This page contains information about the philosophy of equiculture and about the author of this website and the newsletter - Jane Myers MSc. Please scroll down.
responsible horse ownership
A horse owner/carer has many responsibilities. These include:
-
Firstly the safety of themselves, secondly the safety of other people and thirdly the safety of any horses in their care.
-
The proper care and welfare of their horse/s including the use of humane management systems.
- The use of humane training methods that take the behaviour of the horse into consideration.
- Property care/management (local environment) and the wider environment on which their horse/s have an impact.
Safety is the most important aspect of horse ownership. Horse related activities are acknowledged as being one of the most dangerous leisure pursuits. Many people are killed every year in accidents with horses, both when riding and handling them, most of these incidents can be prevented. The level of risk can be minimised by following simple guidelines. Without safe practices you run the risk of damage to yourself, the people around you and your horses. Using safe practices is not only about using safe equipment (such as helmets and good gear) or having safe facilities, it is about being able to control your horse in any situation. You do not have to be a top class horse person to be safe but you do need to be a well educated handler or rider. With the correct knowledge you are able to interact with horses more confidently and therefore in a safer way. See the horse safe, horse behaviour and training pages for more information.
Care and welfare of your horse/s is essential for your horses/s well-being. As a horse owner/carer you are responsible for ensuring that:
-
A horse has ready access to fresh water and sufficient amounts of the correct foodstuffs. Horses need fresh clean water. They also need to be fed taking into account the horse's natural requirements for a high fibre diet (see the care and welfare page for more information).
-
A horse has an appropriate environment, space and shelter. Management systems must take into account natural horse behaviour (see the pasture and property and the horse behaviour page for more information).
-
A horse is free from pain, injury and disease. You need to be able to tell when a horse needs veterinary treatment, is in need of a dentist/farrier etc. (see the care and welfare page for more information).
-
As a horse owner/carer you understand horse behaviour. This knowledge can be used to provide the correct living conditions for them and to train them humanely . Understanding horse behaviour also aids in your safety when dealing with horses (see the horse behaviour page for more information).
-
The training methods you use do not cause fear and distress. By using humane training methods horses can be trained effectively and safely without causing fear and distress (see the training page for more information).
Environment. A horse owner/carer has a responsibility to the environment both locally and wider. Correct property care, management and planning does not need to be an expensive undertaking. Improved pasture means less feed bills, reducing mud or dust improves a horse's health and reduces vet bills. Better manure management turns a liability into an asset. As a result of correct property care, management and planning there is a reduction on the impact that horses can have on the local and wider environment.
Good land care involves such practices as improving the pasture, rotating horses around paddocks so that pasture has time to recover, harrowing larger paddocks to spread manure and fertilising when necessary. A better-managed property provides a variety of plants that in turn supports many animals - an ecosystem. The more diverse the ecosystem, the better it can cope with environmental disasters such as floods, drought, pests and disease (see the pasture and property page for more information).
At equiculture we aim to promote responsible horse ownership by educating people who come into contact with horses in the elements of safety - horse care and welfare - horse behaviour and training and good environmental practices. In order to do this we provide workshops/clinics to the general public and talks to clubs etc., produce books and booklets, deliver riding and training instruction via lessons and workshops/clinic and provide consultation services. These are of interest to everyone from complete novices to experienced horse owners/carers. Please refer to individual pages for more information.
Jane Myers MSc (Equine)
I have been involved in the Horse Industry for over 30 years (both here and in the UK) and I am the author of two books published by CSIRO called: Managing Horses on Small Properties and Horse Safe: A Complete Guide to Equine Safety. I am also a co-author of Horse Sense - The Guide to Horse Care in Australia and New Zealand (2nd edition). I have written numerous horse magazine articles and I am a freelance writer for books, booklets and equine courses on subjects such as riding, nutrition, behaviour, horse training and property/pasture management.
-
I hold an MSc (Masters degree) in Equine Studies from The University of Wales (UK) which I completed some years ago before migrating to Australia. This course covered subjects such as horse behaviour, horse nutrition, horse health and diseases, horse anatomy and physiology and horse business management. I also undertook a period of research at the Royal Edinburgh Veterinary School for my thesis on the grazing behaviour of horses.
-
I have taught riding and horse management for 25 years including seven years at Glenormiston College (Melbourne University) to students on Equine Studies courses.
-
I am a trustee and former boardmember of the AHIC (Australian Horse Industry Council, (see www.horsecouncil.org.au).
-
I am qualified as an instructor with Horse Safety Australia (see www.ahse.info) and am also an executive member of this organisation.
-
As a former boardmember of the AHIC, I was a working group member (representing horses) of AAWS (Australian Animal Welfare Strategy) a new government initiative overseen by DAFF (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food see www.daff.gov.au/aaws).
-
I also teach (via lesson/workshops) and advise on a variety of subjects including handling and riding instruction, feeding, horse behaviour, float training, clicker training, property/pasture management, horse safety and horse management.
please include your full name and state of residence in Australia (or country) so that I can file you in the correct mailbox
to download edition 4 of the newsletter (winter 2008) click
| newsletter 1 | newsletter 2 | newsletter 3 |
(NOTE Some browsers may have difficulty opening the newsletter, if you have problems, please try the link on the workshops page)
|
Remember
The information contained on this web site is the opinion or is based on the skills/experience of the author, and any use or misuse of any of the information is entirely the responsibility of the user. We cannot be held responsible for what you choose to do with the information. |
