by Madelaina, age 14

Hi girls! Start tacking up for the Summer of Horse Dreams Round-Up by taking on one last challenge!

As you all may be aware of, the American wild horses are currently being driven off of their land and rounded up in holding facilities. For this last challenge, we want YOU to connect with the mustang world and take a stand. To complete this challenge, you must do one or both of the following:

1. Hold a fundraiser for a horse rescue organisation or sanctuary (this will benefit all horses in need, not just mustangs).
2. Write a letter to the government about saving the wild horses.

HOLDING A FUNDRAISER

Earn money or even ask local businesses to donate supplies for a rescue organisation or sanctuary of your choice. Try your best to support a local organisation, but if there isn’t one nearby, a noteworthy cause that Terri Farley recommends is the Wild Horse Sanctuary. You can do anything from washing cars and babysitting to getting people to donate halters and feed.

To show you completed this task, write up a recount (what it is that you have done, how much money you raised, how long the fundraising went for, etc.) and submit it here during the Summer of Horse Dreams Round-Up beginning September 11th, 2010.

WRITING A LETTER

Contacting the government is one of the best ways to help the mustangs. We encourage you to be creative and original. Include in your letter writing, poetry, artwork, photographs and/or an informative article on a wild horse topic (e.g. someone who stands up for wild horses or a mustang organisation).Use your talent to show the government how much you care.

We suggest doing this challenge as part of Madeleine Pickens’ Pony Express. The aim here is for 20,000 letters to be mailed to Madeleine by September 1, 2010, which she would personally deliver to Washington DC. Ms. Pickens is very happy to have participation from Girls Horse Club!

Simply mail your letter to this address:

Madeleine’s Pony Express
2683 Via De La Valle, G 313
Del Mar, CA 92014

To show you completed this task, submit your letter (or a summary of the points you made) along with anything else you included such as poetry and artwork to Girls Horse Club during the Summer of Horse Dreams Round-Up beginning September 11th, 2010.

TIPS:

1. Do some research so you can teach others, answer any questions thrown at you and/or let people know you’re serious about your cause.
2. The Madeleine Pickens website and Terri Farley’s blog are great places to read up on what’s happening.
3. Check out some of the March for Wild Horses submissions for inspiration.

The Summer of Horse Dreams Round-Up will begin Saturday September 11th.  Details will be posted before the event, but in general submissions will open for:

• Non-fiction stories or poetry about your horse adventures over the summer. Fiction submissions will not be open during the round-up — the Summer of Horse Dreams is about experiencing the real horse world!
• Artwork, photography or photo illustrations created for one of the challenges, or as an expression of what you accomplished during your Summer of Horse Dreams.

We look forward to hearing about your Summer of Horse Dreams. In the meantime, we hope you’ll step up to this final challenge.

More to read...

• Challenge One: Vision Board
• Are You Up for a Challenge?
• Wild Mustangs: The Words in Their Eyes

My first real riding instruction was given to me by my good friend Ms. Grant. She has been my inspiration to English riding and to the world of dressage. I enjoy her lessons and learning from her. She will never know how much her instruction means to me. I prepared a short interview with her and I would like to share her answers with you all.

1. How many years have you been riding and when/how did you first get into the equine business?

I got my first horse, Ginger, in 1990, so that is about 20 years. A friend I worked with at the time had horses and invited me to the stable to ride. That got me started. I found a horse to lease (Ginger) for a year then purchased her.

2.What breeds of horses do you own, and which breed is your favorite?

Argonne: Mare 22 years, 16 hands, bay Thoroughbred

Henry: Gelding 15 years, 17.2 hands, chestnut Thoroughbred

Isabella (Izzy): Mare 15 years old, 15.2 hands, grey Andalusian x Thoroughbred

I love all my horses, but I do love the Andalusian breed. They are very bold and majestic looking.

3.What is your opinion on horse slaughter and wild horse roundups across different states?

I despise horse slaughter; makes my stomach churn. And I oppose the wild horse roundups. The government could spend the money and make a wild horse reserve and take actions to either sterilize the stallions (or mares) to control the population. I cannot tolerate animal abuse.

4.Have you ever had any serious accidents? What were they and what safety advice would you give young riders?

