge and forgiveness are the only traights we need to educate a horse. Patience that our horses give us in all the mistakes we make and most of the time we don't even know we are making one. Normally, when we run out of Knowledge we generally run out of patience and Forgiveness in the horse is the very quality that allows us to ride them, change their past, or even shape a bright future. Horsemanship to me is about keeping an open mind to the information presented, the situations we're placed in, the teaching styles available and the different types of horses I come across every day. I would like to acknowledge the great horseman and horsewomen who have influenced me over the years from all around the world. Remember: "I know no more than you do about horses and horse training, I just know different things." J. Lyons
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AEFL Pty Ltd is the new face of Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) in Australia! The company was formed in November 2010 to promote awareness of and participation in this therapeutic interaction between horses and people in a way that is positive, fulfilling and safe for all parties involved. What is EFL? For those new to the scene, EFL is a guided interaction between horses and people designed to promote experiential learning for all the participants. Sessions bring together horses and people in a safe, supervised environment designed to elicit positive and empowering interaction. The majority of sessions involve interacting with the horse from the ground and although riding is a possibility, most people will experience EFL and its many benefits in this way. Many children with some kind of learning disability (form Autism Spectrum disorders to Bullying victims) have responded well to EFL but in essence all individuals can benefit from EFL in some way.
therapies in Australia at present. AEFL Pty Ltd intends to provide some criteria and values that protect and enhance the EFL experience that will eventually become recognized as industry standards for the benefit of all operating under the AEFL banner. A recent 4 day clinic at Tooradin Estate in SE Victoria saw 8 new facilitators successfully completing the clinic and now hopefully promoting EFL in various parts of Victoria and New South Wales and able to provide a valuable and lifeenriching experience to their clients. Congratulations to all participants and we look forward to welcoming more facilitators in the near future! For further information please contact: info@aefl.net.au or call Elaine Hughes on: 0457 705 089. Website : www.efl.net.au
Several organisations in the USA have pioneered various types of therapeutic interaction with horses including EFL for decades but there is very little regulation or standardization connected with horse
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AEFL February 2011 Certificate 1 Clinic
Jan & William playing the circling game
Lynne wishing Alex didn't have quite such big feet!
Soo hoping Spud wants to catch her soon
Fay and Alex getting to know each other
Edwina could always find something to clean
The EFL Team heading out for another session
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The body has an innate wisdom that allows it to heal itself and to directly communicate with affected parts or areas.
LOESJE JACOB
Photoart ~ Jo McInnes
Body Talk & Animal Talk Body & Animal Talk is a unique healthcare modality in that it addresses the body in a truly integrative, holistic way. The certified Body Talk practitioner recognizes that the bodymind complex functions as a synchronicity and not as a bundle of autonomously functioning parts. There is a proper sequence to follow and a series of questions that the body is asked. Neuro-muscular responses are how the body responds back. Being able to read them is the practitioner’s responsibility. The body has an innate wisdom that allows it to heal itself and to directly communicate with affected parts or areas. Following so far????
shattered dreams as my hopes for him and i plummeted before our eyes. He struggled with lameness, required surgery and continued to have obstacles and challenges related to his mobility and health.Â
My horse Pal has been my greatest teacher in learning about Energy Work/Medicine.
We tried many avenues, modalities and treatments. None of which hurt him, but nonetheless he was not progressing as i had hoped he would. I would look at him and feel such sadness in the real sense of loss we shared in our relationship. I always held a small flicker of
I gave him time off for a couple of years to allow "time to heal", in hopes of regaining his mobility. His stride remained affected and i was fearful of injuring him further so cautioned myself in how Deb Smith Shares her story of Loesje and Pal. much i rode him and what i did with him.
He is a beautiful eight year old Quarter horse Palomino who went lame in his back right leg one month after i purchased him in 2004. It was a series of disappointments, heartbreak and
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hope that i would discover "something" that would help.
incredible "I wanna go" and "I can do it" attitude.I felt extremetly connected and found I had taken up learning Reiki and myself often in a meditative state opened my life to Energy as we loped through fields, Medicine....of course, when you ditches and trails. we both felt so are open...things show up in life. alive and so engaged in a The ad for a Animal Talk purpose. Workshop came my way by means of the trainer i had Pal Pal and I won first place in the at.... it sounded intriguing and at Novice 28 mile event in Sundre, this point i was ready to try Alberta last August. it was our anything. first time at this type of So, I registered for the animal competition and we were just Talk workshop in June 2008. My open to whatever it was that we sister and i took my horses to were going to experience. go and learn what this was all about.... I will never forget, That was our focus. I honor him shortly after the workshop in this, in that he healed himself started, Loesje had and showed me the power and approximately 7 of the 15 or so influences of energy work and horses that were there lying animal talk. I will never forget down, rolling in the the exhilaration of climbing cut sand...relaxing, snorting, lines, 5000 feet elevations yawning, shaking off etc. This through trails, trees, streams and was just shortly after she valleys. The bands of wild introduced her concepts of horses joined us at times and Animal Talk. I remember shared the gift in our experience. KNOWING that there is something here i cannot deny... So I offer this article in gratitude to my horse Pal as my teacher We spent two days learning , and mentor. Also, in doing, doing, and doing..... I gratefulness for learning Animal went home after that and started Talk as a healing modality that using Animal Talk regularly as had significant implications in apart of Pal's routine.... along Pal's success and our with some Reiki to support his relationship. wellness. For some reason, i found myself setting a goal to Thank You Loesje! Deb Smith pursue a National Competetive Trail Event in August 2008. I monitored his health and lameness and we began riding progressively longer rides, using animal talk and Reiki as i rode, before i rode and in between rides. It was as though Pal's purpose was ignited and he became so alive, enthusiastic and able as the miles we put together progressed. His lameness gave way to this
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LOESJE AT WORK
Contact Loesje jacob For more info contact Loesje (pronounced lou-sha) at 250-546-8895 and check out www.bodytalksystem.com www.fullcircle333.com
JAMES SHAW ABOUT JAMES
The Whole Seat & Nothing but the Seat International clinician, James Shaw, gave a unique clinic in Yelm, Washington, August 28 & 29, 2010. James utilizes ground work (unmounted) for the riders to show them how to utilize their bodies to receive and redirect the larger power of the horse without blocking or diminishing it.
movement of the horse's lumbar spine and pelvis. Most riders move in one direction and a few move in two directions, thereby accommodating the rise and fall of the horse's back. When the third direction is added, the horse's pelvic rotation is accommodated allowing the total power of the hindquarters to Every participant was astonished come through, lifting the horse's during the mounted sessions at back and filling the base of the how easy and comfortable it was neck. Once the rider has this for themselves and their horses skill, he/she is able to effect to redirect the horse's power to changes in the horse's frame, shape his motion and as a carriage and power by either consequence shape his physical following, matching or leading body. the movement. Horses became round and through from the hindquarters forward and lightened their forehands with free shoulders and full, soft necks. Riders sat deeper than they ever had before with ease. James taught that the pelvis actually must move in three directions to follow the
These movements are so subtle that onlookers only see the rider sitting deeply and the horse doing amazing things on his own. These movements are so subtle that onlookers only see the rider sitting deeply and the horse doing amazing things on his own.
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For the last fifteen years, James has worked tirelessly to bring his unique perspective and revolutionary healing techniques to the world. Based in the principals of the internal martial arts of Tai Chi and Ba Qua and Eastern healing arts, James’ program challenges riders to question and change old beliefs about balance, movement and strength. James has achieved international acclaim from World Class athletes, medical professionals and trainers for his unique understanding and application of the biomechanics of the body as dictated by the principles of Tai Chi. His ability to teach us “HOW� to receive and redirect a greater power is what separates him from other instructors.His techniques promote health, well being and longevity in work, peak athletic performance and every day life. James Shaw has been a student of the Martial and Healing Arts for over thirty years. He works with international world class athletes of all disciplines, medical and healing professionals and anyone with issues of chronic (injury) pain and health maintenance in everyday life. James Shaw does clinics in the US, Germany, England, Switzerland, Scotland, Ireland, Canada and others. See http://www.shawtaichi.com/ or his blog http:// www.shawridefromwithin.blogspot.com/
About Holistic Equitation. We have a system of horse training that works, for both you and your horse, you see, we have developed a style of equine training and education which takes a natural approach to instilling a solid foundation that delivers strong communication between you and your horse. Ethical horse training builds, trust, rapport and compliance with horses, the horses we train are soft, supple and super responsive, which means you can be sure that your horse will respect your aids and yield to pressure with a forward willing attitude. Riding and training horses is a full time job for the HE team who have trained and ridden horses of all shapes, sizes, colours, temperaments and troubles, in fact there is nothing much we have not seen when it comes to horses and horse owners. We have solved many horse problems such as rearing, bucking, float loading, anxious and flighty horses to name a few. We also start and train beautifully bred competition horses that are now competing and winning at high level dressage. Our dedicated team run Clinics from beginner to advanced where we teach you the essential connections between ground work and ridden, bridging the gap that escapes most people's experience when it comes to owning and riding horses. In our experience, working with some of the best trainers, these principles are paramount if you wish to have real success, safety and confidence. We also offer you something else very special, once you have been to a Holistic Equitation Clinic or have had your horse trained with us, you have life time access to our newsletters and updates and of course our team is here to assist you should you feel you need further advice or problem solving strategies. We believe so strongly in our training and education that we guarantee that you and your horse will be emotionally, mentally and physically fitter or your money back. What that means to you is that you can feel rest assured that you are not only in good hands, but expert hands. Our horse training facility is located in North East Victoria, Australia, just 1.5 hours from Melbourne, we invite you to contact us if you would like to discuss your individual needs further. Email: admin@holisticequitation.com.au Tel: (03) 5773 4205
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FASHION LOOK GOOD AND FEEL GOOD Equestrian Fashion Expert, Tammy Raine from Giddyupgirl shares her tips on how too look and feel good this season! We know girls love their horses and are passionate about their sport and we wanted to give them a label that they could identify with and also show off their passion in a funky and cool way...just like Billabong did for the surfing culture. When we begun giddyupgirl 6 years ago riding gear was extremely conservative and lifeless, apart from The Saddle Club range there was nothing for the 10+ age group that was fun and funky. My daughter Cassie 11 at the time refused to wear Saddle Club and I saw an opening...giddyupgirl was born. It's a given that all riders need a good pair of jodhpurs and most riders need an outfit for competing but for just mucking around in the stables or being at an event as a spectator it doesn't mean that you have to wear jods and a polo shirt! We wanted to bring girls a label they could wear
anywhere, everyday and in every way without always being specifically practical for riding. Cassie (giddyupgirl's inspiration) lives in denim shorts on and off the horse and I see it every day with her friends. Girls love their shorts and tank tops but they ride and hang out with their friends like any non horsey chick. They want to keep up with the latest trends and have a brand that links them with their passion for horses. Winter 2011 will bring with it funky bomber jackets and scrummy fur lined hoodies that can be worn anywhere, they will keep you warm and you will look the part at any event equestrian or not. Our slogan is "Funky Fashion for Horse Lovers" and we intend to continue to bring girls, teens and ladies the latest in trends for years to come.
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Giddyupgirl have a range of equestrian gear to suit mum and the girls! The range is designed to be relaxed, fun, comfortable yet stylish. The best news about Giddyupgirl is that it is Australian owned and run by entrepreneurial mum, Tammy Raine who also shares the passion of horses with her daughter.
GIDDY UP GIRL
About Tammy Raine Giddyupgirl has revolutionized the traditional horse clothing industry by filling a huge gap in the market. giddyupgirl supplies the funkiest fashion and accessories for the horsey chick in Australia and is about to take on the World!
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Go girls!
