Lucy foaled!

Hey. Sorry about the delayed sharing of the news. Lucy foaled on the 19 of October, somewhere between midnight and 12.25 am. She gave birth to a healthy paint filly. Many thanks to my dear Adam who was the hero of the night and kept his head when everyone else was loosing theirs.

Interesting and New internet hoaxs

Here are a few emails I have received lately, some pretty stupid shit, I'm not entirely sure how they think people can be this dumb!

Ericsson are distributing free laptops for their brand promotion.
They hope to increase their popularity and sales by this campaign.
All you need to do is send an email about this to 8 people and you will receive an Ericsson T18 Laptop.
However, if you send an email about this to 20 or more people, you will receive an Ericsson R320 Laptop.
Make sure you send a copy to: anna.swelung@ericsson.com Cheers

A quick google search revealed this to be a hoax.

"My horse died"

Original post is here

Read this and weep.

"My horse died"

"Demeber 22, 2008 I bought my first horse. She was a 4 yr old QH mare. When I bought her she wasn't broke to ride and she had no muscle tone whatsoever. So after 7 months of being with her and 3 months of riding her I broke her to w/t/c, woah, and back. She was doing great. But yesterday went terrible! I worked her a little in the round pen and then I tied her head around slightly. I was taught this when training them. My old trainer used to leave them like that all day long. They would used leave and go do whatever they wanted to do and then come back and ride them. Well when I tied my horse around I was feeling really dizzy and dehydrated so I went to my house to get some water. My house is 5 mins away. So I drove to my house really quick got my water and went back. Well when I walked out to the round pen I saw my horse laying down. Most of the horses that would get tied around by my previous trainer would sometime or another lay down and then get back up. When I walked out to my horse she wasn't moving and she wasn't breathing. I started to panic and I ran to her. When I got there she was dead. She had blood in her ears and it had filled her ears completely. I immediately pulled her tack off and fell to the ground crying. I feel absolutely miserable. I didn't leave her for long. I barely had her tied around. My trainer used to tie them WAY tighter and nothing ever happened. But one time I do it and my horse dies. NEVER AGAIN!!! Everyone said that she had an underlying issue and they think it might have been a heart attack or something must have burst in her brain. There was nothing I could do to stop it and it would have happened sooner or later. She was fine one minute and gone the next. I just feel like I killed her. I miss her so much and I can't bring her back! I feel like it's all my fault. I hope everyone can forgive me. I'm so scared to get another horse. I'm afraid it's going to die on me. Please someone yell at me or knock some sense into me. I don't know what to do anymore. Thanks everyone for enduring that. Cookies to all."

Madi back in: Does anyone find that weird? Let's all tie our horses up in heat that make us light heated and dizzy, leave them, drive away. This person should feel bad. They should NEVER buy another horse. Oh and I fail to see how a heart attack causes bleeding from the brain. Stupid.

Lucy Updates!

Well, I thought that I hadn't really mentioned Lucy and our little surprise so I thought I'd update you on her. She is most definitely pregnant! We are estimating she is due around the end of August. She is now yarded and has taken that very well, we have had no suicide attempts yet, which I'm very proud of. She has become very temperamental and is becoming increasingly difficult for everyone else to handle although she still tolerates me and seems happy to see me when I go up there to feed her and unrug-rerug her. She is biting at her belly and kicking at it more and more but I am desperately hoping that she can hold off until the end of August.

She has started to develop colostrum and has started to develop pockets. Before we yarded her, I had noticed that the herd had started hassling her and that she was more stand-offish with the herd, preferring to stand by herself and she was lying down more and more.

I have some photos that I will upload very shortly.

Movie Review; Hancock starring Will Smith

Due to a request from a very dear friend, I am reviewing the movie 'Hancock' starring Will smith, Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman.

As I lined up in the cinema for my tickets, I had a very cynical feeling towards Hancock. After seeing Ironman and falling so in love with that superhero movie, I doubted Hancock could anyway match that. We found our seats and got comfortable with out chips and malteasers and waited. The cinema filled rapidly with people of all ages and my cynicism started to disappear, if this many people had faith in Will Smith and his ability to play a down and out superhero, perhaps I should too.

It started off slow, with me thinking perhaps I was right, the movie was indeed going to be boring and sterotypical but that soon changed. Will Smith threw himself into this role, making up for my disappointment with his failing movie career of late. The writers blew me away with witty one liners and situations that go from bad to worse for the pigheaded yet lovable Hancock.

It wasn't until half way through the movie that I remembered that I suppose to be cynical and look for the faults, but once more the writers and directors distracted me with a shock for our hero. He had lived for decades thinking he was the only one of his kind here, on Earth. He was thrown into turmoil after receiving a shock revolation. Is he really alone?

Towards the end of the movie, I could feel the whole cinema holding a collective breath as Hancock had to make a decision that would effect his life forever and possibly end another Hancock favorite. During this last suspenseful fifteen minutes, I could have possibly broke several of Adam's fingers, clinging so hard as I watched and waited for him to make the ultimate sacrifice.

All in all, this movie was so much more then I had thought it would be. I have rated it: 4.5 stars.

I would recommend this movie for anyone who loves Ironman.

New Horse Support Forum

New Horse Support Forum --- > Click here

Start up yesterday to be a friendly place to talk about your horses, ask questions and have a few laughs with other people with the same passion as you. Horses!

Looking for a new home for Cleo

InTradition.
15.2 hand, bay thoroughbred mare. 12 years old. "Cleo" is a friendly mare that would make the perfect project horse. She has excellent ground manners. She is an angel to catch/shoe/float/tie/drench. She will stand tied all day without fuss, loves attention and will tolerate anything on the ground. She requires an experienced rider as she is stubborn and backs out when asked to do something she doesn't want to. She isn't dangerous at all, no buck/bolt or bite, she is just stubborn. Selling due to the fact I don't have the time she needs to retrain her.

She comes with her winter rug. I am asking only $500 ono. I am looking for a quick sale to a good home. Suit broodmare, project horse or lawn-mower. Suitable for anyone to handle as she is bombproof on the ground but only suit for confident intermediate up-wards to ride.

Contact me at omgitsmadii@hotmail.com

Can anyone help these girls?

I seen this ad on petlink and it breaks my heart to see people so desperate to get rid of their horses. If I were closer, I would take them and try to train the thoroughbred up to re-home her but unfortunately I am hours away and don't have the funding to get them transported!

Posted by BenCruachanMountainRacing (NEWRY VIC) on 22-Jun-08 10:00 PM AEST
To reply to this advertisement email vickig@srw.com.au

MUST BE OFF OF PROPERTY BY WEDESDAY OR ELSE SHE WILL GO TO KNACKERY...ABSOULTELY NO CHOICE!

Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free

16hh+ 10yo TB mare
By Durbridge, comes with papers
UNBROKEN, used as broodmare only
Good to handle
No current photos so please dont ask
In AWESOME paddock condition - couldnt ask for better going into winter

Agistment is sold, MUST GO BY WEDNESDAY, or else she will have to go to the knackers with my other old mare that nobody wants :(

No choice, I cannot keep her, sadly have to get rid of her

Please no time wasters, had a lot of people ask but nobody wants to commit and have run out of time!

MUST BE GONE BY WEDNESDAY

Thanks!

My Brain Bleeds

My brain cannot comprehend this ... shit.


GENTLE GIANT. SHOWJUMPING PROSPECT!!!!
Rising 6 year old throughred chestnut gelding. 17.3hh has been measured. Has papers with him. his registered name is Danish is better. had jumped 1.10m easily. would most definetly excell in show-jumping. Has scar on back leg from when we first got him he ran threw the fence. is not a physco he was running with our other horses. he does not show lame or go lame from riding him because of it. is a very good trail riding horse. have had no problems with him out on the road. he got sent away to allan wollen to get his mouth re-done and got taught how to bring his head under so would do well in dressage as he has got nice movement. he is up for sale because i am sick of having a big horse and would like a smaller horse as want to do sporting on..

