Remaining Ignorant Is Harder Than It Used to Be

It used to be much easier for the established horse world to issue edicts as to how horses are to be fed, trained, shod, and ridden. They had a monopoly on the equine media and the perfect ally in big agribusiness. Of course, they still have those advantages but cracks are forming in the dams that have held back truths about natural horsemanship, natural horse care and natural hoof care. Joe Camp is doing a great job in teaching horsemanship that focuses on the horse's best interest. The internet gives people that care about horses the opportunity to teach without having to censor their words to meet the approval of the industries that profit from a system that creates unhealthy, obese, lame horses that are in constant need of "supplements", "corrective" shoes, and beauty products. The truth is,indeed, out there. Of course, obstacles remain. The same internet that allows important information concerning nutrition, health, and humane training also allows misinformation to continue to be taught. The worst trend out there is for clinicians to compromise with the system by tacitly endorsing discredited practices like shoeing and directly endorsing "supplements" instead of forcefully speaking out for natural horse care. The decision that every horse owner faces is a simple one. What matters most the horse or the approval of the established horse world. I believe that it was George Shaw who phrased what is the horse's only hope--"It's not too late to build a newer world."

Riding Is Rhythm

I have come to notice that kids that can play music tend to pick up riding at an accelerated pace. In fact, the perfect riding student might very well be a gymnast that can play and sing

Quick Tip #14 One Man Wire Fence Construction

The tightening of wire mesh fence is difficult to do by oneself. However, an interesting appearing, well stretched fence can be put up by one person with wooden posts and wire fencing. Dig fence posts about 30 feet apart. Stand the wire up and attach it to each post, one section at a time. Now get in the precise center between the posts and force the fence outward as far as it can possibly go. Dig another post hole about 2 inches beyond that mark. Insert the post so that the tension of the wire pulls tightly against it. Staple into place and repeat. The result is an attractive fence that becomes a secure horse fence with the addition of a stand of electric wire. Dig all holes with hand held post hole diggers. Power driven augers are for sissies. With the help of my number one ranch hand shown above I rarely have to build fences by myself.

Quick Tip #13--Cut The Corners

Horses are much more likely to run through a fence at a corner than at any other point in a fence line. At best one is left with a fence in need of repair, at worst a horse injured or dead in the highway. Round the corners of the lot. This can be done either at initial construction or as a post construction addition inside the corner of the fence. Here is a shot of Peter Maxwell who is now weaned and for sale. He is 1/2 Corolla, 1/4 Chicoteague, 1/4 BLM mustang and 100% tough. His mother is Quien Es? and he is the son of Edward Teach.

Precisely Why I Despise Change

This computer worked fine until some geek with too much time on his hands decided that the blogger program needed changing. Now it cannot pull up but a very few pictures and moves very slugglishly. The program worked fine. Now it barely works at all. The equation of change with progress is one of the best illustrations of the fundamental stupidity of humanity. With the exception of medical advances and the civil rights movement every other form of human endeavor over the past two hundred years has been a wasted effort. As a species I fear that we will never understand that swamps are not improved by draining them. A swamp is just fine the way it was. So was this blogger program.