Meet Giddyupgirls sponsored riders! Each year giddyupgirl sponsors four riders that we feel are completely dedicated to their sport and are reaching their goals through pure perseverance and hard work. We congratulate our 2 sponsored riders Susan Seipel, and Sarah Godfrey we look forward to a successful year with you! About Susan Seipel:I was born with Arthrogryposis Multiplex, a rare disorder characterised by fusion of joints and absent muscle formation in my legs. At the age of four I was taught to swim as physiotherapy and I developed a fondness for the sport being classified as a S7 disabled swimmer. Between 1999 and 2001 I held six Queensland State Games Records and three Australia National Age Records in freestyle and backstroke. I started riding lessons at The McIntyre Centre when I was seven and have ridden 70 different horses over 15 years of riding at the centre. I represented Queensland for the first time at the Riding for the Disabled (RDA) National Dressage Championships in 1998 and placed 1st in my warm-up test against international riders. Since then I have competed at national level as part of the state team for ten consecutive years. In 2006 I was selected to represent Australia at the FEI Pacific Rim Para-Equestrian Dressage International Competition, held at Milner Downs Equestrian Centre in Langley, Canada. Riding a borrowed horse named "Conclusive Talent," I won a bronze medal. I won the RDA Australian National Dressage Championships in 2006 on my own horse "Menora Wildfire", and in 2008 on a borrowed horse named "Mellizo", and also achieved the highest score of the competition. My current horse is a rising 13-year-old Morab (Morgan x Arab) paint gelding named "Menora Wildfire". I first rode him at the 2001 RDA National Championships in Victoria where we placed 2nd in Grade 1. Originally used for endurance riding, I have taken over "Menora Wildfire" from his Morgan and Morab Stud in Victoria for dressage training in Queensland. We regularly compete in open EA competitions at novice level, against able-bodied riders. When I am not riding horses, I enjoy other sports including swimming, rowing, sit-skiing, and wheelchair tennis, with the Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association of Queensland. In 2003 I completed my senior certificate, and Information Technology certificates I and II. I finished top of my
class in a TAFE course in Horse Management in 2004. And I attained a Diploma in Applied Science with a Major in Equine Studies from the University of Queensland in 2008. I am now searching for another wonderful horse with international potential that I can train and compete. My aims for the future are to represent Australia at more International competitions, the FEI World Equestrian Games, and the Paralympic Games. About Sarah Godfrey Sarah Godfrey is another aspiring rider that has just taken out the QLD SHC Horse of the Year 2010 Champion with High Court and will be competing in the finals in Vic soon. She is also about to appear on the television series "The Farmer Wants A Wife" as a hopeful to win the heart of an outback farmer. Sarah is a perfect ambassador for giddyupgirl, she is totally dedicated to her sport, loves wearing our brand and looks great in it too! We always listen to what girls want and we deliver whenever we can. There is nothing more rewarding than being at an event or shopping centre and seeing your brand on a girl 4 years old or a woman 40 years old! We believe we are on a winner and thank all those giddyupgirls out there getting behind us!
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PHOTONIC THERAPY • Photonic Therapy / Acupuncture without needles • Photonic Therapy is the scientific application of light as a therapeutic modality • Safe, Non-invasive, Removes the need to suffer pain • Scientifically proven • Totally natural • Australian Concept that is made in Australia and now in use around the world
Modern Science proves what Mother Nature has always known & provides.
Eric Thomas Photonic Therapy. The McLaren Method.
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"As we know most of us can drive a car or truck, ride a motor cycle or even tow a float behind our four wheel drive. We can do this safely without trouble provided we follow the road rules and operate different vehicles within the guidelines as supplied in the manufactures manuals. We can do this without the need to go to university for years and become a mechanical engineer! Now, should we apply this thinking to the care and health maintenance of our animals, then why can't we attend to our animals care without the need to become a vet? Should you follow the manuals, methods & concepts of Photonic Therapy you should have a 98% success rate as I do! "
Ever day it appears that in the Equine world new “natural” therapies arrive with huge fan-fare. Always with amazing claims, however very rarely authenticated with proven scientific fact.
Colic. Stringhalt. Infertility. Undescended Testis’s. Laminitis. Yes even Wind Sucking! Do I have your attention now? Often in life we accept truths without actually seeing or feeling objets however we know that there are there. Now your saying to yourself “ I don’t think so. I have to see it to believe it”. We can’t see gravity but we know it exists, we can’t see air but we can feel the wind, as we travel we can’t physically see the equator however because it is drawn on a map we easily believe it to be there!
As owners all we really require are the best for our horse, we all endeavour to maintain our horses’ health while trying to reduce costs. When our horse has the need of the services of a vet we all should seek a positive secure relationship with our vet. This is important to the health of your horse, however when our vet attends to the needs of your horse some knowledge and understanding with regards to that treatment becomes paramount to the recovery and will reduce healing time. Please take the time and ask questions, this next section may seem quite heavy and boring. This understanding will equip you to comprehend what is really happening to your horse. Don’t be frightened off by the science, biochemistry, physics, phylogenetics, anatomy and acupuncture all comes together to form the whole concept. Effortlessly explaining how Photonic Therapy, the McLaren Method will reduce the need for your horse to suffer pain and reduce healing time.
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The best news is this theory is totally Australian, available and affordable. The originator and developer Dr. Brian McLaren, B.V.Sc., M.App.Sc. has returned to Australia after his method of diagnosis and treatment has be accepted and utilised in more than 26 countries around the globe. Let me explain the easy and simple concept in which you may aid your horse’s recovery from a wide range of every day ailments, which complicate our world. Dr. McLaren’s theories have been proven scientifically and these successfully combine the ancient medicines from the Far East with the today’s modern medicines of the West. In lay-mans terms the medicos have be educating us and we acknowledge we are all made up of individual cells, many performing different tasks. These cells require energy for growth and metabolism. Do any of you remember back to your high school days in the science lab when we place cells on an agar plate? When this plate was place in the incubator and exposed to light we noticed some change, however, after 32 to 48 hours, improvements in growth rates can be demonstrated. So for the horse owners among us try and get your head around this. Food products and oxygen are combined to provide energy for the cell; this is done by transferring phosphorous atoms onto a protein called Adenosine. Adenosine combined with one phosphorous atom is call Adenosine-Mono-Phosphate, or AMP. More phosphorous converts the AMP to Adenosine-Di-Phosphate (ADP) and the third addition of phosphorous make Adenosine-TriPhosphate (ATP). When ATP is broken down to ADP, it releases phosphorous atom and energy for cell use. Next time you have a visit by your vet try to remember that! Now that we understand how cells convert food and oxygen into energy we know there are changes electrically and chemically, it is also changing the relative acidity of the inside and outside of the cell. This is very important as a
cell can only operate within a very narrow range and extremely small changes can affect a cell tremendously. We can now see that electrically, chemicals and acidity can be inter-converted at the molecular level.
When light energy, in a narrow range of from 600nm to 1100nm falls on skin, it penetrates and stimulates the production of AMP. An increase in AMP causes a pressure to convert ADP to ATP and thus energizes a cell. Each cell is electrically charged and maintains a difference from inside to outside and this electrical potential creates an electrical field around each cell. While the electrical force across the cell wall is in the order of 70-90 milliVolts, (which is extremely small), due to the very small width of the cell wall, this is equivalent to 170,000 Volts per centimetre. Under the skin is connected tissue, which is largely comprised of a protein known as collagen. Of the 32 crystalline shapes known to science, 20 of these are so arranged that pressure cause an electrical charge separation within the crystal. This is known as the Piezoelectric crystal effect, of these 20 crystals, 10 are also Pyro-electric, that is, heat causes an electric charge separation. Collagen is comprised of crystals, which are both Piezo and Pyro electric. Thus when the skin is touched, the body recognizes both pressure and warmth, and the information is conveyed to the brain electrically via the nerves. Medically, electrocardiograms (ECGs) and electroencephalograms (EEGs) are used to diagnostically interpret the body’s electrical discharges. Photonic Therapy is the marriage of 1990’s diode chip technology to simple, proven, though ancient diagnostic concepts, to alter electrical fields in the skin to stimulate healing, increase immune response and pain relief. Don’t you just love Biochemistry? A very quick and extremely brief explanation.
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Now for the Physics!
Here we acknowledge the part of the electromagnetic theory, this is where electricity, gravity and magnetism are all part of the one phenomenon. These are forces that can be measured and used but they can’t be seen. Just like the equator! Photonic Therapy utilises the following; light, wavelength, colour, magnetic lines of force and electric fields. Light is merely the part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which is visible to the human eye. Light can be generated from a number of sources such as the sun or our reading lamp. Equally we can talk in terms of measurable quantities of electromagnetic radiation, or EMR. EMR may be thought of as travelling in waves when travelling through space, but must be thought of as being contained in small packets of energy, or photons, when in any other medium such as tissue. As an analogy we can think of wavelengths as providing information about a train travelling across open country. The wavelength and height could be used to describe the carriage length and height. A station-master down the line would know in advance which tunnel the train would fit through or how long a platform would be required, to accommodate the train.
While wavelengths tell us much about our train in open country (or about light travelling through space), it is not an adequate description for all situations. For example, when the train pulls into the station, the stationmaster is more interested in the number of passengers per carriage. In the same way while wavelengths are one way of describing light in space, once light enters tissue or any other medium it changes its velocity and therefore it changes its wavelength. We are more interested in the energy per unit, which remains constant, and therefore this is why we discuss the photons of energy.
In approximate terms the smaller the wavelength (in space), the higher the energy contained in each photon. At the small wavelength end of the EMR spectrum, atomic radiation or x-rays can be quite damaging to tissue. Moving up the spectrum ultra-violet light (200-300nm) does not penetrate the skin deeply but can cause cell mutation, skin cancer, and the like. The visible spectrum consists of wavelengths between 400nm to 700nm. White light is a mixture of all 300 wavelengths, and is equivalent to visible static as each wavelength interferes with the others. One may think of turning on a radio and hearing static, but tuned to one wavelength you get one radio station clearly. The same effect exists with light, as a mixture of wavelengths interfere with each other. Single wavelengths of light are used, as these can penetrate and stimulate tissue. Photonic Therapy uses a 660nm (± 10nm) red light. Colour is the human eye’s perception of the energy level in each group of wavelengths. The small wavelength, high-energy light causes a sensation in our eyes, which we recognize as “blue” light. The medium wavelength, medium energy we see as “green” light, and the longer wavelength, lower energy we see as red light.
Infra red light and microwaves are beyond the human eye’s capacity to see or interpret. If we take a bar magnet, and sprinkle iron filings near it, they will line up in lines of magnetic force. If we take two electrically charged particles of equal but opposite charges, we can show the equivalent to the magnetic lines of force, which is commonly referred to as the electric field around the object.
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Eric assessing Mo’s vision out of his left eye that was injured many years ago
Originally single cell organisms utilized the energy of the chemical soups in which they swam, to convert chemical substrates such as Sulphur-di-oxide to energy for themselves and oxygen was the poisonous by-product excreted. Over millions of years the oxygen levels built up in the atmosphere until it becomes a limiting factor to continued growth and reproduction. A small purple bacteria evolved which could utilize oxygen, however this was often eaten by its larger neighbours. Eventually a symbiotic relationship was formed where the smaller cell was able to live and divide inside the larger cell, utilize the oxygen by-products, and provide the larger cell with energy in return. These internal organisms are known as Mitochondria in animals, or chlorophyll Thyalkoids in plants. Every known living creature has mitochondria inside every cell, with the exception of a couple of amoeba, inside of which, live purple symbiotic bacteria. It is in the wall of the mitochondria where particular proteins convert light into energy. This energy is used by the cell to pump sodium (Na+), hydrogen (H+), and other ions out of the cell and potassium (K+) back in. This creates an electrical gradient across the cell wall.