Price is $2500 firm because of how much we have spent on him. please email

WTF does "to get his mouth re-done" mean? The grammar in the above ad reminds me of a two year old, dear god, a two year old could probably write out a better ad.

Oh and here's another classic. Why do I do this to myself?

JET BLACK TROUGHBRED STALLION FREE LEASE
I HAVE A JET BLACK STALLION FOR FREE LEASE HE IS BROKEN-IN AROUND 16 HAND AND VERY BEAUTIFUL NO WHITE ANYWHERE WILL BRED BEAUTIFUL BABIES REGISTERED THIS HAS BEEN POSTED FOR A FRIEND IF YOU CAN GIVE THIS BOY A HOME PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS HE IS WITH US AS HIS OWNER HAS MOVED AND COULD NOT TAKE HIM

I have an idea. Geld him. Sell him. For MONEY! And I'm sure he will go to a nice competition home!

Awesome hobbie

Click on the above image to be taken to a good, free, online horse game. Great for all ages!!

Horse Slaughter?

Ok, so you think there is such thing as "Humane" horse slaughter? I encourage you to all think strongly about that. I found this link whilst checking out Fugly's blog. Watch and weep, literally. It sure had me in tears and anger to my core that any horse could end up being treated as such. I sound like a 12 year old pony club kid, well I'm not and I can assure you, I would go without to feed and look after my horses before they ended up anywhere near here. I would rather spend the money and have the put down then standing in these muddy dirt yards, wondering what they did wrong to be treated as such. Look at all the pictures in the slide show, then tell me if there is such thing as humane.

Horse Slaughter Slide Show

That link contains images that are harsh and realistic, it may no be suitable for small children!

New Hair

I'm thinking of getting a new hair cut. I want it heaps layered and shaggy, here are some pictures that I'm thinking of. Though I want it more server layers and 'punker' then the one to the right. the one to the left is awesome, though it would be tonnes shorter as my hair is only shoulder length. I was thinking black with perhaps some red along the top layers?

I need to stop this

Take a look. I need to stop looking at the horse sale sites. Some people are just plain stupid, there is not other way to explain it. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

"chestnut/white 5y/o 14.2hh very friendly quiet stallion,is reg(paint i believe) not sure who with i dont have papers from previous owner yet,he is broken to saddle but has been unridden for a four years (so he was broken as a yearling? awesome),he is great to float just completed a 5 hour trip last weekend from nsw to his vic home,he has a old injury(big lump)below his knee this dpse not interfeer with his baby making duties(Because that's all he knows how to do, I'm sure.),photos will not be sent unlees phone contact is made first so please leave a return number and ill call SADLY WAS A IMPULSE BUY and i realise i really dont have the need for a stallion (Geld it then.) he is lonely here no one to talk too NEEDS A WIFE (NO. what he really needs is his balls removed!) please genuine people only enquire"

Here's another one. Oh so pretty ... I mean, ew.



"1/4 horse x arab D.O.B 27-DEC-07
chestnut, blaze 2 white hind socks. grate to float, feet, lead, worm etc very pretty. stud prospect.
wormed on 22 may and feet 5 june. loves everyone nays and comes over. sad sale as moving to mackay and too many horses ."

Stud prospect my ass. It looks like a donkey. It's bloody awful, perhaps he'd be okay once he's gelded and filled out a little but back legs like that, you don't wanna pass that pretty little trait.

Some people

My brain is breaking after reading this ad. Take a look - sheesh, some people. *shakes head*

2 chestnut thougherbred geldings FREE giveaway
Hello,
i have two Chestnut Thoroughbred Geldings who i cannot afford to nurture anymore. One male(6 Years old), and one female (7 Years old). Please call me if you can afford to take care of them. They do cost a lot. I am very reluctant to give away but our metropolitan relocation and lack of funds make it impossible to keep these horses as healthy as they are now. Just been wormed. Prefer to keep them together but will separate them if i must. They will go to the best location so be willing to explain your current plans for these horses.Please do not leave emails, as i rarely read them. call me on: -----

Thankyou. Marc(pronounced Mark)

Do you now understand why my brain is hurting? 2 geldings ... one a mare? Okay, that's just crazy talk. That's all I've got to say about these dickwads. Don't they understand the need for school anymore?

