Talking Equine Network

Episode #15 - Horses and Shoes

Polo season will soon be upon us and you can stop worrying about what to wear to the next match. It’s not often horsewomen get to gussy up AND spend time with the equines, so we suggest surfing over to the US Polo Association’s website and finding a match near you.

Take a shower first - then find a springy dress and, drum roll please….. ….. …..a pair of high-heeled espadrilles (sometimes called wedges). What a great way to get back in touch with that ultra feminine side of you that sometimes struggles for air underneath all the leather, canvas, and wool! Flowing skirts and high heels are flattering to just about every body type. Of course, wearing high heels on grass such as you’d find at a polo match is clearly as dangerous as riding without a helmet. So the fashion patrol here at The Talking Equine Show recommends a high-heeled espadrille. If you’re not used to the height, by all means go for a low-heeled espadrille. Either way, your legs are sure to look lovely, and you’ll be comfortable enough to stomp those divots at half time!

______________________________________________________

Episode #14 - The Little Book That Could

Think you just can’t _____________ (fill in the blank with whatever challenge you’re facing today)? Well, you can.

Carol Dweck, Ph.D. and professor of Psychology at Stanford University, writes about her research in MINDSET, The New Psychology of Success.
Learn about the Growth Mindset and how you can increase your abilities and your intelligence. Understand how the Fixed Mindset limits you and your horse. It’s not a “horse book” but it will definitely affect the way you live with, train, and compete with your horse.

Whenever you think you just CAN’T…fall back on the Growth Mindset and realize that, in fact, you can. Way cool research, way cool findings. Way cool book.

MINDSET, The New Psychology of Success (Random House)

______________________________________________________

Episode #12 - “If I asked for a cup of coffee, someone would search for the double meaning.” - Mae West

Ahhhh, warm water. In the barn. It’s not a dream. It’s at Target!

If you don’t have the luxury of hot water plumbed into your barn, we’ve got a solution. Go to your nearest discount or appliance store and get yourself an electric coffeemaker. Make sure you get the kind with the automatic shut-off switch (hey, you can never be too safe in a barn).

The cool thing about the coffee maker is that you can plug it in just about anywhere to heat up some water for mash, cleaning boo-boos, icky feet (the horse’s, not yours), etc. etc. The water will be too hot for skin, but just mix with a little hose water to reach the right temperature for your use.

For larger amounts of water (or if you don’t want glass in the barn), opt for the larger coffee urn. Typically made from aluminum, these affordable vessels are sturdy and handy. They even come with a little spigot. Neat.

Be sure to keep coffee makers or urns free from dust so they can work properly. Also, don’t leave them on the ground where rodents can reach them and chew the cords.

Target has both the electric coffee makers and the urns for a decent price. It’s a small investment that offers up a big convenience when you really need some hot water in the barn.

Coffee Urns | Automatic Drip Coffee Makers

______________________________________________________

Episode #10 - The Photocopier is Your Friend

Are you planning to show this year? If you’re new to showing, or not so new but could use a little help getting organized, this tip from To The Nines will save you a lot of time and headaches.

Before the show season begins, gather all of your membership cards and a copy of your Coggins test and head to the library (or the nearest photocopier). Put all your cards in the copier to create one sheet of card copies. Then create multiple copies - enough for all the shows you plan to ride in for the year.

Keep the copies in a folder, or in your desk at home. This way when you prepare the paperwork for each show entry, the lion’s share of the work is already done. Plus, you can keep your original membership cards safe at home.

______________________________________________________

Episode #9 - I’m Gonna Swiff That Dirt Right Offa My Horse

Here’s a tip we got from a great book, but which none of us here at The Talking Equine have tried yet. We want you, our listeners, to give it a go and report back on how well the tip worked for you - or not, as the case may be.

Grab a few Swiffer dust cloths (the dry cloths in the green box), and use them on your dusty horse to remove fine dust, shedding hair, and other things your horse tends to collect just before you need him to be at his gleaming best!

After you’ve tried using the Swiffer cloths on your horse, tell us about it in the COMMENTS section at the very bottom of this page.
The book we found this neat little tip in is called, “To The Nines” written by Jennifer Chong. It’s a fabulous guide to turnout and show prep for Hunter/Jumper, Dressage, and Event riders. We’ll be talking with Jennifer Chong in an upcoming episode of The Talking Equine Show, so stay tuned!
______________________________________________________

Episode #7 - No More Frozen Hoses

More than half of the U.S. experiences some kind of winter, and almost every barn uses at least one hose in their day-to-day operations. That means somewhere in the U.S. right now, there’s a barn manager cussin’ her brains out because the hose froze last night. Hmph!

Before you close up shop for the night, unscrew your hose(s) from the hydrants or whatever water source you have in the barn (we recommend frost-free hydrants if you do have cold winters in your area). Take one end of the hose and toss it up and over a rafter, an empty stall, or any high place you can reach. Ideally, the height should be longer than the length of the hose. Allow both ends of the hose to hang down at equal lengths. This allows any remaining water in the hose to drain out, and prevent the water from freezing and blocking the hose. It’s pretty simple, really, and takes less than a minute to do.

• For details about frost-free hydrants, visit this informational page published by the Albert Ag-Info Centre in Alberta, Canada
• Nasco Farm and Ranch offers a nice selection of farm supplies, including frost-free hydrants. Online at http://www.enasco.com

______________________________________________________

Episode #6 - Helmets and Helmet Fitting

Helena talks about the importance of helmets, how they got there start in America and how to fit helmets. She interviews Dru Malavase who is the pioneer of helmet safety in America. You don’t want to miss this episode - it is very interesting.

Here are some helpful links on helmets:

• Dru’s organization: American Medical Equestrian Association http://www.ameaonline.org/
• Safety Equipment Institute (SEI): http://www.seinet.org/ - these are the people that certify helmets.
• ASTM - http://www.astm.org/ - they also certify helmets.
• Brain Injury Association of America: http://www.biausa.org/ - there are 1.5 million incidents of traumatic brain injury every year.
• Equine Law and Horsemanship Safety - http://asci.uvm.edu/equine/law
• USEF has a poster available on helmet safety: http://www.usef.org/images/Safety/helmetposter.jpg
• For a buying guide and lifespan guide for helmet - check this out http://nyshc.org/
• Article called “The Latest and the Safest” - http://www.braininjuryoklahoma.org/intro/Recreation/Equestrian%20Info/equihelmetsafety.htm
• Buy your next helmet at Bit of Britain Saddlery for the best prices and selection.

______________________________________________________

Episode #3 - Horse World Expo in Timonium, MD

Helena interviews Tracy McKenna from The Equiery Magazine about The Horse World Expo coming up on January 18th, 2007 in Timonium, MD. Expo Schedule.

See the website for The Richardsons that were discussed as presenters at the show - http://www.brokenrranch.com/

___________________________________________________________

Episode #2 - Sugardine and Lorenzo The Flying Frenchman:

Helena discusses thrush and the use of a homemade Sugardine solution to treat it. Here are some links that might be of help understanding thrush:

Stinky Feet - The Dangers of Thrush
What is Thrush?

Please listen to Episode #2 for the formula and use of sugardine.

This information is not a substitute for regular veterinary care. Please consult with your veterinarian if you have questions about the health or well being of your horse.

Lorenzo The Flying Frenchman: