The Marbardi Family love to jump their heavy horses, specifically their Clydesdales.  Photo courtesy Anne Marbardi.

Hello Everyone and a hearty welcome.  Heavy Thunder has become synonymous with heavy horses and some of you may now know we breed heavy as well as light horses.  And it is our passion to help our heavy horse thrive and survive in the 21st Century.  So please, pull up a stump and enjoy…

An Overview of Heavy Horses in Australia

Heavy horses are becoming more common in Australia. Breeds such as the Clydesdale, Percheron, Shire, Australian Draft and Welsh Cob are among the best examples. For a lot of people, it is instantly assumed that these horses are for draft purposes only, however, it should be noted that they are far more than that.

Australia is a Sunburned Country

 Australia is traditionally known as a sunburned country. It can be dry and hot where there is the potential for weather patterns to fluctuate from hot one day, wet the next. 

These weather patterns could very well impact on the ability for these traditionally cold climate animals to thrive in this country.  Further to this, the types of natural grasses in Australia and feeding patterns adopted could be very different to those overseas.

So owners of heavy horses in Australia may not only need to develop a different method of animal husbandry but develop different uses for them. Our animal husbandry need to be easy and sustainable so these horses can thrive better in a climate very different to the one many of these creatures originated in.

But Australians need to think more laterally to ensure these horses survive longer in our lucky but sunburned country.

How Heavy Horses are Utilized in Australia

The decline of heavy horses is evident worldwide and there is a need to look at how to utilize them better. There have been infusions of various breeds into European sport horses but not so much in Australia. So the questions are: What are we doing with our heavy horses in the new millennium in Australia? What can we do to alter that forecast?

In Australia, people haven’t entirely embraced the concept of riding these horses. The main uses of these horses are still in the traditional way such as draft, show, and breeding or simply for companion purposes. In order to change this dark destiny, the situation could very well require a change, or a shift in thinking.

Thrive to Survive

With the hope to breathe new life into our precious horses, it is fitting to encourage people to become enthusiasts. This renewed interest will eventually lead the breeds of heavy horses to thrive and survive in the new millennium. Additionally, people who may have owned these horses for many years may also need to rekindle their interest once again.

What can we do to make this happen? The answer is simple: Ride them. And thank fully, some Australians are thinking laterally which has led to these horses being ridden in three novel ways.

Some Australians are riding their heavy horses in events like:

1.    Dressage like Hotse the modern day Friesian as pictured here.  Photo courtesy Heavy Thunder.

2.    Jumping Anthony Murray takes his Clydesdale through his jumping paces.  Photo courtesy Anne Marbardi and:

3.    Trick riding.  Emily Wright takes Clydesdale cross G6 through his paces at Rutherglen in Victoria. Photo taken by  Ann Killeen.

Heavy Horses under Saddle are Ideal.

These breeds of horses have huge frames allowing ease of carriage for people of all shapes and sizes. They are smart on their feet as well as in their thinking. Their temperaments are reliable and they are very forgiving. All of these attributes add up to a great mount.

Making use of these horses in varied ways will allow us to see them in a different light. It has also occurred to us that many of these horses themselves love to be ridden. And riding these powerful animals more would create an even greater source of pleasure for people of all ages.

With renewed public interest and careful review of their usage, the Australian heavy horse industry would surely be there to reap the benefits. This would mean these animals would survive a little bit longer in our fast paced modern world.

Riding these magnificent creatures more, rather than using them in the more traditional manner, would not only provide an alternative use for our heavy horses in Australia, it would literally give them a new lease of life.

Riding Our Horses

As one of the worlds momentous achievers, Walt Disney said, "If you can dream it, you can do it." It is a dream whereby Australian heavy horse owners get together and say, "We can do this. Let's ride our heavy horses." With a modified perspective regarding these magnificent creatures, the use of heavy horses in Australia would more likely increase and we can all benefit from their kind for many more years to come.

Thanks again everyone for dropping by.  We hope this will inspire people to look at heavy horses in a different light and enjoy our magnificent heavy horses for many years to come.

Cheers

Paul and Jann

Hello One and All…Well, Australia definitely has talent in the form of the trick riding Emily Wright and her heavy horse G6 who are pictured here performing the suicide drag recently at Rutherglen. Photo courtesy of Ann Killeen.

Trick Riding Plus Heavy Horses Equals G6

It’s confirmed.  G6 is the best horse in the High Velocity Trick Riding team…And he’s a heavy horse.  You might recall in the post  The Safest Trick Pony Of Them All Emily Wright took out her awesome heavy horse, Clydesdale cross G6 after getting him as a 10 year old.  At that stage he had been broken in for a grand total of just three months.

Not only that, Emily trained him for her trick riding team for just 5 weeks before taking him to the 2011 Canberra Royal Show.  Granted G6 was trained to a level where he could be used as the announcers horse at that stage, but he still blitzed it.  Now Emily and G6 have done it again.  In her usual unflappable manner, Emily took G6 to the 2011Rutherglen Agricultural Show for another trick riding performance.

Rutherglen is in the heart of the Victorian wine making country, which is full of no nonsense Australian country folk.  It is also full of people who know and love heavy horses.  Oh, there were all of the usual shenanigans you get at a country agricultural show.    Show rides, kids with balloons, the elderly with their walking frames and wheelchairs, even an equine Minnie Mouse look alike!  Hmmm now that’s different.

So as the day progressed and the time drew near to their performance, a friend of Emily’s took G6 for a stroll up and down the area where Emily and G6 were to perform.  Meanwhile, Emily warmed up.  The time then came when Emily cantered him up and down the area for a bit of a practice run. 
And it would seem Emily’s unflappable demeanour rubbed off on G6.   G6 was totally and utterly unfazed by the whole event, even after they were both costumed up and ready to go.

Emily Believes G6 as a Trick Riding Horse, “really was a winner!”

Not only did G6 stick to the trick riding training Emily rigidly taught him, but Emily was able to alter and change straps for the next planned trick on her own.  Emily was able to forget about her reins and drop them while she focused on preparing for the next part of her show.
 
Usually there is a handler to help the rider at the end of each trick so they can prepare for the next.  But Emily didn’t need one this time.  This was a first for Emily and she has been in the trick riding industry for over 10 years. 
 
Emily was able to really relax with G6 and could truly focus on a visually outstanding performance and a safe outcome.  They were a winning combination and G6 really was a winner on the day.

He has certainly found his niche in life because as G6 just loves the discipline of trick riding.  Without exception in every photo taken on the day of G6’s performance, he had his ears forward and was totally relaxed.  G6 was Mr Congeniality in every sense of the word.

As we keep saying to people, heavy horses aren’t just a pretty face.  They are strong, shore footed and oh so talented.  So Australia really does have so much talent.  And Emily’s trick riding horse, and heavy horse G6, worked in the show exactly the same as he did at home which is a true indicator of talent.
 
So now G6 has a growing number of admirers and Emily is fast becoming known as, “the girl that has G6.”  He is also very photogenic for his fans as you might have noticed in the photo above.
 
And what about the people of Rutherglen who saw G6 at this year’s Rutherglen Show?  Well, the horse people of the Rutherglen area reckon G6 is a free mover!  Now how awesome is that. Go G6!

So yes, it is confirmed.   Emily Wright, of the trick riding team High Velocity www.highvelocity.com.au  believes trick riding plus heavy horses equals G6
Now who would have thought?   We would have of course and we also believe a heavy horse is simply the best trick riding horse.  And without a doubt, the safest trick riding horse any girl, or guy for that matter, could possibly have.

Thanks again for joining us and we'll see you all next time.

Cheers

Paul and Jann

We Wish You A Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year – Clydesdale Wishes Of Course!

Clydesdale mare and mum Cheese, our Clydesdale filly, baby Jilly…

Not to forget Paul and Jann, would love to wish all our friends and their family the best and safest festive season and the most successful and prosperous new year ever! Photo courtesy Heavy Thunder.

