Calm Wood Equestrian Centre in Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia | Sport & recreation

Calm Wood Equestrian Centre

Locality: Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia

Phone: +61 422 042 477

Address: 102 Goods Road Oakville 2765 Hawkesbury, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.calmwood.com.au/

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25.01.2022 Correct placement of foot in stirrup bar for safety and good weight distribution

25.01.2022 As the door closes on 2020 and a new year approaches I would like to thank everyone who was a part of my life during a year of not only incredible highs, but also the challenges disappointments . Thankyou to all my students & clients who have become firm friends & are such great supporters of the Riding School. I look forward to new challenges & encouraging our students to get out & about at competitions in 2021 ... fingers crossed ... I wish all my family & friends, clients & students a very happy New Year & May 2021 bring you all good health, happiness & many successes during the year ahead

25.01.2022 Big thank you to all the SES Crews and Emergency Services.

24.01.2022 I think I might have been a horse in my other life. It's not that I'm really lazy, but I will take the easier route. Why jump over something if you can just step over it?

23.01.2022 I was told this true story some time ago, but thought it worth revisiting because it is just so funny!!

23.01.2022 Weve helped hundreds of horses find new best friends over the years... But more so, weve answered thousands of inquiries. Ill say it again like I say every ...year, in case someone out there needs to hear this... HOW TO FIND YOUR UNICORN 1. PARAMETERS: Sticking to your parameters is only hurting your search. This is like when you have a friend who says theyll only date a guy over 6 feet tall. Would you turn down meeting your soul mate because hes 511? Ive learned from many good Horsemen over the years and the saying is true: God never made a good horse in a bad color. The number of times that people are looking for a precise height or a precise color and I think I have the perfect match for them to fulfill all their dreams, but they wont budge 1 inch on height in either direction. I can tell you that my current 17 hand horse feels much smaller than my current 15.3h horse. Its much more about their barrel and their neck set and then the height of their withers. Stop looking for the horse that is 5-7 years old 16.2-17.0h bay or grey gelding. You are only sabotaging your own search here. 2. WRONG QUESTIONS: When people call about horses, I tell them what kind of rider he needs and what the horse wants to do for a living. Why does NO ONE ever ask that?! They ask how fancy his trot is or how his dressage score was last weekend or how many ribbons he has or how tall he is. They dont ever ask, Will he tolerate my mistakes? Will he make up where Im lacking? Can I handle this horse? Does he have the same goals that I do? 3. WRONG PRIORITIES: I always teach my students this lesson. My keeper horse as a 4yo was the worst mover in the barn. Choppy trot, canter like a tractor trailer on ice, pads on his feet, and some seriously unimpressive knees. If I pulled him out of the stall for you at a sales appointment at 4 years old, you would tell me to put him away! Then he won 3 events at 5yo. At 6 hes a dream to ride because weve put in serious sweat equity for three years. Im going to burst your bubble here. Unless youre trying to literally win the Olympics, you dont need the best mover in the barn. Find the horse that makes you SMILE, that you want to ride every day, the one you can train. Beyond that, you can teach it to win the dressage if you work hard enough. Heck, the worst mover Ive ever owned won a dozen upper level events and got our Bronze Medal in dressage, and if you saw him today youd swear that was the best canter youve ever ridden. When youre shopping, dont buy for the fancy trot. Find the horse that makes you smile. 4. MAINTENANCE: The number of people who put in search ads, absolutely no maintenance or ask me if he has to wear shoes. So youre telling me if I can find you your perfect unicorn that will make you happy for the rest of his life and you have to give him hock injections once a year, you wouldnt do it? Because thats about what youre spending on your Starbucks this month. If you find a horse that will take care of you, you need to take care of it. Period. 5. VETTINGS: Its been said by a million people so Ill keep it brief. Vettings are a fact finding mission, not an attempt to rule out every horse you meet. No one can predict the future-Ive had upper level horses that would have failed as 4yos who never missed an event in their lives. Ive seen vets give two thumbs up to horses who dropped dead a week later from a heart problem. Vets are our greatest resource, but they arent fortune tellers. Any good vetting WILL find something. Have your trainer help you understand what is realistic when the vet jargon sounds scary. Heres hoping that this list helps someone searching somewhere. Because I know over the years in my career, if I had stuck to my parameters and broken my rules, I would not have bought any of my eventual upper level horses. I would have missed out on so many special horses in my life, because I didnt want a 3yo or I didnt want him to be 15.3h or his ankles arent pretty. When you find a horse that you like to ride and it makes you happy, thats really all that matters. Photo by Canter Clix

23.01.2022 Animal Care Australia receives confirmation of a proposal to close several horse riding access trails in the Hawkesbury To Join ACA: https://www.animalcareaustralia.org.au/join/

23.01.2022 This photo perfectly shows your horse's sensing organs beside the eye. He uses them to sense when he can't see. They aren't hairs-- no cutting! Please share and help our horses keep their sensing organs. Vibrissae has a purpose.