She strikes again

Here's Julie's lasted ad for her horse, which she has had for about two weeks.

"Posted by Julie on 4-Jun-08 03:30 PM AEST
To reply to this advertisement email #########

i have a 6yr old tb

16h

gelding

quite confident beginner and up

ties up, floats, catches easy, does not buck, blot, rear, bit, or kick

has had kids and adults ride him

has been around cats, dogs, children to adults, colt, and many other horses also cars.

my horse will follow you off the lead. trots and canters like a dream you dont even feel like you are moving has a very soft mouth as well. lunging he does it him self pretty much you just have to tell him when to go faster or slower and when to stop. very friendly with other horses. has been trail ridin mostly but could do dressage, pony club or a nice hack with no trouble at all. he is in training to bow and can nearly do it. it would not take much more to teach him how. he has old scaring in one eye but a vet check is welcome as i have already had one and he has 95 - 90 % of vision but he did race like this. he has been out of racing for over 2yrs as he was to slow his racing name is keltic gun. he is such a great horse he loves cuddles you can hug his hole face and touch him any where. i am only selling him as i dont have the money to keep him and he will only go to an approved home. he is priced way under what he is worth but i just want what i payed for him. he comes with

2 rugs winter and summer
and a bridle with is worth $230 and also the bit

please no time wasters as he is only paid up for the next month

pictures wont be added till tomorrow but he is lovley he has a whit strip down his face and is a fat bot also he is a new zealand race horse so he pretty much looks like a quater horse he has a fat neck and is just sexy."

My brain is hurting yet again. I just can't believe this woman, honestly, was she born without a brain?

Another classic example

I absolutely detest people like this. I know this woman, it is Julie*, posted previously in the post about Homebrand. Homebrand was her first horse, she gave him to me even before she had him a week because she couldn't handle him, so she went a brought a six year old thoroughbred. Logic escapes me. From a 12 year old thoroughbred she couldn't handle, to a six year old. Do some people never learn? Ok, so take a look at her ad:

"Lovley 6yr TB Quite.
tb gelding 6yrs onld and 16h if your after a quite horse that if you want to go will but if you just want to plod along will do that to this is your man he is very loving will let you hug his hole face will but his head in your lap will even follow you around of the lead and the best part he is quite to ride this is your man he is a lovley looking to he has 2 trots a fast and a slow and you can sit to both he has a lovley canter that you could sit to for days. he has been ridin by kids and adults and all that ride him love him he is friendly with other horses. he does not kick rear buck or bite. he is very easy to catch worm float you can do nearly anything with him he would make a nick pony club or dressage horse. he can not do sporting because in one eye he has only 95% -90% of vision and has been checked by a vet and also he raced with this eye so he can still see and it does not bother him at all and also it does not affect him vet check welcome. he has been around cats dogs little kids cars chickens and also a colt and he is fine he has a very soft mouth he can jump but ive never jumped him high also has been ridin on roads but only quite ones. he would suit anyone he is being sold due to i do not have the money to keep him any more i will only sell him to a good home no payment plans avalible as i dont have the money to keep him. also he comes with 2 rugs. and a bridle that is worth $210 he is worth every cent i just want what i paid back photos coming soon. $1500"

4 hours before this ad was posted, she post the same ad, but with him priced for $2500. She paid $700 for him. My brain hurts when I have to deal with people like her. Would you honestly buy a horse advertised like this? I wouldn't. I also know that the horse is BLIND in the eye, it has no vision. I have handled him and he is lovely but he's not quiet, he's a hot baby that needs a routine and proper handling. He would make a great riding horse, pleasure or hack but not a jumper or sporter because of his eye. Come on Julie, we all know he's not worth $1500. Wake up to yourself and stop with the false advertising!

What a day ...

