Re: Man From Snowy River

[Guest guest]

G'day ,

I guess I did know about Man From Snowy River winning an Academy Award

at the time but like so many things these days it seems to have slipped

my mind while I concentrate on more important things - like remaining

vertical whilst trying to walk!! :-)

Nice to meet another rider - I used to ride until PLS put an end to that

and also meant we had to sell the 10 acres we lived on and kept our

horses on. That is one outcome of my PLS which has come to haunt us now

as our younger (16) daughter competes very seriously at eventing

(dressage, cross-country and showjumping) on her two thoroughbreds.

Since we had to sell up years ago my wife has spent hours most evenings

and weekends driving to where we now agist them so that she can

work them (driving age here is 18). Very tiring for my wife on top of a

demanding job and all the things she has to do because I can no longer

do them. :-(

A western saddle is something I have never ridden in but I have ridden

in Australian stock saddles quite a few times. However, for comfort I

prefer a good English style saddle. No great lumps and bumps to catch

things on...........

Crikey! (to quote a well known Aussie these days!) You sure are brave

wanting to see Great Whites up close and personal! I sure hope that you

do get to do it one day - just don't worry about inviting me! :-)

Cheers,

wrote:

> here, gotta speak up. In fact, " Man From Snowy River " won the

> academy award for best foreign film. I being a rider myself actually

> bought an Australian saddle! I must say they are MUCH more comfortable

> for a serious day's ride than what us Yanks have to offer!

>

> saw the movie with me once. I rented it an FORCED him to watch

> it. By the time it was over he had made up his mind that one day he

> wanted to go there. Sigh...if wishes were fishes, as they say.

> I myself wanted to see Great Whites up close and personal. Even got

> diving certification to do it. But it seems that they are becoming a

> bit disturbed in their behavior now due to so much disturbance, and

> since they are most likely about as critically endangered as it gets,

> I decided I'd better not. Then that documentary on the breaching

> sharks came out and I flipped my lid! Apparently, that population

> doesn't give a tiff how many boats are around watching them. Oh boy

> would I love to go to your neck of the woods!

>

> Peace and may all be auspicious,

>

>

> Ohm Ma Ni Pad Me Hum

> " May all beings have freedom from suffering and the causes of suffering

--

.

,-._|\ Covington

/ Oz \

\_,--.x/

v

[Guest guest]

>>Nice to meet another rider - I used to ride until PLS put an end to that

There is a new wave in therapy, both physical and emotional, called Equine

therapy. Dunno if it's caught on in your little island, but do a web search. We

have an organization here that I was a horse handler for that used horses to

work with people of all ages with all sorts of infirmities. The motto was that

we don't care what your physical ailment is, you ARE going to get on this horse

if we have to hold you on! And they aren't kidding. Lots of kids with CP are

riding daily. There are special devices that allow you to sit up straight in a

saddle. And if you are beyond that, they lay you across the horse's back. It's

great to stretch out the spine that way. And you get the added benefit of the

smell of horse up close again (only a fellow horseman would understand that)! If

you can't find anyone in your country, get your butt on a plane and come stay

with me for a week or two. I will get you on a horse! I no longer volunteer

there on a regular basis because so much has been going on that they can't count

on me for a sure schedule. And since I'm the most experienced handler they had,

it wasn't fair to them. They'd have to cancel classes if I didn't show up. At

least this way they can schedule only when the more experienced handlers are

guaranteed to show.

I never officially competed, though my horse could have had a blanket made out

of her ribbons. She was a mutt, and yet she was taking three day eventing

ribbons from 17 hand high Traekaners and Thoroughbeds and Dutch Warmbloods like

they were shetland ponies! And she was only 15.2! What a doozy, my Pepper. She

passed several years ago. I still miss her smell.

My favorite thing to do was to do our cross country course bareback. My mom

would refuse to watch. But BOY was it fun! I had one hell of a seat, that's for

sure. Once rode a horse through a bucking fit bareback too. I thought I was

invincible (and I have the scars to prove it! LOL)

Dressage was so difficult for me, but it was a lot of fun once I " got it. " I

just took lessens though. Pepper was the star.

A western saddle is something I have never ridden in but I have ridden in

Australian stock saddles quite a few times. However, for comfort I prefer a

good English style saddle. No great lumps and bumps to catch things

on...........

I wore the English for short outings and lessens, but for a 12 hour day in the

saddle there is NOTHING that compares to your stock saddles. Absolutely the best

things in the world.

