The Black Stallion Literacy Project Inspires Children to Read

            The Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse has recently formed a partnership with The Black Stallion Literacy Foundation in the hopes of inspiring children to read. In the spring of 2010, first and fourth graders in the Kentucky counties of Fayette, Bourbon, Madison, Clark, Scott, Woodford and Jessamine will be able to participate in the project. This widely acclaimed program was featured on ABC Nightly News as the best motivational reading program for school-aged children.

            As part of the program, first graders will be given two hard copy books to keep, both by Walter Farley, "Little Black" and "Little Black Goes to the Circus."  The first grade program also includes a trip to the Kentucky Horse Park for a hands-on experience with the park’s horses.

            Fourth graders will be given a hard copy of Walter Farley's classic, "The Black Stallion," a pop-up display, and a copy of the Academy Award-winning Francis Ford Coppola movie, "The Black Stallion." The fourth grade program will conclude with a trip to the Kentucky Horse Park's new indoor arena for a presentation of the Florida-based Arabian Nights Dinner Attraction production featuring the Black Stallion. Tickets will also be available for the public.            

            The best part about the program is that the books will be delivered to area schools by a live black pony from the Kentucky Horse Park.  At the end of the program, in addition to their hands-on experiences with horses at the park, the children will also be able to tour the new Arabian Horse Galleries which features "The Black Stallion Experience Exhibit."

             The Black Stallion Literacy Project was actually conceived in 1999 by Farley's son, Tim, and the owner of the Arabian Nights Dinner Attraction in Florida, Mark Miller. The foundation began serving children in 2000, and since then, more than 450,000 children in the United States have participated in the program.

            John Nicholson, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park said, "As the father of two young boys, I personally know the importance of engaging children in reading. As a horseman, I understand the almost-mystical, always beneficial effect that horses have on children, so I am particularly pleased that the Kentucky Horse Park will be involved in bringing children and horses together in a project that will have a life-long, positive impact."

            If you would like more information on The Black Stallion Literacy Project, you can contact Mollie Jameson at 859-509-1915 or e-mail her at molliejam@gmail.com or www.bslf-online.org. You can also visit the Kentucky Horse Park’s website at  ww.KyHorsePark.com.  

The Ultimate Christmas Shopping Guide for Horse Lovers

 Just in time for Black Friday comes the ultimate guide for what to get those equine obsessed people in your life.

Price Index

$- Under $50

$$- $50-$100

$$$- $100+

            Always a great standby for the horse lover in your life are equine-related gift cards, association memberships or subscriptions to industry magazines.

1.     Association Membership-This is a great idea for the person who has everything. Everyone who shows or owns horses has to have one, but most people wouldn’t think of giving such a thing as a gift. However, this is a great alternative to giving a gift card. You can visit any national breed association website like aqha.com or apha.com to get more information on pricing.

2.     Magazine Subscription- A thoughtful gift for the avid horse-show fanatic is a subscription to an industry magazine, (like The Equine Chronicle for instance).

3.     Gift Cards- Always are popular choice are gift cards. Many horse show vendors or local tack/feed supply stores can help you out. Wouldn’t it be nice if you opened up an envelope awarding you with a certificate for a new 20X hat, or $50 to buy supplements at SmartPak?

4.     Association DVD’s $- AQHA has recently released the newest additions to its “Showing to Win” series. “Showing to Win: Trail” and “Showing to Win: Western Pleasure” give insight into industry standards from well-respected trainers and judges. Price: $24.95, members get a $5 discount Where to Buy: www.aqhastore.com

5. Books- Chosen by a Horse by: Susan Richards $- The memoir of a forty-three-year-old              divorced woman who becomes the caregiver of an abused horse. Price: $10.04 The Spur: History, Art, Culture, Function by: David R. Stoecklein $$- This beautiful coffee table book features full-page color photographs and a detailed account into the history and use of spurs throughout the years. Price:$89.39 Sometimes a Woman Needs a Horse by: Betsy Talcott Kelleher $- A personal story of discovery of a spiritual message in the horse and rider experience. Price: $12.23

           

If you have a little bit of a creative side, or just enjoy giving personalized gifts, these are a few great options.