They say never work with animals and kids!  Well not all photo shoots go according to plan and our Clydesdale filly, Jilly, decided to kick up her heels for the festive occasion. Photo courtesy Heavy Thunder.

However Clydesdale Mum, Winmalee Highland Bell, affectionately called Cheese, was happy to stand and have her photo taken while her Clydesdale baby Jilly decided to go to the milk bar! Photo courtesy Heavy Thunder.

But of as course children are never wanting to be left out of anything, be they human or Clydesdale, she decided to wear her antlers (you can just see the red behind the left ear) and participate in the photo shoot.  Photo courtesy Heavy Thunder.

So as you are having the best time don't forget to be safe and we'll you all in 2012.

Wishing you all Clydesdale Christmas Cheer!

Paul and Jann

Jacinta Maurer riding Buddy, one of her heavy horses during one of her performances. Photo courtesy Jacinta Maurer.

Clydesdale Trick Riding Horses And Girls, Girls, Girls W.A.

Heads Up…Heavy horses have the wow factor in the discipline of trick riding.   Jacinta Maurer has the trick riding team Girls, Girls Girls in Western Australia, which includes Digger, the 13 hh Clydesdale Welsh D cross pony. 

Digger is, ‘13hh but 17 hands wide,’ according to Jacinta. 

He is about 14 years old but is as solid in performance and temperament as the day is long.  But let’s not forget Buddy the Quarter horse Clydesdale cross who is proving to be a rising star in the discipline too.  Jacinta loves these horses’ calm natures and their sturdy bodies.

Jacinta began trick riding at the end of 2007 but already has a major award under her belt.  In 2009 she competed in the Trick Riding Championships in Tamworth and won Reserve Australian Champion.

The Beginning Of Girls, Girls, Girls, Trick Riding Team In Western Australia

After speaking to Heath Harris who owns Girls, Girls, Girls, in New South Wales, Jacinta began the Trick Riding Team Girls, Girls, Girls in Western Australia.  She was the first person to have bought Trick Riding to the West.

And Jacinta’s passion for this discipline has grown.  Her current goals were to compete in the Australian Trick Riding Championships as well as to make people aware of the discipline.  Being a discipline there is a particular level of fitness you and your horse need to achieve in order to participate in trick riding.   

Jacinta calls this, “trick fit.”  The horse and rider both need to achieve this level of fitness so tricks can be performed safely as a horse and rider team. Riders need to be able to cope psychologically and physically with the demands of the sport.  So Jacinta alternates her training each day to cater for the rigors of trick riding. 

But the discipline isn’t just about the horses or the rider’s physical fitness.  A trick rider needs to be able to rely on good gear which should be kept in good order. The rider also comes to rely on the horse’s nature and be comfortable in the knowledge the horse will perform reliably on each outing. 

Also in Jacinta’s sights is Equitana as the National Trick Riding Championships will be held at each Equitana.  For those who may not be aware, Equitana is an enormous equine event where people can go to shop, learn and be entertained by horsemen and women from across the globe.  This year it will be held in Sydney.

Jacinta plans to travel one of her horses to Sydney from WA to Equitana which is being held on the 10^th – 13^th November this year.  She has planned to take her paint gelding Swarvy who simply loves to travel.

Jacinta loves the excitement and adrenaline rush of performing tricks.  But with excitement comes risk so Jacinta has trained her horses to stop should something not go according to plan.  Then…If the rider ends up in trouble the horse and rider are more likely to walk away from a show. 

Trick horses need to be so intuitive they can distinguish and anticipate the tricks as well as identifying what they must do so the horse “positions itself” to prepare for each trick. And as heavy horses are smart, they make perfect trick horses.

So Jacinta’s daring enterprise to embark on the discipline of trick riding, use Clydesdale cross trick horses and start Girls, Girls, Girls, W.A. has certainly paid off.  The introduction of heavy horses into the troop has just added something new and exciting into her world of trick riding. 