>>Crikey! (to quote a well known Aussie these days!) You sure are brave

wanting to see Great Whites up close and personal! I sure hope that you do get

to do it one day - just don't worry about inviting me! :-)

Not brave, just in love with the awesome power of those gorgeous fishes. Sharks

amaze me. And the GW, he's the king of the waters. I once dreamed of becoming a

marine biologist to study them. But since I knew I was going to have to stay in

the states, I went for Wildlife Biology instead. Of course, now I'm a Pharmacy

Technician. Living proof life is not what you think it's going to be when you

are 20.

Peace and may all be auspicious,

Ohm Ma Ni Pad Me Hum

" May all beings have freedom from suffering and the causes of suffering "

[Guest guest]

CLAIRE,

SURE SOUNDS GOOD TO SEE YOU FEELING BETTER. YOU FIND A WAY BACK TO YOUR HORSES.

I TOLD YOU I HAD BEEN A RECREATIONAL THERAPIST. WELL WE USE TO HAVE A HIPPO

THERAPY GROUP. (HORSE RIDING) THAT WAS UNTIL THE INSURANCE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT

THEN THE WANTED TO RAISE THE RATES SO HIGH THAT THE FACILITY HAD TO GIVE IT UP.

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE STRIDE OF A HORSE IS VERY CLOSE TO THAT OF A HUMAN AND

THAT IT WORKS THE MUSCLES AS IF YOU ARE WALKING.

THAT IS WHAT I WAS TOLD BUT I WASN'T ONE WORKING WITH THAT GROUP.

I HAVE BEEN ON A HORSE ONLY ONE TIME IN MY LIFE AND YOU KNOW IT IS A FEELING

THAT YOU NEVER FORGET.

TAKE CARE

LOVE

BONNIE

[Guest guest]

CLAIRE,

SURE SOUNDS GOOD TO SEE YOU FEELING BETTER. YOU FIND A WAY BACK TO YOUR HORSES.

I TOLD YOU I HAD BEEN A RECREATIONAL THERAPIST. WELL WE USE TO HAVE A HIPPO

THERAPY GROUP. (HORSE RIDING) THAT WAS UNTIL THE INSURANCE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT

THEN THE WANTED TO RAISE THE RATES SO HIGH THAT THE FACILITY HAD TO GIVE IT UP.

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE STRIDE OF A HORSE IS VERY CLOSE TO THAT OF A HUMAN AND

THAT IT WORKS THE MUSCLES AS IF YOU ARE WALKING.

THAT IS WHAT I WAS TOLD BUT I WASN'T ONE WORKING WITH THAT GROUP.

I HAVE BEEN ON A HORSE ONLY ONE TIME IN MY LIFE AND YOU KNOW IT IS A FEELING

THAT YOU NEVER FORGET.

TAKE CARE

LOVE

BONNIE

[Guest guest]

>>DID YOU KNOW THAT THE STRIDE OF A HORSE IS VERY CLOSE TO THAT OF A HUMAN AND

THAT IT WORKS THE MUSCLES AS IF YOU ARE WALKING.

That is absolutely true. It works wonders for kids in wheelchairs to finally get

to be taller than everyone and let their body feel what it is really like to be

walking. We had one girl who had never spoken a word in her life (she was 9) and

then one day she just started talking to her horse out of the blue. Horses do

perform miracles every day. I strongly recommend anyone with PLS/ALS and an

interest in horses find out if there is Equine therapy in your areas.

I emailed STAR today and asked them if I could go in after closing and just

spend some time with one of my favorite horses. He's a 27 hand high Trakeaner (I

love a big horse). I told them I needed to cry on a horse's shoulder. Only a

horse person would understand that. But I told them I just needed a few minutes

to smell him and stroke him and groom him and that it would do me a world of

good. I'm just so weepy right now. I am crying at the drop of a hat. I'm

tranqued up every night because I'm afraid to go to sleep. My therapist really

wants me to admit myself for a few days to a psyche ward, but I just can't leave

. I can't bear it. I can't bear the idea of being away from him. I'm

pathetic, I know. But maybe a little impromtu Equine therapy of my own devising

will help.

If ever you need to feel a sense of real comfort and " natural healing, " put your

nose under a horse's mane and just inhale. That's the scent of life itself. I

sound sappy, and I am when it comes to these creatures.

>>I HAVE BEEN ON A HORSE ONLY ONE TIME IN MY LIFE AND YOU KNOW IT IS A FEELING

THAT YOU NEVER FORGET.

It's the most wonderful feeling in the world. When I was a trail guide I rode

bareback all day. We are talking ten hours on horseback with no saddle. I was in

hog heaven. My jeans were a mess with horse sweat of course, but I could care

less. In the winter I would ride bareback just to feel her warm fuzzy coat

against my skin. I have to stop now, I'm getting all emotional about it again!

