For Quality Saddlery And Horse Supplies Visit KW Saddlery
For all your Polocrosse Gear visit KW Saddlery
For all your Polocrosse Gear visit KW Saddlery
Thursday, March 31, 2011
UK Polocrosse Video Chapter 2 - Part 2
For Quality Saddlery And Horse Supplies Visit KW Saddlery
For all your Polocrosse Gear visit KW Saddlery
For all your Polocrosse Gear visit KW Saddlery
Evolution Of The Horse
KW Saddlery - Quality Gear For Horse And RiderThe horse (Equus ferus caballus) is a hooved (ungulate) mammal, a subspecies of the family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today. Humans began to domesticate horses around 4000 BC, and their domestication is believed to have been widespread by 3000 BC. Although most horses today are domesticated, there are still endangered populations of the Przewalski's Horse, the only remaining true wild horse, as well as more common populations of feral horses which live in the wild but are descended from domesticated ancestors. There is an extensive, specialized vocabulary used to describe equine-related concepts, covering everything from anatomy to life stages, size, colors, markings, breeds, locomotion, and behaviour. Horses' anatomy enables them to make use of speed to escape predators and they have a well-developed sense of balance and a strong fight-or-flight instinct. Related to this need to flee from predators in the wild is an unusual trait: horses are able to sleep both standing up and lying down. Female horses, called mares, carry their young for approximately 11 months, and a young horse, called a foal, can stand and run shortly following birth. Most domesticated horses begin training under saddle or in harness between the ages of two and four. They reach full adult development by age five, and have an average lifespan of between 25 and 30 years. Horse breeds are loosely divided into three categories based on general temperament: spirited "hot bloods" with speed and endurance; "cold bloods", such as draft horses and some ponies, suitable for slow, heavy work; and "warmbloods", developed from crosses between hot bloods and cold bloods, often focusing on creating breeds for specific riding purposes, particularly in Europe. There are over 300 breeds of horses in the world today, developed for many different uses. Horses and humans interact in a wide variety of sport competitions and non-competitive recreational pursuits, as well as in working activities such as police work, agriculture, entertainment, and therapy. Horses were historically used in warfare, from which a wide variety of riding and driving techniques developed, using many different styles of equipment and methods of control. Many products are derived from horses, including meat, milk, hide, hair, bone, and pharmaceuticals extracted from the urine of pregnant mares. Humans provide domesticated horses with food, water and shelter, as well as attention from specialists such as veterinarians and farriers.
KW Saddlery - Quality Gear For Horse And Rider
KW Saddlery - Quality Gear For Horse And Rider
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
The Basis Of Horse Training
For Quality Saddlery And Horse Supplies Visit KW Saddlery
Horses are very useful and trainable animals. They can me used for a limitless variety of tasks such as farming, sports, recreation, and even warfare. Their tremendous strength and endurance are very valuable attributes. Not only are they gifted with tremendous physical qualities but they are also intelligent and very receptive to human commands. Beginner horse training can be fun for both you and your equine companion. There are many different types of horse training techniques, so make sure you are knowledgeable about whatever you choose to apply.
Horses can even be trained in specialized tasks and they thrive in any work they are assigned to do. They can do police work, and they can also be graceful animals for royalty and equestrian activities. They can also be used on farms and in the wilderness. Horses are incredibly versatile animals. They are functional as well as exquisite. Not to mention the fact that they love to please.
However, training a horse can be a real challenge especially for beginners and new horse owners. First and foremost, to be able to train a horse well, the individual must understand how the horse thinks and always -- I mean always -- consider the animal's instincts! As animals, instincts always reign above any training or conditioning. Having said that, a horse can be trained quickly and easily when you understand their innate behavior and work with the animal to achieve the desired success.
Check Your Horse On A Daily Basis
For Quality Saddlery And Horse Supplies Visit KW Saddlery
Examine your horse every day and especially prior to riding the horse. Carefully examine the horse's legs and back for any unusual heat or lumps. Make sure that the horse's eyes are alert and not glazy. Listen for any excessive noise or gurgling sounds coming from your horse's stomach. Catching problems before they become serious is critical to keeping a horse sound and alive.For Quality Saddlery And Horse Supplies Visit KW Saddlery
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Horse Equipment Needed For Hacking Out Safely
KW Saddlery - Quality Gear For Horse And RiderBy Tammy PattersonIt is important to remember that any equipment when used on or around horses should be kept in a good condition and free from wear and tear. In particular, important items such as reins, girth, girth straps and stirrup leathers should be regularly checked to prevent wear and tear from going unnoticed and becoming dangerous. It is not only the stitching that needs to be monitered, any leather should be cleaned regularly and a suitable leather cleaner / saddle soap should be used to prevent cracks, weaknesses and tears. Whichever saddle you use, GP, western or synthetic, it should fit correctly and your bridle should sit comfortably and neither should rub in any place. There are a wide range of safety accessories that can be utilised when hacking. Boots and or bandages are the best ways of offering protection to the horses legs. There are many different types, fetlock boots; brushing boots; complete boots that offer protection to the tendons and fetlocks as well as wicking moisture away from the legs, preventing rubbing and over-reach boots. These can be made using many different materials, leather, neoprene, nylon and synthetic fabrics are all common. When you know that the ground or footing in areas you will be hacking through are likely to be slippery, deep or icy, hoof boots with studs or having studs put into the horses shoes can assist in giving the horse a firmer footing, helping to prevent dangerous slipping and sliding. There are other techniques that can help to prevent the build up of snow in the horses hooves that can be discussed with your farrier if you find yourself having to ride in snowy conditions frequently. A mobile phone is now an essential of everyday life for most people. For safety reasons this should also be taken with you when hacking out, especially if riding out alone. This is best carried in a secure pocket with the ringer off so as not to startle your horse should it go off. In the event of in emergency you can use your phone to call the vet, your yard or your home should you need it. Even the most isolated areas should allow you to use emergency numbers, preventing you from being stranded in the case of an emergency. For Quality Saddlery And Horse Supplies Visit KW Saddlery
About Polocrosse
KW Saddlery - Quality Gear For Horse And Rider
Polocrosse is a fast-paced, skillful and exciting game played on horseback.
