BlueBonnet Expo - photo palooza

With 5 weeks under saddle, Manu prepares to wow the crowd.

We went to the Bluebonnet Horse Expo today - to shop for deals and see demos and clinics. All proceeds from the expo benefit the Bluebonnet Horse Rescue. Steph joined me and Sierra on the long trek to Austin, and let me tell you we will NEVER miss this event! We got some screaming deals - I found some riding pants and half chaps, a saddle blanket, a bosal/mecate set, all used, all in great shape, all ridiculously cheap.


Our shopping needs sated, and wallets lightened (for a good cause) we watched the demos. I'll post some photos over the next few days, here's one series to get you started.



The first demo was of trainers working with some of Bluebonnet's rescue horses. I was most struck by this trainer who didn't just get her horse, after five weeks, to accept a saddle. She got him doing complex Vaquero ballet.


Here's his arrival at the rescue photo.



His name is Manu (of Spurs fame). The trainer guessed he was a Arab Thoroughbred mix, although his paper work says Arab Quarter. He doesn't have much quarter, she said. Here's his adoption page at Bluebonnet.

Cyd, the trainer, said that she tries to find what a horse's gift is and she felt he had the right mix of gait and showmanship for this kind of training. She said she thinks he'll be excellent in competitive trail as well - very solid mind on this guy, who arrived at the rescue half starved.

The trainer's website is here: www.pfment.com


It was incredible to see them work. Here's two videos...







and...

Horses in need!

First horse has this story on a very desperate situation in Tennessee. I don't know if anyone around here can help but I thought I'd draw attention to it.

At least maybe we can send a modest donation (times are hard, I know)... The bandwidth limit is exceeded on her site, email here for more info. voiceforhorses@wmconnect.com

Help Horses Hurt by Hurricane

Hurricane Ike did tremendous damage - and horses on Galveston and on a rescue ranch took a very hard hit.

Here's something from a blogger in the area:

I learned last night that there are at least 100 horses still on Galveston Island in Texas needing food and water in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. They have moved an additional 23 horses to a staging area in Santa Fe, Texas. It’s no surprise that one of the people who is coordinating this effort is Jerry Finch, founder of the equine rescue organization, Habitat for Horses.

You can read more here.


Here's the 9/16 update from Jerry Finch:

As of today, HfH has retrieved around 20 horses from Galveston island and brought them to the staging area at Jack Brooks Park. While most are in good health a number of the horses are dehydrated and highly stressed. Because of the horses highly stressed condition, the vet is requiring the horses to be held for 48 to 72 hours to be stabilized. During this holding period the horses will be treated for any cuts and small wounds. All horses will receive tetanus and have a coggins pulled before leaving the staging area.

We continue to take feed and hay to those horses left in the care of others. This is going to continue tomorrow. We have had various reports of small herds of horses on the island, those that have been verified are being cared for by long time local island residents...

Pass the word on, we need to help!