Angel Named Legend by Francine Acord |Inspirational Horse Story |

In the late summer of 1998, my beautiful, vivacious, bouncy 12-year old daughter became sluggish and was slowing down. She was pale and lethargic. Her tan had faded, and it seemed her spirit had too. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but she wasn’t right. Within a couple weeks she began to complain about chest pains. The pains were so sharp she could not sleep during the day, or at night. Within six weeks, she was in a wheel chair. Two months later, after many tests and nowhere else to turn, she was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, a very painful, debilitating disease. While relieved we had a “name” for the disease; I was in shock and disbelief. It was not a life-threatening disease at this point, but it was certainly life altering. How could this happen? I wondered what had I done to deserve this, or even more so, what had she done to deserve this incredible pain and agony at such a tender age?

Eadweard Muybridge, often said the inventor of motion films, is honored by Google with this video on his birthday. Using the horse to study seaming film together he portrayed the act of locomotion. You can read more on his many changes of identity, and love of California at this link to Eadweard Muybridge on Wiki.

Go get yourself a brand new Mustang. You will never be the same after the joy of working with America’s Horse. Have fun, get paid.

Here is the EAGALA Las Vegas Conference Schedule of Presenters and Topics.

This is an educational and networking event for those interested or working in the fields of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine Assisted Learning. Breakout sessions offer extensive information from professionals involved in the fields of this experiential form of therapy. They are going to give you information it took them years of work to acquire. Some of these sessions are approved for continuing education.

Horses show the way

Horses can teach us alot about ourselves if you pay attention. Equine assisted learning can show us the way to resolving many issues in humanity. We have only to follow the horses, watch what they do and then learn from it. Over the next week I will be putting up my observations as I look into the functions of Equine Assisted Learning. Follow me into the corral, meet the horses and people they serve. Look with me into the depth of emotions we both struggle and embrace in life. No doubt we will all see ourselves there, smiling back at each others reflections.

Hi Folks it’s Herb here. I am going to be reporting with Horse2Heart on all the doings in Las Vegas during the EAGALA conferance in March 2012. There will be alot of laughing, crying and neighing (in the casino too) as we learn more about the field of Equine Assisted Therapy work. Used in corporate team building and mental health fields, this concept is being embraced worldwide. I’ll go live during the event (what happens in Vegas won’t stay in Vegas this time) but up until then, read more here and go get healthy by being with a horse.

Would you like to better understand your Horse?
Hi, I’m Lisa and I can help you do that.
On March 15 & 16 I will be available in the San Juan Capistrano, Calif. area to work with you and your horses.
Does your horse display questionable wellness or behavior issues?
Equine Energetic Healing work can help you identify, understand and enhance your horse’s total wellbeing physically and mentally.
How does it work? This hands on method of rehabilitation starts relief immediately. It is similar to Equine Reiki. Animals can’t release themselves of emotional or physical blocks without help. Humans can do this and help them.
About me: I have worked in the Equine rehabilitation field for 40 years. Working in my own facility, horses came to me from all disciplines for rehabilitation. I have studied and worked with some of the world’s top healers, DVMs and Animal Communicators while developing my practice of this work.
My purpose is to help horses and their people. Equine Energetic Healing work is so amazing I wish to make it available to all so I offer a sliding pay scale. My current clinic (min.5 people) rate is $35 per initial session with extended or follow up work for $30 as time permits. Private healing appointments are $65. Please feel free to pay what you are comfortable with for an initial session.
It would be my pleasure to help you with your horse. You can reach me by cell or email. Other dates are available during that week for private contract.
949-933-0551 Lisa Rodriguez Clement Email- HoodRiverEquestrian@gmail.com

This just in to Horse2Heart from the Mustang Heritage Foundation;
Byron Hogan and Bobby Kerr to Perform at Road to the Horse
Visit the Mustang Heritage Foundation booth March 9-11 at Road to the Horse.

Road to the Horse begins tomorrow in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and the Mustang Heritage Foundation will be on site with a booth and two Mustang trainers will be performing during the event.

Road to the Horse creator Tootie Bland attended the 2011 Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover, where finalists Byron Hogan and Bobby Kerr caught her attention.

EAGALA’s 13th Annual Conference
Enriching Every Life Through Horses
March 21-24, 2012 Las Vegas, Nevada

An educational and networking event for those interested or working in the fields of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine Assisted Learning!
This conference is for:
Counselors, psychologists, social workers, marriage & family therapists, psychiatrists, addiction
counselors, horse professionals and enthusiasts, correctional workers, coaches, educational consultants, employee assistance programs, residential program directors and staff, students, educators, and anyone interested in enriching and changing lives through horses!
Presenters:
We are proud to present top-notch speakers for all the workshops being presented. Most speakers are EAGALA Certified or EAGALA Advanced Certified and actively practicing Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning. You will have the opportunity to gain practical, useful, inspiring and thought-provoking information from leaders in this field.

Love came through, Fred Love that is, owner of Ortega Tack and Feed store. At Horse2Hearts request Ortega Tack and Feed offered help for American Paint horse ‘Bismark’. The horse had been abandoned, dumped out of a shippers trailer with a leg ripped to shreds. He is mending, but feed was needed to help his recovery continue. Sharing his resources, Fred Love stepped up to help.  H2H asked him because we wanted to support the folks that work everyday to help horses in need. So Southern California, take your business to people that make a difference in the lives of others. Giving back…..it’s what we do because we can.