22.01.2022 There are several plants in Australia that are toxic to horses. The plant pictured is: Cape Weed. ... It has a long taproot and it can germinate rapidly. Although it is not thought of as a highly toxic weed, it can if consumed in quantity, at the early growth stages, be full of NSC’s. (Non structural carbohydrates). It is possible that it can bring in a laminitic incident in horses and ponies that are susceptible to EMS ( equine metabolic syndrome) or Insulin resistant horses. It often attacks the hepatic (liver) cells. Other plants include: Flatweed which to the untrained eye can resemble Dandelion on a short stalk. This plants leaves lay flat on the ground (hence the name). When ingested by horses, Flatweed attacks the myelin sheath which covers the nerves, particularly the sciatic nerve in the hind quarters which then give the horse a spasticity of movement, which may develop into Pasture Associated Stringhalt! Patterson’s Curse: or sometimes known as (Salvation Jane) the young and tender leaves are very palatable to horses I’d there is a shortage of pasture/hard feed. Fireweed: is a neurotoxin to horses targeting the nerves in the large muscles. It’s not particularly appealing to horses as it does retain quite a specific odour. Mostly grazed by horses with little to no feed. Long term consumption will lead to serious and debilitating liver damage. Fireweed is extremely invasive, it can be spread quickly over a long distance by wind. A single plant can produce up to 18,000 seeds in it’s life cycle. If you aren’t sure what species of poisonous plants are on your property, you can seek more information from The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. There is also an excellent downloadable PDF from RIRDC Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, titled Plants Poisonous to Horses an Australian Feed Guide. https://www.horsecouncil.org.au/plants-poisonous-to-horses- See more

22.01.2022 "Friday's Temperture is expected to reach 41 in Richmond. It is important to keep your horses cool. Provide plenty of fresh water.Try to keep the water cool. H...orses may not want to drink warm water. Ponies and foals may have trouble reaching to the bottom of a trough that isn't full. Make sure there is somewhere for your horses to get out of the sun. If you must work your horses, try to schedule your session for early morning or late evening when it is cooler. Please contact us is your horse shows any signs of distress on 45774611 Stay cool!

22.01.2022 People only see what they see...

22.01.2022 http://www.equestriansrock.com

22.01.2022 # SUPPORT AUSTRALIAN BREEDERS POST Something for everyone to think about There are Australians that have purchased and bought into Australia some of the BEST ST...ALLIONS they are fully licensed and not backyard breeding Eg: Prestige has 4 breed licences! And has been a proven GP horse and renowned breeding stallion all over the world. There are others here who are similar. Carolyn Welsh has a licensed stallion as well There are many others that fit into this but please add your stallions as well on this post below so people realise The horse industry in Australia is sick and unhealthy with a dog eat dog mentality. I cannot for the life of me understand why we are not SUPPORTING AUSTRALIAN STUDS THAT BRING YOU WORLD CLASS STALLIONS We are supporting Australia in the supermarkets with buying Australian made why are we not putting the money back into Australia in the horse industry? The horses bred in Australia are as good or better then the ones overseas Im convinced people import horses because they want a blue head collar. The problem here is not the horse quality its the RIDING QUALITY Time to realise whats happening here that people will not IF NOT SUPPORTED will import stallions for you USE in the future . Its breeding season people line Australian pockets not other countries

22.01.2022 I place the horse into a one rein Stop as well.. as most of the time these stirrup leathers don't move that easily anymore.. manufacturers are wedginging in these stirrup bars into the saddle body..

