Blog : Equus Education

Machu Picchu, Peru

June 26, 2006 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

So my time at the Irish National Stud seems to have turned into a bit of an eye opener in many ways…

One is definitely finding out more about other’s cultures and countries and the other day I had a bit of a history lesson. I have a list of what will eventually be (got 53) 100 things I want to do before I die – see the aurora borealis, ride over the snowy mountains, take part in a Group 1 race, etc… and was talking with a friend about it who consequently mentioned her desire to visit Machu Picchu in Peru – http://www.machupicchuperu.info/.

The next day on tea break I was flicking through a horse magazine from last year and stumbled across an article on ‘a charity horse ride in Peru, aimed at helping two remote, rural communities in the Andean mountains’ which involves a train trip to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas! Go figure.

The site referenced is http://www.perolchico.com/ but doesn’t appear to say much about the charity ride although there are some awesome looking tours over this area! Further investigation appears to be required… haven’t yet worked out how much it’s gonna cost me either, but this’ll have to go on the list of things to do!

“The horse thinks one thing and he who saddles him another” – Benjamin Franklin’

tag: charity ride, peru

Finding Work Online

June 14, 2006 by Christine Meunier 1 Comment

So there are many different courses and holidays that you can do with horses to gain experience and qualifications, but this isn’t always a financially viable option. The best way to get hands on and learn as much as possible is to actually get yourself a job with horses.

If you really want both the qualifications and the hands on, there are places that are willing to help staff by sending them along to seminars, or apprenticeships that can be carried out, or once earning money, it may be possible to invest in doing a correspondence course outside of work hours.

For me, stud work is currently the most appealing as it covers so many aspects of the horse’s life and you can work on a stud almost anywhere in the world. However, if something else appeals – go for it! Polo, dressage, show jumping, cross country, polocrosse, national hunt, western, farriery, vet, pacers/trotters and many more.

http://www.stablemate.net.au/ advertises jobs in most of these fields and in Australia, Europe, America and Canada.
http://www.horsedirectory.com.au/classifieds/index.php?mid=1 – Horse Directory Australia offers the chance for employers to advertise jobs for sale in all states of Australia and also for those seeking to publish their skills and the type of job they are looking for.
http://www.horses-sales.com/horse_classifieds.shtml has links to possible jobs with horses under many different countries.
http://www.agriseek.com/work/e/Employment/Equine-Horses/ advertises jobs based on category or location.

“Even the greenest horse has something to teach the wisest rider.”

tag: online jobs

AI Course, Colorado

June 1, 2006 by Christine Meunier 1 Comment

Another course!

The one thing that annoys me about the Thoroughbred racing industry is that AI is illegal. Now, there are valid arguments both for and against the use of AI, but either way, being something that is used in the breeding side of the horse industry outside of Thoroughbreds, I’d be interested in learning about it.

Was chatting with a mate about this while in Ireland working and another that has spent a bit of time studying in the US suggested a short course on AI at the Colorado State University.

Did a little search and:
http://equinescience.colostate.edu/content/view/41//

“The four-day course includes 24 hours of classroom instruction and 12 hours of laboratory work in mare and stallion management, seminal collection and evaluation, artificial insemination, and care of the pregnant mare and neonatal foal. Participants are encouraged to actively participate in the collection and evaluation of semen and insemination of mares. Topics to be covered include anatomy and physiology of the mare and stallion genital tract, hormonal relationships and fertility, seminal collection and evaluation, techniques of artificial insemination, factors affecting sperm production and output, sexual behavior of the stallion, training a stallion to a phantom, hormonal control of the estrous cycle and pregnancy, care of the pregnant, foaling and postpartum mare, and nutrition of the stallion and pregnant mare.”

Looks pretty appealing to me! Now, to add that to the list of things to save for… after South Africa next year, the Jackaroo/Jillaroo course, my motorbike and bass guitar. And they say money makes the world go round!

“A horse has so docile a nature that he would always rather do right then wrong, if only he could be taught to distinguish one from the other.”

tag: artificial insemination

Wild Coast, South Africa

May 6, 2006 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

I’m a firm believer that if you’re interested in it – find out a way to learn more and work in that area.

After finishing studying in Ireland and having a bit of a look around, I’ll be returning to Oz to do the breeding season at my favourite stud and all the while, save for another travelling experience: a working/riding holiday in South Africa mid-2007!

I want to eventually be a riding instructor while running an agistment property and so need to improve my own riding skills before I can teach others. This holiday seems like the perfect opportunity!

http://www.sunrayfarm.co.za/ – Check out the working riding holiday link.

Sunray Farm “offer volunteers the opportunity to come to Africa on a working riding holiday. You stay on the farm and time permitting run the riding project for local disadvantaged children. Horse lovers are given an opportunity to eat, sleep and breathe horses from a couple of weeks holiday or up to 3 months in the volunteer program. You will be able to improve your riding skills, learn about the daily management of a equestrian establishment, work with young foals, school young horses, exercise the trail horses, assist and take out holiday riders on the beach rides, and if there is a Wild Coast Horse Trail booked during your stay you will be asked to join us as an assistant trail guide & groom!”

I figure taking into account flying out from Tullarmarine Airport in Victoria, Australia… it’ll cost around $4,000 Australian to fly over and pay to stay where food and lodgings are provided for around a month… very, very appealing!

“It is not enough for a man to know how to ride; he must know how to fall.” – Mexican Proverb

tag: south africa

Jackaroo Course, NSW, Oz

May 5, 2006 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

So I love looking for any sort of course/holiday/work that I can do with horses that is different to what I already know… and gives me a chance to check out another place! Stumbled across this one the other day… not that I remember what I was looking for:

http://www.leconfield.com/

Tis a Jackaroo/Jillaroo ‘school’ set over five days that covers grooming, riding, natural horsemanship (Pat Parelli style), horseshoeing, whip cracking, lassooing, mustering sheep, barrel racing, sheep health, shearing, pasture improvement, fencing/yard building, mustering cattle, yarding and drafting cattle, using working dogs and more.

The school is run at Leconfield on a 5000 acre property in New South Wales and those that run the course offer the possibility of helping you find work afterwards if this is your desire.

So, once I’m back home from Ireland and have had enough of the racehorses for awhile, I think I’ll check this out… just hope I’m up to it! Has anyone done anything like this before?

“Riding: The art of keeping a horse between you and the ground.”

tag: australia, jackaroo

Machu Picchu, Peru

Finding Work Online

AI Course, Colorado

Wild Coast, South Africa

Jackaroo Course, NSW, Oz

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