Jacinta has gone from challenge to triumph.  The result…She now has a successful business. Jacinta not only entertains people, she does something she loves and, like Emily, Jacinta loves using the heavy horse.And the heavy horses love what they do.  What an awesome bunch of people and what awesome horses! 

Will we look forward to seeing these girls in the future?  You bet y’u.  And we at Heavy Thunder look forward to hearing from and seeing more of these brave and amazingly talented young women and their heavy horses.

Thank you one and all for joining us once again.  We’ll look forward to you dropping by again.

Cheers

Paul and Jann

His latest trick…G6 in one of his most important roles ever, he carried a blushing bride on her wedding day.  This day would prove to be one of the most significant days in her life.  Photo courtesy of Ann Killeen.

15/10/2011 Hello Everyone and Welcome Once Again!

Have you ever heard anyone say you can’t, or more to the point, you shouldn’t ride heavy horses?  Well people have been telling us at Heavy Thunder Down Under National Heavy Horse Magazine for many, many, many years.  Lots of people have even laughed at us for promoting the heavy horse under saddle.  And do you think we believed them?  No way!  Why?

Because you can ride them, as we have demonstrated in so many of our blogs!   And Emily Wright agrees with us who also says, “Yes you can.” 

Hmmm…Now who is Emily Wright you might be thinking?

Well, Emily is one of the partners of the professional trick riding team High Velocity who believes, “the heavy horses wide set hip and shoulder combined with their ability to stay calm and focused on where they are putting their feet, even in a stressful situation, makes them the safest trick horse to trick ride on.”

Trick Riding…A Brief History

Trick riding has a fascinating history which began a long time ago with the Russian Cossacks.  These people were originally East Slavic people who hailed from semi-military communities in the Ukraine and Southern Russia. 

The term ‘kazak,’ which is where the name Cossack comes from, has been interpreted to mean adventurer…And adventurous they certainly were. 

The Cossack soldier would literally “trick” the enemy into thinking he was being dragged by his horse.  The particular manoeuvre, known then as the Cossack Drag, is now known as the suicide drag. But as soon as the soldier was in striking distance of his enemy, he would right himself in his saddle and attack.

‘Hmmm…Tricky,’ you might say.

Absolutely, but tricks like the Cossack’s used to perform in battle have lured people like Emily into the trick riding scene.   Trick riding is a huge and fascinating industry and she has been trick riding now for over 10 years. 

You would call Emily an adventurer as she has encouraged the use of the heavy horses within the Australian Trick Riding Industry.   

Emily has simply been blown away by heavy horses and their amazing ability to move with such ease allowing them to perform brilliantly as trick horses.  But the transition wasn’t an overnight one as Emily has loved the Quarter horse type. 

But, sadly, she has also witnessed some horrendous accidents experienced by trick rider’s riding light horses.  The light horses have fallen over during shows and injured not only themselves but their riders as well. 

 So how did Emily get involved in Heavy Horses?  The answer to that question is pretty simple.  She happened to be friends with Priscilla Morley from Kamilaroi Percherons.  Over time Priscilla inducted Emily into the world of heavy horses. 

But nothing ventured, nothing gained and Emily found then bought the very kind and honest Australian Draught Horse G6.  But G6’s introduction into the Trick Riding discipline wasn’t a gentle one.  Emily arranged for the gelding’s first appearance at the 2011 Canberra Royal Show.  After just 5 weeks of training. 

G6 was confronted with fireworks, thousands of people and side show rides to name just a few of the challenges any show horse would normally face.  So how did he handle the event?   To Emily’s delight, like a seasoned pro, not bad for a horse broken in at 7 years then turned out for three.  

When Emily finally took delivery of G6  he had been gelded for only three months…At the ripe old age of 10 years old.  G6 is now 11 years old.  But such is the nature of the heavy horse as they are mostly very kind animals.

Heavy horses are also known to be very morish.  It is a common belief in the heavy horse world you can’t just own one.  You usually wind up with more than one in your paddock.  

They are now becoming morish in the world of Trick Riding as a whole.  Jacinta Maurer from Western Australia uses two heavy cross horses in trick riding.  Both of these horses are Clydesdale infused horses.  But getting back to Emily, she just loves her Percheron, Shire and Clydesdale cross horse G6.

