Open House was a Success

We were pleasantly surprised by the turnout yesterday, despite the frosty temperatures. It was wonderful to meet some new faces and catch up with some familiar faces who stopped by to have a coffee with us. I think everyone enjoyed being with the "boys", especially 3 year old Rachael - they really are very charming.
A big thank you to everyone who braved the cold to spend the afternoon with us. I personally can't think of a better way to spend a bitterly cold afternoon, than hanging out in a cozy warm barn with friendly people and friendly horses. This will definitely be a must-do on a regular basis.












Stay warm,
Tovie and Gord

Open House January 24, 2008 1:00 - 4:00

There were several folks who contacted me in 2008 expressing a keen interest in learning about horses. I completely understand how the serious business of life can get in the way of doing fun things, especially when you don't know what the fun is all about. So, we decided to host an Open House next Saturday, January 24th and invite folks to come out and see what the program is all about and meet the horses. Initially, I only invited folks who haven't been out before, but then thought it would be a great opportunity to invite past participants to stop by and say hi to us, and the "boys" of course. Because our sessions are one-on-one, it is easy to form great relationships with our students and I miss them when they move on to the next phase of their adventure (some take riding lessons, others purchase a beloved first horse, and others are satisfied to have learned just for satisfaction of knowing more about what makes horses tick). I have sadly discovered there isn't enough time in a day to keep in touch with each and every student or I would be on the computer all the time instead of out in the barn "Horsing Around".

Hope to meet you or catch up with you next week!
Tovie, Gord and the "Boys"

Horse Breeders & Owners Conference

The Horse Industry Association of Alberta hosted the annual Horse Breeders & Owners Conference in Red Deer last weekend. If you are at all interested in horses, this is a must attend event. The line up of speakers were all leaders in their fields. It was a weekend of education, networking and socializing. The organizers did a fantastic job and I am sure they were pleased with attendance. It was terrific to meet new people, and socialize with friends. For newbies just getting started with horses, it can be a confusing and frustrating world with the variety of opinions and expertise. This conference presented several top DVM's (doctor of veterinary medicine) who shared their latest research findings in various fields from dentistry, hoof care, parasite control, and the effects of strength and flexibility on a horse's bio-mechanics. I have always believed in gathering as much information as possible and forming my own opinions with regard to the care of our horses.

To learn more about the Horse Industry Association of Alberta and what they offer, click on the title to get to their web-site.

Kind regards,

Happy New Year

We at Just Horsing Around would like to wish all our participants a wonderful 2009 because you sure made our 2008 a very special year.

I made a big change in 2008 by leaving my downtown corporate job to Horse Around full time. Rush hour has a whole new meaning for me now and instead of making me cranky, it makes me smile. Getting cut off means our big old German Shepherd, Shilo is playing and jumping in front of me on the way to the barn or feed shed. Getting stuck in traffic means there is a horse in front of me that won't move out of my way. Merging is awesome because it means my horse and I are connecting beautifully, and I always get the best parking spot when my horse parks at the mounting block for me to get on his back.

The day after I left my job, I was offered my first training opportunity. Honey is a lovely 3 year old mare who had had some mishandling episodes previously and was quite mistrustful. Honey is the youngest horse I have worked with and now that I have earned her trust, she is turning out to be a very willing partner and a joy to work with.

What many folks starting out with horses don't realize, is that every time we handle a horse, we are teaching it; good or bad. By improving our handling skills and confidence, we can create more good than bad. This improves our relationship with any horse we are lucky enough to encounter.

Have fun and be safe Horsing Around in 2009,
Tovie, Gord, and the "Boys"