Blog : Equus Education

Profile On: Henrietta Purvis, Purvis Feeds

May 17, 2017 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

Henrietta Purvis, of Purvis Feeds in New Zealand was kind enough to answer some questions about what she does.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
Every day of my week is related to horses.

Henrietta Purvis of Purvis Feeds

What is it exactly that you do?
My husband and I started Purvis Feeds Ltd in 2005 and we make lucerne (alfalfa) chaff which is primarily for the equestrian market. We supply the main retailers in the south island of New Zealand. We grow our own lucerne and also buy in from Central Otago which has an amazing climate for growing premium quality lucerne.

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full time professional and earning a liveable income?
Year on year our business has grown. My husband also pregnancy scans sheep, cattle and deer and as sales of chaff increase, he downsizes the amount of scanning he does.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
We are passionate about our product and are always looking at ways to keep up to date with the new innovations in Europe/Australia/Canada.

Henrietta Purvis of Purvis Feeds

Favourite horse memory?
We own 3 Quarter Horses and compete in rodeos countrywide. My husband is a team roper and I barrel race. I have consistently been in the top 4 during the past 10 seasons. My favourite horse memory was winning 5 barrel races in 5 days!

Future goals?
Our aim is to grow our feed business further and maybe look at cutting other products such as Timothy grass and Oats. We employ one man on average 2 days a week to help with packing and tractor duties.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
It is awesome to be able to go to rodeos and see bags of Purvis Lucerne Chaff in competitors’ trucks. This is also a great way of keeping in touch with our customers.

The Ugly Pony by Angharad Thompson Rees

May 15, 2017 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

Doing my typical online search for free kindle books under the category of horse, I recently came across another book in the Magical Pony Adventure series by Angharad Thompson Rees. This particular short children’s book is titled The Ugly Pony.

The Ugly Pony is a wonderful retelling of the children’s tale the Ugly Duckling. Except this time the animal in question is a pony instead of a swan. This young pony grows up on a stud farm where ponies are bred for the show ring. They are recognised for their beautiful coats, rich colour, high stepping trot and pleasant conformation. These are all things that this particular pony seems to be lacking.

She has unusual – or even horrible – conformation. She is a dull white colour and has a funny bump on her forehead. As she grows older, these things don’t lessen, but instead seem to increase in visibility. The other ponies on the farm make fun of her. In fact, even her mother is embarrassed by her appearance. This in turn leads to the pony concluding that she doesn’t belong on the farm.

The Ugly Pony has a unique twist to it as well as a wonderful moral: that we need to appreciate our own uniqueness. Author Angharad Thompson Rees encourages all readers to embrace the person that they are and to love themselves. This is a great lesson for young readers as well as older readers! The Ugly Pony is a lovely retelling of the classic that is sure to captivate young readers and horse fans alike.

Author – Angharad Thompson Rees
Fiction – children
In my library – as an eBook it is.
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

“There is no better place to heal a broken heart than on the back of a horse.” ― Missy Lyons

Equestrian Journalism – a Horse Writing Career

May 12, 2017 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

Recently I provided details on an internship at the Irish Field that related to equestrian journalism. In particular, it was focused on equestrian pursuits. In my head, a lot of horse related journalism pertains to racing. But at the end of the day, many people want to read about other horse riding pursuits, too!

There are Olympic equestrian events and of course great horse events around the world that focus on Dressage, Showjumping and Cross Country riding. Or what about polo or polocrosse tournaments? For the person who loves to write and who loves horses, the idea of equestrian journalism may be appealing. So why not consider it as a career possibility?

Equestrian Journalism could Cover Racing, Olympic Events or other Horse Events

So what would you need to do? Having skill for writing is one thing; being qualified in the area of journalism is another. You can undertake a journalism degree which will take you four years at the likes of Melbourne University, Australia.

In this way, you can choose any undergraduate degree and then go on for a fourth year to focus on journalism. If this is the case, be sure to choose a degree that links in with your horse focus – equine science or agriculture, perhaps.

Other options include undertaking a Diploma level qualification, as offered on the Morris Journalism Academy. The course can be as short as 12 weeks, up to 2 years and done via distance.

Equestrian Journalism as a Career

Once you’re qualified, what then? Well if you want to focus on horses, it is best to make contact with newspapers or magazines that cover horse events. Reach out to places that are local to you. Alternatively, look for places that you can write for online and provide pieces this way.

“A horse which stops dead just before a jump and thus propels its rider into a graceful arc provides a splendid excuse for general merriment.” ― Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Internship at the Irish Field

May 10, 2017 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

So this one has an application date that is fast approaching! I just recently saw this posted on Twitter and wanted to share. I love finding out about career opportunities in different countries. Currently applications are being taken for an internship at the Irish Field. Note though: applications close on May 16!

So this position is one for journalists who are passionate about equestrian sports. The Irish Field internship runs from June 2017 until April 2018. So this position is for 10 months and is on offer in the editorial department of the Irish Field. As it says on their website:

“The intern will gain a broad range of experience and activities will include:

writing and editing equine-related stories and features, news gathering

updating social media channels

attending events representing The Irish Field

General support to the Irish Field team

This is a paid internship, based in Bluebell, Dublin 12. Full-time hours.”

For those who are interested, you can find out all the details here. There is an email address you can send your application to; be sure to make a note of the requirements for your resume and cover letter!

An Internship at the Irish Field

This sounds like a great opportunity for that person who wants a journalism career relating to horses. And if you’re someone who loves to write and who is interested in equestrian sports, then this may be a career you should look into. Journalism degrees are available to those interested. This qualification can lead to a career that focuses on writing about horse related sports/disciplines.

“My troubles are all over, and I am at home; and often before I am quite awake, I fancy I am still in the orchard at Birtwick, standing with my friends under the apple trees.” ― Anna Sewell, Black Beauty

Dude Ranch by Bonnie Bryant

May 8, 2017 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

Dude Ranch is the sixth book in the Saddle Club series by Bonnie Bryant. In this novel, Stevie, Carole and Lisa are off on an adventure. They have been invited to visit Kate Devine’s family dude ranch.

Dude Ranch (Saddle Club 6) by Bonnie Bryant

Here the girls will put away their English style of riding and embrace western saddles, herding cattle and also roping stock. It’s a trip they’re all looking forward to. There is one downside for Stevie however – she’ll be missing her normal birthday celebrations with her twin, Alex.

Although Stevie is disappointed by her friends’ lack of sympathy for her birthday situation, she is delighted to learn many new things in the saddle and to even meet some new friends. Kate is made an out of town member of the Saddle Club and the three girls find themselves unexpectedly befriending another local who rides – but always without a saddle.

When you mix herding cattle, five horse crazy girls, a surprise birthday party and a run in with a rattle snake, you get the general idea of this book. Stevie, Carole and Lisa once again show their passion for horses and their joy for riding and learning.

Dude Ranch is an enjoyable read in a different setting to the usual Pine Hollow stables. The western focus helps to enlighten readers about another type of riding. On top of this, it’s nice to see a couple of other young women added to the story. This is in the form of Kate and Christine who make future appearances in the series.

Author: Bonnie Bryant
Fiction – pre and early teenage years.
In My Library? Along with many others in the series!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

Profile On: Henrietta Purvis, Purvis Feeds

The Ugly Pony by Angharad Thompson Rees

Internship at the Irish Field

An Internship at the Irish Field

Dude Ranch by Bonnie Bryant

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