21.01.2022 Patting or Scratching? The science behind behaviour rewards Do you pat your horse as a reward for good behaviour? You may actually be reprimanding him, rath...er than rewarding him for a good ride! In fact, horses prefer to be scratched on the withers as a reward, instead of enjoying a pat from their rider. Wither scratching may also be a good way to increase the bond between you and your horse. A scientific study presented at a recent conference for Equitation Science has focused on the way horses react to different types of physical rewards. Researchers took different groups of horses and patted, scratched or just stood next to them for a few minutes. In this way, the scientists were able to record the way each group of horses reacted, with patting producing increased general movement, and even pawing or headshaking. In contrast, horses that were scratched lowered their heads and displayed upper lip movements associated with mutual grooming behaviour. The more positive association was particularly apparent in stabled riding horses, which lack interaction with other horses for social grooming, a similar sensation to that produced by scratching. Thus, we can theorise that wither scratching may be interpreted as a bonding experience, as well as positive feedback, between you and your horse. Experts have also pointed out that patting a horse is similar to the way a mare corrects the behaviour in her foal with a nudge of her nose. Horses may associate patting with discipline rather than reward, with the scientists noting that many Grand Prix Dressage horses are vigorously patted after their Olympic dressage test, which can prompt them to speed up their movement, perhaps indicating a negative response. So, the next time you wish to reinforce good behaviour in your horse, try a different method, such as scratching. Of course, many horses might appreciate a tasty carrot even more!

21.01.2022 If you have ever been in a rush to load your horse, this should resonate! The tune is Rocky Horror's Time Warp which I thought was VERY appropriate!

20.01.2022 If you have a horse who has wiped snot all over your clean shirt, thrown you off into the mud, stomped on your foot, headbutted you in the face, dribbled in your hair, caused you pain, injury and embarrassed you in public, post this as your status. Horses are a gift that keeps costing, .........repost if you don't regret one cent.

19.01.2022 YOU are AMAZING. Set YOUR OWN goals. Run YOUR OWN race. ... Lets be the ones uplifting other riders, not bringing them down.

19.01.2022 Dressage Tip: "YOU CAN NOT LEAD A BATTLE IF YOU THINK YOU LOOK SILLY ON A HORSE." Napolean Bpnaparte... I know that we are not at war going into battle, however when we are at a competition you cannot expect to ride well, feel confident or be in the top placing if you feel like you look silly as a rider or a combination. Our horses are so sensitive, so if we are feeling ‘silly’ or ‘not good enough’ out at a comp this will feed through to our horse and even to the spectators and judges watching. Building confidence is a never ending journey. A tip to help you feel better and more confident out at competitions is to re-word your negative self talk. If you hear yourself saying, ‘I don’t belong in this warm up’, change it to something that will build you up like, ‘I’ve paid for my entry fees and worked hard, I belong here just as much as the next rider!’.

18.01.2022 An oldie ... but still gives me a chuckle

18.01.2022 Aimee has come back from a long break today & ridden with focus & clarity . We started with basic flatwork with some fabulous canter works & progressed to riding circles over trot poles at walk & trot. Very proud of Aimee a results today

18.01.2022 I have no words...

18.01.2022 bahaha.. you got to wonder sometimes! does this sound like your horse?

17.01.2022 I read this post a couple of days back & thought it provided a powerful message to anyone & everyone who has a love of horses ACCEPTANCE: In the horse world we all share a passion: The horse! We have the horses best interests at heart and take different approaches in our interactions with them. We ride different disciplines, use different equipment and adopt different training methods in our pursuit of effective communication with a large flight animal.... Why is it then that in our mutual passion for our horses, people feel the need to judge each other!!!!! Are they scared they're not 'getting things right' and others are doing it better? Is it a burning passion for one approach to the exclusion of all others? Do people doubt themselves so much that they feel others judging them? What personal demons make being judgemental happen? Ultimately I feel people should only allow one judge: their horse! If your horse accepts you as leader you're getting things right for the two of you. If he/she doesn't maybe your communication with them is confusing. Maybe the horse person needs to adjust or tweak what they're doing and consistently communicate in a way the horse can understand. It really doesn't matter what tool or approach anyone uses as long as it is kind to the horse. Then and only then will a partnership happen with our equine friends. Be kind to yourself too and recognise when things may not be working. Take the time to look at how communication with the horse can be improved. We can all be guilty of sending mixed signals, & confusing our horses. Sometimes it's worth filming yourself. It's also worth seeking outside opinion of a trusted instructor to refine what your know. None of us know everything and every horse/owner combinations is different. What works for one may not work on another. So please: ACCEPT we can be at fault in communicating effectively with our horse ACCEPT everyone's approaches are different and leave them to work in a way that suits them ACCEPT their choice of riding ACCEPT their choice of safety gear ACCEPT we all need help some time Enjoy your horse and congratulate yourself with every small achievement you make and if someone tries to enforce their approach on you ACCEPT you are doing the right thing for your horse at this moment in time with the knowledge you have. Wishing you all a wonderful day with your equine friends