I have had two very serious accidents.

(1) In 2001 I was trotting Henry in the arena. I was looking directly at the mounting stool so that is where Henry headed. All I remember is his front going over the stool and I wondered what will happen if he hits it with his hind legs. Well, I woke up on the ground with the breath knocked out of me and my dogs licking me. I ended up with a nearly ruptured (hematoma) spleen. If it had ruptured, I could have bled to death. Spent the night in the hospital until the doctor was certain the hematoma was going down. Before I rode again, I purchased a protective vest that jumpers use. And I always wear a helmet.

(2) In 2008 again I was riding Henry. We were by the road in front of my house; a car was coming and I knew it was going to scare Henry (talked myself into it). I got him in the grass so it wouldn’t hurt so bad when I hit the ground. I hit the ground and if that was all that happened I would have been ok, except again had the wind knocked out of me. But, I looked behind me to see if Henry was ok and I see his big leg getting ready to kick. I tried to crawl out of the way but not in time. His foot hit my lower back and I was flung forward and ended up in a limp pile. This time I broke four ribs and that is extremely painful. The paramedics said the protective vest I was wearing saved my life. My helmet was cracked and is now hanging in the stable as a reminder.

(3) Safety advice:

a. ALWAYS WEAR AN APPROVED RIDING HELMET.

b. Don’t ride alone, accidents can happen when least expected.

c. If you are alone, make sure someone knows where you are, where you are going and when you will return.

d. Carry a cell phone just in case help is needed. When I fell off Henry I was able to use my cell to call a neighbor for help.

e. If you are new to horses, take lessons from an experienced horse person. You will learn valuable information that will keep you and your horse safe and happy.

f. Love your friend, but remember he/she is a lot bigger than you, always keep safety in mind.

5.What is your favorite discipline?

I like to ride English but also love carriage driving.

Even after summer is over, I hope y’all still ride and care for horses even when school starts again; I know I will!

All the very best,

HorseFeathers

EDITOR’S NOTE: As part of our 2010 Summer of Horse Dreams, GHCers were presented with a series of challenges designed to expand their knowledge of the real horse world and take steps to realize their horse dreams. Challege Two: Be the Journalist, invited GHCers to interview someone with knowledge of the horse world while remaining objective, like a journalist, even if they didn’t agree with the opinions expressed by the interviewee. Congrats to all who stepped up to take on the challenge!

My interviewee is my riding teacher, Olana. Her family is trying to re-create the Spanish Iberian Barb on their horse/cattle ranch. In addition to instructing people how to ride, she has trained her own horses, and has been riding ever since she was able to walk.

1. What is your opinion on the Mustang population?

My opinion is that it’s too large and overpopulated and that they should be reduced in number whether that means humanely killing them, or slaughtering them would be better, and use their feed for a resource, put it to good use. Or, at least, gelding the stallions and not letting them grow in number. They definitely should not be allowed any more land to live on because it’s a waste of good land that could be used for cattle, therefore contributing to our economy, but as they are, they don’t contribute to anything.

2. What is your view about using whips on racehorses, or any horse?

My view is that using a whip is a good and necessary discipline, if only used for a discipline tool, and whether it’s a racehorse or any other horse, they have a job to do and it takes discipline sometimes to do that job. A whip should never be used in a mean way, but it’s very helpful to help the horse to understand what their job is and what they need to do, and if winning and running as fast as they can is something that is part of their job, it’s a good tool.

3. When riding a horse, which style, Western or English, do you think is more comfortable for the horse?

I think that either one can be just as comfortable as the other, as long as you have a saddle that fits the horse and is comfortable for the horse, and as long as you can ride in a manner that is comfortable for the horse. The type of riding can be just a harsh as a saddle, depending on the rider. Or, it could be gentle or natural for the horse if the rider is riding correctly and is understanding the horse and it’s balance. Either one can be just as good as the other as long as the rider is a good rider.

4. Do you believe in “Horse Whispering”?

It all depends on the person. The horse will respond correctly and in a positive manner if the person is handling the horse correctly and communicating with the horse efficiently and clearly so the horse doesn’t get confused, and if the person can understand to read the signs the horse is giving them. But if the person doesn’t understand horsemanship or how to do it, it will just confuse the horse and make them unresponsive.