Bacteria and other simple, single cell organisms, do not have a nervous system, but they have a form of memory, a sense of direction and many have a coordinated movement pattern of their hair like projections, due to the electrical potential differences across their cell membrane (wall). In the higher order creatures such as sharks and fish, the electrical fields around their bodies are used for prey detection, and
communication, as do the platypus and echidnas. In the case of fish, each fish has its own electrical field surrounding its body. When fish swim in schools, the combined school produces a combined electrical field. When a shark
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attacks, the entire school feels the penetration of the field, not just the fish nearest the shark, and therefore the entire school can take evasive action. Snakes have infrared (heat) sensors on their lips, which are linked to the visual centres of their brains, and therefore the snake can interpret or “see” its prey with the heat pits around it’s mouth. Birds, higher mammals, and humans have well-developed eyes to receive and interpret electromagnetic radiation in the form of visible light. However it is well known that the skin possesses light sensitivity, and the presence of the eyes only modifies the skin’s photosensitivity effect. Acupuncture points are known to be areas on the skin of increased electrical conductivity, the stimulation of which can change physiological body functions. Acupuncture points can therefore be seen to be the skin’s, electric field sensory system, which is common to all things, in both the animal and plant kingdoms. These are developed to a greater or lesser degree depending on the environment inhabited. If cells are grown on an agar plate, in the dark, in an incubator (regardless of whether they are tissue or yeast cells), on exposure to light and returned to the incubator, it will be noticed that they grow at a greater rate for anything up to 3 or 4 generations. If the cells were examined immediately after exposure to light, little change would be noticed. However, after 32-48 hours, improvement in growth rates can be demonstrated. As little as 2 hours of normal, room intensity fluorescent light will stimulate growth. When an acupuncture point is stimulated by a needle it produces pressure, and via the Piezoelectric crystal effect, an electrical stimulation which stimulated the nerves to stimulate the brain. This is not just a momentary effect, but the change in electrical potential at that location changes the energy levels of the surrounding cells for some 32 to 48 hours. The needle causes microtrauma, which releases a cascade of body substances, which act as chemical messengers to stimulate the nerve endings to stimulate healing. This is the same as if a person gets stung by a bee, where the injury is momentary but the effects can last for a couple of days.
The chemical messengers released by the needle’s microtrauma, are called primary messengers. These stimulate AMP, which acts as a secondary messenger. When a light is shone on an acupuncture point it changes the electrical potential of the mitochondrial walls within the cell, and therefore the energy of the cell in exactly the same way as an acupuncture needle would do, by increasing AMP, without the problems associated with skin penetration. A person has information about their environment, such as noises, light intensity, temperature, or clothing touching their skin, flooding into the brain the whole time. The brain has the ability to switch off and ignore these signals. It is the same with pain, if the condition goes on for more than 6 weeks the brain learns to accept the problem and the person is in chronic pain, and has a non-healing problem or progressive disease such as arthritis, diabetes, or glaucoma. By stimulating certain skin areas, we can change the perception the brain is receiving, and cause the brain to release certain neurochemicals (endorphins and cortisones), which cause the body to heal. When any tissue (plant or animal) is injured, an extremely small electrical current can be detected flowing away from the damaged area. This is known as the discharge of injury. The reason an acupuncture needle is inserted to a given depth, and twirled in a given direction for a given number of turns, is to provide a relatively constant amount of damage. This in turn provides a relatively constant discharge of injury, which flows from the damaged tissue to the underside of the skin, which is the connective tissue comprised of collagen. It is here that the pressure effects of the needle, and the discharge of injury equate with one another, and combine their effect along with the damage products (primary messengers) to stimulate nerve endings. The problems related to understanding photonic acupuncture are significant to a more complete scientific understanding of acupuncture. A unifying theory to explain a common mode of action for all of acupuncture’s various methodologies, invasive and otherwise, will help explain acupuncture to the medical scientists, open for debate some of the firmly held dogmas now perceived as truths, and reduce the requirement for teaching needle techniques to
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that associated with other ancient, invasive and potentially dangerous methodologies. Acupuncture is not a static method, but has changed as it has been developed over thousands of years. A theory to explain acupuncture in a scientific manner may allow it to develop further, and with photonic techniques eliminating the need for skin penetration acupuncture’s popularity may be enhanced. Photonic Therapy, the McLaren Method is the use of light instead of needles, to stimulate traditional acupuncture points in a human’s or horse’s body. It is a complementary rather than an alternative treatment system, applied postdiagnostically and is easy to use at home without the need for specialised training. Using standard points (recommended by Dr McLaren with every treatment), plus where the horse indicates it is sore, an exact amount of energy in the form of red light, ensures a repeatable, predictable outcome every time. Five seconds per point, every second day, repeated for three to four cycles, should be enough to see a very marked improvement, even if the horse is not completely better. Diagnosis involves stimulating thirteen nominated diagnostic points and then if the horse responds in a very given manner, this indicates a problem nominated by that particular point. For example, when pressure is applied to points along the horse’s neck, the horse may respond indicating sore neck, shoulders or croup. Physiology is the study of how the body functions. Neurophysiology is the study of how the nervous system functions. Now that acupuncture’s action can be explained in scientific terms, it may be demonstrated that acupuncture is a form of applied neurophysiology.
stimulate the animal’s own capacity to reduce pain, incr ease the immune response and promote healing.Dr Brian McLaren B.V.Sc., Q.D.A.H., C.Ac.,(IVAS)Grad.Dip.Acup., M.App.Sc.(Acup.) Dr Brian McLaren is a clinical scientist, a veterinary surgeon and the highest qualified acupuncturist in Australia, with postgraduate university qualifications both in veterinary and human acupuncture. He is a Fellow of the Australian Natural Therapists Association and a Member of the International Society for the Study of Pain. His Master's Degree thesis scientifically explained what an acupuncture point is and how it came to be there and how acupuncture actually works. He is currently undertaking a Doctor of Philosophy degree, with the University of Queensland, researching the treatment of Glaucoma by Photonic Therapy. Brian has received accreditation, from the Federal Government, for the instruction of a series of approved qualifications. His instruction in, and granting of, these qualifications have allowed certified Photonic Therapists such as Eric Thomas of Photonic Therapy, the McLaren Method Victoria to gain insight and complete understanding of the concept. This has best enabled Eric to be best equipped to diagnosis and treat any horses with comprehensive knowledge and full understanding of each and every concept that make up Photonic Therapy, the McLaren Method. Now that we have the science out of the way, what we really want to know how is all of this science; fish, trains, magnetic fields and electricity helps my horse?
This understanding enabled the introduction of a rational, advanced and non-invasive method of “acupuncture” treatment, which is pain-free, sterile, safe and very effective.
When a horse is treated you may notice some or all of a number of features, which range from the horse drawing in its flanks, raising its tail and passing wind quietly, or dropping its head and becoming sleepy. After diagnosing a problem and then when treating the horse, you should be able to go back over the tender points and notice a reduction in sensitivity. Within 48 hours, or after the second treatment, there is usually a marked improvement, even if the horse is not completely better.
Photonic Therapy, the McLaren Method is an effective, safe, scientifically advanced form of acupuncture, using red light, not laser, to gently
This means that we can treat our horse now with a totally save non-invasive treatment, which eliminates the need for our horse to suffer pain.
This the most important part that your horse will appreciate!
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I have experienced with a number of frustrated horse owners that have been left bewildered and wondering what to do next to relieve pain and start to enjoy their horse again. These include a Thoroughbred stallion that was considered by many to be infertile. Only after a diagnosis and treatment I have returned this horse to positive health and he is to stand at stud once again. Many horse owners have had advice that their horse was suffering from “Stringhalt”. This diagnosis would need the horse to be out of work for at least 18 to 24 months. In many cases during inspection; evaluation, diagnosis and treatment using the Photonic Therapy, the McLaren Method we have proven these horses suffer from a number of other conditions displaying symptoms similar to “Stringhalt”. Generally after 4 to 6 treatments the horse has improved so it can be ridden in light work and recovery time is reduced to a few weeks. Still the largest cause of fatalities in the horse world, Colic. Using the Photonic Therapy, the McLaren Method I have been able to reduce the symptoms of colic before the horse gets down to roll. This was all done within the first 30 minutes that the horse was discovered showing the first signs of Colic. Most horse owners are amazed that their horse then shows no signs of Colic within 40 to 50 minutes if not sooner. This is a stand out feature alone. I mean all horse owners should have a photonic therapy kit as an integral component of their first aid kit. Just how many horses can we save from Colic if this was possible?
Equine Flu? As we all are very aware, the threat of Equine Flu can affect any of us. Any time anywhere. Using Photonic Therapy, the McLaren Method we can reduce the fever; increase the immune systems, reduce temperature, stop sweating, control weight and appetite. So treating the symptoms we can significantly reduce recovery time and protect our new foals and maintain the health of our older horses.
Performance? Photonic Therapy, the McLaren Method will aid the performance horse. Without the need for drugs or other forms of stimulates Photonic Therapy, the McLaren Method will assist you horse in many ways. Firstly as a confident rider we know that our horse will clear that fence, perform a highly skilled dressage test and travel the distance in a winning time. Photonic Therapy, the McLaren Method will promote your horse’s ability to move far more naturally. This gives the horse an extended more natural movement so the horse has excellent well being. The horse will move freely, more easily and balanced giving a real competitive edge to the other opponents. Many horse owners now include Photonic Therapy, the McLaren Method in the regular maintenance of their horse’s health and well being, just as regular visits from the farrier are required. Compiled by Eric Blake Thomas ~ Photonic Therapy Victoria
www.equineonline.com.au Holistic Equitation Australia 55
Starting Your Horse “I don't break your horse's spirit, I develop a two way relationship" No stone is left unturned when your horse comes to Jason. Jason personally takes your horse through all stages of the starting process over a 6 week period. Jason will cover: • • • • • • • •
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Balance before movement Hindquarter control Round yard skills In hand bridle skills First saddling Tying up Bit and bridling Feet preparation for shoeing or trimming Preparation for rugging Washing & hosing Spooky objects Trail rides Lateral flexion Rhythm Straightness Forwardness into the contact Responsiveness from the legs One on one lessons with the owner Advice and support once your horse goes home Regular Clinics that you are able to attend
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Your Horse’s Journey Week 1 - 2 "Trust Me - Trust my Equipment" Desensitize and build trust with your horse. Week 2 - 3 Round Penning to develop the forward attitude and join up. Week 3 - 4 First Ride in the arena and round yard. Getting the horse relaxed and moving out. Week 4 - 5 Developing, stops, turns, forward into the contact. Working on transitions and Getting balanced. Week 5 - 6 Your horse is relaxed out on trail rides and we now go out together and have one on one lessons. Happy Ever After Our ongoing support ensures your success. Clinics & Education The Holistic Equitation Team run clinics regularly to find out dates please visit our clinics page Ongoing Lessons You can also book in for future one on one lessons to progress the training and relationship with your horse. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee I am so confident of my training. I work to establish a solid foundation with your horse. That's why I will give you a 100% money back guarantee.
