.:EQUUS:.

I was at the vet a couple of weeks ago with my housemate and grabbed the clinic’s recent newsletter.  Being located in a country town, Warby Street have a lot to do with horses and an article relating to stem cell treatment for equine tendon injuries caught my eye.

In conjunction with Vet Biotechnology Australia, they are providing this service to equine owners.  Details regarding this type of treatment can be found on the third page of the Warby Street newsletter - http://www.warbyvet.com.au/Newsletters/Winter%20Newsletter%202009.pdf.

Covered also in the newsletter was the news of a new staff member in replacement of one who is leaving to focus on veterinary chiropractic work full time.  Perhaps this new facet of treatment will too in time be an area that could be a vet’s specialty.

Stem cell treatment or regenerative veterinary medicine can be used to aid in the treatment of tendon and ligament injuries as well as joint injuries.

According to the Vet Stem website (http://www.vet-stem.com/equine/), more than 3000 horses have been treated with regards to such injuries.  Take a look at the site to read up more on this type of treatment.

The pioneering of stem cell therapy seems to be possible with scientists ‘curing tendon damage’  through the use of stem cells as it written in the Innovations Report article.

Some things with regards to horses and science are taken for granted these days - such as being able to scan a mare at around 15 days after cover to determine if she is pregnant.  In the grand scheme of things, it wasn’t too long ago that people were getting excited about this possibility.  It’ll be interesting to see how things progress with regards to stem cell treatment and it’s use within the equine industry.

Perhaps it’ll be an area in which currently studying vets or those intending to go down this career path may find themselves branching out in, in the near future.

“What has two ears, four legs, and a frog? - A Horse!”

Tags: stem cell treatment, equine career, regenerative therapy, horse vet.

I was asked the other month by the mother of one of my horse riding friends that if I could do anything work wise, what would it be? We were discussing some difficulties I was having in a particular job and if I had the choice, ignoring financial obligations and location, what would I choose to be doing?

I mentioned my interest in educating others about horses, particularly with regards to the practical and my teaching of horse studies at TAFE. Then I recalled how much fun it had been to teach work experience students while they were carrying out their practical placement where I was working.

Suddenly I found myself telling her that I’d love to be able to advise people with regards to a career in the equine industry. She looked at me, surprised and queried if there was such a job.

This ‘occupation’ had just come to me and consequently, I had no idea if there was the demand for such a position within the equine industry.

When I was studying at TAFE in 2003, we had a worker from Stablemate (now TEP Pty Ltd) come out to chat with the first year students with regards to what we wanted to do once we’d finished our diploma.

Stablemate advertised positions worldwide with regards to horses, be it exercise rider positions, stable or stud hands, yearling preparation, a nanny that can take care of kids and take them to local riding competitions, polo players, showjumpers, etc, etc.

This woman was provided with our resume and then carried out individual interviews, finding out what discipline we would like to work in and in what country.

I was happy to stay within the Thoroughbred industry though loved the idea of learning any facet of horse related work. I told her of my desire to work in the UK, at that time particularly in England.

Apparently a great judge of character and capabilities she told me that she didn’t feel I’d handle the high expectations with regards to horse turnout and stable work of England but that the industry in Ireland was a bit more laid back and perhaps this would be for me.

I took such an opportunity to get offended, concluding I would go to England, do a brilliant job and prove this person I’d met once completely wrong! I know, pride, right?

So now, six years down the track I’ve not been to England, but I have worked in Ireland and did indeed have a ball with these laid back people.

There are general careers counsellor positions and there was such at my high school. My careers teacher strongly encouraged me to stay away from horses – after all, they can’t be a career, can they?

Stubbornness or pride overrode his advice, I’m happy to say as I love what I do and am content to continue working at least part time with horses for the rest of my life.

I don’t think there’d ever be such a position as equine careers counsellor within any given school but as a city kid who wanted to do a ‘country’ job, it’d be wonderful to know that there is someone out there who can advise teens who are considering dropping out of school to pursue horses, or go on to further education with horses.

How wonderful for a parent who knows nothing of these gorgeous animals to be able to set up an appointment to have their teen talked through the best option for them – a certificate II in horse studies as part of high school; an apprenticeship to gain hands on skills or perhaps a TAFE course to give a bit of both. Perhaps the person wanting to get into the industry is looking into a more scientific field and would like to do a bachelor of applied science (equine).

How wonderful as a 20, 30 or 40 year old to be able to get a career path to pursue one’s lifelong dream of working with horses.

Indeed, if possible, it’d be wonderful to accommodate such a role, adding another job to the long list of equine related vocations and advising others of their many, many choices within such an industry.

Tag: horse studies, equine career, career counselling, horse course, horse education

“The horse you get off is not the same as the horse you got on; it is your job as a rider to ensure that as often as possible the change is for the better.”

I spotted a book in this series at church a couple of months back but it wasn’t until I stumbled across another in the Golden Filly Series at an op shop that I bought one (and then promptly got the first book from church!).