5. What type of horse do you think would be best for all-around riding?

I think it could definitely depend on the temperament of the person choosing the horse. I would say either a warm-blooded, which would probably be best, but some people prefer Arabs as an all around type horse because they like their more energetic disposition and their keenness. For most people, though, they are just too much of a handful and too exuberant. The same with any other hot-blooded horse, but for some people those can be really fun, but then for other people they’re too much horse and it would be better to go with a more laid back breed of horse.

EDITOR’S NOTE: As part of our 2010 Summer of Horse Dreams, GHCers were presented with a series of challenges designed to expand their knowledge of the real horse world and take steps to realize their horse dreams. Challege Two: Be the Journalist, invited GHCers to interview someone with knowledge of the horse world while remaining objective, like a journalist, even if they didn’t agree with the opinions expressed by the interviewee. Congrats to all who stepped up to take on the challenge!

More to read...

• Interviewing Russ About Cow Horses
• INTERACTIVE VIEW: TJ Holmes

Hello! We’re interviewing Russ. He was a saddle bronc rider who has worked in feedlots and cow calf operations, trained cow horses, and is now breeding top quality quarter horses.

1. How old were you when you started working with cow horses?

About eighteen. I rode horses before then, but not cow horses.

2. What are some of the things that cow horses have to do?

Roping, cutting, herding and knowledge about cows is important with cow horses.

3. How do you train a cow horse?

I think feedlot experience is essential.

4. What is one of the most interesting experiences with cow horses?

Trail drives because anything can happen.

5. What is an interesting story that you have about working with cow horses?

Well, I got a lot of them, but one time I was moving a bunch of steers, and when the steers went on into the lane between two fences me and another guy were needed, so we cut ahead of them and were waiting for when the steers got to the end of the lane so we could take charge. We were on a sand bank talking about nothing when the sand bank collapsed and we slid about 20 feet. I ended up on my horse’s neck and the other guy was on the side of his horse hanging on. The sand was up to the horses’ knees and they were looking around all bug-eyed, like we were. We were all fine, and other than that we got the steers to the pasture just fine.

Hope you all have enjoyed this interview with Russ – saddle bronc rider, horse trainer, horse breeder and all-around cowboy.

EDITOR’S NOTE: As part of our 2010 Summer of Horse Dreams, GHCers were presented with a series of challenges designed to expand their knowledge of the real horse world and take steps to realize their horse dreams. Challege Two: Be the Journalist, invited GHCers to interview someone with knowledge of the horse world while remaining objective, like a journalist, even if they didn’t agree with the opinions expressed by the interviewee. Congrats to all who stepped up to take on the challenge!

More to read...

• Dream!

Submissions are closed for Challenge Two. Check back soon to read interviews from HorseFeathers, catscowgirl and Martha Lee Halstead. Congratulations on stepping up to take on the challenge!

Hello again everyone! Can I get a drum roll before introducing your next challenge?

For this challenge, you’ll need to be curious, be smart, be creative and be you! We’re asking you to interview someone related to the horse world and write up an interview. It actually isn’t as easy as it sounds, because this time we’re challenging you to take a journalistic approach — focusing on fact rather than opinion. Here are some guidelines:

1. Only one interview per person. The interview should be no more than 5 questions. As always, focus on quality over quantity.
2. These questions should not be yes or no questions. Make them thought provoking, insightful and different. Think of something that will interest you and your readers.
3. Questions can be about anything horse related – riding, horse slaughter, tack, training techniques, rescue organizations, and horses in general. Again, be creative! The world of horses is HUGE.
4. Your interviewee should NOT be someone who has ever been interviewed at Girls Horse Club. (Yes, Terri Farley fans, that means you must leave our favorite mustang advocate/author alone this time. ;))
5. Interview anyone else, but they must be related to the horse world. This can include a riding instructor, a veterinarian, a farrier, a politician, a trainer, etc.
6. A journalistic approach means you have to leave out your own opinion. Make the focus your interviewee and what they have to say. It’s all about the facts.
7. When submitting your interview, you have one of two formatting options:

a. Simple question and answer format. Example:

Q: How did you get started in the equestrian business?
A: It began when I was only four years old…

b. Or, if you’d prefer to challenge yourself further, attempt writing an article. It’s actually quite difficult turning your facts into an entertaining piece of writing. You may only use facts (no opinions of your own) and quotations. You may paraphrase, but are not allowed to change the words of exact quotes, only remove words. See the links below for some help with that.