16.01.2022 Before backing your youngster please read - A horse ages roughly 3 times faster than a human. So a 90 year old human is a 30 year old horse. Both very old, usu...ally arthritic, dont have many of their original teeth left, and very likely retired and enjoying the finer things in life. A 25 year old horse is a 75 year old human. Still works so far. A 20 year old horse is a 60 year old human. At that point where the body doesnt work like it use to but the brain is all there and wants to be active. A 13 year old horse is a 39 year old human. Middle aged, prime of their life where their knowledge and physical ability are about equal. So lets get down to the babies and work our way up. A 3 year old horse is a 9 year old child. A child. Not ready for work by a long stretch. We have moved past sending children down the mines. A 4 year old horse is a 12 year old child. Often will do odd jobs for pocket money, maybe a paper round, mowing lawns etc. Basically a 4 yo horse can start a bit of light work to earn their keep. A 5 year old horse is a 15 year old teenager. Think they know it all, cocky, and ready to up their work and responsibilities. Still quite weak and not fully developed so shouldnt be at their physical limit but can start building strength. A 6 year old horse is an 18 year old human. An adult. Ready to work hard. Pushing your youngster too hard too young will result in failure of many body parts. Joints, tendons, ligaments as well as their brains. Waiting one year at the beginning can give a horse another 10 years of useful working life. Be patient with your pride and joy! Written by Vikki Fowler BVetMed BAEDT MRCVS Graphic credit to Naomi Tavian @equinaomi, check her out on Pinterest

15.01.2022 For all aspiring dressage divas

15.01.2022 Ive practiced the art of collection a fair bit over the last 15 years

15.01.2022 Your smile for today. (Click on the photo and it will enlarge)

14.01.2022 Been there done that. #happywednesday

14.01.2022 How a horsewoman knows she is rich: I am rich. I have $15 in my checking account and a golden mare in the barn. I am rich. I have a car that mostly works and enough gas to get to the barn every day this week.... I am rich. I have boxes of pasta and generic sauce in my pantry and enough hay to feed my horse through the winter. I am rich. I have enough old coats and sweaters to layer up and stay warm while I do barn chores. I am rich. I vacation by camping with my horses and going to cheer on my horse riding friends at horse shows. Sometimes I even play too, and spend $1000 to bring home a fifty cent ribbon that I will treasure more than a photo in front of the Eiffel Tower. I am rich. I have tools: duct tape and baling twine and the know how to fix just about anything with these tools. I am rich. I find joy in making my own things, making do, and making right. I have a 30 year old saddle, a 50 year old body, and the wonder and joy of a 6 year old child learning that a horse can give her wings. I am rich. My wealth is not measured in dollar signs but in horsey snorts and nickers. My riches aren't spent on electronics and fancy clothes but are shared with my human and four footed friends. Next time someone finds out that I have a horse and says, " You must be rich to afford that" I will smile, and agree. Jocelyn Giesbrecht

14.01.2022 If you have too long reins the hands go back and then you restrict the horse. If you shorten the rein and go forward with the hands then you have more control ...of the frame. Turn the volume up to listen! Dr. Dieter Schule leads a clinic on judging the Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Test. This series provides many insights into how this test is judged and offers a multitude of tips on how to improve your own ride, with a particularly instructive section on the extended walk. See the full collection here! https://bit.ly/dt-ondemand-dieter-schule

14.01.2022 BUILDING THE CONTACT When a horse trots about with his head in the air, looking all around him, there is no positive connection emotionally or physically with ...the rider. When two people are talking, if one is trying to maintain a conversation, whilst the other is distracted by children playing or noises coming from another room, there is no communication. Communication takes two: one to talk and one to listen and both should be prepared to change the sequence, allowing the other person to contribute to the conversation. Contact is the way a rider converses with a horse; a good contact, therefore, is when the rider is having a conversation with the horse during which neither becomes dominant. Thoughts on contact- A conversation or connection between two living beings requires: a time to listen a time to express thoughts or requests the creation of a rapport or dialogue: information being both offered and received a mutual desire to understand the feelings of the other party. See more

