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EQUINE EMERGENCIES
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Equusology
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO DECIPHERING YOUR HORSE’S TYPOLOGY
PLAN YOUR
PERFECT PASTURE
THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR HORSE’S
LIFE BETWEEN THE EARS
GUT-BRAIN CONNECTION
WHY THIS TRENDING HASHTAG IS GIVING US
VOLUME 14 ISSUE 2
wanderlust
Display until May 20, 2019
$5.95 USA/Canada
April/May 2019
EquineWellnessMagazine.com
Life Between the Ears WHAT STARTED AS A HOBBY HAS TRANSFORMED INTO A TRENDING HASHTAG THAT’S CAPTURING THE ATTENTION OF HORSE LOVERS WORLDWIDE. By Emily Watson
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Equine Wellness
Left: Charlotte Beck Top left: Joanna Bink Photographer / #EyeLikeLight Top right: Kristine Dahms, overlooking Puget Sound from Maury Island
INDIA
All over the world, individuals are grooming manes, mucking stalls, tightening girths and soaking in the sunshine from the backs of their trusted equine companions. The universal bond between horse and rider transcends time and space, and breaks down all cultural barriers. And nothing celebrates this connection better than a new social media account aptly named “Life Between the Ears” (LBTE), which unites horse lovers and travel enthusiasts around the globe through their passion for riding. This collaborative photo album has become a platform that’s frequented — and adored — by thousands. In fact, since its launch a decade ago, Life Between the Ears and its associated hashtag, #lifebetweentheears, has garnered photo submissions from over 100,000 social media users. When Kristine Dahms shared her first post back in 2008, she had no idea it would turn into something quite so impactful. Her only intention was to share a few photos from her hacks out on the trails. “Soon my friends were sending me their ‘between the ear’ photos, so I started a dedicated Facebook page to share them all,” she says. “Then the whole thing exploded
UNITED STATES
and I started sharing other people’s photos that I’d find from all around the world.” Within just a few years, Life Between the Ears transformed from a personal Facebook account into a community of riders hailing from Jordan, Australia, Norway, South Africa, Ireland, Germany, Canada and numerous other countries. Kristine’s Instagram feed boasts nearly 40,000 followers, and over 1,000 images from various contributors. Each of these photographs also includes a thoughtful caption outlining cultural information about the location in which it was taken. “I started sharing educational info simply out of my own curiosity,” says Kristine. “I figured people might have the same curiosity, so I started Googling to learn more. There are so many gorgeous images and sites out there, but it’s context that makes things more meaningful.” For anyone interested in submitting photos to Life Between the Ears, Kristine suggests choosing the right time of day to snap an ideal shot. “The best times are in the morning and evening when the sun is not directly overhead and harsh,” she says. “The Golden Hour is my favorite, which is just at dusk when the light Equine Wellness
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is glowing and shadows are long. I try to get my horse’s head with a bit of light outlining his ears and not in the shadows.” She also recommends taking the shot quite close to your horse’s ears, especially if you’re using a phone camera. And of course, ears forward! Left: Betty Camilla Hellum Right: Rana Babac Celebi
NORWAY
TIPS FOR TRAVELING HORSE LOVERS As a horse caretaker, traveling with horses can be tricky. There’s a lot to sort out before taking off, and often it’s easier to just stay put. But scrolling through feeds like @lifebetweentheears is bound to give you serious wanderlust. According to Kristine, you can have the best of both worlds. “I have friends I trust to care for my horses when I’m away,” she says. “The best advice I can give is to have a relationship established before you plan on traveling, along with the obvious whiteboard of feeding and turnout instructions and emergency vet contact information.” Here are a few more tips Kristine has to offer: • If you want to ride horses at your destination, be honest about your skill level…and ask for a gelding. • Buffer your ride with at least a day of down time to combat jetlag and adjust to your new surroundings before hitting the saddle. • Be sure to break in any new gear before your trip — especially boots. • If you plan to take photos on your ride, pack extra camera batteries and recharging devices. • Sign up for an international phone plan so you can carry a cell phone on your ride in case of emergencies. • Get travel insurance for equestrians. • Bring your riding gear in your carry-on in case your luggage gets lost.
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Don’t have images of your own to contribute? Don’t worry. Whether you prefer the familiarity of your own farm or consider yourself a seasoned globetrotter, this one-ofa-kind social media account is an inclusive space for horse lovers from all walks of life. “We all speak horse,” says Kristine, who has met with a few other Life Between the Ears contributors, and hopes to organize a big gallery meet-up sometime in the future. In the meantime, this virtual gallery is a must-follow. You’ll learn about the traditions and customs of other countries, and connect with people on the other side of the world who, like you, prefer looking at the world from between the ears of a horse.
GET CONNECTED lifebetweentheears.com pinterest.com/lifebetweenears instagram.com/lifebetweentheears facebook.com/lifebetweentheears twitter.com/LifeBetweenEars