Peace and may all be auspicious,

Ohm Ma Ni Pad Me Hum

" May all beings have freedom from suffering and the causes of suffering "

[Guest guest]

>>DID YOU KNOW THAT THE STRIDE OF A HORSE IS VERY CLOSE TO THAT OF A HUMAN AND

THAT IT WORKS THE MUSCLES AS IF YOU ARE WALKING.

That is absolutely true. It works wonders for kids in wheelchairs to finally get

to be taller than everyone and let their body feel what it is really like to be

walking. We had one girl who had never spoken a word in her life (she was 9) and

then one day she just started talking to her horse out of the blue. Horses do

perform miracles every day. I strongly recommend anyone with PLS/ALS and an

interest in horses find out if there is Equine therapy in your areas.

I emailed STAR today and asked them if I could go in after closing and just

spend some time with one of my favorite horses. He's a 27 hand high Trakeaner (I

love a big horse). I told them I needed to cry on a horse's shoulder. Only a

horse person would understand that. But I told them I just needed a few minutes

to smell him and stroke him and groom him and that it would do me a world of

good. I'm just so weepy right now. I am crying at the drop of a hat. I'm

tranqued up every night because I'm afraid to go to sleep. My therapist really

wants me to admit myself for a few days to a psyche ward, but I just can't leave

. I can't bear it. I can't bear the idea of being away from him. I'm

pathetic, I know. But maybe a little impromtu Equine therapy of my own devising

will help.

If ever you need to feel a sense of real comfort and " natural healing, " put your

nose under a horse's mane and just inhale. That's the scent of life itself. I

sound sappy, and I am when it comes to these creatures.

>>I HAVE BEEN ON A HORSE ONLY ONE TIME IN MY LIFE AND YOU KNOW IT IS A FEELING

THAT YOU NEVER FORGET.

It's the most wonderful feeling in the world. When I was a trail guide I rode

bareback all day. We are talking ten hours on horseback with no saddle. I was in

hog heaven. My jeans were a mess with horse sweat of course, but I could care

less. In the winter I would ride bareback just to feel her warm fuzzy coat

against my skin. I have to stop now, I'm getting all emotional about it again!

Peace and may all be auspicious,

Ohm Ma Ni Pad Me Hum

" May all beings have freedom from suffering and the causes of suffering "

[Guest guest]

HAHAHAHA!!! 27 hands high!!!! Yeah, and I used to prune the tops of my cherry

trees with him. HA! Obviously my typo...I meant 17 of course. That's too funny.

QH's rule. SOOOO smart. I used to work with a herd of 20 of the little buggers.

I love them. Such gorgeous lines. And then of course I love the Thoroughbred for

the same reason. The confirmation so different, but so unique to the breed. My

all time favorite though is the Fresian. Proof that I have the most expensive

taste in the world!

I haven't heard back from STAR yet, but I think they are between sessions and

closed for the holidays. But I'm sure I'll hear from them as soon as the

holidays are over. It will feel good to be around horseflesh again, even if it's

only borrowed!

Peace and may all be auspicious,

Ohm Ma Ni Pad Me Hum

" May all beings have freedom from suffering and the causes of suffering "

[Guest guest]

HAHAHAHA!!! 27 hands high!!!! Yeah, and I used to prune the tops of my cherry

trees with him. HA! Obviously my typo...I meant 17 of course. That's too funny.

QH's rule. SOOOO smart. I used to work with a herd of 20 of the little buggers.

I love them. Such gorgeous lines. And then of course I love the Thoroughbred for

the same reason. The confirmation so different, but so unique to the breed. My

all time favorite though is the Fresian. Proof that I have the most expensive

taste in the world!

I haven't heard back from STAR yet, but I think they are between sessions and

closed for the holidays. But I'm sure I'll hear from them as soon as the

holidays are over. It will feel good to be around horseflesh again, even if it's

only borrowed!

Peace and may all be auspicious,

Ohm Ma Ni Pad Me Hum

" May all beings have freedom from suffering and the causes of suffering "

[Guest guest]

HAHAHAHA!!! 27 hands high!!!! Yeah, and I used to prune the tops of my cherry

trees with him. HA! Obviously my typo...I meant 17 of course. That's too funny.

QH's rule. SOOOO smart. I used to work with a herd of 20 of the little buggers.

I love them. Such gorgeous lines. And then of course I love the Thoroughbred for

the same reason. The confirmation so different, but so unique to the breed. My

all time favorite though is the Fresian. Proof that I have the most expensive

taste in the world!

I haven't heard back from STAR yet, but I think they are between sessions and

closed for the holidays. But I'm sure I'll hear from them as soon as the

holidays are over. It will feel good to be around horseflesh again, even if it's

only borrowed!

Peace and may all be auspicious,

Ohm Ma Ni Pad Me Hum

" May all beings have freedom from suffering and the causes of suffering "