The name G6 really suits the horse as he moves so well and has so much power.  For those who may not know, a G6 is otherwise known as the Gulfstream G650 and is a jet aeroplane boasting twin engines.  So let’s hope G6 flies you to the moon Emily in the nicest possible way and may all your Trick Riding dreams come true.

So dare we say heavy horses are the safest trick pony of them all?  We do! And we at Heavy Thunder Down Under National Heavy Horse Magazine don’t believe heavy horses are one trick ponies either. 

Please go to our home page at www.heavythunder.com.au for more information on these awesome animals.   Whilst they may be heavy horses, they are a large horse capable of being used in many more disciplines than they currently are. 

Please also go to www.heavythunder.com.au/ridden-shires-and-heavy-horses  for more information about ridden heavy horses.

Thanks for joining us once again and we’ll look forward to your company next time. 

Cheers

Paul and Jann

Jilly the purebred Clydesdale filly with mum Cheese on the day she was born.  A grand result of…

Horse Breeding Heralding Jilly The New Born Clydesdale Foal

5th October 2011 Good morning everyone and what a glorious spring morning it is here in Ravensbourne Queensland.  Well Spring is certainly here and we’d love you to say hello to Jilly the Pure Bred Clydesdale filly.  She was born on the 15^th September 2011.

Jilly was born without fuss or drama and is a happy, healthy and very friendly filly foal.  As soon as we all saw each other we have been great friends.  In fact, she is so friendly she wanted to follow us out of the paddock which, we might add, was never going to happen.

Her mother is a very soft mare and can be seen with her baby.  “Cheese, as we’ve nick named her was very tired, but very content.  She had a healthy baby she can mother who even began cantering a few steps the day she was born.

Foaling time is a very anxious time for all breeders and the perfect outcome is to achieve a “strong, healthy foal.”  We all love fillies of course but let’s face it…healthy and happy is good no matter what the sex.  Every little Clydesdale addition, which usually ends up big Clydesdale editions, we might add, is very precious given the decline of heavy horses.

There is a lot we can do with our heavy horses.  All we have to do is to put our thinking caps on and it’s amazing what ideas will come to mind so to speak.  But in the mean time we all need to make sure our babies, once they are born are doing all the right things.

And it’s amazing what you get excited about when you have a new foal.  Things like peeing and pooing. 

Ewwww! Gross’, you might say.  And you would be absolutely right.  However if you weren’t obsessed about these kinds of things, sadly you might not have a new born foal for too long.

New born foals should be trouble with a capital, “T” in a nice way of course.  They should be in your face.  All new born foals are gems.  And all because us breeders take the risk of either buying a stallion, or putting our mares to a stallion we don’t own. 

Once our mare has been to the stallion and she is indeed in foal, we nurture our mares.  We then eagerly await the pending four legged arrival with bated breath while the gestation period draws to a conclusion and the foal is born. This is all a day in the life of a horse breeder during foaling season. 

And we personally have loved this season as it has announced the arrival of our little ray of sunshine…And this time, it has been in the shape of a girl.  Our beautiful Jilly Clydesdale with her classic looks and superb nature.  This is one horse breeding season we can honestly say, ‘it has been well worth the wait.’ 

Horse breeding heralding Jilly the new born Clydesdale foal’s arrival has truly been exciting for us.  We at Heavy Thunder sincerely hope you are all blessed with healthy, happy new born foals. And may you get the baby you wish for.  But please bear in mind, no matter what the sex, alive and thriving would certainly be the best outcome you could wish for.

Thank you everyone for joining us once again.  We look forward to your company again.  And may all of your troubles be happy, healthy, bouncing four legged ones!

Cheers

Paul and Jann

Granadeb Park Apollo winning Champion 2 Year Old Filly or Colt at the 2010 Junior Championships and Gelding Show.  Photo courtesy Grant and Debbie Teatoff.