1.     Fabric-Covered Horseshoes $- While this might sound a little strange at first, these colorful creations are a good way to share your lifestyle with people who may not be that familiar with horses. The actual horseshoes are wrapped in printed fabric and can be used as good luck charms to hang on the wall as decoration, or use as paperweights. These are locally made in Corsicana, Texas. Price: $18 Where to Buy: www.hableconstruction.com

2.     Engraved Tack Plates $- These serve as excellent stocking stuffers, or small gifts for your barn friends. It gives an element of personalization, but still allows the recipient to choose where to put it. Price: $7.50 Where to Buy: www.usbrassshop.com/tack_tags.htm

3.     Do-it-yourself Makeup Kit $-$$- This is an interesting idea for the ladies in your life. It is way too daunting to sift through countless beauty products trying to find the perfect choice for your daughter, mother, friend, ect. You can purchase a relatively inexpensive, but trendy, makeup case at a store like Target, and then place a Sephora gift card inside. Other small items you can add at your discretion are rubber bands, bobby pins, hairnets or travel-size hairspray.

4.     Urban Decay “Show Pony” Shadow Box $- Since we’re on the subject of makeup, I had to mention a new aptly-named compact just released by Urban Decay. Featuring the most popular colors like Snatch, Mildew, Flash, Toasted, Painkiller and Smog, this shadow set is a fun gift for your equestrienne friend who has a love of cosmetics. Price: $30 Where to Buy: Sephora

5.     Custom-Framed Win Picture $$- This next idea may take a little extra work, but the result is a keepsake that will be treasured forever. The idea actually comes from a gift my mother gave me a few years ago. After one of my wins at the APHA World Show, she took a win photo and an action shot from the class and had them matted in a double frame. The finishing touch was a piece of yarn that came out of my horse’s braids that day. This idea can be replicated for any discipline, by adding either a belt buckle, or even a horseshoe. (A farrier will have to help you with that part). Stores like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby can help you with the framing.

6.     Photo Throw Blanket $$- This is one of my all-time favorite gifts I received from a friend one year. This company can take your photo, and through some combined miracle of computer technology and clever stitching, reproduce it onto a full size blanket to adorn your living or bedroom. The picture on mine was a photograph of my horse, that I had taken myself, so it was extra special. Price: $70 Where to Buy:www.personalthrows.com

7.     Ribbon Creations $$- This is probably the neatest use for old horse show ribbons I have ever seen. Just send your piles of old ribbons to this company and they can give them a completely new purpose in life by creating pillows or stuffed animals. Price: varies Where to Buy: www.barnsmart.com

8.     Letter Art $$- You may have seen these booths at kiosks in the local mall and wondered what they were all about. Basically, you look through an alphabetized catalogue of stock images composed of everyday objects that form the images of certain letters. (A horseshoe might be used as a U, or part of a rusty gate might be an H) You can spell out the name of a person, horse or ranch by picking out the letters that are then placed in a horizontal frame. If you are really ambitious, you can wander around the barn and take pictures of your own letters to create your desired word or phrase. Price: varies Where to Buy: www.letterartphotography.com

9.     Horsehair Jewelry $-$$$- This is one of the neatest things I have seen in a long time. There are several companies on the Internet that can take small amounts of hair from your horse’s mane or tail and create one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. Price:varies Where to Buy: www.treasuredtails.us/

For those who love technology, there are some new gadgets out there that are great as general gifts or for the parent who may not know that much about your horse habit.

1. Flip Ultra Camcorder $$$- This easy-to-use, pocket-sized camcorder holds up to 120 minutes of high-quality video on 4 GB of built-in memory. It has 2x digital zoom and is practically “goof proof” because there are only three buttons; record, play and delete. With a flip-out USB arm you can plug it directly into your PC or Mac to download video clips. Pre-loaded software makes it easy to edit your own movies to share on Facebook or YouTube. It also comes with a TV cable so you can show your videos on the big screen. This is what we at the Equine Chronicle use for the video interviews you’ve been seeing on Facebook. Price: $150 Where to Buy: Walmart, Target, RadioShack, Amazon.com
2. Pandigital Digital Picture Frame $$- This is a great idea for the father who may not know a lot about your horse habit, but still loves to show off photos to his friends or colleagues. The 7’’ version stores up to 4,000 images on 512 MB of internal memory. The 9’’ version stores 6,400 images on 1 GB of memory. Most models come with an easy to use CD that will show you how to download your photos. (You should do this before you wrap it up) Most people like to use the slideshow feature to keep the photos rotating on a continuous loop. Price: $50-$80 Where to Buy: This particular model is available at The Sharper Image, but other stores carry their own versions like Brookstone, Walmart, Target, RadioShack
3. Custom iPod, iPhone, Laptop Skins $- This is a really fun way to create an inexpensive, but still personalized, gift. One website offering this service is schtickers.com. This company allows you to upload your own images, (of your horse perhaps?) use stock graphics and customize text to create a one-of-a-kind cover for your iPod, iPhone or laptop. The best part is that the skins are made of specially designed vinyl with a reusable adhesive, so you can remove the skin and reuse it without having to hassle with any of the sticky goo other skins leave behind. Price: $15-$30 Where to Buy: www.schtickers.com
4. NeatDesk $$$- This a great idea for that always-hard-to-buy-for horse trainer in your life. It is a Desktop Scanner/Digital Filing System that is a little smaller than a laptop. This electronic filing cabinet has the ability to scan and extract key information from receipts and financial documents, and then organize it into an Excel document. You can also scan business cards to create a digital address book. This handy gadget would be perfect for the horse trainer whose office desk is overflowing with gas, hotel and meal receipts. Price: $400 Where to Buy: neatco.com/CNT922, use coupon code CNT922 for free shipping or (866)-395-7464