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Jason McInnes
Riding under the radar HOW does a sports mad city kid come award-winning chef, become Australia’s own Horse Whisperer? By Kaye Hall Jason McInnes grew up in Greensborough and while he spent school holidays riding horses at his uncle’s farm in Merton, Victoria, and thought The Man From Snowy River was “really cool”, he never seriously considered a life amongst horses. Instead he pursued a promising career in cricket and baseball, and when grounded by a serious leg injury, embarked on a successful career as a chef, winning gold for Australia in 1989. When he was 21, working as chef on Brampton Island, Jason met his future wife, Jo and soon followed her to Sydney where she was running an advertising agency. It was not until they did a job for Millamolong Station in NSW and went out for a ride together that Jason and Jo realised they had a shared passion for horses –
Jo had grown up in Forbes NSW riding horses on her grandparents’ farm. A year later in 1996 the couple bought a small property and made a tree change to Alexandra with their baby daughter, not far from Merton where Jason had so many happy childhood memories. According to Jason, “Like so many people we bought a horse and did all the wrong things. Triscal was a young racehorse who became rather difficult to ride and started baring his teeth at you when you entered the paddock and wanted to then stomp on her or play,” he said. “He was out of control so we thought we’d better learn something about horses. Now I
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Jason had set his sites on a national sporting career that was tragically cut short due to a very bad leg injury
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know he was a blue personality – my most desirable kind of horse to own.” Jason and Jo asked around the local community for help and were referred to Kailie Nott, a ‘natural horsemanship’ trainer. They made a booking and arrived expecting a riding lesson but hardly touched a horse, spending the session talking about horse psychology. It was the start of an extraordinary journey. “I had never thought about horses as prey animals,” said Jason, “And never seen us as predators. The fact that they let us ride them at all is amazing – it’s a whole new perspective.” Although he was an accomplished chef, Jason had never been as passionate about cooking as he had been about sport. With his newfound interest in horses, he thought back to his childhood love of The Man From Snowy River and realised horses could suit his passion to achieve in the sporting arena. In 2000, Jason went to study Parelli Natural Horsemanship in Colorado for three months. He left still unsure about his future with horses, but returned fully committed. “When I decided to pursue training as a career, I knew it would make me a better person through the process of becoming great with horses,” he said. “It’s not putting the horse on a pedestal or in the pit – it’s about holding them in your heart and seeing life through their eyes, understanding the herd mentality. There’s no place for ego in a balanced relationship.” In 2001, Jason and Jo moved to a larger property in Yarck with the dream of establishing their own Equestrian Training and Education Facility – they have never looked back. Jason continued working as a chef and taking lessons with Kailie in classical dressage and natural horsemanship, while doing track work for local thoroughbred trainers and learning about the racing industry. In 2002, he began two years of study with one of Australia’s foremost horse trainers David Simons in Geelong, where he learned how to start horses using the John Lyons method.
Jason & Jo McInnes and Kailie Nott During this time Jason clearly saw the differences between traditional and natural training methods, which cemented his belief in natural horsemanship. “In traditional training, horses are beaten into submission, they never understand why they are asked to do something, they just know there’s pain attached to non-compliance,” said Jason. “Natural horsemanship is about understanding the herd mentality and working with the horse’s natural inclinations. We are taking a wild animal and making him feel comfortable in a human environment – he needs to understand where he fits into the human herd.” Before long, locals began bringing their horses to Jason for training and soon word of his amazing ability to transform ‘problem’ horses spread. By 2005 he was able to commit full time to horse training and began developing facilities and train-the-trainer courses to cope with ever-increasing demand for his Holistic Equitation services. Since then the equine industry has been hit by one natural disaster after another: drought, fire and Equine Influenza, and like many in the region Jason and Jo have had to work hard to keep their business afloat. Today Holistic Equitation is well established and Jason’s reputation as a horse whisperer and leader in the equine industry continues to grow. Together with Kailie Nott and his wife Jo, they
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run clinics around Australia and Jason has recently launched his own Train the Trainer Program. “Jo has a passion for psychology and horse breeding and developed some exciting tools to help people understand their own and their horse's personalities,” said Jason. “She has spent hours sitting in paddocks studying and documenting horse behavior,” he said. “Her personality decoders have been hugely successful in strengthening and developing understanding between horse and rider.” According to Jason, the theories behind natural horsemanship are quite simple – easy to read and understand – but can be challenging to put into practice because working with a big, fast animal can bring up an emotional response: failure, intimidation, fear. He says horses have taught him to be “emotionally fit” because they mirror our behaviour and emotional state. “You have to work on your emotional issues so that you can remain in control and stay safe,” he said. “Love, frustration, fear – the horse will bring it out in you.” Over the years, Jason has reflected on the links between his work as a chef, his natural sporting ability and horsemanship, and found many parallels. “If you think about what it takes to work well with horses – good timing and feel, sensitivity, clarity and the desire to be number 1 – these same qualities are necessary in good sportspeople and chefs,” he said.
“Chefs work with speed, precision and sensitivity. They need to be able to think clearly and stay focused on high quality outcomes in what can be an emotionally charged environment. Sportspeople need to be athletic, perceptive, have good coordination and be physically and mentally strong. Like chefs, they need to be able to visualise the play and the outcome before they get started. They need to be able to tune out external influences and stay present and focused on the task at hand.” While Jason has put all these skills to use in his work with horses, he values coordination, perceptiveness and ability to stay present above all. “You only get a split second to notice and reward the horse’s positive behaviour – it takes skill to know what you are looking for, see it and respond quickly.” When a client contacts Jason, the first step is to conduct a gap analysis: What does the person know? What are his or her goals? He then asks the same questions about the horse and a personality profile is developed for horse and rider. “Our aim is to create a world of trust, where we trust the horse and the horse trusts us,” said Jason. “Like us, horses need to know their boundaries. We work with the horse and then bring in the person and get the two working together. My driving force is to help the horse and person get along better and do what they have to do together in a more natural way.”
Holistic Equitation Clinic at Yarck
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Put your relationship with your horse first
We all ultimately want our horse's to perform to their highest level for their ability at the stage of their training and development. Most of us are focused on the end goal of performing an exercise, race or test that's going to help us achieve our goals, such as a dressage test. Training Horses Ethically, works with the laws of nature rather than old school techniques that work with the rules of man, in my experience mans rules are the major factor in horses becoming hard to handle, difficult, bored and dangerous. Man's rules do not apply to the natural instincts and psychology of the horse. I have always found it strange that people will say "that won't work with my horse" as if training a horse in it's own language is used for specific breeds. Developing a harmonious approach to your training and riding needn't be one or the other. In fact those who really understand dressage at an elite level, do not practice or train their horses like 99% of people - they put the relationship first, not their egos, deadline, price tag or ribbon. True horsemanship applies to all disciplines and is about taking the time it takes and not forcing or pushing the horse past it's mental, emotional and physical capabilities. The best example that I can share with you is the training philosophy of the "Spanish School of Riding".
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The trainers and riders that are a part of this school spend years and years preparing themselves and their riders, never exhausting the horse's mental, emotional and physical fitness. The most important thing that you have with your horse is the relationship and it needs to be nurtured and your number one priority. For example, I first like to think of encouraging the horse to "perform" in incremental steps, such as moving off to the right of the round yard. Getting the horse to move off is the performance part of the exercise. When the horse is capable of doing this in a calm and relaxed manner I will ask the horse to "perform" the next step. When the horse can combine a series of steps in a logical sequence you can then say their performance is being trained. What I see happen in too many cases is the direct line thinking people take with their horses. They put the end goal first and miss the imporant steps, increments and rewards that are required to develop a solid foundation and a horse that is soft, subtle and willing. If you want to learn more about training horses ethically and naturally or you are thinking about starting a career as a trainer, contact Jason McInnes at Holistic Equitation. admin@holisticequitation.co m.au for more information. HAPPY TRAILS, Jason McInnes Holistic Equitation
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Quality questions lead to quality lives. Dr John Demartini Human behavior specialist, educator, internationally published author and sought after authority in maximizing human awareness and potential.
Human Behavior Specialist, Educator, Author Dr Demartini is considered one of the world's leading authorities on human behavior and personal development. He is the founder of the Demartini Institute, a private research and education organization with a curriculum of over 72 different courses covering multiple aspects of human development. His trademarked methodologies, the Demartini Method and the Demartini Value Determination, are the culmination of 38 years of cross-disciplinary research and study. His work has been incorporated into human development industries across the world. Dr Demartini travels 360 days a year to countries all over the globe, sharing his research and findings in all markets and sectors. He is the author of 40 books published in 28 different languages. He has produced over 50 CDs and DVDs covering subjects such as development in relationships, wealth, education and business. Each program is designed to assist people to activate leadership and empower themselves in all seven areas of their lives: Financial, physical, mental, vocational, spiritual, family and social.
Determining Your Values Dr Demartini
Your values arise from and are therefore determined by your conscious or unconscious voids (what you perceive as most missing). What you perceive as most missing (void) in your life therefore becomes what you perceive as most important (value). Your underlying private voids drive your overlying public values.
disorder your have associated with it. When you live according to your highest values you become inspired and awaken genius. When you live according to your lower values you require continuous outside motivation and you sedate your genius. Your present purpose or mission for life will reflect your present highest values
Your fulfillment means the filling of your perceptually empty voids. The hierarchy of your voids determines the hierarchy of your values. The hierarchy of your values determine how you perceive (what you selectively attend to) and how you act (what you selectively intend upon) in your world and therefore they determine your immediate destiny. Since your values change over time, your destiny therefore changes over time. The summation of your series of destinies determines your evolving life journey. Your ultimate or relatively unchanging core value dictates your infinite journey the most. Your transient, changing, crusted hierarchy of values dictates your series of transient finite destinies.
Although determining your values can be practically useful in your daily reality, in actuality, nothing is void or missing in the first place, it is only in another unrecognized form. But what you perceive to be 'missing' will become what seems to be 'important'. So this is why our private voids give rise to your public values. You fulfill a void and value through either a perception or an action. To determine what you value most, answer the questions below to help you identify your hierarchy of values.
Think about the things you love to spend your time doing, the things you love in your home, the things you always have energy to do no matter how tired you are, think about the things The more important a value is, the higher it will be on you find it easy to spend money on and look to see your hierarchy of values and the more discipline and where in your life you are focused and disciplined and order you will have associated with it. The less reflect on what the common things are that you love important a value is, the lower it will be on your to think and talk about. hierarchy of values and the less discipline and more Holistic Equitation Australia 64
List at least three items per question
Your Hierarchy of Values:
1. How do you fill your space
1st ____________________________________________
_____________ _____________ _____________ 2. How do you spend your time _____________ _____________ _____________ 3. How do you spend your energy _____________ _____________ _____________ 4. How do you spend your money _____________ _____________ _____________ 5. Where are you most organized _____________ _____________ _____________ 6. Where are you most disciplined _____________ _____________ _____________ 7. What do you think about most _____________ _____________ _____________ 8. What do you envision or visualize most _____________ _____________ _____________ 9. What do you internally dialogue about most _____________ _____________ _____________ 10. What do you externally dialogue about most
2nd ____________________________________________ 3rd ____________________________________________ 4th ____________________________________________ 5th ____________________________________________ 6th ____________________________________________ 7th ____________________________________________ Check to see if these selected values are also your greatest voids (what you think most missing). Make sure they match up with your highest values. Remember your perceived voids give rise to your values. It is wise to re-evaluate your hierarchy of values quarterly (every three months) and keep records of the evolution of your destinies along your life's journey. With every change in value comes an identity crisis and a refinement of direction.
_____________ _____________ _____________ 11. What do you set goals toward most _____________ _____________ _____________ 12. What are you inspired by most _____________ _____________ _____________ From what items you have written down above, pick out those which stand out to be the most important in your life and put them in the order of most important all the way down to what is least important.