Promote your Business on the road with Car Door Magnets from PrintRunner.com
Horse Expo LA Pomona Event Schedule has been posted and it looks like an equine affaire to remember. The all new venue will be alot of fun. Follow the link to decide what will interest you for Thursday the 2nd to the 4th of Feb., never long enough for us.

Horse Expo Event Schedule
Horse Expo Pomona Friday Events

Horse Expo LA Saturday

Horse Expo LA Exhibitor List Here is the Horse Expo Exhibitor list for the Los Angeles (Pomona) event. Whoa, we’re going to need a big shopping bag.

Riding Arena Etiquette
This list gives Equestrian Center riders help to know what is correct in most riding situations to maintain safety and poise. Thank you for this well written list by Deb.
Etiquette
• Left shoulder to Left Shoulder: Riders should try to ride in the same direction. If this isn’t possible then the left shoulder to left shoulder rule should apply. (Some European countries ride right shoulder to right shoulder.)
• Slow on the Inside, Fast on the Outside: Slower riders should ride on the inside track including those doing schooling such as lateral work etc… Riders working at a faster pace such as a lope or canter should stay on the outside track.
• Announce Your Intentions: Tell the other riders what you plan to do: “passing on your left”, “jumping fence 3″, “leaving arena”, “entering arena”.
• No Lunging: No lunging while riding.
• Mount Out of the Way: Mount and dismount in the center–not on the track.
• Work Together: Users should be doing similar things: i.e. jumping, flat work, if at all possible. And even though the rule is left shoulder to left shoulder understand it isn’t always possible. Be generous with right-of-way
• Cue Quietly: Voice commands, kissing, smooching to cue your horse should be done quietly and away from other horses. Accidentally cueing another person’s horse as you ride along side them could cause problems.
• Try Not to Interrupt Lessons: Try to schedule your riding for times when the arena is not being used for lessons. If you must ride during a lesson try to be unobtrusive.
• Clean Up: Clean up the arena after use. Clear out manure, put away jumps, trotting poles or pylons. Leave it the way you found it or better.
• Follow Posted Rules: Most arena owners have rules posted. Follow them.
Safety
• Keep A Horse Length Between: Don’t crowd other riders and keep at least a horse length between you and the horse in front of you. This keeps you at a safe distance from being kicked. Also when there are riders working on both the inside and outside track, leave enough passing room that one horse isn’t able to bite or kick at the horse on the other track.
• No Smoking: Smoking in an arena or stable is a dangerous fire hazard.
• All Horses Under Control: There should be no loose horses in the arena while others are riding.
• In Case of Emergency: Know where the nearest phone and emergency number and first aid kit are.
• Don’t Allow Escapes: Keep all doors or gates closed. A horse could bolt through an open door into a low ceilinged stable or down a laneway and cause injury.
• Be Aware: Be respectful if another is having problems with a horse, is riding a young horse, or is a beginner or timid rider.
• Give Right of Way: Be generous giving right of way even it if it is not technically the correct right of way.
• Don’t Ride Alone: Ride, especially when jumping, with a buddy.
• Don’t Get Caught in the Dark: Be aware in stormy weather at night that electrical outages can happen. Some types of arena lightening can take a long time to come on once the power has gone out leaving you in the dark.
• Always Ride Safe: Wear a helmet and proper boots and ride in control.
• Don’t Get in the Way: Spectators should stand outside the arena, not along side the track.
• Invite the Dogs After the Ride: No dogs in the arena with horses and riders. Most stable owners don’t welcome other people’s dogs anyway.
• Warn of Noisy Doors: Announce if you are going to open a sliding door as some horses might scare at the noise. Give riders a chance to prepare.
• Ice and Snow Hazards: Be aware that if there is snow or ice on the roof it often slides down making a scary noise. Some horses may spook at this.
• In an Emergency Get Off: If a rider falls off and a horse gets loose, all riders should dismount.

Horse Expo Pomona posted on their face book that to get $3 off the admission of your ticket you must buy your ticket online here: order Expo tickets
Once you add a ticket to your cart there is a button that says, “Complete a brief survey and receive a $3 discount.” Click it and fill out the survey and you will get $3 off.
There are no coupons for parking but don’t forget the first 100 cars to arrive will receive free parking!
Horse Expo sales.ticketcostars.com

Take 5% OFF ANY SIZE ORDER at State Line Tack. CLICK HERE and use coupon code CJSL5OFF at checkout.

Bitless Riding – Part II- by Horse Master Charles Wilhelm
“Current articles about the benefits of going bitless are interesting but we must use what works for the horse.” CW
As I said in Part I of this article, for me, riding bitless is neither right nor wrong. It depends on the horse and the type of riding you do. Each type of equipment has advantages. A bit has more communication value as commands can be more specific. It is important to remember that it is not what you put on the horse’s face, it is what you do with that piece of equipment.
I personally think a horse’s nose is more sensitive to pressure on the outside than a snaffle bit is in the mouth. I designed a bitless apparatus to start colts because I can pull on it and it does not have the bite of a hackamore. It is designed so that I can get a hold of the horse’s nose without it over reacting. I can then do the ground work needed to teach a horse to give to pressure. The apparatus is not a harsh piece of equipment. The advantage of using a traditional halter is that it is not as harsh as a cowboy or string halter. A cowboy halter is not a harsh piece of equipment if used properly. It is made of one-eighth inch string and does have more bite than a leather or web halter but it does not have the bite of a hackamore that is nine sixteenths or five eighths. Some horses will over react to even that much pressure. I have started many colts with a cowboy halter and have ridden with just the halter the first three or four times as colts are sometimes frightened by something abrasive or something in the mouth.