Horse and Man

I’d love for you to watch this amazing video of this French man and his horses. All of this is at liberty. All of it is very amazing.

Click on image to watch the video

Did you watch it? Cool, huh? Don’t you wish that you could have that kind of a relationship with your horse(s)?  I know I do.

This is my topic for today… If you wish it, you can probably find it.  You just gotta make it happen.

BUT I DON’T HAVE THE TIME.

I totally hear you.  I understand.  But, I don’t agree and here’s why…

Most of us think that the only good part or fun part about the horse is riding.  And, here is where I think we miss out.  This is like spending time with your friends only during a meal or only in class or only at a party — as if all other activities have no other information to provide us.

Hmmm.

It just isn’t that cut and dry.  Horses are not one-dimensional animals.  They are robust, just like we are and just like our dogs or cats.  Do you only relate to your dog when he is on a leash?  Or to your cat only when he is kneading your legs?  Probably not.  You see, horses have much to say and much to give.  But what they have to say and give is kinda hard to pick up when you are only on their backs or getting them ready for you to be on their backs…

Am I making any sense?

You do have time to relate to your horse in another way other than riding.  How?  Well, if you absolutely only have enough time to ride every so often, then don’t ride every time you go see your horse.  Do something else with your horse…  I guarantee your next ride will be better.

BACK TO THE VIDEO

OK, you are all probably a little peeved with me right now.  So let me explain.  I’m on your side.  I know how hard it is to spend quality time with your horse, especially if you board them.  I can relate.  I have that trouble and all mine live right here!  What I’m saying is that the bond that this man has with his horses is obtainable for you and your horse.  You just have to figure out a way to make the time to explore this.  Because, truth to tell, the horse wants to buddy-up.  If that wasn’t true, they wouldn’t run in herds, they wouldn’t find a friend everywhere they went and for certain, this man in the video could not have “tamed” five unique, 1000 lbs horses to do his bidding.

So, back to the video.  The man in the video is named, Jean-François Pignon.  He is French.  Since 1993, he had been working with his horses.  Out of that begot his show.  Yes, he entertains humans doing live equestrian shows across Europe.  The Show happened after he came up with all of this stuff to do with his horses, if you know what I mean.  Here is a guy whose job is truly what he loves to do.

Now, I’m guessing Jean-Francois has what we not-as-gifted refer to as a “natural gift”.

Could be an excuse, dunno.  But, I’m also sure that he works with his horses often.  I’m pretty sure he makes time in his daily life to hang with his buddies — not just ride them — every day.    I mean, if he only rode his horses, he wouldn’t be able to have them lay all around him on the beach.  He must have done that a few times before…   And, I’m absolutely positive that he knows his horses, inside and out,  very very well.

My personal fav... love this one!

How do you get to know your horses very, very well?  Invest time on the ground doing oddball (to most folks) stuff.  Get to know them like you would get to know a new friend.  Hang together.  Feel each other out.  Learn what makes you both feel serene and what upsets you.  Get into some tough spots together… Be there for each other.  Simply said, you have to let the horse know that you are his leader and his friend.  You’ll protect him so he can relax around you and be himself.  The same thing you do with your human friends…

YOU THINK I’M WHACKED…

Well, I could be whacked.  But, I too, long ago, wished to have a better relationship with my horses.  I didn’t really know how to go about it.  And then my husband left.  I was devastated and I didn’t know what to do with myself.  So, I went to the barn.  A lot.  I stayed with my horses so much that people started talking.  I walked my pregnant mare through the woods, I walked my babies around the ranch, I played with my geldings, I talked to the mares and told them all about it, I groomed them endlessly, I took them to the mailbox, I let them watch as I made shoddy repairs around the place… I did just about everything with them because I was too embarrassed to let everyone know how deeply ruined I was about the divorce.

The more I hung around with my horses, the more happy they were to see me.  The more time we shared, the more they listened to me.  The more time I spent, the more I listened to them — without even realizing it.  Because I was so desperate, I forgot all the other stuff that surrounds a human when they are with horses — fear, dominance, shoulds, gottas….   I was just with them and they were with me.

And, something odd happened…  I had become totally confident around them.  Me, the neophyte horse owner, got a crash course in horse psychology 101 and I didn’t even sign up!  I threw myself into the herd like one throws themselves into a tribe in New Guinea.  If you survive, you’ve learned a lifetimes worth of lessons.  And so, luckily and happily, the demise of my marriage became the phoenix of my horsemanship.

