The Equinest archives

Racetrack Starter – Horse Jobs

Perhaps one of the most vital jobs in all of racing, the starting gate crew carries the burden of getting a field full of highly strung young horses into tiny spaces

What You Need

This is a position which benefits from a deep understanding of horse (Thoroughbred in particular) behavior, physical strength/ agility and a love of the sport. This can be a dangerous job and this position may have a higher percentage of track injuries.

This is a great position for someone who wants a lot of hands on time with the animals and has a calm demeanor.

Recognizing Bot Eggs on Your Horses Legs

Bot flies lay their legs in late summer on the legs of animals (especially horses). The eggs make the animals itch, they lick their leg for relief and into their system the bot eggs go.

Their larvae grow in the digestive system of the animal when they are passed through the bowels into their stool. Along the way they strip the animal of nutrients & can cause other damage like ulcers.

First and foremost using fly spray helps to prevent bot flies from even landing. Second, this quick video provides tips for recognizing and removing the eggs once they’ve been laid.

Fresh Flower Faces 2

Flower Face

Image from taratp

Last week we took a look at some faces in unexpected places, flowers. It was so much fun searching for them that I have more to share.

Don’t worry, this isn’t all of them, check of the first part & there are even more to come.
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Andrea Lyle – Natural Horsemanship Author Interview

Name
Andrea Lyle

Website & Places you can find me online
Website: www.kids-naturally.com
Follow Andrea on Twitter: @KidsNaturally
Purchase her book: Me & My Horse

Where I am
I live in beautiful Pagosa Springs, CO

Tell us a little about you, what is your background & where do you come from?
I was born in the midwest and have had a passion for horses ever since I can remember. My sister and I would walk long distances just to stand at fences to pet them when we were little girls. I finally got my first pony at 13 and with the exception of college years, have had them ever since.
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Anglo-Karachai – Breed of the Week

Karachi Region

The Anglo-Karachi is very similar to the Anglo-Kabarda horse that was featured last week. They are the result of a cross between Thoroughbred and Karachi bloodlines, and to be registered a mix must be at least 25% and no more than 75% Thoroughbred blood.
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Horse Breed Books

The Horse Breed Books There is such a diverse variety of shapes, colors & types in the modern horse world and the list of breeds found worldwide is virtually endless.

Here is a great selection of books with info about many of the different horse breeds along with their characteristics, origins, temperaments and lots & lots of pictures. For each book I’ve listed where they can be purchased on Amazon and (where available) a peek inside the book.
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Jennifer Munson – Horse Photographer Interview

Name
Jennifer Munson

Website & places you can find my work online
www.jennifermunson.com

Where I am
Lexington, KY

Tell us a little about you, what is your background & where do you come from?
I grew up in a small town in Massachusetts. I fell in love the moment I saw my first horse. At an early age my parents took me to a local farm for riding lessons. Over the years I have learned to ride western pleasure, dressage, and hunters. I have always loved to ride but have never had my own horse. (Not yet)
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The Horses of Asmus Jakob Carstens

Asmus Jacob Carstens seems to be a bit of a mystery (online anyway) I had trouble finding any information about the artist himself. (& I’m not entirely sure this is the artists name – thanks to a commenter for providing a bit of info about him).

Uniform Art

Although he isn’t well documented in English online, his art is worth a look. He was a Danish portrait artist in Germany who clearly had a thing for men in uniform.

The images below come from the Gmundener Prachtwerk published in 1761 which is a collection of historical uniforms of the Hanover army during the Seven Years War.

Tom Howe – Silversmith Interview

Name
Tom Howe

Website & places you can find my work online
www.tomhowe.ca

Where I am
Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Tell us a little about you, what is your background & where do you come from?
I was born and raised in rual Ontario, just north of the Lake Ontario near Hamilton just west of Tornoto, a place called Carlisle.
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Racetrack Outrider – Horse Jobs

Perhaps one of the most favored & sought after jobs at the track is that of outrider. A mounted position this one offers a great deal of contact with the animals, along with the responsibility that comes along with it.

What You Need

This is a position which benefits from a great deal of track knowledge, superb riding skills and keen senses. Not only are they mounted, but they are responsible for making sure the racehorses make it to the gate safely. Often outriders use their own mounts, allowing them to be comfortable in the saddle and able to turn their attention elsewhere.

A calm demeanor, physical strength and a tireless attitude are all key elements of a successful outrider.

How To Clean Horse Tack

Almost every discipline of riding requires tack of some sort & keeping it in good working order is important.

This video provides a brief look at what you need to strip & clean your tack as well as a step by step explanation for the process.

Remember, checking, cleaning and oiling your leather equipment will prolong it’s life and allows you to check for disrepair.

Fresh Flower Faces

Flower Face

Image from tamaki

The plant world has been fascinating me for weeks and when I ran across one flower face I had to search for more. Luckily there are plenty of photographers who delight in finding a face in unexpected plant sources.

As usual once I started I found enough pictures to crash your browser. So stay tuned because there is plenty more to come!
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