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Are you the master or the slave of your mind? © Tanja Mitton 2010 Whenever we have thoughts our brain called a belief pattern. This belief pattern can produces bio chemical reactions. The brain be positive or negative one. releases chemical signals that are transmitted For example if you ride a dressage test at a to the body where they act as messengers of competition and you totally muck up your the thoughts. Every thought produces a canter transition on the right rein twice in a chemical that is matched by a feeling and as a row you start to form a belief that states: result you now feel the way you think! “I can’t ride descent canter transitions on the When you feel a certain way, chemicals travel right rein anymore”. back to the brain, making sure you think You now look for confirmation in your next matching thoughts. test already focusing on So now you not only feel what can go wrong. If you the way you think, you also Human beings are creatures of get another average canter think the way you feel. habit which means that after we transition your belief gets (reference “Evolve your confirmed and from then on have a certain experience for a brain” Dr. Joe Dispenza) you start subconsciously number of times we start to form If you want to change the dreading the right canter what’s called a belief pattern. outcome to an event you transition and getting need to start by changing slightly tense in the process your thoughts and feelings. which of course your horse You need to learn to focus on what you want picks up on and here we go; another mucked to achieve instead of focusing on what you up transition. DON’T want. You now start to form a belief that you can’t Let me ask you something, would you ever ride decent canter transitions to the right consider to go to a competition, take your anymore and if your focus stays on that belief horse of the float or the truck and ride straight it will get worse and worse because lets face into your dressage test or show jumping it, ‘we like to be right.’ round without warming the horse up first? If you are not aware of it you will develop an Now for most riders the answer is a definite unconscious mental warm up where a little no. voice pops up in your mind telling you: “My right canter transitions are terrible, I always If it is such a given thing to warm up your muck them up and I know that I won’t be able horse let me ask you something else. to win because of it…….” How much time do you spend to warm up The same goes for show jumping and one of your mind? the most common belief patterns is the ‘one Generally when I ask this Question during my rail syndrome’. clinics I get blank looks and people asking I went through a stage in my early riding ‘What do you mean’? currier when I seemed to always have one rail So let me explain the warming up concept. down in every class. This belief was so real Human beings are creatures of habit which that I jumped numerous rounds when I was means that after we have a certain experience clear up to the last fence and I can remember for a number of times we start to form what’s myself thinking: “I can’t belief I’m clear” only
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to hear the last rail fall down as I was on my way to the finish line. I often use these examples in my presentations and generally half the audience starts nodding and laughing in agreement. It’s easy to see how we can end up in a cycle of never ending negative thoughts and feelings that constantly create more of what we don’t want. So how can we change these patterns? First of all we need to become aware of the chatter in our mind. How do we see ourselves and what do we belief we are capable of? If you were able to ride good canter transitions on the right rein before then there is no reason that you suddenly can’t do them anymore. If you can jump a show jumping round with having one rail down you are also capable of jumping a clear round. The only limitation is the one you place on yourself. Look at the problem that has come up rationally rather then emotionally. Write down exactly what the problem is and then put together a powerful positive sentence that involves an action step of how you can resolve this issue. For example: “In my next dressage lesson, with the help of my instructor I am going to improve my canter transition.” Or “By visualizing a clear round before the next competition I can jump a clear round.” Affirmations are a great way to trigger different thoughts and as we said earlier, thoughts create matching feelings. So to create a feeling of confidence, joy and success you first need confident, joyfully and successful thoughts. If you think this is impossible start by looking back to past experiences where you felt great about your riding. For example think back to a time where you did great canter transitions, a successful jumping lesson where you jumped
clear rounds and then focus on the great outcome. You have to talk yourself into the fact that you are a great rider using those examples and celebrate! If I want to change my behavior all I need is one positive example and I focus on it all day long. I play it back in my mind, I jump up and down and celebrate and I pat myself on the back until I feel good about it. It is your job to believe in yourself more then everyone else around you. You need to love yourself more then everyone else does. To be a successful rider (and person as a matter of fact!) you need to believe in your own abilities and become comfortable to succeed. You also need to love yourself unconditionally so you can forgive yourself for any hick ups that may happen along the way. It all starts with uplifting and complimentary thoughts and you find that you become more tolerant towards others as well.
Tanja Mitton grew up in Germany with a passion for horses and show jumping. She worked and trained with a number of elite German and Austrian show jumping riders before meeting her husband Richard and moving to Australia in 1995. While building her riding coaching business, Tanja was fascinated that many riders displayed a lack of confidence and belief in their own ability. Tanja discovered a solution to this problem in her study of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). Now a NLP Master Coach and Practitioner, Tanja combines her unique riding instruction and NLP techniques to coach riders from Pony Club and Adult Riding to the elite level. Tanja is the author of ‘The 7 Steps To the Mindset of An Equestrian Champion’, she also has her articles regularly published in The Horse Deals Magazine and has been one of the Educators at Equitana in 2010. Holistic Equitation Australia 67
BRUCE LIPTON BOOKS Bruce H Lipton, PhD is an internationally recognized leader in bridging science and spirit. He has been a guest speaker on dozens of TV and radio shows, as well as keynote presenter for national conferences.
The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter, & Miracles
Story supplied by Dr Bruce H. Lipton. Ph.D
The Biology of Belief is a groundbreaking work in the field of New Biology. Author Dr. Bruce Lipton is a former medical school professor and research scientist.
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Spontaneous Evolution offers you the information, inspiration and invitation to participate in the greatest adventure in human history – conscious evolution!
An Intimate Interview with Author Bruce H. Lipton, Ph.D. http://www.brucelipton.com The sweetness of that knowledge is also where the “sour” part comes in to the picture. Our conventional world is engaged in a ruthless survival of the fittest competition, based upon science’s endorsement of Darwinian theory, I am on an amazing journey that is a belief that emphasizes, “life is a filled with exhilarating life struggle for survival.” In contrast, experiences expressing both sweet the new biology reveals a and sour consequences. On the completely different understanding sweet side is the fact that I am of our place in the world. Science having the most exciting time of my is now recognizing that we are an life!! My research revealed a integral part of a giant living revolutionary understanding of how community, collectively referred to life “worked” twenty years ago and as Gaia. The new science this awareness is now beginning to underscores the fact that our be recognized by leading edge survival is based upon the science. The beautiful part is that cooperation of all the organisms in with a twenty year head start over the biosphere. Unfortunately, our my former colleagues, I have not social consciousness, shaped by only benefited by applying this Darwinian science, is so destructive empowering awareness in creating to the environment that it has the joyous life I am experiencing, already precipitated the planet’s but I have been able to extend that sixth mass extinction—which of knowledge to reveal how the world course threatens the survival of can thrive and evolve. humanity. What is it like for you to be pressing the edges of the conventional, entrenched wisdom of the medical/health care field?
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Our conventional world is engaged in a ruthless survival of the fittest competition, based upon science’s endorsement of Darwinian theory, a belief that emphasizes, “life is a struggle for survival.” In contrast, the new biology reveals a completely different understanding of our place in the world. Science is now recognizing that we are an integral part of a giant living community, collectively referred to as Gaia. Yet there is also good news. Just as some terminal cancer patients undergo a spontaneous remission, the living Gaia can do the same. As with those cancer patients, all we need to do to save our world is change our beliefs, and this is precisely the consequence of the evolving new science. My book, The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter and Miracles, provides an easy to understand explanation of how our thoughts and mind create both our internal (biological) and external (social) life experiences.
fears…death. It was the most profound experience for me, a non- spiritual scientist that wasn’t even looking for that particular understanding.
Subsequently, my life was transformed when I realized how my developmental experiences programmed my genes and behavior. With this knowledge I was able to rewrite limiting, selfsabotaging beliefs that were keeping me from experiencing the health, love and joy we all seek. I have actively created a wonderful healthy, fulfilling life and supporting What about your discoveries has environment. I love my days, sleep like a baby and enjoy life without most profoundly affected your the necessity of taking a single life and the way you live it? pharmaceutical drug! In the first instant of acquiring my One of the most important things I new insights into how cells learned through my research was worked, I was completely that human beings were transformed. As a conventional scientist, I taught my students that biologically modeled after the anatomy and physiology of single genes controlled life and that we cells. Cells are in a sense, were essentially “victims” of our miniature people. My research heredity. When I first recognized provided insight into that the brain of the cell was the cell membrane, rather than genes, understanding how the fifty trillion cells that comprise the human I was blown away, for the body can live in health and mechanism revealed that life was harmony under the skin. I was controlled by signals from the “environment.” The significance of able to apply the fundamental principles of cellular life to the way this finding is that the identity of I was living my life with great the “self,” distinguishing one success. In the words of old individual from another, would hippie philosophy, I was “cleaning also represent an environmental up my own backyard before (external) signal. cleaning up the world.” I learned to live better and healthier on less If the cell (organism) dies, its identity signal is still present in the money, not only through modeling my efficiency upon cellular life, but environment. At that moment of awareness, I realized that we have also because my personal joy and satisfaction in life was no longer an externalized “identity” (spirit) linked to consumerism. My and are immortal. The pleasures are now directly derived realization of a transcendent through my appreciation of Gaia, “identity” brought an amazing my family and my community. sense of peace into my life, for I had truly lost the greatest of all
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If you were to choose one area that you feel is your greatest challenge in sharing your discoveries, what would that be? As mentioned, the new science reveals that our preoccupation with competition and consumerism is compromising our species and our environment. There is a lot of money trying to keep us from evolving. Corporate and government interests, playing on our Darwinian fears, are undermining our civilization and environment. Simply, self-empowerment is not in the interest of those whose focus is to “control” civilization. Wars, social and moral decay, faltering education, famine and much of our disease will be eliminated when the new science becomes common knowledge. The self-empowerment offered by the new science is a threat to those organizations that profit from war and ill health. Among others, these organizations include the military-industrial complex, the larger biomedical- pharmaceutical industry and those fundamentalist religions that encourage violence and self- limitation in seeking their ends. Presently, these organizations are spending vast sums of money, enough to solve civilization’s problems, to “control” and limit our abilities via the news, magazines and television programming. Consequently, it is a difficult endeavor to fight the tide of selflimiting, self- defeating propaganda sponsored by the moneyed interests. Yet, in recent years I have noticed vast changes in consciousness by people who intuitively know we are on the
wrong track and are looking for a course correction. Fortunately, books like The Biology of Belief, as well as a number of other new works of science, are aimed at introducing the mass reading audience to the life-changing power of their conscious mind. I believe we are approaching a threshold, like the notion of the hundredth monkey, where the new science will appear to spontaneously change the direction of civilization and save us from our excesses.
to guide our own stem cells to renew our lives, without the use of pharmaceutical agents. Like breathairian’s, we will also learn to capture energy directly from the environment and will no longer be dependent upon the massive quantities of food we now think we need to eat. This awareness should provide us with a natural lifespan of at least 120-140 years, while simultaneously taking the pressure off the environment to feed us. Interestingly, current research reveals that we can double the life of laboratory When you consider your existing organisms by simply curtailing their metabolic intake. science and what other discoveries undoubtedly lie The new science provides insight ahead, who do you believe into how we manifest our reality. human beings are capable of Since most people are becoming? looking for happiness, joy and We will learn that if there is a “heaven,” it is right here on Earth. We will learn how to recreate the proverbial Garden of Eden. In this new awareness we will be able
health, their collective vision can create such a reality. Such a culture would be one that does not encourage disharmony and disease. That’s already a good start in revitalizing Eden.
When you witness the range of responses to your material from great joy to outrage, no doubt! - what is it that keeps you moving forward? The simplest answer is that I have found Heaven on Earth by personally applying the principles of the new science to the way I carry out my own life. I love my job of bringing this new science to the public, for in my travels, I have seen many people use this information to “taken control” of their own lives. There is nothing more joyous than to see an individual overcome physical and emotional adversity through self-empowerment. And on a more self-serving level, the more people create harmony in their world, the more harmony I experience in my world.
Energy Psychology Modalities recommended by Bruce Lipton Psych-K PSYCH-K is a set of principles and processes designed to change subconscious beliefs that limit the expression of your full potential as a divine being having a human experience. From Bruce Lipton: “I teach with Rob Williams the orginator of PSYCH-K. This is the modality that I use personally and with which I am most familiar.”
