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Do Horse People Practice Tribalism?

May 9, 2012

Have you ever noticed how horse people tend to sort and segregate themselves into groups, clubs, and cliques that support a certain breed, discipline, or point of view? And how it’s not uncommon for those in one group to look down on, make fun of, or downright fight with those in another group? Have you maybe wondered why the heck people who all say they love horses can’t manage to get along with one another, and resolve their differences?

I’ve pondered these questions many, many times. (The behavior isn’t limited to horse people. If it were, the rest of the populace wouldn’t have near-universal understanding of ‘oh, that’s so junior high school.’)

Now comes biologist E.O. Wilson, whose neuroscience research leads him to postulate that every human, no exceptions, must belong to a tribe of some kind. He says that the desire to join groups, defend them, create territory, and demonize enemies is deeply ingrained in human nature. ‘Modern groups,’ writes Wilson, ‘are psychologically equivalent to the tribes of ancient history.’

Read the article, then let me know what you think.

Winners Announced in APHA/Trail of Painted Ponies Art Contest

May 2, 2012

The American Paint Horse Association is 50 this year, and came up with a brilliant idea for celebrating the milestone in a unique way. Working with Trail of Painted Ponies, APHA created a contest that allowed artistic Paint enthusiasts to enter their design for a new Paint model in the Trail of Painted Ponies line of collectible horse figurines.This link takes you to the winning entries. They’re really fun to look at!

Congratulations to the successful contestants, to TOPP on its new Paint figurine, and to the marketing folks at APHA.  Well done!

Do You Know About ‘A Home For Every Horse’?

April 30, 2012

With America’s horse rescues full to overflowing, wouldn’t it be great if there were some easy, reliable way for adopters to find available horses online?

Yes, and guess what–there is! The Equine Network, of which Horse&Rider is a part, has partnered with the Unwanted Horse Coalition to create and power a match-up site called A Home For Every Horse. The project is sponsored by Purina and Tractor Supply Company. Horse rescues can list their horses at Equine.com at no cost, and potential adopters can find all the current listings right at their fingertips.

There’s also a Facebook page just for A Home For Every Horse. Plus, the Facebook page editors for each publication in the Equine Network also features a horse of the week. We’re beginning to collect some wonderful stories of how horses have found their new homes through this service.

It’d be great if you could help pass the word. Thanks!

Group Trail Rides: What Makes You Peevish?

April 25, 2012

If you’ve ever participated in a group trail ride with horses other than your own family’s, you surely know that things can get a little….’exciting,’ at times. Mix unfamiliar horses with a new locale and a social situation, and you get quite the recipe for the unexpected.

The way people handle themselves and their horses during such moments can literally make or break the whole experience.

I’m wondering if any particular peeves come to mind as you put yourself into this scenario. (Mine: The rider who jerks on and yells at his horse when it doesn’t obey; more often than not, it’s obvious that the horse has never really been taought to obey in the first place.)

What else–anything that kinda makes you grit your teeth when you see it happen?

Reader Mail: A Club For Kids

April 23, 2012

Monday mornings at H&R usually begin with catching up on the weekend’s emails, blog comments, and Facebook posts by readers.

This is like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates: You never know what you’re going to get. It can be anything from praise to a complaint.

Here’s a message from over the weekend that I found to be particularly heartwarming. It’s from Sheryl Kelley of Arizona, and after I read it, I just had to pass it along.

I am a 6th grade teacher at a middle school in  Goodyear Arizona.  Several years ago I started an after-school horse club, for students who are interested in learning more about horses, have horses, ride, or are just plain horse crazy, as I was at that age, and still am.

We have enjoyed many trips to my barn,  neighbors’ barns and some members’ barns, to learn grooming, different tack, general horse care and feeding.  We even had a sheriff’s deputy out to teach the students about body scoring, and horse health, when an abuse case is turned in.
Recently the club took a field trip to the Scottsdale Arabian Horseshow, where the students got to enjoy the whole spectator experience, and watch a couple classes

Each  year we hold a fundraiser, the past two years we placed change jars in the homeroom classes to raise money for a local horse rescue.  This year the students chose to hold a fundraising gymkhana to benefit a horse rescue.  Brandi Lyons was able to join in the fun and bring a couple rescue horses that she is working with.
From this club I have many students want to take riding lessons, which I also provide.
I have had many people ask about the horse club and compliment me on this idea.  I look forward to starting this club at the beginning of each year, to meet new incoming students who are willing to learn more about the horse.

Sheryl, I commend you!

Blog readers–who else do you know who’s helping kids be involved with horses? What’s the story?

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