Blog : Equus Education

Profile On: Jane and Stuart Myers, Equiculture

August 24, 2016 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

Jane Myers was kind enough to answer some questions about the work that she and Stuart carry out with Equiculture. Check out their answers!

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
All of our working week is related to horses, we live and breath horses every day, although we no longer own horses as we are travelling, delivering our talks around the world.

What is it exactly that you do?
We (Equiculture) teach horse owners about sustainable horsekeeping practices (I was one of the speakers at The Sustainable Equine Conference at Nottingham Trent University recently for example). We now work between Australia and the UK, I spend about four months in Australia and Stuart six months.

Equiculture Promotes Sustainable Horse Keeping

We provide a one day or half day talk on the subject of sustainable, environmentally friendly horse/lan.d management. This talk gives participants up to date facts about some of the most important issues of our time. This talk encompasses the latest information about sustainability, soil loss, clean water etc. but also includes the latest information about equine obesity management (particularly in relation to pasture).

I (Jane) also coach rider biomechanics, you can find out more about that on www.horseridersmechanic.com.

Jane Myers of Equiculture

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full time professional and earning a liveable income?
It is difficult – but possible. We have had to sacrifice many things, but we love the flexibility of our work. If we had family ties, such as children, it would be much more difficult.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
I have an MSc Equine Science ( I specialised in Grazing Behaviour) and Stuart is a people person (he has a degree in Youth Work and he worked in that field for many years before working for our own business – Equiculture). Our combined equine and human qualifications and experience has allowed us to develop our unique business.

Favourite horse memory?
I have so many… riding on the beach is one.

Future goals?
To get our message out to more people – on a TV show would be good!

Best thing about your sport/profession?
It allows women to get out and do things that they might not otherwise.

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Dark Sunshine by Terri Farley

August 22, 2016 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

Samantha is once again working to protect the local mustangs in the third book in the Phantom Stallion series. Dark Sunshine finds Sam unexpectedly coming across some horse rustlers. While she is out riding on her own mustang Ace, she stumbles across them and manages to stay hidden. After they have moved on, she is able to free one of the horses they are ill-treating and using as bait for other horses. Sam is keen to do something to save the others.

As Sam works to uncover the mystery of who the men are, she is surprised to find that their property River Bend Ranch is branching out. Her father Wyatt Forster is entertaining the idea of a pilot program for at risk children and rescued mustangs.

Sam can’t see how it will work on their farm – don’t they have enough to do already? Plus, she isn’t sure she likes the young girl Mikki who is to be the first at risk person to try out the program at River Bend Ranch.

Sam finds that Mikki is full of attitude, defensive and rude. The thirteen-year-old can’t see she should want to help Mikki or why she would want to share her father, Jake, Gram and the horses with her.

As Sam starts to make ground with regards to the horse rustlers, she fears she is losing a part of her father to another female. It seems too that Jake is investing his energy in Mikki. To top things off, Sam doesn’t seem to be making any progress with the buckskin mustang she has rescued. Dark Sunshine is a great follow on in this series. Sam develops further as a character and there is a little mystery thrown in to keep things entertaining.

Author: Terri Farley
http://www.phantomstallion.com
Fiction – teen
In my library? Along with many others in the series!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

Bureau of Land Management and Horses

August 19, 2016 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

So I’ve been reading a few of Terri Farley’s Phantom Stallion series of late. The books often reference the Bureau of Land Management or BLM. One character in the story works for the BLM. She is responsible for looking after the welfare of the local mustangs.

It’s only taken me four books in this series to realise I could put together a post relating to BLM work and horses! 😉

According to the BLM website:

The BLM protects and manages wild horses and burros under the authority of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 to ensure that healthy herds thrive on healthy rangelands.

The Bureau of Land Management

Horses aren’t the sole focus of the Bureau of Land Management. They do however have one area that focuses on wild horses and burros. In fact, you can read about the history on their fact sheet page.