Ok. Wow! I'll start with yesterday, I guess. Adam (my fiancee) and I went out to the horses. The ride was a bit of a disaster. Cleo done nothing but play up for Adam. Homebrand was very well behaved. Adam rode him bareback from the bottom of the paddock to the gate, is a leadrope and halter, and he didn't do anything wrong. Lucy was good, a little cranky though.

Anyway, as we were unsaddling and feeding, Adam got a phone call from one of our mates. We went to their house last night, for a few drinks and some Wii playing. Good fun. Poor Adam got smashed, Mark and him were sick and passed out on the back lawn in like -5degree weather - yummy, hey? I didn't drink to much, I have been under the weather lately so I would rather enjoy myself then get drunk. Adam and Mark amused me enough anyway, I'll put a picture in when I upload them. So today, I thought I would discuss drinking with you.

What makes you want to drink? Do you drink to get drunk? To fit in or because your friends are? Or do you just drink til you get that pleasant buzz then stop? I'm not fussed really, I spent too much time in my 18th year passed out in a gutter to care about getting drunk anymore. I noticed that these days lots of under 18's are drinking to get smashed, I don't understand that. I mean I had the occasional drink with my parents when I was underaged but I never got completely hammered.

I don't know how hard it is to just pace yourself and wait until your of age before you start drinking. I realise now that we have plenty of time to be adults and do adult things, so why rush it? I mean, drinking isn't even that fun. Sure, for the first 5 drinks you have a pleasant buzz, you feel awesome, as if your floating but then you get sick. Vomiting isn't a thing on my 'To do' list, so why do people make a big deal about it? That's what drinking makes you do. Vomit.

Hmmm, getting rushed by Adam, will come back and whine some more soon I'm sure. See you

How hard is it?

As I sit here trying to think of something to write, I am searching through horse classifieds on the internet. It's a habit. I don't need another horse, I just like seeing whats out there. I came to wonder about what makes people see an ad and go "Ohh, I'm going to ring up about that one." Is it proper grammar? I know I wouldn't answer an ad with incorrect spelling or that looked like it had been written by a two year old. There's a few of them too. Here's a good example of that:

"Ponie 4sale. 12.5hands hiegh. loverly palimino colour. good clean leggs. pretty face. nice mannars. 9 yearsold. brokan to saddle and harnness. loves kids. is in gud paddack condiditon. first to see will by. call after 7pm on #### #### or email on .....**@hotmail.com. contact for pictares."

The only thing I do is laugh at ads like that. Honestly, how long would it take to spell check the ad before you post it? If it had correct spelling, the ad wouldn't be that bad, but gosh, they can't even spell 'good'. If I were to write an ad, this is how it would go. Be honest, I know it's a hard decision but which one would you respond to

"InTradition.
16 hand, bay thoroughbred mare. 12 years old. "Cleo" is a friendly mare that has the potential to make it big time in the showjumping arena. Minimal training over 2" jumps, correct form, a nice lengthy stride. Sound, clean legs. She has been rugged all year 'round and has no winter coat, ready for you to throw out into shows right now. A beautiful mare, that just loves attention. She will stand tied all day, she stands for the farrier. Absolutely loves getting hosed down and washed, you don't even need to tie her, she'll just stand for you. Quiet to saddle, not at all fidgety. Beautiful under saddle, a long flowing stride. Comes onto the bit like a dream, has correct conformation, no scars and is show ready. No buck, bite or bolt. A very simple ride, a dream to handle. Perfect for a confident young rider ready for a horse to carry them into the ring in dressage or jumping. She will take you as high as you want her too. This beautiful mare has no limits.

Only vice is she is a windsucker. She comes with her collar that easily controls this. She doesn't do it compulsively but will if she is left tied up for long periods of time. She is an easy keeper. You don't want to miss out on once in a life time mare. She comes with her rugs, her halter and her windsucking collar. Contact me at ..........."

Now tell me. Which ad is better? It took me two minutes to write that. How much better does it look with correct spelling? It's not terribly hard, it would be easier in the long run because it might actually give them a chance at selling their horse. Because, I can pretty much say that unless an equally dumb person comes along, that person is not going to get one call for her ad. IT'S NOT BRAIN SCIENCE! For those challenged people out there like the person who wrote the ad above, I'll write you some instructions.