Freeing each individual by internal energetic decisions. Core Health leaps to the core of pure health, removing energy distortions for free flow of positive energy. The highly-effective DTQ Process (Deeply, Thoroughly, Quickly) dynamically achieves precise, experienced, permanent reactivation of a person’s innate healthy core. Body Talk Systems
BodyTalk is an astonishingly simple and effective form of therapy that allows the body’s Why don’t they look for what is energy systems to be reright with me?” Core Health is a synchronized so that they can non-cultural, non-religious operate as nature intended. Each expansion of our inborn core of system, cell and atom is in health — what is right in us! Advancing from studying disease constant communication with each other at all times. Through to understanding Health, this innovative process moves beyond exposure to the stresses of dayto-day life, these lines of treating symptoms to Truly Core Health
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communication become compromised, which then leads to a decline in physical, emotional and/or mental health. Reconnecting these lines of communication then enables the body’s mechanisms to function at optimal levels, thus preventing disease and rapidly accelerating the healing process. BodyTalk can be used as a stand-alone system to treat many health problems, or seamlessly integrated into any health care system to increase its effectiveness and promote faster healing. Emotional Freedom Technique Based on impressive new discoveries regarding the body’s subtle energies, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) has been proven successful in thousands of clinical cases. It
applies to just about every emotional, health and performance issue you can name and it often works where nothing else will.
just shortly before Mr. Silva passed away in 1999. The Silva UltraMind System trains you to use your mind to such a powerful extent that within a few days you are able to demonstrate ESP and influence healing in others. We Holographic Repatterning also teach you how to identify Quantum Change made easy. The your mission in life and to use the Resonance Repatterning System power of your creative mind, to propel you toward this goal. – Resonance Repatterning System is an energy process The Healing Codes which can help you identify and clear the patterns of energy underlying any issue, problem or Now, you can discover how to: * pain you are experiencing. Super Charge your immune system. * Help your body heal itself. * Turn on your natural Inner Resonance Technologies healing systems to heal your pain, IRT has 7 brief steps that facilitate stress, fear, depression and disease. * Turn your body’s cells you in making certain inner from Protect Mode to Growth agreements that set the Mode. In growth mode, your conditions to allow your own body’s cells can protect you from automatic system to rebalance or heal almost anything. and harmonize itself physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, transforming all parts of The Henddricks Institute your life. Resources for conscious living and loving. Instant Emotional Healing
facilities to heal our sub conscious traumatic material and facilitate transcendence to improved states of well being. Founded on modern consciousness research, powerful and proven cutting edge trauma healing as well as practices to engage conscious choice the tools are designed to facilitate self-mastery. Rosen Method Rosen Method is distinguished by its gentle, direct touch. Using hands that listen rather than manipulate, the practitioner focuses on chronic muscle tension. As relaxation occurs and the breath deepens, unconscious feelings, attitudes, and memories may emerge. The Body Code System of Natural Healing
By learning “The Body Code System for Ultimate Energy Healing and Body Balancing System”, you will gain tools to NetMindBody help yourself by releasing the Instant Emotional Healing: blocks that hold you back from Acupressure for the Emotions, by being totally healthy, from being Peter T. Lambrou, Ph.D. and The Neuro Emotional Technique successful in business, and from George J. Pratt, Ph.D. Drs. Pratt (NET) is a powerful intervention finding love and happiness in your and Lambrou have created a book that can assess and alleviate the that explains the foundations of a internal stressors that are creating life. You will be much better able to find and correct the underlying new branch of therapy call energy barriers to health and success. imbalances that are preventing psychology. you from having the health and Holosync happiness that may be currently Neurolink’s Neurological avoiding you! Integration System The lazy man’s way to meditate. Listening to this amazing, scientifically proven brain NIS is based upon the neurophysiology principle that the technology gives you all the benefits of meditation-in a fraction brain governs optimum function of the time-easily and effortlessly. of all the body systems. Prioritized treatment protocols are used to assess the function of all Lifeflow Meditation the body’s systems, and all the factors that have or could Thousands of people worldwide translate themselves to are experiencing tremendous symptoms.Neurolink’s protocols benefits with the scientifically leverage the brain’s profound proven, cutting edge technology ability to restore the body and all of the most powerful personal its systems to full potential. growth and mind improvement system ever. Silva Ultramind System Alchemy Techniques The Silva UltraMind Seminar is the pinnacle of the work of Jose Alchemy Techniques is a Photoart ~ Jo McInnes Silva, developed in the late 90s – collection of tools which provide Holistic Equitation Australia 71
JOB REVIEW Equine Nutritionist
Purchase “Finding your place in the herd” along with a collection of other amazing equestrian titles. www.horse-riding.com.au
Living in the Paradox Strong enough to be open Successful enough to fail Wise enough to say "I don't know" Serious enough to laugh Planned enough to be spontaneous Controlled enough to be flexible Knowledgeable enough to ask questions Responsible enough to play Assured enough to be rejected Industrious enough to be relaxed Leading enough to serve - Artemis Limpert
(Feed or Nutrition Specialist) Just as professional skiers have horses, an ability to communicate different nutritional needs than well, an aptitude for science, an couch potatoes, racetrack understanding of raw feed materials, and a familiarity with thoroughbreds require different equine physiology. Because of diets than aging paddock companions. Equine nutritionists these important prerequisites, specialize in identifying the proper equine nutritionists usually need feed and supplement regimen for degrees in animal science and nutrition. horses of various breeds, ages, and lifestyles. They may work at facilities as Pros diverse as breeding farms, stud Regular contact with horses farms, racetracks, and riding Opportunity for diversification and stables and may serve growing, supplemental income through performing, or aging horses. marketing and selling of feed Equine nutritionists work in products Opportunity for selfconjunction with veterinarians, employment. stable staff, and trainers to ensure Cons the horses’ optimum health and Educational requirements welfare and may engage in the Considerable travel if selfmarketing and selling of feed employed Additional costs of selfproducts. employment (travel, vehicle The successful nutritionist has a maintenance, insurance, etc.) strong interest in the welfare of
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Top Tips for applying for a job in the equestrian industry. By www.equinestaff.com.au A resume tells the employer about you, including where you live, your work history, skills, interests plus much more, if you leave details out then an employer may overlook you. An ideal resume will have bullet points of your horse skills at the top of your resume that an employer can read easily. Also by categorizing your skills in groups such as Horse Husbandry, Riding, Breeding, or just have horse skills, IT skills, and other skills. 95% of people don’t include a covering letter with their job application. This is essential to have and match it to the Job ad. E.g if the Job ad is: Stablehand required for Racing Yard- Person with at least 2 years experience including cleaning stables, feeding, watering, rugging, tacking up etc. Now in the covering letter you need to outline the key words.
register on organizations' websites to request updates on openings that match their skills and experience. Consider temporary employment or doing some work experience if you need to gain some skills. Depending on your flexibility and versatility, you may succeed in a "temp to perm" position if you have the patience to see it through, and you will be earning some income in the meantime. Be prepared to relocate or live onsite if necessary - This is seldom an easy decision to make, as an expert in the field of recruitment for the horse industry your changes will increase due to multiply jobs in different areas in Australia and the world that require live in staff.
Try to keep a positive outlook - every contact you make, every interview you experience, will bring you closer to finding that There are many ways to find a perfect job. Also consider job in the horse industry. Web upgrading to become a featured pages, Forums, Horse Magazines, employer where a recruitment Newspapers, Cold calling. company such as ours can find Remember to search the hidden you that perfect job. market -Today, you can even
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Equinestaff is Australian owned and run. Equinestaff have years of experience in finding the right job for the right person. If you’re looking for a job in the horse industry then make sure you register your details with www.equinestafff.com.au
WHY
BAREFOOT By Andrew Bowe
Why question1000 years of solid tradition? WHY BAREFOOT? The humble horse shoe is arguably one of mankind's greatest inventions. Horse shoes allowed soft footed domestic horses to be ridden or driven over any terrain and they helped mankind to conquer the new world - in warfare, agriculture and transport. Horse shoes weren't just dreamed up by a blacksmith on a quiet day! They were needed. So, justification of our desire to keep horses barefoot is well warranted (especially for a farrier who is sticking his head out of the trenches!) If traditional hoofcare - applying shoes to horses in work - is not broken, then why fix it? The thing is, if we take a look at the traditional hoofcare of domestic horses, it is broken. Not today or tomorrow, but the ultimate outcome (in many instances) is premature retirement due to chronic lameness. What is chronic lameness? Degeneration that develops in a dysfunctional body over a long period of time and manifests into such problems as: laminitis, navicular, ringbone, side bone, degenerative joints etc. These are a huge problem in the equine industry.
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What is the problem with shoes? Horse shoes take away the function of horses' feet. We put shoes on our horses' feet to supplement their primary function - the protection of soft inner structures but by doing this, all of the other functions of the equine foot are impeded. Loss of Function
"Horses' feet are designed to absorb nearly all of the concussion from ground impact before it reaches the joints of the lower leg. A peripherally loaded hoof loses most of its microvessel blood flow; which is extremely important in fluid transfer for shockwave dissapation." The equine foot is a complex three dimensional shock absorber. Horseshoes blow this function right out of the water. Not only is the frog unable to act as a primary weight bearing structure, the impact of the rigid shoe is transferred straight through the hoof wall, into the bones and joints.
Before shoe removal - no frog contact with ground. After shoe removal - frog contacting the ground.
It has been estimated that a shod foot receives more concussion at a walk than a barefoot does at a trot. A commonly accepted figure is a 70-80% increase in concussion when shoes are applied. (and yes, there is quite some science to support these claims!) A human analogy: what would you prefer to be walking around on - rubber or steel? The farrier industry has for many years been attempting to address the concussion issue by developing various soft shoes made of rubber or plastic as well as padding material to put between shoe and foot, but long term success remains elusive. Compromised circulation Foot function allows both blood and lymph to freely access every living cell in the foot, providing nourishment and removing waste. (technical term - perfusion). This cellular nourishment is able to continue, even in spite of the crushing weight of a horse standing on its feet. How is this possible? The downward pressing skeleton is basically carried on a body of blood that saturates the corium (these mechanisms that are still not fully defined). There appears to be a significant compromise in the circulation around horses' feet when they are wearing shoes. This is most evident on cold mornings when healthy barefeet are warm to touch, but shod feet are cold. Even more evident is comparing the temperature difference between shod feet and bare feet on the same horse (ie: shod on front, bare behind).
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Have you ever wondered why bare feet grow so much quicker than shod feet? Healthy tissue cannot grow with poor circulation. How are horse shoes implicated in this? Putting a shoe on a horses' foot significantly alters the weight bearing arrangements on the ground surface. The equine foot is designed to share the weight bearing responsibilities across most of the ground surface (the inner wall, some sole and most of the frog). Notable exceptions are the outer wall and quarters which are not designed for weight bearing. The foot even adapts (over time) to the ground that it is living on in order to optimise this important sharing of the load. A shod foot, however, carries the weight of the horse entirely on the wall (including the outer wall and quarter which should not be weight bearing). This change in weight bearing has two possible effects (which are still not fully understood at this stage). There is either a squeezing of the coronary artery that causes a lot of the blood to be "shunted" from artery to vein above the hoof or there is a failure of the valve system that would otherwise lock the required amount of blood into the foot at each stride for both cushioning and perfusion. Or it could be both. Loss of stay apparatus: This is arguably an indirect function, but horses' feet are shaped to allow a horse to stand with vertical cannon bones and "lock" its front legs; thus being able to sleep whilst standing (a vital part of their evolutionary survival plan and still very much a requirement of the modern horse). Horses with shod feet have to invariably alter their resting stance to cater for either deformed feet (high heels or runforward capsules) or pain relief (crushed and bruised heels or thrush infected frogs). If a horse is unable to stand comfortably with vertical cannon bones, it needs to brace its neck and shoulders to engage its stay apparatus. This results in fatigue and these poor horses can't even get a good nights sleep! Over time, evidence of this "bracing" appears as over development of certain muscle groups occur. Deterioration of protective capabilities What about the primary function of horses' feet: the ability to protect soft inner structures by being a hard outer shell? This is the function that deteriorates with domestication (they get soft) and is why we shoe horses in the first place.
A horse that has been shod long term and showing typical deformity: run forward toe with underrun heels, contracted dysfunctional frog and pressure rings in the hoof wall from incorrect weight bearing on the outer wall. This horse is obviously due for re-shoeing, but new shoes can't fix the deformity or loss of function.