It’s a good idea to read interviews and articles in magazines or newspapers to get the hang of everything (you might even learn something new on the way). You can interview your chosen person through email, over the phone, or — better yet — in person. Take this opportunity to learn and feed your curiosity. Don’t be afraid to go out there and talk :)

To complete this challenge, submit your interview to Girls Horse Club no later than SATURDAY AUGUST 7th. So put on those journalist helmets and have fun! ;)

Questions and feedback, as always, are welcome in the comments.

Cheers!

Submissions are closed for Challenge Two. Check back soon to read interviews from HorseFeathers, catscowgirl and Martha Lee Halstead. Congratulations on stepping up to take on the challenge!

More to read...

• Are You Up for a Challenge?
• Challenge One: Vision Board

Vision Board by DianaLUV

Vision Board by LeadMare

NOTE: If you submitted a vision board and don’t see it here, it’s because your image was not uploaded correctly. Please use the email link at the bottom of the page to inquire about resending.

More to read...

• Challenge One: Vision Board
• Int*l Horse: Summer of the White Stallion

SUBMISSIONS ARE CLOSED for Challenge One. Click here to see the vision boards »

For your first Summer of Horse Dreams challenge, you will be designing a poster/vision board that features the following:

1. A horse. Looking through local newspaper ads or online resources, find a horse that is currently for sale or up for adoption. Print out/scan/draw that horse and place it on the center of your board along with the price (and any other captions you want).
2. Everything you need for your horse. Again, by either searching magazines and newspapers or browsing online, locate a local boarding stable, tack, equipment, etc. Cut out or draw on these items with their prices as well and place them on your board however you like.

The idea is to make this as realistic as possible. The horse and its necessities are all real. Technically, if you had the ability and the money to afford them, you would be able to go purchase them tomorrow. By giving your dream of horse ownership a certain degree of tangibility, hopefully you will be motivated to set small goals towards one day achieving it.

However, we also want you to be as creative as you can! Using your artistic skills (or a computer if you’re like me and can’t draw to save your life), try to give your board an aesthetic quality. It can be as plain or as intricate as you’d like, but I challenge you to think outside the box!

Once you’ve finished your poster board, take a picture or scan it in where they will be featured in the gallery for everyone to see your dream horse that isn’t so far from reach after all!

There you have it! Will you opt for a fancy show horse or a green broke pony? Will your horse sport a neon green barrel saddle or a classic dressage saddle? How much does it all cost and how close are you to someday making your vision a reality?

We will find out soon. You have a week from today! Good luck!

Cheers!

SUBMISSIONS ARE CLOSED for Challenge One. Click here to see the vision boards »

More to read...

• Are You Up for a Challenge?

Hey Girls Horse Club! How’s your Summer of Horse Dreams been so far?

Mine has had its ups and downs — but most of all it is filled with a lot of horses. I wish I could give some of my incredibly good fortune to all of you so everyone could ride and work with the animals we all love so much, but unfortunately I can’t do that. I would love for each and every one of you, especially those of you who rarely have horses in their lives, to delve a little deeper into the equestrienne world in an effort to realize your dreams.

In order to help with this, Madelaina and I (with assistance from the lovely LeadMare) will be hosting the first ever Girls Horse Club Weekly Challenges.

Beginning shortly, we will be posting blogs detailing a challenge for the week. We believe these challenges are easily attainable (with creativity and work on your part!), but also give a realistic view of the horse world. They will encourage you to become more knowledgeable, give you a little insight into horse ownership and riding, and will hopefully encourage you to set goals and strive towards your dreams in the long run. For those of you who have the privilege of horses in your life, these challenges should still be, well, a bit challenging and will hopefully inspire you to reach higher and learn more.