1) Click 'Start' (that button in the left hand bottom corner of your computer)
2) Click 'All Programs'
3) Search through the menu until you find the Microsoft Works or Word
4) Open Works or Word
5) Type your ad in that program
6) Click the little button that has a tick or go into the menu and find spell check
7) Spell check the friggin ad
8) Once that is done. Post the thing on the internet.

IT'S NOT HARD. Say it with me people. Spell Check. Spell Check. Spell Check!

Parelli knows it all?

Ok, I don't have a problem with some of Parelli's methods. I enjoy some of the games, love the 'yo-yo' game, but what he says is not my gospel. Here I was visiting his site and found some rather interesting ... shit. Let me show you.

Cribbing

What an odd thing to watch a horse do… he grabs hold of the rail or the trough with his teeth and does this funny sucking, gulping thing over and over, and all the while he has this strange calm look about him.

For years it was commonly thought that cribbing was a nasty habit, something caused by boredom and it needed to be stopped with electric shocks or a metal collar that prevented the horse from distending his windpipe. But today, we know better. (Then why do a lot of stabled horses start windsucking?)

Research has shown that when horses crib (or windsuck) that the noise it makes is actually not horses gulping air in, they are expelling air out… like a burp! Talk to naturally-oriented horse therapists and they’ll tell you that this is the way horses relieve upper digestive discomfort.

Horses can’t burp, but people can. So horses have to make themselves burp… just like some people can!

Once you understand that a horse is trying to relieve indigestion(indigestion, my ass. He's just trying to amuse himself), all of a sudden it makes you think differently about putting that cribbing collar on the horse (Nope, my windsucker still has her collar on) . If he can’t burp, he’s in gastric pain to varying degrees. And when people say cribbing causes colic, weight loss, etc. maybe it’s the other way around. Cribbing is an early warning sign of digestive distress so it’s only a matter of time before something like a colic will eventuate and it should be no surprise if the horse’s condition is poor (then, explain, Mister Parelli, that when my mare doesn't have her collar on, she loses weight rapidly, then when her collar is on, she stays fat and healthy?).

Cribbing is the result of things like mineral deficiencies, a weak digestive system, feeds that are hard to digest, and stress (which shuts down the digestive system) (or boredom).

At Parelli, we focus on helping horses become more confident, less stressed and more relaxed in their surroundings. We also feed them a simple diet to which every horse gets Parelli Essentials, a unique formula that grooms the digestive system for optimum function. We also feed minerals in a liquid, colloidal, bio-available form: kelp (which we wet down) and / or Parelli Vitals mineral complex (Or you could get a couple of old milk bottles, throw some pellets in them so they make a pretty noise and throw them in your horses paddock and stall so he can have a play with them).

Please try not to be annoyed by your horse’s cribbing. Know that he is in digestive distress and do whatever it takes to change that. Cribbing is also not ‘contagious’ (Oh, believe me. It is). Horses don’t learn it from each other (Explain why my mare went into a paddock of non-windsuckers, then shazam, 3 months later, 5 of the horses windsuck with her), they do it because they live in the same stressful circumstance and / or minerally deficient feeding regime.

Ok. Are you shitting me? That is the biggest load of bullshit I have heard in a long time. Cribbing/Windsucking is a thing caused by boredom. Notice how the entire article suggests that you buy Parelli's DVD or feed to make your horse better. Pfft. The only thing I buy from Parelli is a sturdy lead and rope halter.

Kicking

Horses kick for two reasons… they’re afraid of you or they don’t like you (or they want to kill you. That's three reasons!)! That’s the big, distasteful truth! Fearful horses kick in defense, dominant horses kick out of resentment and dominance. Either way, smacking the horse for it doesn’t work (Damn right it doesn't. Kick the bastard back as soon as he does it).

You need to get the horse to where he trusts you, likes you, respects you (Good ole Pat forgot the most important rule - To make sure your horse knows your boss!)... and none of that is achieved through violence.