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But the situation does not improve with each successive shoeing, nor does it maintain the status quo. Reality says that horses' feet become ever more reliant on shoes, the more times they are shod. Horses are much better not shod in the first place. So Why Barefoot ? With barefooting, we are able to maintain a horse's feet in a physiologically correct framework, so they are able to move correctly and rest comfortably and can ultimately remain functional at all times. It provides the opportunity to develop strong and healthy foundations beneath a horse (and keep the white ants out!), rather than just prop up dodgy foundations. This leads to better long term soundness.
"These two feet are from two Andalusian mares of identical breeding., Cricklewood Sasha 10, maintained barefoot all her life and Cricklewood Priscilla, aka Lucy, 16, shod from 4yrs - 8yrs by a reputable farrier! However you can see she still has contraction of the hoof present. Photo Mary House
What About Corrective Shoeing ? Haven't farriers been solving lameness problems for centuries with corrective shoeing? Yes, they have... Corrective shoeing works when the lameness / limb interference / loss of performance is a result of mechanical imbalance. It works as an engineering device. But... When it comes to chronic lameness (which is caused by a loss of function) corrective shoeing is unsatisfactory in the long term. It is only trying to rectify the symptoms - the hoof deformity - but not the underlying causes. A problem cannot be solved by using the same principles and processes that originally created it. A lot of corrective shoeing work is actually palliative care. This is ultimately reflected in the poor long term success rate.
For more information visit: www.barehoofcare.com Or Contact Nicky and Andrew Bowe T: (03) 5773 4306 info@barehoofcare.com
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Photoart ~ Jo McInnes
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The information in this fact sheet, or part thereof, downloaded from the website www.kohnkesown.com.au, can be used in newsletters and other horse/pony club or association bulletins, provided that the source of the fact sheet is acknowledged as courtesy of the author, Dr. John Kohnke BVSc RDA, from the website www.kohnkesown.com. The information cannot be used for magazine publication unless permission is sought from the author by email adminjkp@bigpond.com prior to publication.
©Copyright 2010
Ross River Virus
A Cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Horses By Simone Healey BESc and Dr John Kohnke BVSc RDA Over recent years, there have been numerous reports of a viral-like disease with an initial high temperature, joint pain and lameness, swelling in the lower limbs, loss of appetite and depression which develops into a chronic fatigue-like condition which can last for weeks or months. Affected horses are unable to exercise to their previous level and become ‘flat’ and tire easily when worked. Many of these horses appear to be infected during the summer months and are often located in areas with fresh water lakes and seaside lagoons or during a wet summer rainfall season. Some properties report recurring symptoms in horses each year, with many owners and trainers suspecting a virus being harboured in the soil from year to year.
Risk of Ross River Virus in Australian Humans
It is now known, following surveys and blood testing for immune antibodies, that these symptoms which resemble the chronic fatigue of Ross River Virus in humans, are due to the same virus, with many horses when they exhibit the above chronic fatigue-like signs, returning a positive antibody titre to the virus.
What is Ross River Virus? Ross River Virus (RRV) is an arthropod (insect) borne virus (arbovirus) which can cause a number of neurological, musculoskeletal, behavioural and respiratory Handy Hint 1 problems in horses. RRV was first Early Signs of RRV Infection identified in Narrandera and Hay The earliest sign is a rise in body temperature above 39 degrees for 4-5 days whilst the virus in humans in 1928 and today multiplies in the blood and body cells. The horse often becomes depressed with a reduced ability is reported throughout to exercise and a loss of appetite. After the first week following infection, fluctuations with intermittently most of Australia, Papua high temperatures and recurrent bouts of fever and lassitude are often observed, which distinguishes New Guinea and many RRV from the more common EHV-1 ‘stable’ virus respiratory infection. Many horses develop soft, cold fluid swellings in the lower limbs and occasionally under the stomach and throat. Some develop swollen islands in the South Pacific. and painful lymph nodes under the jaw. After the first 7-10 days following initial infection, other signs It is a non-lethal disease, including joint swelling and tenderness, with stiffness in movement, reluctance to move and sore however infection can be muscles are usually noted and some horses appear to be ‘tied up’ in the muscles during quite debilitating and symptoms exercise, rather than after exercise. Blood tests fail to indicate an elevation in muscle cell enzymes normally associated with the ‘tying long lasting. In humans, 90% of cases up’ syndrome. report joint pain and arthritis and 50% develop chronic fatigue syndrome. Because of its effects, infection of RRV in racing and performance horses can result in great economic loss, while in equestrian and pleasure horses, the often long lasting chronic fatigue-like symptoms are equally frustrating to horse owners. As well as affecting horses, infection can occur in humans, dogs, cats, marsupials and rodents, with kangaroos and wallabies being the most common carrier animals. Kangaroos, wallabies, and humans, as well as possums, flying foxes and birds, can act as natural reservoirs from season to season. It cannot be transmitted directly between them, but instead, RRV is transmitted by female mosquitoes biting the infected host and then inoculating the disease into another human or animal.
Talking Horses Fact Sheet 15
How is it spread?
RRV is transmitted only by several species of mosquitoes. These vector species (insects capable of transmitting a disease) vary with seasonal and environmental conditions in different regions of Australia. Some of the most common RRV vectors in Australia include Culex annulirostris (the major inland mosquito which breeds in fresh water habitats particularly in irrigated areas), Ades camptorhynchus (southern coastal Saltmarsh mosquito) and Ades vigilac (northern coastal Saltmarsh mosquito). In Australia, RRV outbreaks most commonly occur over the warmer months between September and May, peaking during January to March when mosquito populations are the greatest.
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Ross River Virus Handy Hint 2
What climatic conditions favour infection?
Blood Antibody Screening to Determine Time of Infection The prevalence of RRV has been found to be highly associated The presence and level of IgM antibodies either alone or in with climatic conditions, with rainfall being the most important combination with IgG in a blood test, can provide an indication factor. Areas where RRV outbreaks have occurred have most of time of infection, while the identification of IgG antibodies alone is frequently used as an indicator of prior infection with RRV. If you commonly had high rainfall in the months leading up to the suspect that your horse has been suffering from RRV in its early stages, outbreak. Temperature and humidity have been found to it is best to take 2 blood samples 2 weeks apart, to not only assist be more variable, with outbreaks occurring in both tropical with the detection of RRV, but also to help to more precisely and temperate climates where temperatures range from as identify the time of infection. This will often coincide with the start of the early symptoms, often associated low as 6.4°C and as high as 40°C. While high rainfall creates with a high population of mosquitoes 2-3 optimum environment for mosquito breeding, the wide range of weeks after summer rainfall. temperatures recorded during RRV outbreaks can be somewhat misleading. The optimum temperature for mosquitoes to breed Handy Hint 3 is between 25°C -27°C. Although RRV outbreaks have been Manage Turn-out Times to Minimise Mosquitoes associated within temperatures and humidity over a broad range, mosquitoes tend to migrate to damp, warm conditions, such It is helpful to restrict turn-out times to mid morning - mid afternoon and lock your horse up in the late afternoon prior to the as around dams, rivers, tanks and drains where conditions sunset period, the early evening and after dark when mosquito activity are favourable for breeding. (Refer to the Distribution map is high to reduce the chance of being bitten by a RRV carrying mosquito. of RRV in humans suggesting a warmer, higher rainfall, If it is your own property, you can install fine flyscreen covers around stable more northern and coastal incidence). areas to reduce the chance of mosquitoes gaining access to your horses
when they are stabled during these high risk periods. It is also a good idea to block off all other openings around the stable block, including the edges of sliding doors. It is also helpful to install an electric mosquito ‘zapper’ on the walls of the stable aisle or veranda to help control mosquito A wide range and severity of signs can be displayed by horses numbers. A mosquito trap containing an attractant chemical infected with RRV, with initial signs including fever, joint pain, is also recommended to be installed near to the stables to attract mosquitoes away from swelling on the lower limbs and reluctance to move, followed by: the body heat of horses.
Common Signs in Horses
• Behavioural changes such as lethargy, more time spent lying down, as well as loss of appetite, weight loss, poor exercise performance or an inability to exercise with delayed recovery and symptoms of chronic fatigue. • Respiratory signs including increased respiratory rate and a cough in early stages. • Gastrointestinal problems including diarrhoea and spasmodic colic. • Neurological signs including in co-ordination (ataxia), low grade lameness and either reluctance to move, or restricted movement as if suffering chronic muscular and joint pain. • Anaemia and lower than normal blood white cell counts, with low lymphocyte cell readings.
Viral Transmission / Virology As RRV is an arbovirus which is transmitted between susceptible host species by mosquitoes. The process of transmission RRV occurs in the following way:
Did You Know That … Infective mosquitoes can harbour the virus and it is possible that at least one species can pass it onto the next generation of mosquitoes through eggs which are resistant to drying under drought conditions. They hatch to ‘wrigglers’ in water after rainfall and the new mosquito can already be infected without taking the virus with a blood meal to breed.
Diagnosis During the active acute phase of RRV, the horse’s primary response to infection is the production of IgM antibodies, which occurs within 7-9 days post infection. IgM antibodies continue to rise until 2-3 weeks before rapidly declining. As IgM antibodies begin to decline, IgG rises and overrides IgM making it the dominant antibody. Testing for IgM and IgG antibodies in the blood is the only way to diagnose a horse with RRV. The IgG antibody can be identified in the blood samples of affected horses for up to 18 months
Female mosquito seeking a blood meal to breed, bites another host, such as horse RRV incubates mosquito for 510 days to infective viral stage in mosquito salivary glands Total Infection Cycle 12 – 19 days
Female mosquito bites ‘carrier’ host (eg Kangaroo, wallabies, humans, infected horse) and ingests RRV
Did You Know That …
Newly introduced virus attaches to surface of host cells and contributes RRV DNA 7 – 9 Days
Virus multiplies, stimulates IgM antibody response in new host.
Talking Horses Fact Sheet 15
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If you are situated in an area with a high risk of RRV transmission, it is important to take measures to reduce exposure to yourself and children. Mosquitoes are most common in the early evening and overnight during the warm summer months, so ensure that you are covered and apply an insect repellent when outdoors and when sleeping. Flywire screens are also recommended on bedrooms and a mosquito net that covers the bed area at night.
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Ross River Virus Handy Hint 4
Prevention
Purchase an Under-Belly Protective Rug
To assist with the prevention of RRV infection in horses, it is important to adopt stringent mosquito control measures particularly after rain when the conditions are favourable for mosquito breeding. Mosquitoes are more active in the morning and evening so it is important to ensure that your horse is well covered, with properly fitting rugs from head to tail during these times.
A special rug designed with an under-belly covering to virtually seal and protect the under-body areas from mosquitoes is available in the UK. It is called a Boett Rug®. They can be purchased on the Internet or from distributors in Australia. When combined with stabling overnight and windows and doors fitted with fine mesh fly wire, the risk is greatly reduced.
Some mosquitoes can bite through thin cotton rugs, so that it is best to provide a thicker cotton sheet with neck rug and hood Handy Hint 5 with ear pieces to help provide more complete protection over Use a Long Acting Mosquito Repellent common target areas for female mosquitoes. A mesh fly veil Lightly spray your horse in the late afternoon, especially its lower limbs with ear covers can be used in the evening as an alternative to a if you are covering the body with a rug, with a long acting , waterproof hood. When considering an agistment property or stable/yard insect repellent, such as Flygon®. Flygon is based on natural pyrethrins and citronella oil which results in a low irritant, 24-36 hour long lasting housing for your horse, try to keep away from areas known to be repellent action. Many alcohol based repellents only last for 2-3 populated with mosquitoes and natural hosts, such as kangaroos hours before evaporating and losing their activity, whilst and wallabies. Heavily populated areas include coastal areas and Flygon® maintains its repellent activity for up to 24 wetlands with higher humidity where conditions favour mosquito hours between applications. breeding. Properties with stable blocks or yards away from any wetlands or damp and steamy areas are less likely to be a high risk location but mosquitoes can fly to areas neighbouring wetlands. Handy Hint 6 Supplement with Immune Nutrients
Other Therapies
It may be of benefit to give a daily supplement of Kohnke’s Own Activ-8 containing immune active nutrients, such as organic zinc, organic selenium and high doses of vitamin A and Vitamin E, as well as other supportive nutrient co-factors, to help correct low or inadequate intake from pasture or hard feeds to help maintain the immune response in horses with early symptoms. A daily supplement of Activ-8 given for 3 weeks may help maintain optimum immune activity during the critical first 3 weeks of immune challenge to the RRV virus in the blood and tissues. Field trials indicate that Activ-8 can help maintain the appetite and general well-being in horses with suspected RRV infection and antibody titre to the virus. It is important that horses maintain their appetite during the incubation stage of the disease.