Soldiers Heal Through Horsepower

             As I found myself in the airport, at 4 o’clock this morning, trying to catch a flight home for Thanksgiving, I didn’t have much to do but sit and wait. So, I decided to do a little light reading in Continental’s official in-flight magazine. Amidst the interviews with CEO’s and advertisements for professional matchmaking services, I found an interesting article written by Lora O’Riordan about Donna Thibedeau and her Tranquil Valley Sanctuary.

            The Sanctuary, which is located in Idaho, became a pet project of Thibedeau’s after she studied horse therapy in college.

“I learned that horses can heal wounds,” she says. “They are a mirror into souls.”

          What first began as a rescue effort for older horses, soon turned into a horse therapy program for wounded soldiers. She says she was inspired by a television show that showed how much post- traumatic stress disorder affects the lives of wounded soldiers after they return home. As a result, she created a special program at Tranquil Valley that involves therapeutic riding for amputees.

“In one hour’s riding each day, we’ve seen improvement in as little as three weeks,” she says. “Some of the soldiers have even started walking again.”

            Along with physical rehabilitation, the horse therapy program also provides a unique outlet for the soldiers to vent their emotions to a few good listeners.

            “We tell them that they can talk to the horse and whatever they say stays with the horse,” she says.

            She says this helps soldiers to let go of combat memories they may not feel comfortable sharing with members of their family.

            An exciting new development is that Thibedeau has received permission from the Department of Veterans Affairs to bring miniature horses into the VA hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.

            If you would like more information about this solely-donation run program you can go to tranquilvalleysanctuary.org

Horse Superstitions and Wives’ Tales

            Most of us are familiar with the well-known superstitions that involve horses. For instance, an upward facing horseshoe hung above a doorway will bring good luck to the home.

However, after a little research I found a number of interesting superstitions and wives’ tales that I had never heard of before.

            Supposedly, you can predict the sex of an unborn foal by doing “the nail test.” To begin, you take a hair from the mare's tail and tie a nail to it. Then, you hold it above the mare's hips. If it swings in a circle, she's carrying a filly; if it swings in a straight line, she’s carrying a colt.

             In some instances, it is thought that horses can be used to counteract bad omens or change someone’s luck. Walking under a ladder is considered to be bad luck, but you can counteract the bad luck if you keep your fingers crossed until you have seen three horses. If a bride and groom see a grey horse on their way to the church it is considered to be good luck. On the other hand, in certain situations a horse can be a bad omen. If a horse neighs at the door of a house, someone in the house will become sick.

            There are also a few wives’ tales that are still popular among the older generation of horsemen. Supposedly, the deeper a stallion dips his nostrils into water when he drinks, the better sire he will be. Also, putting copper pennies in a mare’s water tank can help to eliminate moody behavior.

One very common belief is that the location and number of hair whorls on a horse’s head or neck is related to its temperament. Actually, Dr. Temple Grandin of Colorado State University conducted a study of hair whorl positions and concluded that there is a definite relationship. A hair whorl that is located high above the eyes indicates a flighty temperament. 



Some of the most unusual superstitions come in the form of cures for various conditions or diseases. For example, eating a hair from the forelock of a horse is supposed to cure worms. Also, it was once thought that inhaling the breath of a horse could cure whooping cough. It was also believed that warts could be cured by circling them in horsehair.

However, possibly the most well known superstition of all involves the bad luck that comes from putting a cowboy hat on a bed. Almost every cowboy believes this superstition and will go out of their way to counteract its effects. There is a widely circulated story about a cowboy who showed up at the National Finals Rodeo to compete with a smashed hat, because the night before his mother had accidentally placed it on a bed. According to the superstition, the only way to fix this is to throw the hat outside and stomp all of the bad luck out of it.

I hope you enjoyed all of these and if you come across any other interesting ones please share them with us on Facebook.