3^rd September 2011…Hello Everyone and welcome once again.  And this is quite an occasion…A 20^th Birthday Celebration in fact and a special invite has been sent out…

Apollo the Clydesdale And The 20^th Birthday Celebration

As some of us might know business can be tough but it can also be enduring.  As the old saying goes, what comes around goes around.  And when a business gets behind the community, the community in turn, will usually get right behind and support the business.   

A number of days ago now we got an email from a guy whom has been in business for 20 years.  Greg Richens is the owner of Betta Produce in Burpengary north of Brisbane.  It all began way back in 1991 and the business is not only still going…It is growing!

This Saturday is September the 10^th 2011 which heralds not only this monumental event…But Greg’s monumental success.  And the day Greg has planned for everyone will be totally entertaining and totally family oriented.

Betta Produces Birthday will begin at 10am and end at 2pm. 

And Greg says, ‘everything is free to our customers.’

The entertainment on offer will be the Barnyard Babies which is a mobile Australian animal farm.  Pony rides will be given by Riding for the Disabled and who could forget the all important sample bags for the kids.  Of course it wouldn’t be an Australian event if there wasn’t a bush poet. 

And Greg has even got authentic Aussie humour to entertain people of all ages with the Crack Up Sisters.  S.T. Ruth and Little B-Ute are two sisters that have turned an obsession of whip cracking into a unique comedy routine.  These Aussie girls will literally pack up their Ute and come and say g’day…So you’ll find them at Betta Produce this Saturday.

There will also be a miniature horse showjumping demo, and (drum roll) Apollo the Clydesdale will also pay the kids a visit.  Apollo is a very kind and a very big Clydesdale Stallion that will be at Greg’s place.  He is 5 years old and is believed to be 18 hands high.  Now that’s big in anybody’s horse language.  

And to explain to everyone about the Clydesdale breed, internationally recognized horse judge and horse lover since the moment he could walk, Mr Paul Maskell will be there to oblige.

Greg’s idea was, ‘then we will have the smallest (in the mini’s) and (almost) the tallest’ in the equine world. 

Greg is a guy with a big heart and Saturday is his way of saying, ‘thanks.’   

So this event is his way of giving back to the wider community of Burpengary for supporting him all of those years.  All of this family friendly entertainment will all be in the one place at Betta Produce Burpengary, 202 Bruce Highway Eastern Service Road, which is next to Kratzman’s Caravans. 

But wait, as the TV advertisement says, ‘there’s more!’

There’s even a free sausage sizzle.  So why not make it a date.  Get the kids, the entire family and come one, come all to Betta Produce in Burpengary South East Queensland this Saturday September the 10^th 2011 at 10am. 

Where we’ll all have a real Australian whip cracking, sausage sizzling time until 2pm and we at Heavy Thunder will look forward to seeing you all there!

Cheers

Paul and Jann

Doing what he loves best.  Jack Murphy competing with the Irish Sport Horse Gough in a combined driving event at the 2011 Crows Nest Show.  Photo Courtesy Heavy Thunder Down Under.

2/09/2011…Hi Everyone and Welcome to a particularly inspiring blog.  At a recent horse show we came across a very talented junior whom shows horses in harness.  It just goes to show that showing in harness is…

A Great Horse Sport For All Ages

Horses came into the life of Jack Murphy when he was a young boy.  The Murphy family had horses for many years so horses were always, “just there” as Jack was growing up!  But something in the horse driving world caught Jack’s attention…Combined driving events.

 And we might mention it is only over the last 3 years Jack has been interested in and has begun driving horses.   Combined driving events are quickly becoming Jack’s passion as the events are fast, fun and fantastic for people who like to think on their feet…Or in their seat as it were.  And as it turns out, it’s the only sport Jack could find where he could sit down! 

Combined driving events in particular caught his attention as driving their horses was something the Murphy family had always wanted to do.  It  is a great horse sport for all ages. Horse driving is now a disciplined event and one recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale otherwise known as the FEI or the Inernational Equestrian Federation.