12.01.2022 Some useful information I found shared by a friend. Worth a read That bite of summer has well and truly come early this year and with that heat, comes snakes. ...This article was written by Rob Timmings Rob runs a medical/nursing education business Teaching nurses, doctors and paramedics. Its well worth the read #ECT4Health 3000 bites are reported annually. 300-500 hospitalisations 2-3 deaths annually. Average time to death is 12 hours. The urban myth that you are bitten in the yard and die before you can walk from your chook pen back to the house is a load of rubbish. While not new, the management of snake bite (like a flood/fire evacuation plan or CPR) should be refreshed each season. Lets start with a Basic overview. There are five genus of snakes that will harm us (seriously) Browns, Blacks, Adders, Tigers and Taipans. All snake venom is made up of huge proteins (like egg white). When bitten, a snake injects some venom into the meat of your limb (NOT into your blood). This venom can not be absorbed into the blood stream from the bite site. It travels in a fluid transport system in your body called the lymphatic system (not the blood stream). Now this fluid (lymph) is moved differently to blood. Your heart pumps blood around, so even when you are lying dead still, your blood still circulates around the body. Lymph fluid is different. It moves around with physical muscle movement like bending your arm, bending knees, wriggling fingers and toes, walking/exercise etc. Now here is the thing. Lymph fluid becomes blood after these lymph vessels converge to form one of two large vessels (lymphatic trunks)which are connected to veins at the base of the neck. Back to the snake bite site. When bitten, the venom has been injected into this lymph fluid (which makes up the bulk of the water in your tissues). The only way that the venom can get into your blood stream is to be moved from the bite site in the lymphatic vessels. The only way to do this is to physically move the limbs that were bitten. Stay still!!! Venom cant move if the victim doesnt move. Stay still!! Remember people are not bitten into their blood stream. In the 1980s a technique called Pressure immobilisation bandaging was developed to further retard venom movement. It completely stops venom /lymph transport toward the blood stream. A firm roll bandage is applied directly over the bite site (dont wash the area). Technique: Three steps: keep them still Step 1 Apply a bandage over the bite site, to an area about 10cm above and below the bite. Step 2: Then using another elastic roller bandage, apply a firm wrap from Fingers/toes all the way to the armpit/groin. The bandage needs to be firm, but not so tight that it causes fingers or toes to turn purple or white. About the tension of a sprain bandage. Step 3: Splint the limb so the patient cant walk or bend the limb. Do nots: Do not cut, incise or suck the venom. Do not EVER use a tourniquet Dont remove the shirt or pants - just bandage over the top of clothing. Remember movement (like wriggling out of a shirt or pants) causes venom movement. DO NOT try to catch, kill or identify the snake!!! This is important. In hospital we NO LONGER NEED to know the type of snake; it doesnt change treatment. 5 years ago we would do a test on the bite, blood or urine to identify the snake so the correct anti venom can be used. BUT NOW... we dont do this. Our new Antivenom neutralises the venoms of all the 5 listed snake genus, so it doesnt matter what snake bit the patient. Read that again- one injection for all snakes! Polyvalent is our one shot wonder, stocked in all hospitals, so most hospitals no longer stock specific Antivenins. Australian snakes tend to have 3 main effects in differing degrees. Bleeding - internally and bruising. Muscles paralysed causing difficulty talking, moving & breathing. Pain In some snakes severe muscle pain in the limb, and days later the bite site can break down forming a nasty wound. Allergy to snakes is rarer than winning lotto twice. Final tips: not all bitten people are envenomated and only those starting to show symptoms above are given antivenom. Did I mention to stay still. ~Rob Timmings Kingston/Robe Health Advisory #vrarescue #snakebite

12.01.2022 We've all searched for this one, lol. #findingtheunicorn #thatonehorse

12.01.2022 Oops! We bought the wrong horse..

12.01.2022 I apologize for the late-in-the-day posting; please humor me while I try to teach my girl that "Monday" does not begin at 9pm. This week for Murray Monday, I explain how to deal with a classic equine malady....

11.01.2022 Yesterday was the first day of spring. With warm weather comes new grass growth and an increased risk of laminitis. This article is a great resource for owners, with the top 10 laminitis early warning signs. https://thehorse.com/1/10-early-warning-signs-of-laminitis/