First of all, stay out of the kick zone (Is he really telling people to pussie foot around their horse and stay out of his space. Screw that, I will go as close to my horse and do what I want to my horse and if he's kick's me, he gets kicked back). Second, learn to "read" your horse’s intent, they always give warning signs so you need to learn how to recognize them (I agree with that one, if you can tell your horse is about to kick you. Kick him first :D). Thirdly, give your horse no reason to kick you.

I love that article. Listen to Pat, people, stay away from your horses, don't walk around their bums to do their leg straps up, don't you dare stand behind him to brush his tail. God forbid, he gets a cut on his back leg, a kicking horse that has never been reprimanded for it's behavior will take your head off if you try and treat it.

Okay, here's my approach to any and every kind of horse.

Out in the wild, there is a head stallion. If a horse trots up and bites this head hancho on the ass, he won't stand for it. He won't back off and get out of the other horses space and do a horseinality test on it before reacting. No, the head stallion will turn around and in two seconds, convince the other horse it is about to die. That's how I approach my horse. If he bites me, I have two seconds to make him think he is about to die, weather it's me smacking his nose, growling at him or making him back up rapidly, then after he has backed off, I forget about it. It's done, it's over. It doesn't take three weeks to watch four DVD's, do three quizzes, then approach the horse. How is he suppose to know what he's done wrong then?

Anyway, I'm off, I think I could find something better to do then sit here and bitch about Parelli :D

More stupid people

Stupid Article. Take a look

The following is my response to such stupidity.

Dear Sydney Morning Herald,

In response to the above article I would like to share with you the reality of the horse world. Gelding is essential! The horse market in Australia, and the world, is pitiful at the moment, thousands of horses end up in a slaughter yard simply because a backyard breeder didn't take the chance to geld that conformational train wreak that they had for stud, over-populating an already struggling market.

Have any of you ever been to a horse auction? If so, I would assume you have seen the many kill-buyers hovering around the yards like vultures. So many horses, unsound, with awful conformation are sold through the yards for minimal price just because no one wants them, as well as some good, sound horses that should have been given a second chance. Do you know why no one wants them? They linage is nothing special, most are not trained, most have conformation faults that deem them unsound, some have legs that will see them broken down and shot within the next year. The horse industry CAN NOT win. All these people that are anti slaughter, trying to shut down the kill-houses just because it's morally wrong. Now you seem to think it appropriate to say gelding is wrong. Would you say de-sexing a male cat is wrong? How many feral and strays are out there, being ran over or put down every minute?

Before you go ahead and say that horses such as Light Fantastic, Kingston Town or Gunsynd should be left intact, stop for a moment and do your research. Owners make decisions based on their horses conformation, soundness and personality. If a stallion has a nasty hoof problem, and breed, there is a high possibility that the offspring will inherit this problem, this is the same with unsound legs. That would be another young horse no one would want and would end up in the kill yard. Take a look at Derby winner, Big Brown, although he is a successful race horse with correct conformation, he has a nasty hoof problem that will be passed onto and progeny.

I am a horse lover and owner. I have 3 geldings sitting out in that paddock that are fine as geldings, but it would have been a crime to leave them as stallions and pass on their conformation faults to offspring. Do a google search, look at all the conformational train wreaks that are left as stallions and up for stud. Or take a look at the neglected and unloved horses that have come into the world because of these 'studs'.

Not gelding horses would have a traumatic effect on the horse industry. I would advise you to get out of your offices and visit a equine rescue, or go to the next horse sale. Then you can see for yourself that those unwanted horses are sold to the killbuyers to $50. In my opinion it should be a crime to not geld, in my opinion, every colt should be looked over by a panel of experienced horse people and a vet and deemed 'correct' and sound before being left as a stallion to use for stud.