 
Many horse shows in the western world now caters for horse driving events. The type of horse show will dictate the type of event, the horses and carriages shown or used.  And there are many different types of horse drawn vehicles in today’s modern horse world. 

The particularly popular combined driving events are a fiercely competitive sport and tests a competitors all round driving ability.  Competition has grown to such an extent events like the Combined Driving World Championships are conducted two yearly whilst the World Equestrian Games are held every 4 years to cater for them.

So learning to drive horses is a skill borne out of practice and patience. And as part of his horse driving experiences, 16 year old Jack is starting to learn not only to drive horses, but to break horses into harness. Jack has two horses he is currently focusing on.  They are two Irish Sport Horses.  A 6 year old Thoroughbred x Irish Draught horse gelding affectionately known as Gough who was broken in two years ago.  Gough is now 6 years old. 

Jack also drives an 11 year old grey mare, Iris, whom has similar breeding and is a supremely quiet mare.  She has been classified as an Irish Draught Horse Stud Book mare and is perfect for any beginning person interested in carriage driving. 

But Jack is a young man with aspirations and he has his sights on driving internationally. And if we don’t miss our guess, one of these ambitions maybe to one day drive horses in either the Combined Driving World Championships or the World Equestrian Games.  These are world class championships that focus on eight amazing horse or equestrian sports…And they are not beyond his reach.

As we all know our young people are our future whether it be in the horse industry or in other areas of life.  And  Jack  has ambitions which are really exciting for both Jack, his family and for Australia.

Jack is currently a student in year 11 at Pittsworth High School in South East Queensland and plans to go to University, but he has still managed to notch up some major carriage driving wins.  These wins include Champion Junior at the 2011 National Carriage Driving championships at Bunndanoon here in Queensland. 

Maybe the great Australian dream is not necessarily just about owning your own home anymore.   But about going that one step further…Maybe it’s about rising to the bigger challenges in life? 

What an awesome thought and one not beyond young people like Jack Murphy whom loves to drive horses.  An interest that started because the horses were, “always there” and the Murphy family just wanted to give horse driving a go.  And why, may we ask, not?  As horse driving is definitely a great horse sport for all ages. 

Heavy Thunder Down Under would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best of luck Jack with your horse driving ambitions.  For other inspiring harness stories  please go to  http://heavythunder.com/

Driving horses in harness is certainly another avenue for you and your horse.  And as you'll all see people on many levels can and do enjoy this particular equine pursuit.

Well that’s it for today and  thank you for joining us…See you all next time.

Cheers

Paul and Jann

Congratulating a young competitor on a job well done.  Winning a blue ribbon is the best out come for any one competing in a horse show.  Photo courtesy Heavy Thunder Down Under.

A Message from Paul and Jann

G’day and welcome back to Heavy Thunder Down Under horse website.  As you probably already know we have had horse websites for quite a number of years.  It all began with a passion for horses and the desire to harness the power of the internet.

That was a while ago now.  The first Heavy Thunder website would have been started around 1999.   But as you may know we have been in horses for many years, practically all of our lives.

And for most of our lives we have lived and breathed horses.  We have also had a passion to help others with their horses.  And so we began the Heavy Thunder Down Under magazine.  The full set is now archived in the National Library in Canberra here in Australia.

But our challenge was how we could effectively help others with their horses.  The answer eluded us for many years as we struggled to learn what we could about the ever present and growing internet.

Although we weren’t old people the internet was surely a challenge to conquer, as we recognised back then, it was the way of the future.  Even back then this technology boomed and new ideas were emerging every day about how the internet could be utilized.

So we were determined to grow with it. Albeit it was definitely a challenge, but meanwhile we had a couple of dreams which were:

1.    To work from home and:

2.     To be able to work with our beloved horses.  And we decided the internet was the way to go.

Paul had established he wanted to pass on his several lifetimes of knowledge to others before the end of his lifetime.  And Jann wanted to be a successful writer.  So after much soul searching and head scratching over quite a number of years Our Horse Secrets was born.

