The summer has sped by so quickly that I feel like I missed a few weeks somewhere. Actually I did, spending much of August on the couch with my digestive system in full rebellion. So, yep, besides the summer weather, I missed a few things.
First Non-Equus caballus wins Dressage
For the first time, mules have been allowed to compete in dressage in Great Britain. And for the first time, a mule, a former rescue, won his event at a British dressage show. The ruling is now changed to allow any offspring of a horse mare to compete.
Watch Where You Step
This story is significant to me because I live right around the corner from where this happened. Turns out last year a horse on an FEI long distance ride was discovered to have a tiny amount of a banned antidepressant. In the interest of animal welfare and fair play, the rider withdrew and gave up their chance at a WEG spot. Recently, The FEI ruled that this was not intentional doping. As it turned out, and something that I as a resident am fully aware of is that in my area, it is legal to dump untreated sewage on agricultural fields. Many horses are allowed to drink in adjacent natural water sources and allowed to graze along the trail on these types of competitions. Many will also have walked through the fields, and into ponds and streams. These substances are being found in water sources throughout North America. Time to mend our ways, don’t you think?
Horses Understand Human Emotion, especially Anger
Yes, my horse knows when I’m angry, and no, I didn’t need a study to figure that out. But, for those who don’t know anything about horses and what emotional sponges they can be, this is significant.
Scientists Want to Clone This Horse
It was exciting news earlier in August when scientists found the remains of an ancient foal, thawed from permafrost in Siberia. The foal remains are intact, right down to down hairs around its muzzle and dainty hooves. The foal is estimated to be between 30 and 40 thousand years old and died when he was about three months old. The foal was one of an extinct species called the Lenskaya horse. The dark brown foal is the subject of study, not only for understanding the horses that lived there, but because surrounding the foal was soil that tells the tale of the horse’s natural habitat at the time.
There are those that believe that the foal’s DNA could be used to revive the ancient breed. Some doubt though that there would be any viable genetic material in the body. One of the scientists that claims they can bring the horse back if only one complete cell can be found. Unfortunately, this same scientist was caught in a cloning scandal back in the 1990's so his credibility is a little shaky.
The Oldest Extreme Sport in North America
What’s being called the oldest extreme sport in North America has moved North, to the delight of participants. It’s called Indian Relay Racing. Riders have to race three laps of a track, riding bareback, changing horses after each lap. News stories point out that riders don’t wear helmets.
Airlines Jetting Dozens of Horses En route to WEG
Top horses and their riders are setting out for the site of the 2018 WEG. Of course, those not already on the continent are flying in. This is the second time the WEG has been held in North America. Mill Spring, North Carolina, U.S. at the Tryon International Equestrian Center is the site of this year’s event. Hundreds of horses will go through the WEG site from September 11 through 23. And, in preparation, what is being called the largest airlift of horses in history is taking place. Over 500 horses will be arriving on over twenty flights, many of them by Emirates SkyCargo. These will be joined by almost 300 horses travelling from various points within North America.
Katie Price, Kelly Curoco Et Al...
Did you know that Katie Price was married to Kieran Hayler? Me neither. But in case you do, stories that Price sold Hayler’s favorite horse as revenge against him posting a photo of his new love and his kids on Instagram are fake news. Hayler claims to have sold the horse himself. Now we know.
Kaley Cuoco is spending some time with her horses after the announcement that the Big Bang Theory is coming to an end. She hasn’t been able to ride following shoulder surgery, but she’s surely been kept busy planning that horse-theme wedding, complete with guests eating in the stables, and doing the final filming of the series. She also recently completed and information video about EGUS. You can watch the short video on Instagram
In the totes adorbs department, Princess Charlotte, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, is following in her great-granny’s footsteps. The family is famously horsey, and the little princess is no exception. At the age of 3, she has already been riding for half her life. Good for her!
Animal rights activists are angered after the U.S. Forest Service, a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that looks after the national forests and grasslands, began the roundup of about 1000 wild horses. The horses are be ...
Each time we ride, our helmet is protecting our heads. To make sure we get the optimum protection throughout its lifespan, we need to give it a little respect. Helmets don’t take much maintenance, but there are some things you sho ...
We know that you should ride your horse in a saddle that fits it properly. An ill-fitting saddle can cause all sorts of physical and behavioural problems. But some horses are more difficult to fit than others. ...
But there is one kind of algae that is harmful to all mammals, including horses. It’s called blue-green algae and it is likely to be found in ponds and slow moving streams. Even once this type of algae has dried up, say along an e ...
Unlike a lot of sports like dressage, figure skating and gymnastics, the scoring in show jumping is fairly non-subjective. A horse either knocks down a rail or doesn’t. Refusals and falls are very well defined and scores aren’t in ...
Previously, the RCMP held their auction every other year. But it has been three years since the last auction and about forty horses are being offered. Online bidding has been open since mid-August for the police foundation auction ...
Now I am not complaining, but observing. Hunter shows are very popular. They can be a lot of fun and are a great learning experience. They’re also a bit safer than jumpers or eventers. But, where I am from the pacing of the show i ...
It’s pretty bad when stables start actually advertising that they are drama-free. But much gossip and drama can be avoided by simply being upfront when you have a problem. Cryptic notes written on the blackboard and snide remarks ...
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