Another question I would like to ask. Have you ever visited a race stable where stallions are kept? Many are unsafe to their grooms, handlers and jockeys, many of them should be gelded, not only because of their personalities but again, also because of conformation faults. Only the best of the best should be left for re-producing. As a person who has handled stallions and colts of all ages, I can stand here and honestly say that 90% of the intact male horses I have handled, shouldn't have been stallions. Again, do a google search, check out all those horses out there that will reproduce offspring that will end up in the kill yard before their first birthday.

Then you appear to have the nerve to suggest we load these stallions with drugs and hormones. Now, I bet that is good for he's health in the long run. Brilliant idea on your behalf to sedate a running stallion. I wonder if he'll make it to the finish line or break down half way through the race. There are reasons theses substances are banned from the racing industry. Would you like your Olympic swimmer to climb in the pool sedated? It's just not safe!

It's not a pretty outlook for the horse industry. We are over populated and unsupported, people like your Jacqualin Magnay should keep such silly opinions to themselves, not use them to secure a page in the newspaper and rile up gelding supporters. It's a war you will never win. De-sexing any animal is essential, so why is it so wrong to geld horses?

Sincerely,
Madi

Some people are stupid

So there's this woman who owns a big ass clydsedale gelding. He's beautiful, really is. He's 7, was gelded as a 4 year old and he still thinks he's got the goods. He walks all over (let's call her Meg) Meg and she doesn't care, she doesn't do a damned thing, just laughs and dodges his huge hooves as he dances and drags her ass all around the yard.

I have 3 thoroughbreds and a Arab mare. Let me tell you, they all know manners. I firmly believe that you must treat a horse as it would be treated in the herd. If a horse bites the lead stallion, that stallion turns around and convinces the horse that it's about to die, then things go back to normal. I believe that if my horse bites me, I have two seconds to make him think he's going to die, then forget about it.

Well, I got this 17 hand, nasty thoroughbred gelding. He was a rescue. I have a soft spot for poor, nasty, evil, skinny horses. He is now named Homebrand. Awesome name I know :D. Anyway, Homebrand was very pushy and nasty when I first got him, he would bite, kick and really just do anything make me back off as his old owner did. His old owner (Julie) was too scared to get the shithead out of the paddock. Let me make this clear, I got this horse not even a month ago. The first time I caught him, he tried to take a chunk out of my arm. I don't stand for that. Straight away and swiftly, I slapped his nose and growled at him. He was shocked. I could see it in his eyes, it looked to me as if he had never had anyone stand up to him. Well all continued well then, until tea time. He started ugly faces. Ugly faces don't fly with me. He also tried to kick me as I walked by with my other horses feed, I immediately kicked him back. Now, Meg seen this and automatically had a go at me for 'abusing' my horse.

I couldn't help but laugh at her. She has this big ass clydie (Tom) that walks all over her and is her "baby". She doesn't reprimand him if he misbehaves, laughs at him when he mucks up under saddle and lets him attack other horse whilst she has him on a lead. Nice, aye? Poor Homebrand was subject to one of Tom's 'beatings'. I wasn't about to stand there and let him attack Homebrand whilst he was tied up and had no means of escape. So once more, I picked up my lunge whip and with a loud and firm "NO", I smacked Tom's chest with it. When he backed up I then situated myself between my shaking thoroughbred and this nasty clydie. This is how Meg found us. Me brandishing the whip at her 'baby' and her 'baby' cowering in the corner. Cowering, my ass, he was getting ready to have a go at me.

She moved him away from us and went to 'nurse his wounds'. Homebrand had a freely bleeding bite mark on his shoulder. She then returned to see me smacking Homebrand for trying to nip me. She told me that as I have no idea where he came from or of what had happened to him in that past, it was best I didn't smack him and be nice to him. I told her where she could shove her 'advice'. I wonder if she knew that if she took a leaf outta my book and popped Tom a few times when he misbehaved, he would stop walking all over her?

Now Homebrand would not think of biting or kicking, he respects I am his boss and he is a beautiful man. Yesterday he stood tied for about an hour without moving and Julie could not believe he was the same horse. Mind you, he was tied up so I could help Julie with her new horse, this time a 6 year old thoroughbred gelding that is far too hot for her. Episode Two of Madi can handle your horse better then you.