11.01.2022 http://www.cafepress.com/fergusthehorse

10.01.2022 Feeling nostalgic : Found this post about one of the very special horses in my life . She has left a hoof print in my heart forever We were fortunate enough... to buy a somewhat gangly 3.5yr old thoroughbred mare a few weeks OTT from Kezz French for our daughter Stephanie Holden in September 2000. Purchased so Stephanie could pursue her desire to show jump & do some xc. This beautiful mare, despite being a young TB never failed to rise to challenges . Our beautiful Anouk was also a handy dressage mount ( not her favourite pastime though) & also brought home ribbons in the hacking . Anouk was a big favourite with all our students here, who learned to ride on this very giving mare. She had a strong powerful canter , but when she had first time nervous riders wanting to have their first canter , she would graciously pop into a soft slow canter She was fondly known as the "queen of Calm Wood" Retired in 2014 when she fractured a bone in her lower offside hind leg, she spent her days resting in the care of a very dear friend Sandra McLean . We lost her earlier this year just short of turning 22 . I will never forget what a truly beautiful mare she was . Don’t ever write off the opportunity to own an OTT thoroughbred .

10.01.2022 Very happy for Aimee who’s had a break & came back today & rode so positively .some lovely canter work & working on a circle over poles .

09.01.2022 Imbalance always leads to tension. Relaxation is only possible when the load is distributed as evenly as possible over the four legs. If a hindleg is weak or st...iff, the horse can protect it by holding it a little sideways, away from the centre of gravity. This shifts the body weight onto the diagonal front leg. A simultaneous, excessive, lateral neck bend makes it impossible for the rider to use the body mass to flex and strengthen the affected hindleg, because the false bend prevents the rider from aligning the horses shoulders in front of the hips. As a result, the horse can keep the load off the weak hindleg through the lateral deviation. By the same token, the horses crookedness can very easily cause stiffness and false bends. If the rider makes the horse crooked, perhaps through his own asymmetries, the front leg of the convex side will carry the greatest share of the load, as mentioned above. The hindleg on the hollow side, on the other hand, carries the smallest share of the load. If a hindleg supports the load insufficiently, the other legs necessarily have to carry more than their fair share. The muscles surrounding the overloaded shoulder will tense up in order to support it, and this stiffness then spreads forward to the poll and backward to the hip, until the entire side of the horse is locked up. Conversely, an existing false bend can very quickly cause crookedness and stiffness, since it makes the circle of aids collapse. We can say that straightness enhances suppleness, and that, conversely, removing stiffness facilitates straightening. Preventing false bends also improves relaxation and straightness, just as suppling and straightening prevent the development of false bends. Therefore, straightening and framing the horse with the riders aids are indispensable if you want to prevent it from yielding in the wrong joint, while other muscle groups remain stiff and blocked. Straightness, tempo (balance), and an effective network of aids that connects all muscle groups in the horses body with each other, are consequently at the top of the priority list, if perfect permeability is the goal. - Thomas Ritter, an excerpt from "Dressage Principles based on Biomechanics" (2010, Cadmos Publishing) Photo: Maestoso II Shama II in the Piaffe at the longrein with Dr. Thomas Ritter Photo credit: Shana Ritter

09.01.2022 Horses weight bear on the equivalent of our middle finger Their stifle is our knee Their knee is our wrist Their hock is our ankle

09.01.2022 Christine worked her two point position today & the end result was her huge smile ... and she did mention her legs felt like jelly ... Great work Christine riding he very kind & trustworthy Flynn

08.01.2022 Congratulations to one of our wonderful students at Calm Wood Equestrian . Im sure everyone here will join with me in congratulating Christine on her incredible achievement. Wonderful news

08.01.2022 Setting goals and making plans is the first step in turning your dreams into reality this winter! If you can dream it, you can do it! So turn those dreams into ...action. Action turns into results. And sooner or later you will be living the dream! Click on this link to discover 6 steps on how to make your dreams come true: http://bit.ly/1gO0rdM Discover 6 tips Like Share Tag

07.01.2022 BRAND NEW SKINNYS! We are hitting the ground running and getting ready for Summer with a brand new range of drink bottles & tumblers available soon at Be Daz...zled by Bling, and this gorgeous design is up for grabs by one lucky person! To be in the running to WIN our very first 20oz Skinny Tumbler customised with your name, all you have to do is ~ Like our Be Dazzled by Bling Facebook page ~ Share this post ~ Tag 3 (or more) friends So easy! Ends 30 September, 2020 with Winner randomly drawn on 1st October. Massive thanks to everyone who has been supporting our small business through what has been a very interesting 2020!

07.01.2022 Our 2 Golden Oldies enjoying a day of R & R Rojo our little Palomino recently turned 30 & Ziggy his trusty sidekick is 22...both boys still going strong in our riding school with our younger riders !!