The Race by Lauraine Snelling focuses on soon to be sixteen year old Tricia Evanston.  Tricia lives and breathes horses and her dream is to start riding professionally once she turns sixteen.

It looks like this dream is to be realised with a promising young colt that she and her father Hal are training together with the view to Trish being his jockey in the young horse’s maiden race.

Despite things going well, Trish finds her schoolwork falling behind and then her father’s persistent cough is diagnosed as something so much worse, leaving Trish and her brother David to keep the farm running and horses being worked.

Adding to her struggles, a couple of horses come down with a virus and in the midst of her anguish and struggles, the young woman starts to question where God is.

Snelling creates a relatable situation where a young woman is overwhelmed by the usual pressures of a teen - socialising, work, school and fitting it all in - along with tradgedy at home.  The theme of a strong faith and trusting in God are prevalent throughout and something I believe is lacking in a lot of young adult books.

Personally, I’m rapt to have finally stumbled across a series that has mixed my favourite things - my faith and horses.

This book ends on a positive note though not necessarily with everything cleared up with regards to Trish’s father’s condition, leading you to want to get your hands on the next book.

Author: Lauraine Snelling
http://www.laurainesnelling.com/
Fiction - Teens.
In My Library? You betcha!  And I’ll have to keep an eye out for High Hurdles, another horse/Christian/teen series.  A great series for the teen who loves horses, racing and God.

“Thirty-two thousand foals means thirty-two thousand stories, because a Thoroughbred never goes unoticed or undisscused. And most of the stories are the stuff of drama.” - The Race For The Triple Crown by Joe Drape

tag: horse story, equine book review, lauraine snelling, equine author, horse library, horse writing

Check out other book reviews and what is currently in my equine library.

I’m signed up to the Australian Thoroughbred Employee’s Notes on Facebook and a recent note I thought worth a mention on here.

The proposal is a ‘talent identification program’ for track riders.  Gaye Gauci of Racing Victoria Limited and Chris Watson of Glenormiston College have prepared this program with the hope of it being “a real avenue to provide current Victorian pony club level C certificate holders with a full overview of all equine career opportunities they could pursue now or in the future in the Equine Industry.”

What a great idea!  I was very slack and didn’t get up to my C Certificate in Pony Club but if I had have known doing so could have opened doors to possibilities within the equine industry, it would have been drive enough for me to do so with my riding.

“This talent identification program was designed and developed to involve Victorian pony clubs in helping identify talented riders and providing them 3 units of competency from the National Racing Industry Training Package, a 7 day trackwork riding workshop/camp.”

So I’m a little obsessed with any course that is nationally recognised or provides units that can be later marked off for a particular course and this seems a great way for someone to start and see if the equine world is indeed for them.

Application Forms are now available from your local Victorian Zone Representative.
Timelines:
- applications to Club by June 10th
- Zone selection by June 15th
- Induction day & enrolments at Glenormiston on July 7th
- Camp commences September 27th - October 3rd 2009

Selection criteria:
- you must be aged 15 or over,
- be currently registered as a pony club member with PCAV,
- have completed your “C” certificate and
- submitted a completed official application form

“The success of this camp is vital as it could form a program that could be offered in other areas of Victoria at different times throughout the year using the same formula in the future.”

Tags: horse studies, equine career, horse racing, horse course, horse education, pony club

***Know that you want a career with horses but not sure what exactly?  Check out the Vocation 100 page for a growing list of possible vocations with horses and relating posts.***

I’m reading Wild Ride at the moment; having been loaned it by the gentleman who provides agistment for my horse.

The story revolves around Calumet farm in the USA and it’s rise and fall within the racing world and at one point with regards to the mighty Alydar and a broken leg, an ‘orthopedist’ is sought to see to the famous stallion.

I’ve written posts relating to vetting in general but realise that it’s possible to specialise further down the line.  Orthopedics can be defined as “the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention or correction of injuries or disorders of the skeletal system and associated muscles, joints, and ligaments.”

The saying no foot, no horse is as true as it is that if there is an issue with a horse’s leg or skeletal system resulting in lameness, your horse can be out of action which causes the loss of use of that particular animal.

If you’re someone who wants to see where medicine is headed with regards to horse’s feet, lameness, their legs and the care and rehabilitation of, then perhaps the path of Equine Orthopedics is worth considering.

It seems that veterinary medicine is the door through which to end up in this specialised field but perhaps initial work as a farrier at a younger age would assist in gaining a strong foundation with regards to a horse’s hoof and leg, movement, soundness and lameness.

Some links worth checking out:
http://web.mac.com/mjmartinelli/Site/Home.html - California Equine Orthopedic Center.
http://www.equineortho.colostate.edu/faq.htm - Topics from the Equine Orthopedic Research Center.
http://www.ecampus.com/bk_detail14.asp?isbn=9780813821375 - Book on Equine Orthopedics and Rheumatology.

“Each leg in it’s gallop seems to stream with a rush of speed as though from a bucket of water poured o’er the field.” - Arabian Poet

Tags: equine orthopedics, equine career, horse job, horse vet, farrier