Join us for The Spooktacular horse costume contest on Friday, October 16th.

The beauty of the human soul is not in the pretty face, it’s found within the heart, and hands of those who look, and stay. With all the daily violence going on around the globe, we might feel that the beauty remains in the pretty face only, the heart and hands are lost. But did humanity really get lost? The following are 20 pictures which will revive your hopes for the human condition, give you faith in our fellow humans.

1. 

This “Citizen of the Earth” saved a person from getting a car ticket. Very amicable person, don’t you think?

2. 

It seems that this gentleman has missed his train while helping this lady with her bags. No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

3.

Act like this reminds us that you don’t need a reason to help people.

4. 

Nowadays, people tend to believe that teenagers are not virtuous. Think again please!

5. 

Professors like him not only stop at teaching us our “education”, but extend further to teach us moral values we need as humans.

6. 

This fire fighter overcame more dangers just to rescue this person’s prominent family member!

7. 

One family rescued this orphaned fawn, and raised her with their other pets. And now she is just another member of the family.

8. 

Another kind soul gave up his umbrella to keep this kitten dry from the rain. Wonderful!

9. 

Wrestlers may have serious attitudes on the wrestling arenas, but they are human beings too! Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, while driving, saw this kid running after his car. He stopped, and found out that the kid was fighting cancer (Hodgkin’s Lymphoma), and it was his lifelong dream of meeting his favorite superstar. In return, the hero thanked him, hugged him, and took pictures with him. Both are superstars here!

10. 

A very selfless stranger has given this homeless gentleman his own kindle so that he would stop reading the only book he has, all the time. A Kindly person kindled humanity.

11. 

This is Dan. A genuinely wonderful soul, who, using his own money, treats the local cancer patients, nurses, doctors, and everyone in the cancer center to cups of coffee.

12. 

Who wouldn’t want a neighbor like good Gilligan? He reminds me of Art Hochberg’s quotes, “To help a friend is really good. To help yourself is also really good. To help a stranger is the very best.”

13. 

Imagine every restaurant owner makes progress like this, the starving population would decline drastically. Hats off to such initiative!

14. 

These strangers are not only kind enough to return an expensive item to its rightful owner, and bored, but have great sense of humor too!

15. 

It is not always the elders who act kind towards others, little children have similar ethics too. This note maybe small, but has great power to capture one’s heart. Thank you Anica!

16. 

A small generous act from a grocery store employee is enough to bring back faith in humanity!

17. 

We should have laundries like this to boost all unemployed people’s spirits. Brilliant action!

18. 

Another sports star, Rugby player Brian O’Driscoll has enthralled his biggest fan by a surprise visit to the hospital. What could be a better medicine than this?

19. 

The elderly man on the right is a barber, who doesn’t take money from haircuts, rather, accepts hugs as payments. Humanity restored beautifully, right?

20. 

And lastly, there was one person, a celebrity, a mother, a beautiful human being, who also happened to be a Royal Princess, set a true meaning to humanity through her works, and through her words.  She said, “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of a reward, safe in the knowledge that one day, someone might do the same for you”. Here is Princess Diana for you.

Featured photo credit: Wonderlane via flickr.com

Originally Published with Photos:   http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/20-pictures-show-you-the-beauty-human-nature.html

They gave me a horse
Young and wild
No trust
No kindnes
A shout in the night
She came like a whirlwind
Fighting and screaming
Told me to tame her
Told me to win.

They gave me a horse
I, a child, in truth
So young,
So angry,
A wild wayward youth

They said dominate her
They said she was wild
They said control her
They said to make her mild

I listened at first
Like all children do,
I listend
And copied
And attempted to woo
The greatest spirit
Not meant to be tamed
To break a heart
Not meant to be maimed.

We yelled and we fought
We beat and we ran
I won and I lost
But I took my stand.

I took and I took,
Not knowing the way
And young as she was
There came a day.

We stood toe to toe
Eye to eye,
Her sides where heaving
Not a bit of me dry
The dust was rolling
And the sun beat down
When suddenly it changed
The wind came ’round
The inferno in her eyes
Went from a blaze to a flicker
She dropped her head
Stepped into me
Welcomed me with a whicker

She showed me the way
Through fire and ice
She gave when she need not
She bowed down
And she sacraficed

But for the first time
As I stood victorious
The battle felt lost
The Win, laborious
She stood there cowed
And my heart broke
The error was clear
The burden was yoked

I fell to my knees
As the tears fell
I wept at my loss
Sure she was gone
That trust I had sought
Through the wrong channels
Could never return
I was certain
I was broken

And then my sweet Mare
The bringer of truth
Showed me the true gift
A horse gives to a youth
She nuzzled my hair
And bent her head close
She snuffled my tears
She breathed in my woe
And as I looked up
I saw something new
The gentle spirit
Of a young,
Hurting youth

She was just a baby
Just like I
So lost and alone
Adrift in the sky
She offered a friendship
A partner for life
And suddenly she wasn’t alone
And neither was I.