07.01.2022 I just love this diagram of how the riders following hands allow the horse's head and neck to stretch forward and down (green line), and how the fixed hand blocks the natural movement of the head and neck (red line).

06.01.2022 I am always grateful for our dedicated team of school horses , they just keep giving week after week , building the confidence of children & adults as they learn horse skills, riding & more ! Some of these beautiful souls have crossed their bridge, others have gone to new homes, but they have all had something to teach our students

06.01.2022 Guaranteed to be stuck in your head all weekend...

05.01.2022 "A thought-provoking read... By Jane Smiley Most horses pass from one human to another - some horsemen and women are patient and forgiving, others are rigor...ous and demanding, others are cruel, others are ignorant. Horses have to learn how to, at the minimum, walk, trot, canter, gallop, go on trails and maybe jump, to be treated by the vet, all with sense and good manners. Talented Thoroughbreds must learn how to win races, and if they can't do that, they must learn how to negotiate courses and jump over strange obstacles without touching them, or do complicated dance-like movements or control cattle or accommodate severely handicapped children and adults in therapy work. Many horses learn all of these things in the course of a single lifetime. Besides this, they learn to understand and fit into the successive social systems of other horses they meet along the way. A horse's life is rather like twenty years in foster care, or in and out of prison, while at the same time changing schools over and over and discovering that not only do the other students already have their own social groups, but that what you learned at the old school hasn't much application at the new one. We do not require as much of any other species, including humans. That horses frequently excel, that they exceed the expectations of their owners and trainers in such circumstances, is as much a testament to their intelligence and adaptability as to their relationship skills or their natural generosity or their inborn nature. That they sometimes manifest the same symptoms as abandoned orphans - distress, strange behaviours, anger, fear - is less surprising than that they usually don't. No one expects a child, or even a dog to develop its intellectual capacities living in a box 23 hours a day and then doing controlled exercises the remaining one. Mammal minds develop through social interaction and stimulation. A horse that seems "stupid", "slow", "stubborn", etc. might just have not gotten the chance to learn! Take care of your horses and treasure them." #wadifarmlife #gowiththeflow photo (c) KAW

05.01.2022 one of our fabulous & talented riding students Christine Douglas has just won a National Award...please read her story ! She inspires everyone she meets at Calm Wood Equestrian.

05.01.2022 Another one of our hardworking little riders in her first lessons after school holidays Well done Keely

04.01.2022 Thanks hi the wonderful staff at The Thirsty Horse for your outstanding service & smiles all day at our Fun Day !!

04.01.2022 Let this sink in..... It’s absolutely mind boggling if you think about it. Your horse gets absolutely nothing out of being competitive for you. Not a darn thing. Of course horses are bred for specific jobs, or they’re bred to be athletic to a certain degree. However, horses don’t wake up thinking about chasing cans, or cows, or flying over jumps. ... They have no idea how much money is added to the pot. They have no idea that this is a qualifier. They have no idea that this is the short go. And DESPITE us... DESPITE our nerves, our flaws, our incorrect ques, our huge emotions, they get the job done to their very best ability. Even when we fail them by letting our emotions get in the way, they come back and they try again. For US. Whoa. Let that sink in. If only we could all be so understanding. To think of an animal that is forgiving and flexible enough to put up with the repetition of practice, the intense nerves of the rider, the stress of hauling and still meet you at the gate for scratches is MIND. BLOWING. If you haven’t done so lately. Thank your horse. If you’re successful, thank the horses that put you there and made you. Thank the horses that gave everything they had for you simply because you ASKED them to. If you’re still on the journey to success, thank the horses that made you fall in love with your sport and who have helped give you the confidence to want to learn more and be better. We can never stop learning as horsemen and horsewomen, and by continuing our education every horse in our future will be better off. Next time you head to the arena leave your ego at the door and thank your horse! -Samantha Roffers

03.01.2022 For those out there who need a reminder of proper warm-up arena etiquette... Here's your guide to navigating this high-traffic zone! --> http://bit.ly/2xi98sD

02.01.2022 Tanja's Tues Tip Foot position in the stirrup. Have you been told to keep your toes straight?... Do you find that when you do so, it hurts the outside of your ankle? Lets have a look at it. When you keep your toes straight, not only do you block your hips and close your thighs (we will talk about that some other time) but you also roll your ankle in the process. Rolling your ankle can lead to all sorts of issues, plus it will keep your leg unsteady and flapping. So how do you know when your foot is in the right position? You want to feel the entire ball of your foot across the bar of your stirrup. Keeping your toes straight will automatically lead to the inside of your foot lifting upward and all your weight dropping to the outside ball of your foot. To keep the entire ball of your foot on the bar of your stirrup you need to slightly bring your toes outward. You know that your toes have come out too much, when you feel more weight shifting to the inside of the ball of your foot, and the outside lifting up. So, whenever the entire ball of your foot is across the entire bar of the stirrup you are in the right position. Happy Riding, Tanja xx