Our Horse Secrets was a way Paul and Jann could combine not only Paul’s amazing horse knowledge but also Jann’s love of writing.  Being professional people this concept of teaching was embraced and utilized with the help of the internet.

Our Horse Secrets allows you as a new or experienced horse person to learn at your own pace.  We believe knowledge is power and that knowledge is not to be kept to oneself but to be passed on and shared.

And we would love this knowledge to benefit not only you, but as many people who want to learn the old horse ways.  These ways have become Our Horse Secrets. 

So with this in mind we would love you to visit our new website and check out the free information there.  And to benefit from what represents not even the tip of our horse information ice berg. But if you believe you are in need of some more help, we can help you with that too.

So we believe using this technology has developed into a win-win situation.  We get to do something we love and you get to learn about your passion quickly and easily.  And that passion is something we all share…Horses.

Well that’s it for now.  Thanks for dropping by and we’ll look forward to seeing or hearing from you some more.

Bye for now and we look forward to seeing you on the track.

Cheers

Paul and Jann

Photo courtesy the Australian Veterinary Association who believe culling flying foxes is not the answer.   Culling will only distress the animals and make things worse.  The Australian Veterinary Association believes the management of these animals is the key.

Baby Jack…A bouncing, healthy, purebred Clydesdale foal. The question now being debated all around Australia is how to live with flying foxes?  We ourselves have pondered the question and have written the following article for all who live in flying fox inhabited areas.  Photo courtesy Heavy Thunder.

16th July 2011 The Management Of Pteropodid Or Flying Foxes And Horses…

You are probably now asking yourself, ‘how do we live with or manage a colony of Pteropodid or flying foxes if they colonize near your horses?’   Allow us to use the Little Red Flying Fox which is extremely nomadic, as an example.  As there are many species of bats.

Although this species of flying fox is only in one place for one or two months, it is imperative you are able to manage your horses while they are there. 

Flying foxes are usually most active at dusk which is when they feed.   There is safety in numbers and a colony of about 1,000,000 isn’t affected by their normal predators when living in such large numbers.  And it has been suggested by some we learn to live with flying foxes as they are currently protected fauna in Australia.

 But let’s all remember flying foxes aren’t just here in Australia.  There are colonies of bats all around the world. 

The issue is, if the Hendra Virus is passed onto one or all of your horses, the horses, you and your vet are also at risk.  And the most important thing we all need to remember is the Hendra Virus is passed onto humans through horses.

 
People familiar with flying foxes say it is just about impossible to relocate a colony of flying foxes.  It is also very difficult to identify how many bats live together. Their numbers become more evident when they roost.

They also seem to be territorial and return to the same feeding sites.  So if you notice flying foxes in your area, chances are they will continue to return at some stage.  Planning how to manage this situation is so important before it becomes an issue for both you and your horses.

 
We at Heavy Thunder have come up with some different ways to help you manage your horses when living near Pteropodid or Flying Foxes:

•    Move your water troughs and feed dishes away from underneath trees bats roost in. This will lessen the likelihood the flying foxes will defecate (guano as the material is known) on the fly, as it were, in these receptacles
 
•    Alternatively, perhaps store these receptacles in either a shed or put a roof over them.   If these troughs feed from a tank, ensure there is a secure roof on the tank as well
 
•     If you have fruit trees, remove or relocate them
 
•    Remove or relocate “roost” trees away from your horses paddock.  This would encourage bats away from your horse’s paddock and to roost elsewhere (if allowed by legislation in your state)

•     Store your clean hay in a shed

Other things to consider are not to feed your horse food flying foxes love to eat, like food with molasses and keep horses out of paddocks with flowering trees in them.

We sincerely hope this information will help reduce the incidence of Hendra and the casualties it causes.  We believe if we could deal with these issues we would all stay healthy to enjoy each others company another day. 

Catch you all later on the track.

Cheers

Paul and Jann
P.S.  If you have any more information, suggestions or anything further to add we’d love to hear from you.  We are happy to accept constructive submissions.  The team at Heavy Thunder is genuinely concerned for all who love and deal with horses.  See you all later!