Submissions will remain closed aside from the challenges and an occasional blog from Madelaina, LeadMare, or myself — so if you’re inspired this summer, write your heart out in a journal and save it for when/if submissions do open!

I can’t say too much more without giving away the first challenge, but here’s a hint: If you enjoy scrapbooking, you will probably enjoy this one.

Feel free to ask any questions in comments as well as suggest your own challenge ideas! Feedback is always welcome.

Cheers!

Your humble editor,

Julia

More to read...

• Dream!
• Think Your Work is Bad? NO WAY!

Tap-tap. Testing one, two, three. Is this thing on?

Oh, hello GHCers! I hope you’re having a bright, beautiful spring in your little corner of the world. Here in Northern California, the rain persisted through most of the season. While that wasn’t ideal for getting out on the trails, it did keep the grass growing and the wildflowers blooming, and that made the horses happy.

Now here we are on the cusp of summer, and some of you have emailed or posted on the GHC Facebook asking about plans and events. I truly appreciate the continued interest from loyal contributors who keep coming back to share their talent and connect with other girls who are passionate about horses. So I want to let you know what’s unfolding, and what that means for GHC…

Like you, I need to feel inspired and motivated to contribute to GHC, and lately my muse has been nudging me in a different direction—one that gets me out from behind the computer and connected to horses and horse girls in the real world. So, I’ve decided to make it a priority to volunteer at a local therapeutic riding center this summer, and to look for new adventures with horses (and the people who love them).

What does this mean for GHC? It definitely means I won’t be hosting any big events like last year’s fiction competition. Instead, I’d love to hear your horsey plans for the summer, and maybe if enough of us are committed to horse events in the real world, there’s an opportunity to share stories about what we’re doing. If you don’t have any plans but dream of hanging out with horses, maybe now is the time to start making your dreams a reality.

What are your horsey plans and dreams for the summer?

More to read...

• Int*l Horse: Summer of the White Stallion

THANK YOU to everyone who came out to March for Wild Horses. We read dozens of inspired contributions to our blog, and the gallery artwork was stunning. Your collective, creative voice made a powerful statement: We have an unwavering passion for wild horses, and we’re determined to assure they’re protected and preserved for horse girls and boys of the future.

I addition to all the great GHC creations shared throughout the month, we were very lucky to learn about and interact with TJ Holmes, who introduced us to the amazing mustangs of Spring Creek Basin. Thanks to Rochlia for connecting us to TJ, and thanks to TJ for giving us a glimpse into the family of horses she calls her own (yet does not own). I was riveted by the tales of her experience observing and photographing them, but this really hit me…

“What inspires me most about mustangs is at once simple … and amazingly complex – just like the horses themselves. They are hardy. They are fragile. They are wonderfully complex in their social systems and bonds. They are refreshingly simple in their actions and reactions. They are adaptable. They are graceful. They are innocent. They carry the weight of their ancestors’ long history. They are curious and brave and easily frightened. They are bold and fearless and defensive of their families. They live in the harshest environments – to which man has committed them – and they thrive. They are independent. They are dependent (we have fenced them into these herd management areas and it is incumbent upon us that their basic needs of water and forage are met). In a perfect world, they could manage just fine without us (witness those few horses returned to the continent … the millions repopulating the continent … the devastation wrought upon them by generations of “mustangers” …). In many, many instances where they’ve been adopted, their adopters become so enamored of them as to say “I’ll never have but another mustang.” They are stunning. They are so much more.”

~~TJ Holmes

As always, thanks to our behind-the-scenes barn mice. Julia and Madelaina are always here to support the rest of the herd with editing, moderating, and encouragement. Without them, we couldn’t have an event like this. And let’s not forget our technology jockey, Sky, who keeps this virtual barn on a solid foundation and assures the doors are open to welcome old and new friends.

During March for Wild Horses, we saw that Wild Horse Annie’s spirit lives on through today’s horse girls—at GHC and beyond—all committed to mustangs in their own way through writing, activism, film, photography, and so much more. Although the event has come to a halt, it doesn’t end.

Keep hoping, keep taking action, and keep Wild Horse Annie’s legacy marching forward.

Sincerely,

More to read...

• Simplest Joys
• INTERACTIVE VIEW: TJ Holmes