02.01.2022 Horsing about with Hyacinth.

02.01.2022 Am I a good rider? She asked, pensively, sat upon her 14.2 cob, covered in poo stains that she couldnt quite get out before her lesson, that she had persuade...d her mum to buy a year ago for just 400. (It wasnt wanted anymore) Why do you ask that? Her instructor replied, for she knew how this young girl felt, her eyes often lingered somewhere inbetween her horses ears or the other side of the school when teaching. Because I want to be one Her instructor pondered on this for a good few minutes, whilst reassuring the nervous cob in front, and then said, A good rider is not someone who buys flashy horses and competes every Saturday and makes it to the top within a year. A good rider is not who jumps the highest jumps or owns the fastest horse. A good rider isnt made just because theyve been riding since they were 3. A good rider is not someone who can move their forward horse forward... no A good rider is that pony clubber you see fall off every time she gets on something new, yet still gets back on with a smile on her face, A good rider is that girl who cries in the tack room because of how her horse behaved and how hard its been to cope watching everyone else be successful, but to her it seems like she is the only one failing, yet still rewards her horse with a treat and a smile because at least he was better than last time, A good rider is the boy with the angel horse, yet doesnt claim any of its successes for himself It was all him, he would say, I just sat to it A good rider listens A good rider is soft A good rider makes sure the horse is always happy, As a matter of fact, a good rider often has nothing to do with the riding, If you love it, and you try, and you try again, even when you fall off and it was your fault, even when people point because your seat isnt quite as deep as theyd prefer, if you never give up, Thats what makes a good rider Written by Daisy Henderson Instagram: @up-to-mischief

01.01.2022 Liliana Jaimes has been one of our longest standing riders . We’ve had the pleasure of seeing her grow up since we met her in 2010 when she was 18 months old & her mum Was enjoying lessons . She has pursued her equine journey with dedication , passion & kindness So after a spell from riding we were thrilled to have her return & she is back learning new skills & making new friends . Her help on weekends & at our recent holiday riding camps has been invaluable ! ... Thanks for being part of our CEC family Liliana

01.01.2022 For the second time in a fortnight this week, our gastroscopy service at EVDS has proved that not every horse with symptoms of gastric ulcers should simply be ...treated without evidence through scoping. This horse an 8 yo stock horse gelding , had a dull rough coat, 9 ribs showing , would seem hungry but then stand for 5 hours without eating grass. He also didnt want to eat his carrots and was girthy. The option to just treat him properly for gastric ulcers was considered and would cost upwards of $600 for 4-8 weeks of treatment. But the better option of scoping him was chosen and revealed that he did not have ANY ulcers - in the pylorus or non glandular stomach - but he had a gastric impaction ! Gastric impaction is diagnosed as a hard ball of feed that should have passed after a suitable period of fasting. This horse had the standard pre-scoping protocol of fasting for 18 hrs and no water for 6 hrs. His stomach should have been close to empty! Gastric impactions can last weeks to months and cause symptoms similar to stomach ulcers. Causative factors include gulping/rushing of feed, feeds that swell, teeth problems, and stalky hay/straw being fed. This horse had 3 of those factors, plus was only been fed once daily in a paddock with little grass. Treatment of these involves administering large volumes of diet coke and water , over several hours to days, and rescoping until the hard ball has dissolved and passed. This horse received 4.75 ltrs of diet coke over 3 tubings and 4 hours and that did the trick. He was scoped again yesterday to check his pylorus and non glandular stomach and all was good. No impaction. The reason diet coke works is that is has a pH of 2.6 from the phosphoric and carbonic acid, so the acid, along with the bubbles, help to penetrate and break up the cellulose fibre impaction. Regular coke has far too much sugar and could cause the horse to get laminitis. There were NO ill effects from the diet coke or the scoping and fasting procedure. Even within a week, this horses coat, body condition and energy levels have improved a lot. He has continued to gain weight and be very healthy in the 3 wks following the treatment. If you have found this post interesting and would like to see more like it, PLEASE LIKE our Facebook Page.