The Equestrian Blog

Horse Hay – What Shortage ?

In a summer of pouring rain and flooding, UK farmers and feed suppliers expressed concerns about the availability of hay in the coming winter.

However, it seems UK hay is in reasonably plentiful supply with no significant increase in local prices and nothing in the equestrian press relating to rip-off suppliers.

No... it seems that heat is far more dangerous than excess rain, when it comes to feed supplies with USA horse owners suffering over the top price hikes due to drought conditions in the Southern States.

A horse rescue agency that operates in North Carolina and two other states has taken in almost double the number of abused and neglected horses it usually accepts each year, and more than half came from North Carolina.

Workers with the U.S. Equine Rescue League largely blame the dramatic price increase for hay, which is in short supply across the drought-parched Southeast. The record dry conditions in North Carolina have wiped out hay crops and affected pasture land that horses would normally graze through November. The nonprofit organization normally takes in about 100 horses each year, but the agency now has 170 horses, including 90 from North Carolina, said Jennifer Malpass, director of the league's Triangle chapter. She said hay prices have doubled in some areas.

The problems aren't confined to North Carolina.

Kathy Grant, an equine cruelty investigator in Tennessee, said a round bale of hay that cost $12 this summer have soared in price, some to $100. The rural roads in her eastern Tennessee community are lined with pastures dotted with emaciated horses, she said.

"A lot of the farmers around here have hay, but they're holding on to it," Grant said. "When they're releasing it, they're charging exorbitant rates. A normal person can't afford it."

In Virginia, the U.S. Equine Rescue League has taken in horses that are dramatically under their ideal weight.

Perhaps in the New Year some Christian spirited farmers will put the animal that America was built on before short term profit.

The cowboy and the horse are symbols of American history and surely Americans will put hay for horses before buns for burgers !!

Is Bart Simpson Addicted to Local Riding ?

Christmas is hardly over but confidential sources in Springfield report that Bart Simpson was written up before the holiday for blogging localriding.com in class.

Punished with the usual detention and 1000 lines of .....

'I must not blog localriding.com in class'.

Bart was asked why he broke school rules by viewing localriding.com in class.

Bart simply replied, ...... “Eat my shorts, man.”

Bart has been voted as the most unlikely boy to own and care for a horse. Lisa Simpson is said to be distraught at the thought Bart is once again muscling in on her starring roles.

A Thought for Christmas

The paradox of our time is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.

We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less.

We have bigger houses but smaller families, more convenience, but less time.

We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts and more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life.

We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to greet a neighbour.

We have conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air and polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait.

We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies but we communicate less and less.

Ours is a time of fast food and slow digestion, of big men with small character, of steep profits and shallow relationships.

These are the days of two incomes and more divorce, of fancy houses and broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that cheer all, calm all and kill all.

It's a time when there's much in the showroom and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology brings this letter to you, and a time when with one click, you choose to share or to hit delete.

So, remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they won't be around forever.

Remember to say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person will soon grow and leave your side.

Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and that won’t cost you a penny.

Remember to say, “I love you” to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all to mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share your precious thoughts. (adapted from a quote by George Carlin)

Wishing everyone, everywhere a thoughtful Happy Christmas xxx

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas, 

From Lincoln Equestrian.

Olympia

What an amazeing Puissance last night.

William Whitaker won on Insultech Leonardo, they were the only ones to clear the 2.16m wall.

You can keep upto date with all the goings on at Olympia here.

Dont miss the FEI world cup qualifying event today at 2.30pm on BBC 1.