Lo and behold, a few years later when it was time to teach the now grown filly to ride, I had no fear.  I knew her.  She knew me.  We were just going to do something different on that day.  And, I had an epiphany.  My spending fluff time doing anything but riding with my horses made me a much wiser and more confident rider.  To this day, those core horses that lived through my divorce with me are still my most trusted and nurturing horses.

BUT I HAVE NO TIME – Yup, me neither…

Many years later, I have much less time.  I’m like you.  I tell myself that I have no time to hang with my newer horses on a daily basis.  I’m kinda ashamed of myself because I know better.  I back burner the intimacy part.

After watching the video I realized the pit I’ve fallen into.  So, I made a pact with myself.  I told myself that I would do something intimate with at least one of my horses every day.  Ugh.  I’ve said it outloud and now you all have heard me.  Yup.  I’m going to challenge myself to do what I know works and what I also know will be very difficult given my mindset of work/home/hubby/activities first.  Anyway, it doesn’t have to be huge, just personal.  I’ll let you know how it goes.

In the meantime, my thoughts for you who want a relationship with your horse similar to Jean-Fracoise, don’t do what I am doing presently (nothing but riding), do what I did during my divorce.   If you are not close with your horse or don’t have a “bond” or have some fear around your horse — try letting yourself off of the riding hook and relaxing into “being” with your horse..  I’m not saying that you will decide that this horse is the best thing since sliced bread, but you may understand him better and like him more.  And, he might decide he likes you more, too…

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
The August Bucket Fund will benefit the charity BHFER.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate $5,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)

August's Bucket Fund is Beauty's Haven Farm and Equine Rescue. Click here to learn their story and make any size, secure Pay Pal Donation. Easy and it means so much!

ZENYATTA HELPING OTHERS!

First off, I wanted to let you know about the Ebay auction going on right now for Zenyatta’s halter.  You get the halter (which she wore in April and May of 2010), a signed letter of authenticity plus 10 unique photos of her wearing the halter.  Also, the halter is signed by the trainer and warm-up jockey.   The bonus is that all the proceeds go to Southern California TB Rescue.  Cool!

Here is the auction link.  Go for it and help the other TBs out there who aren’t so lucky!

FROM ZENYATTA TO… WELL… NOT ZENYATTA, THE POITOU DONKEY.

Have you heard of this rare and endangered breed of donkey?  You may have seen the photos.  They are really big (14′ – 16′) with strong joints, large feet/legs and really long hair for a donkey.  But, not only is the hair long for a donkey, it is also very soft which leads to dreadlocks if they aren’t groomed.  The coat is black or brown with a grey underbelly, a white nose, white eye rings and no cross on his shoulders. The head is quite large and long, as well as his back, set on a strong neck and low wither.  The ears are often so large that they fall sideways.  Hee.

GENESIS

Poitou Stud

No one really knows how this breed started, but they do know where they were bred.  It was the Poitou region in France, hence the name.   Breeding records go back to 1717.

The idea behind this massive donkey was to create an even better mule through a hybrid cross with the Mulassier horse.  And, they were right because this mule became the mule to have and a phenomenal success for farm work.  This very large and very manageable mule hybrid became very, very  popular.  So popular that records indicate thatt 30,000 of these mules were sold per year!  Wow.

(The sad part is that not

Mulassier Draft Horse

only are the Poitou donkey and the Mulassier horse extremely rare and endangered, but I could only find two photos of this hybrid mule.  And, the name of the mule is in dispute as well.  I think it is Poitevin Mule, but not sure… )

Anyway, this very popular mule was big, strong, easy to manage, hearty, sure-footed and did I say, BIG…  The creation of this mule was quite a boost to the economy of the Poitou area of France.

Unfortunately, like with all previous uses of working equines, the engine came along so subsequently the demand for the Poitevin mule

Poitevin Mule

declined.   And, to add insult to injury, then came a few wars and the French started eating their Poitevin mules, Poitou donkeys and Mulassier horses.  I guess you can figure out what happened.

Yup, in 1977, there were only 44 Poitou Donkeys in existence anywhere.  There were even less Mulassier horses and I’m not sure if there were any of the hybrid mules.