They gave me a gift horse
A spirit so young
But that wasn’t the real gift
It didn’t come from
The ownership I had sought
The prize I thought I desired
No it was so different
I was inspired.

The true gift was love
Confidence
And poise
The true gift was grace
Under pressure
Through the noise
The true gift was trust
When I thought it impossible
The true gift was strength
When I thought I would crumble.

The true gift was there
For any to see
But my gift Horse gave
Her greatest gift to me.

-DJM 201505
~dedicated to Dina, my firey little gift.~

Originally Published:   http://www.horseforum.com/horse-stories-poems/gift-horse-576258/

Photo credit:  http://www.imgneed.com/cool-sketches-of-horses-wallpapers.html

Champ is a wild stallion that lives in the Tonto National Forest in Arizona, United States with his family. He and his family were grazing by the banks of Salt River when a filly in his group got herself into trouble. The proud stallion came to her rescue and Becky Standridge, a Park Service volunteer, was on hand to capture the remarkable moment on film.

Champ and his family were grazing along the banks of the Salt River when another group of horses appeared on the opposite bank.

Among the other group were two playful colts.

Champ and his family became interested in the other horses.

Champ and a few of the horses began crossing the river to greet the other horses, when suddenly the river’s current forced a young filly under the water.

She was pulled under the water and came to the surface in a panic!

Champ swam over to her and tried to grab the filly by the side of her neck but he was unable to get a hold of her.

The filly began to be swept downstream by the current. But Champ did not give up.

Champ broke from the group and swam after her.

This time he was able to grab her by the back of her neck.

He held her gently and and did not let go until she was safely back on shore.

Once on the river bank, the relieved filly headed straight to her mother.

Champ continued on to see the other horses.

He met with the stallion of the other group and the two horses greeted each other with mutual respect.

Afterwards, Champ returned to his family and the herd continued on their way.

What an amazing horse!

Originally Published with Photos:   http://www.reshareworthy.com/wild-stallion-saves-filly-from-drowning/

MINDEN, Nev. (MyNews4.com & KRNV) — There is some magic going on at a ranch in Minden, where horses are helping to heal children.

The program is called “Kids and Horses,” and although it’s hard to pinpoint exactly how it works, seeing is believing.

Ariel Salas smiled when she was told to trot to the finish line with her therapy horse.

It’s been a rough ride so far for the 8-year-old girl who suffers from a kidney disease that weakens her bones.

She’s suffered several fractures and has undergone numerous surgeries to repair her fragile body.

When she needs a different kind of healing, Ariel repairs her soul and spirit in this corral in Minden.

She said, “With your horse, you’re just inseparable, you’re friends together. You look out for each other.”

Ariel also looks out for her younger brother, Michael, who suffers from the same disease. Both kids really can’t explain how horses help heal them, they just know they do.

“He’s helped me with my legs and taught me a lot,” Michael said.

Mother Yvonne is as amazed as anyone at how her children have thrived through the program.

She’s seen the transformation with her own eyes.

“It’s amazing to see,” she said. “They go through a lot medically, so to see them enjoy life and have fun the way they do, it’s a great thing.”

The Kids and Horses program is also used to treat developmental disabilities like autism.

Program director Lisa Fletcher has seen students who’ve never spoken before say their first words on the back of a horse..

“I think they just develop a partnership where the horse is so trusting and so giving to that student and in return, the student feels that and is willing to give that to the horse,” Fletcher said.

“Kids and Horses” is holding their annual jamboree fundraiser at the Crystal Bay Club at Lake Tahoe on Saturday, September 12th.

If you’d like to attend you can get more information at www.kidsandhorses.org or by calling Gloria Brimm at 775-848-5777.