Alternative therapies are also commonly suggested as preventative measures. Supplementing the ration with herbs, such as garlic and marigold, are thought to make the horse’s blood less palatable to biting mosquitoes. However, avoid supplementing with more than 20g garlic per day/500kg horse, as studies have shown that higher doses of garlic can result in anaemia due to formation of Heinz body particles in red blood cells which significantly reduces their lifespan in the blood. It has also been suggested that mosquitoes are attracted to horses consuming sweet feeds and molasses in the diet, whilst other observations suggest that adding apple cider vinegar (50-75 mL in the evening feed) in place of molasses, may help minimise attraction by mosquitoes. However, none of these measures are totally protective. Citronella, lavender, rosemary and lemongrass are all thought to be natural mosquito repellents. A natural repellent spray which is believed to keep biting insects away can be made from combining the oils of citronella, lavender, paraffin and eucalyptus with distilled water.
Controlling Mosquitoes The use of tested and approved insect repellents, such as Flygon®, are more protective against mosquitoes for an extended time (Refer to Handy Hint 5). Although kangaroos and wallabies are the natural host animal for RRV, it is a waste of time fencing the perimeter of a property to control their access to paddocks as infected mosquitoes can fly from nearby bushy, wetland areas where wallabies colonise. Moving to an area free of kangaroos and wallabies and high populations of mosquitoes may be a last resort if RRV becomes a seasonal problem on a horse property.
Treatment & Recovery Once RRV has been suspected by the clinical symptoms of depression, joint pain and lower limb swelling, progressing to chronic fatigue-like signs, or confirmed in the horse by detection of IgM and/or IgG antibodies in serology tests, treatment should be commenced. Unfortunately, as is the case in humans, there is no drug-based medication available which is able to suppress or eradicate the virus from the horse’s body. Antibiotics and antiinflammatory agents, including corticosteroids, can be of benefit to help make the horse more comfortable, but they cannot actually destroy the virus. Treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s), such as ‘bute’ and Finadyne® can be given to relieve symptoms of pain and swellings. The horse should be rested and stress should be limited, as this can cause a relapse in severity and symptoms of the disease. Most affected horses make a full recovery within 18 months. Usually, by this time, permanent immunity will develop so that the horse cannot be reinfected with the virus throughout the rest of its life. Copyright 2010
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Horses and Ponies For Sale
eds
fi Classi
Visit www.avalonreign.com.au for more details or call 03 5773 4236 Name: Junior Breed: Warmblood x Arab. Sex: Stunning Gelding Colour: Roan Born: 2008 Height: Currently 15.1 Nature: Quiet and Reserved, Kind, Sensitive Temperament Personality Colour: Positive Purple/Red Training: Halter trained and ready to go on with Price Unstarted: $2500 Price Started: $4000 History: Purchased by Avalon Reign, no issues or vices
Name: Bailey Breed: Pure Bred Quarter Horse with papers Sex: Solid Gelding Colour: Chestnut Born: 2006 Height: Currently 15 Nature: Confident but sensitive, very smart, quiet and a bit bossy! Personality Colour: Blue and Purple Training: Currently under saddle and going really confidently Price Started: $6000 Firm History: Purchased by AR, no issues or vices
Name: Montana Breed: Warmblood x TB/Arabian Sire: Rocadero (Imp AUS/Exp Germany) - Registered Holsteiner Stallion Sex: Big Strong Mare Colour: Bay Born: 9/10/08 Height: Currently 15.1 will mature 16.3 Nature: Very sensitive, very smart, forward moving Personality Colour: Red Training: Halter trained and ready to go on with Price Unstarted: $4000 Started: $6000 History: Bred by Avalon Reign.
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Name: Rockyfella Breed: Warmblood x TB Sire: Rocadero (Imp AUS/Exp Germany) - Registered Holsteiner Stallion Dam: Whirl, Delatite Mare - Pure bred TB / Qualified Para Olympics Sex: Big Strong Colt Colour: Brown Born: 2009 Height: Currently 14.3 will mature 16h Nature: Quiet, sensitive and curious Personality Colour: Red Training: Halter trained Price Unstarted: $3000
Name: Jay Jay Breed: Stockhorse x TB Sire: Registered TB Stallion Dam: Stock Horse Sex: Gelding Colour: Brown x2 white socks on hind Born: 2008 Height: Currently 14.2 will mature 15h Nature: Very Quiet, sensitive, curious and kind. Easy going nature Personality Colour: Positive Yellow Training: Halter trained. Price Unstarted: $2500 Started: $4500 History: Bred by Avalon Reign.
SOLD
Name: Molly Breed: Pure Standard Bred - Multi Champion Bloodlines S3060852 Sire: Barnett Hanover USA Dam: Miss Molly Duke Sex: Mare Colour: Brown/Black Born: 03/11/06 Height: 16.3h Nature: Quiet and sensitive Personality Colour: Yellow Training: Trained for cart and saddle. Although due to her past would be best used as a broodmare or trail riding horse. Currently turned out with the herd, being a horse! Price: $1800 ono History: Bred by Aptaro Stud Molly is a quiet, sensitive and gracious mare who unfortunately was rushed when first started in the cart and had a couple of panic attacks so was sacked, all of her siblings are multi-champion harness racing horses. She has been re-educated under saddle and needs a confident, experienced rider who will take their time with this gentle giant. She is a stunning mare and deserves a loving home. She would make an excellent broodmare to any standardbred stud looking for exceptional bloodlines.
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Name: Sorocco Breed: Pure Bred Arabian Sire: Shuja Arabian's Stallion - Danny Dam: True Bint Ramzi F20902 Sex: Colt - about to be gelded Colour: Chestnut Born: 17/10/2009 Height: 13h Nature: Exceptionally Quiet, sensitive, curious and kind. Easy going nature, pleasure to handle and own, comes up to you in the paddock. Lovely Pony. Personality Colour: Positive Red Training: Halter trained and ready to go to a loving home. Make a great Endurance Pony Price Unstarted: $1500 Name: Avalon Reign Texas D.O.B. 15/09/10 Section: B (E)Â Handsome, Majestic Gelding Height: 12 hands Colour: Bay Sire: Karanga Mikarma Dam: Avalon Reign Myfawny Training: Halter Trained only ready to prepare for saddle Personality: Red and Purple Price: $850
Name: Avalon Reign Suzy D.O.B. 20/08/10 Top Quality Section B Filly Section: B Mare Maturing Height: 12.2 hands Colour: Chocolate Brown 2 white socks Sire: Alpha Limerick Dam: Avalon Reign Llawella Exceptionally bred, great asset to any stud. Very Flashy, Confident Filly Filly. $1500 Avalon Reign Llawela - Registered B Mare D.O.B. 12/12/04 Section: B Mare - Outstanding Bloodlines Height: 12.1 hands Colour: Chocolate Brown 3 white socks Sire: Imperial Tennessee (TOP SIRE RATING STALLION) Dam: Karanga Brittany Exceptionally bred, great asset to any stud, has been running with stallion, so may also be in foal. Beautiful Movement. Very Flashy. Ran with Stallion Nov - Dec 2010 Both Mare and Filly. $2500 Mare only: $1500 Filly only: $1200
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Name: Avalon Reign Jaila D.O.B. 21/10/07 Section: B Filly Maturing Height: Sold 11.3 hands Beautiful Confirmation Colour: Bay Sire: Karanga Mikarma Dam: Avalon Reign Mitzi Temperament: Strong Minded, Quiet, Unflappable Training: Halter Trained and ready to start Personality: Purple Price: $1200
Name: Avalon Reign Jewel D.O.B. 27/10/07 Section: B Filly Maturing Height: Sold 12 hands Colour: Liver Chestnut - born buckskin Sire: Karanga Mikarma Dam: Karanga Mayflower Temperament: Quiet, Curious, follows you around the paddock, loves attention. Training: Halter Trained, running with herd and 2010 season with Stallion Alpha Limerick Personality Colour: Blue
Avalon Reign Merlot - A family favourite D.O.B. 03.11.2006 Merlot is going beautifully under saddle. Exceptionally quiet, forward moving, energetic, fun pony. Section: Welsh Gelding (B) Registered E Dam: Karanga Nuttcracker Sweet - Multi-Champion FS1 Sire: Karanga Mikarma Height: 12.3 hands Colour: Bay, white blaze, 2 white hind socks, one blue eye. Extremely quiet. Temperament: Fun, curious, forward, energetic, playful, responsive. Personality: Blue with a bit of Red Location: Merlot is currently being schooled in Yarra Glen Price: $5000.00 ono. No Traditional Show Homes for this pony - This is a pony for a family who want their child to have a solid, respectful and loving relationship with their pony. This pony is smart, sensitive and very willing and is being trained by a classical dressage instructor who combines natural horsemanship with modern day dressage. Merlot is working beautifully under saddle and is going out to pony club and in traffic and takes everything in his stride. If you are a lover of ponies and respect that they are individual, sentient beings and will always put the relationship first with your pony, then this is a pony for you. He is an exceptional boy! He needs a confident caring rider.
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Bouwe
Turn your favourite photo of your horse into your favourite painting. Capture the spirit of your horse. Contact Jo at info@holisticequitation.com.au Holistic Equitation Australia 86
About the Publisher Jo has been a keen horse lover all of her life, starting riding at the age of 10 on her family holiday farm in NSW. Her obsession with horses started long before that though, she would constantly pretend she was a horse and would find the images of horses in everything she looked at, especially the clouds. Day dreaming has always been a favourite past time! Career was also important and Jo started her own advertising and marketing company in 1989 and grew it into a 7 figure business in Sydney in the early and mid nineties. In 1996 the family moved to NE Victoria to pursue their passion with horses. Breeding imprinting and training Welshies and Warmbloods became Jo’s hobby in 1999 which led to her passion of studying herd behavior whilst she spent hours photographing them. Gifted with a hyper intuitive ability she has spent over 20 years, personally studying psychology, spiritual psychology, human personalities, behaviors, alternate healing and energy medicine, completing BodyTalk Modules 1 & 2, Cert I, II in Photonic Therapy and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and Certificate I in EFL. A passion of Jo's has always been delving into the minds of people and horses, helping horse owners
to understand themselves and their horses to create a deeper more positive relationship with each other. Jo’s "hyper intuition" helps her to communicate with horses, animals and nature on an energetic level often receiving insightful and healing messages that create breakthrough experiences for horse and owner. Jo loves teaching and helping clients to understand the psychology and personalities of horses, teaching equine personality profiling at all of the HE clinics. She has also invested 10 years of personal riding instruction and attends clinics and events of honoured horse people. Jo has also published a number of equestrian ebooks that she sells online: www.horse-riding.com.au Her most prized work which was 6 years in the making - "The horse and Owner Personality Decoder" was launched at Equitana in 2010 and was a great success and is currently being developed into a DVD. You can download the decoders free from the HE website. Jo also runs as a professional online strategy business and has spoken professionally around Australia teaching and helping people with their online marketing and communications. Jo continues to invest in her self in order to help others and sees this as her life long mission. Jo's website: www.shecommerce.com.au
Tourism and Equestrian Specialist
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