Luckily, some wonderful folks decided to save the Poitou donkey from extinction!  Man taketh away, man giveth back.  And actually, there are now several preservation societies out there.  One of the main goals of the preservation societies is to keep the genetics honest.  So, the French have created two genetic books.  A and B  (simple enough).  The A Livre (means “book” in French, again simple…) has purebred Poitou donkeys and Poitou donkey sires.   The B book is open only to part-bred females who are the offspring of a pure-bred (inscribed Livre A) male and a female of unknown or Livre B status.  Partbred males are not allowed to breed female Poitous of any percentage.

Click on image for Donkey Sanctuary Webcam

So… only the purebred males can breed.  They are really trying to keep the genetics true.

SAVE THE POITOU

Up sprung an agency called SABAUD (Save the Baudet which means save the curls…) with a program designed to save the breed from extinction.    This group was joined by THE DONKEY SANCTUARY in the UK who brought aboard artificial insemination and modern advancements in genetics to help boost the levels or reproduction.

The Donkey Sanctuary group of Poitous are doing quite well.  In fact, you can read all about them and also you can view them on their Poitou webcam.  Cool!  I wish the webcam was closer but maybe they eat right below the camera.  I didn’t watch it for that long…  But, I do think it is really wonderful that we can watch animals that are facing extinction.  Nice.

There is also a private breeder in the UK that had four foals last year!  That is remarkable!  I’ve attached a few photos of the adorable babies.

IN THE UNITED STATES

In the US, there is a breeder in the Northwest.  I’m not sure if they sell any yet, but they are very serious about breeding.  It is called, The Northwest Poitou Donkey Institute.  I contacted them to ask questions about my very shaggy donkey, Norma, and Maryon was very kind.  So, if you wanted to learn more or help with the Institute, you could contact her at this link.

What I found really interesting is that on the East Coast, there is a reproductive agency called, HAMILTON RARE BREED FOUNDATION who has some Poitous for sale!  I’m guessing that since they specialize in artificial insemination, they must have a jenny and they must produce babies.  Anyway, here is their sales link.  They specialize in rare breeds like the Dales Pony, Choctaw Mustang, American Creme Draft (sounds like a light beer…) and the Poiou.

I think it is humorous that they have a Poitou gelding named, Nuisance, for sale…  Geez, not much of a chance of getting adopted with that name, eh?  But, this guy is Livre A which means he is purebred.  However, being a gelding, he cannot reproduce.

REGISTRY

There is a group in the US that helps donkeys in the US get their French registration.  A Poitou Donkey cannot be called a Poitou unless it has its French registration.  So, if you have a Poitou in need of registration, the Franco-American Baudet Breeders Association (FABBA),  in conjunction with the American Donkey and Mule Society (ADMS) is the official breeders liaison between the French Studbook and the American and Canadian breeders of Poitou Donkeys.

HOW MANY NOW?

The official French count is 800.  But, there appear to be maybe around 2000 if you include all those that are not registered.  Several zoos are now housing Poitous including Boston and Philly.

Oh, and the Poitous have a FaceBook page, imagine that…

So, all in all, the almost totally devastated Poitou Donkey is doing much better…  Yay for the good guys!

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!

July’s Bucket Fund will benefit the charity THE GOLDEN CARROT SANCTUARY.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate $5,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)

Today is a good day for Equine Welfare Organizations! (Equine Welfare Organizations” are those organizations who are working hard to make a difference in (at-risk) horses’ lives.  They include rescues, sanctuaries, fosters, adoption centers, etc.)

There’s a new opportunity for all of you!  NATIONAL EQUINE RESOURCE NETWORK.  This is a wonderful program for Equine Welfare Organizations, but it is also wonderful for those individuals who like to participate and support EWOs.  If you are a EWO, read on!  If you like to help EWOs, read on!

NATIONAL EQUINE RESOURCE NETWORK

The wonderful thing about this group is that they are here to help EWOs help themselves as well as come to their aid.  Being an Equine Welfare Organization can be a very stressful endeavor at times… and NERN wants to be there as a support.  The Network is a gathering place for information, grants, educational opportunities, fund raising and emergency aid for Equine Welfare Organizations.  Wow!  Help seems to be on the way~

Now, it doesn’t mean that every EWO can sit back because this group is going to bail them out… it means that resources will be available to assist them.

