THE ISLAND 22 EQUESTRIAN PARK

Hey everyone,

Well huge news, at least I hope so, I won a competition held by our internet provider for a total website makeover.

AUGH!!

That means, I am hoping, a really professional looking website for you all.

I will admit that I am nervous and I hope this turns out for the good and not a failure. eek.

I have a telephone conversation with the web designer tomorrow and whatI would love to tell them is what you like and what you dont like aboutour website.

So, let me know what it is you like about the Island 22 Website andplease be brutally honest and tell me what you dont like as well.

Also tell me what you would like to see on the site - what resources could I maybe offer to you?

What this also means is that our site is going to go offline for almost a week.

We will be back!! And I will have lots of news about the new fee structure and a flashy site (I hope) for you to play with.

Please read this and think carefully about your 2010 eventing year.

No-one can fix Eventing except the riders

When you are team bound, when you are goal driven, you don't look at life that way until it's too

late. I'm trying to tell people, sometimes it's better to go home and come back another day.

Sometimes it's better to look at your horse and say, "You know what buddy, I love you but maybe the four-star, or the three-star or even the two-star level is above you," and not push your horse or yourself past the point you can do. I don't understand why people think thatt hey have a god-given right to go around Kentucky as fast as they can or as fast as they want to. It's your job out there to take care of you and your horse first. If you don't like the course, don't run. If you think questions aren't fair, don't run. Most people do that.

.....

We don't have to change the sport. We have to change the way the sport is being played by the players.

I can only begin to imagine who showed up in old Woof Boots. sigh.

The rest sounds brilliant!!!

Pipsqueak Paddocks Miniature Horse Haven is a rehabilitation and rehoming centre for Miniature Horses. They are located in the beautiful upper Fraser Valley of BC.

They have a fundraiser going on right now:

 Dan Sawatzky, a renowned Artist, has kindly donated some Limited Edition Prints.

All profits from the sale of these Limited Edition Prints go to

Pipsqueak Paddocks Miniature Horse Haven Society.

Island 22 Equestrian Park Society Fundraiser to raise funds to complete the surface of the new riding ring.

March 13, 2010

7:00pm

Duke's Pub- Chilliwack

$10 per person.

Tickets include a roast beef dinner buffet and live music!!!

Contact Janice for tickets. go_event@dowco.com

Riding with Soft Hands

Stretching for horse riders

(the link has diagrams too)

January 4, 2010

by Valee More

Stretching for Good Posture - The Psoas MuscleThis is a stretch for the deep psoas muscle that when tight compressesthe lumber spine, tilts the pelvis and can contribute to sciatica andlumber pain.

In horse riders if this muscle is tight it prevents the rider beingable to stretch the leg back and keep the heel in alignment with theshoulder. It also causes anterior tilt which is a sway back and if itone muscle is tighter than the other, can cause one hip to be higherthan the other and the toe pointing more outward.

The psoas (major on the right) is a very strong and powerful muscle. Ithelps the body bend towards the ground and sideways, and is the primemover for lifting the leg up when walking.

Tightness Test

Wearing loose fitting clothing lie on the floor and bring one leg up toyour chest. Keep your head on the floor. If the psoas muscle is tighton the opposite leg, the back of the thigh will lift off the floor.Repeat for the other leg.

Caution - with all stretches do not create pain.

Psoas Stretch

Sit on the edge of a table where your feet will not touch theground.

You may like to put something on it such as a folded blanketfor comfort.

Gently roll back bringing one leg up to your chest (with head still on the table).

The hanging leg is doing the stretch and should not be touching the table.

Allow the leg to stretch down to the ground, but keep your body straight.

You could add ankle weights to help the stretch.

Hold the position for 30 seconds then repeat with the opposite leg.

Repeat 2 more times holding the position for up to a minute or longer if comfortable.

Valee More has a horse riding background and istrained in remedial massage, craniosacral therapy and orthobionomy. Sheloves helping horse riders with awareness of their posture, releasingtight muscles and pain, and helping to realign their posture to assistin their riding. She empowers clients with self-help techniques such asstretching specific muscles and learning to use the body in a morebalanced way. Valee guarantees pain relief during sessions.She also works with horses with Reiki and craniosacral therapy. Her websites are www.animalhealing.co.nz and www.theoasisclinicltd.com

The HTBC Calendar has been updated to include all clinicians.

HTBC Calendar

and we have to make some officials changes to our May Spring Fling Omnibus page.

Stay tuned. I may have to remove the page. We will see what the call is.

Hey everyone!!

The omnibus pages and all the entry forms for the 2010 year down at Island 22 are now posted on the Events and Clinics Page.

Also, HTBC has released a revised edition of the 2010 Eventing Year Calendar with all the Spring Series Clinic information on it.

This is PART 1.

As soon as I see part two released I will let you know.

Great info on getting ready for the new season!!!

Preparing for a Three Day Event