So back in November I went along to a free Equine Land Management seminar and planned a follow up with more information from the ever helpful Melbourne Water.

For those who have stream river frontage on their property and are interested in making it more sustainable, help with regards to information and funding are available!  Take a look at Melbourne Water’s Stream Frontage Management Program.

The program “provides funding for fencing off of waterway frontages, weed control, revegetation, off stock watering etc for landholders in the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment from Werribee and Wallan in the West to Whittlesea in the North, to Healesville in the East and Tarago River in the South East and the Mornington Peninsula and Phillip and French Islands.”

Note: if landholders are interested in participating in this program, they need to submit an expression of interest form to Melbourne Water PO BOX 4342 Melbourne 3001 and an assessor will come out to the property to determine what type of grant they require and if it will be a long term project.

It is possible for ongoing funding to be provided each year that it is required and that the landholder applies for.  Melbourne Water points out that many benefits can be gained to the property and wildlife by fencing off waterways yet if animals require access to the creek for water, this can be part funded through off stock watering such as tanks, troughs and piping.  This does however exclude funding for pumps.

Fencing off waterways can allow for:

• natural regeneration
• the possibility of weed control and revegetation
• the creation of a habitat corridor for native wildlife
• the provision of shade for stock and better quality pasture
• the prevention of erosion of the waterway banks

“More native vegetation along the banks and top of bank of the waterway protects the bank, holds the soil together, provides habitat for fish, platypus and waterbugs (fish and platypus food) and provides good water quality by filtering the creek water.”

For those not in the areas listed above, consider contacting your local Catchment Management Authority or council in case there is funding available to local landholders.

*Thanks to Rachel of Melbourne Water and the rest of the gang at MW for the provision of such info!

“You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.”

tag: property design, property management, pasture maintenance, pasture management, Melbourne Water

So because of this blog, there should be no surprises that I’m a big fan of educating oneself.  This doesn’t however always have to relate to doing a course and getting a piece of paper (although I’m a little addicted to this one!).

December is the time of year where people often consider what they’ve achieved in the past twelve months and what they would like to achieve in the twelve months following.  It’s very easy to be optimistic coming into a New Year and it’s worthwhile making use of this optimism to propel you into the New Year.

What are your equine related goals for 2011?  Having recently read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, I plan to further invest in myself for 2011.  Robert talks of using money to invest in one’s knowledge bank.  This can often be in the way of a course and with the way the equine industry is going, having a piece of paper that certifies you know how to do particular tasks with horses can be of great benefit.

Consider for 2011 the things however that you could be doing to increase your knowledge base without spending too much.  Some suggestions:

• Volunteering with horses – this really is an awesome way to develop contacts, help out some absolutely beautiful people and gain experience!  And as someone who teaches – yes, when you’re applying for a horse course, we love to see that you’re so dedicated as to have volunteered for a length of time with an equine related organisation!
• Reading – this is a big one that is so easy to do – find a topic and start to learn about it!  I get excited when I have new assignments to do for uni that I know nothing about; I know I’m going to do a whole heap of learning!
  • Sign up at the local library and start at one end of their equine section and work your way through – set a goal to read one book a week, month or bimonthly depending on the time you have available
  • Make use of the internet and research online (making note to take all you read with a grain of salt; some are very informed writers; others think they are)
  • If able to control your spending, consider the likes of eBay – it is possible to find some absolute bargains on here in the way of horse books; just make sure you set yourself a spending limit and stick to it!

Whatever your plans for 2011 with regards to your own ‘equine education’, consider telling a mate or two that are likely to hold you accountable, ask after what you’ve been doing with regards to the goals and more importantly, encourage you!  Blessings for Christmas and the New Year, may this next one be more awesome than the last,

Chris

“No one can teach riding so well as a horse.” – C.S. Lewis

tag: equine education, horse goals, new years resolutions