Other areas the BLM focus on include:

land conservation
grazing
fire
planning
recreation

For those who are interested in helping to preserve the wild horses in the United States, then the work that the BLM carries out may be of interest. Indeed, it may be an area that you would like to pursue work wise. The BLM has 16 different offices listed in various locations on their site.

The Land Horses live on Needs to be Healthy, too

For those who are familiar with horses, they know that these animals need sufficient grazing and land to live on. If this is to happen well, then the land needs to be adequately managed. A program that works to promote the health of land and horses is one worth investing in.

“Horses change lives. They give our young people confidence and self-esteem. They provide peace and tranquility to troubled souls. They give us hope!” – Toni Robinson

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Equinome – Equine Genetic Testing

August 17, 2016 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

I recently connected with someone on LinkedIn who works at Equinome. Curious, I checked out their website. It seems that they are a business that provides genetic testing for horse owners and breeders.

It states on their website:
“Superior performance through genomics. Plusvital Genetics, powered by Equinome is the world leader in the research and development of state-of-the-art genomic tools that assist the bloodstock industry by informing breeding, selection and training decisions.”

If as a breeder you are able to utilise a test to help you determine the best stallion to send your mare to, would you use it? Equinome are able to boast success for clients on the racetrack, at sales and also for determining matings for horses.

Equinome - Would you Make use of Equine Genetic Testing? — Equinome – Would you Make use of Equine Genetic Testing?

Tests can be carried out relating to the speed gene, elite racing performance, projected height and more. This can be done through a simple blood test. Horse owners now have an easy way to determine genes that are more inclined to be passed on. Therefore, they can better know future progeny’s capabilities.

For those who have an interest in horse genetics, you may be interested to know that even more can be determined now with tests at Equinome. Finding yourself interested in this area as a potential field of work? Then the set up at the University College Dublin may draw your interest.

Science is always expanding what it is able to do. Getting into an area that explores horse genetics and a way to better determine what is passed on to progeny could indeed be very exciting. It sounds like Equinome is one such business that provides this service to horse owners.

“A horse is the projection of peoples’ dreams about themselves – strong, powerful, beautiful – and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence.” – Pam Brown

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Heads or Tails by Bernadette Kelly

August 15, 2016 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

The fifth in the Riding High series, Heads or Tails? by Bernadette Kelly follows the adventures of teenager Annie Boyd.

Although Annie is only new to the world of horse riding and owning, she is establishing herself as a capable rider and owner. Annie has secured work at a local riding school and agistment property in Ridgeview where she lives. She attends pony club and has some great friends there and at school.

Annie is devastated to find that someone has cut off the tail of a horse at work. Although she thought it was the owners, she soon finds out from her boss that it was stolen. In time this isn’t the only horse that has had their tail stolen.

As the thief continues to strike, Annie and her friends become increasingly concerned. Plus, her boss Erica loses a client and fears that will continue to happen until the thief is found and caught.

Devising a plan to catch the thief, Annie pursues what she thinks is a credible lead. When this leads to putting her own horse and herself in danger, she questions just what she’s gotten herself into. When her parents find out, they do too.

Annie is devastated to find that her actions lead to not being allowed to ride her beloved pony for a couple of weeks. Her only consolation is that the ban will be lifted before her next pony club rally.

Annie determines to stay low and out of trouble. However, when she becomes aware of suspicious activity one night, she can’t help but go and investigate. This leads to the thief being caught and the horses and ponies of Ridgeview being safe once again.

Annie is relieved for the outcome, but once again finds herself in trouble for interfering in a matter that should be left to the police. In Heads or Tails? Annie learns that some ideas are better left alone; or at least left to the professionals. This story is a quick and easy read that is sure to entertain the younger reader.

Author: Bernadette Kelly
http://www.bernadettekelly.com.au/
Fiction – any
In My Library? As an eBook, yes!
Want it? Get it now at Amazon.

Profile On: Jane and Stuart Myers, Equiculture

Dark Sunshine by Terri Farley

Bureau of Land Management and Horses

The Bureau of Land Management

Equinome – Equine Genetic Testing

Heads or Tails by Bernadette Kelly

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