WHAT THEY DO

NERN has several programs in the works.  For example, they have a Grant Program for 501 (c) 3 equine welfare organizations which NERN calls its “heart and soul”.  The information below is directly from the NERN website:

Grant Programs:

Gelding Fund – With fewer homes available for horses, it is critical that we work to reduce population growth. NERN is helping to reduce the surplus horse population by providing funding for gelding programs.

Euthanasia Fund – Sadly, horses that are suffering are not always granted the mercy of euthanasia. More often than not, it is because of the costs involved. This grant program assists with the cost of euthanizing a horse that has been diagnosed with a chronic or critical injury or illness that is untreatable, will cause the horse to suffer, or where quality of life is significantly diminished.

Hay Fund – This is probably the most basic, and often the most urgent, need for any rescue organization. Our hay fund is designed to assist in areas where drought or other issues have greatly impacted the costs and/or availability of hay, and/or when rescues are facing severe financial hardship.

Emergency Medical Fund – Sometimes the only thing that stands between life and death is the ability to pay for life-saving medical assistance. This grant program helps cover extraordinary, life-saving surgeries or treatments, such as colic, fractures, birthing issues, etc.

Disaster Fund – When disaster strikes, even the most prepared are often left picking up the pieces. NERN offers grant funds to assist in areas hit by natural or man made disaster.

All grant applicants are required to submit a copy of their tax exempt letter, or letter of acknowledgement of 501c3 application, from the IRS to be eligible for a grant. Additionally, grant recipients may need to provide a report to show how the grant funds were utilized.

RESOURCE NETWORK

A key objective of NERN is to fill a critical role of providing resources to new and existing rescues or sanctuaries. Currently many are struggling with high expenses, low donations, and a never-ending supply of horses. We want to help them stabilize their business, and also provide tools so they may become more self sufficient. To that end, we will create and provide a cutting edge resource tool (interactive website) for their use.

Rescues: To facilitate rescues working together, and to help the public find them, we’ll start with a comprehensive list of all public & private rescues & sanctuaries in the country.

Service Providers: Vendors and Service Providers will be listed on the website, by state, under categories, such as: Equine Product Suppliers, Veterinarians, Farriers, Hay Growers/Suppliers, Feed Stores, Rendering Facilities, Trainers, Transporters, etc.

Bulletin Board: To help increase exposure for the animals, rescues will have the ability to post horses available for adoption or sponsorship. They can also bring attention to urgent situations requiring immediate action and/or funding.

Funding Resources: NERN will post grant announcements and other funding opportunities and ideas so that equine rescues can diversify their income sources, and increase their financial sustainability.

Education: Educational materials/courses will be provided to rescues for their staff, volunteers, adopters and local community. Information will range from basic horse care and first aid to classes on becoming disaster responders.

Business Development: This section will provide templates that can be used to create budgets, job descriptions, etc. Additionally, sample adoption, foster and volunteer agreements will be provided.

And that’s not all… There will be sections for volunteer requests & offers, potential foster homes, networking opportunities and more. The Resource Network will be a one-stop resource center to address most if not all of a rescue organization’s needs.

The public (and members) will have FREE access to view information. Additional benefits will be available with membership.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

What I love about this Network is that someone else is doing the work for you.  In other words, if you want to help equines but don’t have a specific organization in mind, NERN can assimilate your donation into the general fund for Equine Welfare Organizations then distribute funds where most needed.  Here is a link to the “what you can do” page on the website.

If you want to help in a general way or if you think one of the above mentioned grants sounds wonderful and you wish to donate, you can privately contribute.

Also, the website lists several means to help without actually spending any money through groups like Good Search and IGive who donate when you use their  Search Engines or make purchases online.

You can also follow NERN on Facebook.

EQUINE WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS PLEASE FILL OUT THIS SURVEY!

NERN needs information!  As an EWO, what are your needs/wants/ideas?  Please fill out the survey!

Individuals can also sign up to receive updates on what NERN is doing and how you can help make a difference for America’s horses.

PLEASE PASS THIS ONWARD TO ANY RESCUE YOU KNOW!

Please pass this info to any Equine Welfare Organization that you know!  It can only help!

Many thanks from HORSE AND MAN and all the needy horses and burros.

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
If you want an update on the Iron Man Rescued Foal Bucket Fund or to donate, please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)