Originally Published:   http://www.mynews4.com/news/story/Kids-and-Horses-brings-healing-to-children-in/7kDHBS3w90Gk16b9YmQyMA.cspx

Eventer Lauren Billys recently had the opportunity to act as an ambassador for equestrian sport in a way that few other riders have: by giving TV star Mike Rowe an introduction to dressage for an upcoming episode of the television show “Somebody’s Gotta Do It.”

Lauren Billys (right) enjoyed filming an episode of “Somebody’s Gotta Do It” with TV star Mike Rowe. All photos courtesy of Mike Rowe Facebook

Of course, three years ago during the Rafalca craze when late night TV show host Stephen Colbert chose dressage as the “sport of summer,” Michael Barisone made headlines by giving a dressage lesson to Colbert. It was all for the laughs, but Rowe’s visit was more about getting the story out about what life as a professional rider is like.

“They showed up and wanted to learn about horses and particularly about dressage,” said Billys. “There wasn’t a whole lot of preparation other than getting the facility ready and things like that, but Mike was extremely easy to get along with; he really put you at ease even though there were cameras right in front of you the entire time. The entire crew and Mike himself were very personable, very interesting—it was really an amazing time!”

Mike Rowe meeting one of the smaller horses at Lauren Billys’ farm.

“Somebody’s Gotta Do It” is a documentary-style CNN series that profiles people with a passion for what they do. Rowe, who is most known for his work on the “Dirty Jobs” television series, and his crew came to Carmel Valley directly from their last filming location, a Naval aircraft carrier called the USS Stennis, to get a taste of what it’s like to be an professional equestrian.

Billys got the call asking if she’d be interested from the California Dressage Society’s office manager, Paula Langan, on Aug. 5. Less than a week later, on Aug. 11, she met Rowe and his crew at the Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley, Calif. Billys, a four-star eventer and member of the Puerto Rican Equestrian Team, is based at the nearby Stonepine Estate Equestrian Center.

Mike Rowe enjoying his time on the ever-patient Comanche.

She started the day with a dressage demonstration. Her friends and working students were on hand to talk Rowe through the movements as Billys showed them. Then they headed back to the barn to talk about tack, equipment, breeding, and history of the sport before Rowe got his riding lesson.

“We did a lunge-line lesson. First, we started on the use and importance of the seat: learning how to go forward in the walk, come back in the walk and how to stop, using your seat. I took away his reins and his stirrups and then taught him how to post the trot, and then he got to ask for the canter and canter the horse as well,” explained Billys, 27.

“He told me that he grew up riding with his mom and his mom had had horses growing up, so he was definitely comfortable around the horses and he had to have because he really picked up the posting trot within like 30 seconds—it was so quick!”

Once the lesson was over, Rowe was given a head-to-toe makeover; dressed to show, he headed back to the ring to perform a walk-trot dressage test with the skills he’d learned.

His mount for the day was a 25-year-old Thoroughbred gelding named Comanche whose history of eventing and trail riding has made him a trustworthy lesson horse of Billys’ for the last few years. Comanche’s owner, Diane Hawkin, was able to visit and watch Rowe ride.

“He’s a really super lesson horse,” said Billys. “He’s older, but very well-experienced and he knows all of his cues, and he knows how to kind of let somebody just ride him around.”

Though she’d done photoshoots, public speaking and the occasional news segment, Billys had never spent seven hours in front of a camera filming a television show before. “At first I was really nervous, and then once I got to talk to them, we were talking like I would with anybody else that I just met that was coming to spend a day to see what it was like at the horse barn,” she said. “So that was cool; it was just very honest and very much like the way that I run my business and the way that we ride horses.

“Nothing was scripted; there wasn’t really a plan,” continued Billys. “The crew let me kind of throw at them what I thought he should learn and then helped me organize that in a way that made sense and flowed.”

The episode is estimated to air in eight months as part of season 4. “It’s a unique opportunity for us as equestrians to get our work put on a big stage,” said Billys. “I think that when everybody sees it they’ll be excited because I think it’s a good representation of the sport.”

Originally Published:   http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/tv-star-mike-rowe-does-dressage-day

Summer is finally here. Winter blankets have been packed away with care. Bundling up for barn chores and breaking the ice in your horses’ water buckets are now distant memories. As you bring you fly sheets out of storage and hang up fans, it’s time to make a plan for how to help your horse beat the heat this summer.

Understanding Your Horse’s Basic Needs

Not only do the summer months bring warmer temperatures and longer days, but they also bring more opportunities to ride and compete with your horse. As temperatures rise, so do the risks of your horse experiencing a heat related stress, such as dehydration and heat stroke. To make the most of your summer riding opportunities, keep an eye on your horse and modify your training and horse care program.

Water

The average 1000 pound horse at rest drinks 8 to 10 gallons of water a day. When temperatures rise above 70° F, horses in work can drink twice as much. Make sure they have access to clean, fresh and cool water at all times, whether your horse is turned out or in his stall. By drinking cool water, they will be able to lower their body temperature on their own. If your horse isn’t a big drinker, you can encourage water consumption by providing free choice salt blocks in your pastures and stalls.

Shade

Providing shade to your horse throughout the day is almost as important as making sure your horse has access to water. Whether you board in a barn or in a field, shade is needed. Obviously a horse in a stall is provided shade from being indoors, however they will need shade when they are turned out. Make sure your pastures offer several shade options.

If there aren’t shade-bearing trees in your field, offer an escape from the sun with a run in shed. With run-ins, the higher the roof the more air circulation and cooler the shed will be. As shade and water go together in importance, place your water troughs in shady areas.

Do you have a field that doesn’t have much shade? Alter your turnout schedule. Either turnout your horses at night, or if you have a horse that doesn’t require a lot of turnout put him in the field early in the morning.  Both of these options will let your horse beat the heat and powerful rays of the sun.

Conditioning

Before the temps rise too much, learn how-to assess the body condition of your horse.

If your horse has been in regular work since the winter weather subsided, he will be more likely to be able to handle the rising temperatures. Horses that are out of shape, overweight and even thin under-muscled horses have a hard time dealing with the extra stress associated with heat.

If your horse hasn’t been in a regular exercise program, slowly build up their fitness and stamina as the heat and humidity rises. This slow and steady approach will help ensure your horse stays healthy and not overstressed this summer.

The Importance Of Equine Electrolytes

You know summer is here when your local Southern States and tack shops start expanding their section devoted to electrolytes.

So what are electrolytes and how do they help your horse in the summer? According to Dr. Marty Adams, Equine Nutritionist for Southern States, “Electrolytes are minerals in the horse’s body fluids and tissues that are involved in muscle contraction, thirst regulation, nerve function and maintenance of blood pH.”

Electrolytes can be found in your hay, pasture and Southern States horse feed. However, horses in work, (especially those who travel to compete) need additional electrolytes to maintain good health and perform at their highest level.

Like humans, horses use sweating as a way to cool off during periods of warm weather and while exercising. When a horse sweats, not only is water lost, but important electrolytes like sodium, chloride and potassium are lost. If too many electrolytes are lost serious problems like fatigue, muscle cramps and horse colic can occur.

Dr. Adams says, “When looking for an electrolyte for your horse, sodium chloride should be listed first on the ingredient list, followed by potassium chloride as the second ingredient.” There are two types of electrolytes, salt based and sugar based. While sugar based electrolytes are highly palatable, you won’t meet your horse’s daily salt requirements without feeding a lot of the sugar-based electrolyte.

Electrolytes can be given to your horse in a variety of ways. You can add water and administer via dosing syringe, add the electrolytes to your horse’s feed or add the electrolytes to their water. Each way works equally as well, just figure out what your horse prefers to ensure they are consuming the added electrolytes.

Horse Sweat Is A Good Thing

Often times you hear the phrase “no sweat” when people are referring to something that isn’t a problem. When it comes to horses, no sweat is a big problem. During a hot, muggy day it isn’t uncommon to see horses drenching in sweat when doing nothing more strenuous than simply grazing in the field. Although they may look uncomfortable, these sweaty horses are far more comfortable than their non sweating counterparts, as sweating helps regulate body temperature.

Anhydrosis in horses is the partial or total inability to sweat—and is a problem that can be potentially life threatening. When a horse is unable to sweat, he is unable to keep his internal organs and brain from overheating. Unfortunately no one knows what causes this condition and it can affect any breed, though it is most commonly seen in the Gulf Coast states including Florida and Louisiana.

Signs Of Equine Anhydrosis

• panting
• poor tolerance to exercise
• dry hair coat
• hair loss (especially around the face and a reduction of sweat)

Immediately contact your equine veterinarian if you think your horse may be experiencing anhydrosis. While there is no cure, you can manage a non sweater in a variety of ways. You can relocate your horse during the summer months, limit physical activity, install barn fans and misters or manage through supplementation. Studies have shown that non-sweaters can benefit from additional Vitamin E and Selenium supplements. It is thought that these levels are low in horses with anhydrosis.

Adjust Your Horse Care Schedule

When we hit the beach this summer, we are often reminded to avoid the hottest part of the day, typically 11 am to 3 pm, and apply ample sunscreen. This same rule should apply when trying to determine when to exercise your horse during the summer to try and avoid the heat of the day. When possible try to ride either in the morning or late evening, depending on what works best for your schedule.

In addition to changing the hours at which you ride, change the duration of your ride. A short workout in hot, humid conditions is the same as a longer workout in more pleasant weather, in terms of stress placed on the horse. Take plenty of rest breaks, to help your horse cool down during your exercise session.

After you finish exercising your horse, don’t just drop him off in his stall like a hot potato. Take your time and properly cool him off. Take him for an extended walk, hose him off and brush the water off scraping the water off to speed up the cooling process or put him in front of a fan.

Trailering Your Horse In The Heat

When competing this summer, not only do you need to think about how you will perform your best when you arrive at the show, you need to come up with a plan for how you will safely get your horse to the competition. The heat and humidity of the summer can create oven-like conditions in your trailer. So what can you do?

• If you don’t currently own a trailer, consider buying a “cool” trailer to ship your horse(s) in. Studies show that dark exterior colored trailers can be 20-30° hotter inside than trailers that are white or silver in color.
• Look for trailers that have large windows for maximum airflow and ceiling roof vents to draw air into the trailer. If possible, take a test ride in the trailer yourself to see what the airflow and temperature conditions are like when temperatures rise.
• Even when the weather is cool and humidity is low, traveling is work for a horse. Riding in a trailer can fatigue a horse as they constantly have to work to balance themselves in the moving trailer. Add in warm temperatures and you can easily have a horse that arrives to its destination dehydrated and fatigued.
• To minimize fatigue, alter your travel schedule and transport your horse either in the evening or early in the morning, whatever is the coolest part of the day.  Before putting your horse on the trailer make sure you have opened all the windows and air vents to get cool air circulating prior to loading. If you have fans on you trailer, turn them on as well.
• To minimize the impact of heat coming up from the road, place rubber mats on your trailer floor or bed the trailer down with shavings. Not only does heat come from the sun beating down on the trailer, but it also comes up from the black asphalt the trailer is riding on.
• Hose your horse off prior to loading, in an attempt to keep them cool.  Use a fan spray hose head like the Gilmour Fan Watering Wand to make your horse happier.

By modifying your trailering routine you will be able to ensure your horse travels as comfortable as possible regardless of the weather.

Barn Fan Safety

Each summer horse owners everywhere put fans up in their barns to help cool their horses off as the temperatures rise.  However, not all fans are appropriate for barn use. Most horse owners run out to their nearest hardware or discount store to stock up on box fans for their barn.

Before you follow suit, make sure you are buying a fan that is designed for agricultural use and not a box fan designed to be used indoors in a residential situation. Fans (like the Ventamatic 24″ Direct Drive Yellow Tilt & Stand Fan) designed for agricultural use have motors sealed up to prevent dust and dirt from interfering with the motor and starting a fire. In addition to having unsealed motors, inexpensive box fans also have light weight cords which can eventually expose their wiring over time. Take a look at our other barn & horse fans online.

Barn fires are caused every year from faulty fans and improper installation of fans. To prevent the potential for fires, in addition to only using agricultural fans in the barn, only run fans when there are people in the barn. Turn fans off at night, most of the time barns are reasonably comfortable at night if you can open up windows and doors in the barn. Vacuum or blow off dust that accumulates around the fans that are placed on or in your stalls.

When installing fans, make sure you keep the cords out of the horses’ reach. One bite to a cord can cause a short circuit and potential fire. Remember horses aren’t the only ones to potentially bite the cords, raccoons and mice can also interfere with your cords. Always unplug the fans when not in use!

Another option when it comes to cooling down your barn is to get two large agricultural use approved floor fans and put them at either end of your barn aisle. These large high power fans do a great job of circulating air throughout the barn during the day.

Enjoy Your Summer

Summer doesn’t have to bring your equestrian activities to a halt. By changing both you and your horse’s riding routine you can both enjoy your summer while staying healthy and competitive. When in doubt whether to ride or go to the pool when temperatures are scorching, play it safe and go for a dip.

Do you change your riding routine in the summer? Have any tips or tricks you want to share? Let us know!

Originally Published:   https://www.southernstates.com/articles/horse-heat-stress-management.aspx