It presents an incomparable athletic challenge involving speed and stamina, and also demands lightning quick reflexes in both horse and rider.
Polocrosse is a fast-paced, skillful and exciting game played on horseback.
It presents an incomparable athletic challenge involving speed and stamina, and also demands lightning quick reflexes in both horse and rider.
Polocrosse is one of only three sports that Australia can truly claim as its own; the others being Australian Rules Football and Campdrafting.
In 1938, the sport was created by Mr & Mrs Edward Hirst from Sydney. After visiting England, where they witnessed an indoor horse exercise used to help young riders take better charge of their horses, they developed the exciting horse sport we see today.
Being a sport the whole family can play, Polocrosse caters for everyone from the expert 'A Grade' and elite player to the once a year 'casual' player. Polocrosse has Mini Junior (non-competitive), Sub Junior, Junior, Intermediate, Open & Masters levels. Some levels have separate men, women and mixed competition, however it is one of the few sports where male and female players can compete equally
in the same team.
For the best quality Polocrosse equipment visit http://kwsaddlery.com.au/category/polocrosse/
The History Of Polocrosse
For all your Polocrosse supplies visit KW Saddlery
KW Saddlery - Quality Gear For Horse And Rider
In 1938 the Polocrosse developed from an amalgamation of polo, lacrosse and netball. It is recognized as being one of only three uniquely Australian sports - the others being Campdrafting and Australian Rules Football.
In the beginning two horse riding teachers at Britain’s National School of Equitation made an indoor training exercise to re-enforce the teaching at the school. It was configured to make the beginner riders increase the control of their horses and whilst on a trip to England, horse breeders Mr and Mrs Edward Hirst saw the activity. Once back in Australia, and with the assistance of an seasoned horseman and polo player, Mr Alf Pitty, the Hirsts conceived the game of Polocrosse in Australia.
Polocrosse is an outside team sport that is conducted on horseback by men and women and children alike. All riders use a racquet, made up of a polo-stick shaft with a racquet type head that has a knotted string net in which the ball is picked up, carried and thrown. A Polocrosse ball is comprised of a thick-skinned soft rubber and is aproximately 100mm -130mm in diameter. Competitors pick the ball up from the ground, pass the ball, bounce the ball and carry the ball in order to to take the ball into their scoring area and throw a goal.
A team comprises six players, made up of two sections of three. Each section plays alternating chukkas of either six or eight minutes each, with generally four chukkas making up a game whilst sometimes up to eight chukkas are played. The three players in each section are numbered – No. 1 is the attack, or goal scorer, No. 2 is the centre, and No. 3 is the defense. The playing field is 146.5 m long and 55m wide, with goal posts at each end.
Horses are usually up to 15.2 hands. Australian Stock Horses and thoroughbreds are typically used. The game calls for the horse to be able to stop and turn extremely fast, to accelerate quickly, to have stamina and to push and ride-off other horses.
A high priority has always been given to the safety of both horses and players and this is ensured through a well organized system of umpiring. Polocrosse was intended to be a game which allowed the inexpensive enjoyment of one’s horse, hence the rule of one horse - one player and the playing of alternate chukkas.
Polocrosse is unique in its involvement of the whole family. Children start playing from as young as 6 years, and there are many players who are in their 60’s – so it is not uncommon to have children, parents and grandparents playing, and to have brothers, sisters, Mums and Dads all in the one team! In this way Polocrosse becomes a shared passion of the whole family.
The sport took a leap forward in 1976 when the International Polocrosse Council was established by Mr Max Walters AM, MBE. Today the sport is played worldwide.
The most significant milestone has been the staging of two Polocrosse World Cups in 2003 and 2007. Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, USA and Zimbabwe took to the field at Australia's premier Polocrosse facility at Morgan Park, Warwick in Queensland. Australia has won both the World Cups.
KW Saddlery - Quality Gear For Horse And Rider
Take This Trail Riding Quiz
KW <a href="http://kwsaddlery.com.au" >Saddlery<\a> Quality Gear For Horse And Rider
Trail riding is a lot of fun. Many folks enjoy the adventure of trail riding exclusively, while others use it as a break from riding in the ring. Because you are outside of the ring, you can encounter a lot more hazards when riding out.
Image:2006 K. Blocksdorf The hazards increase when you add in riding along roadsides or getting caught after dark. But trail riding needn't be dangerous if you observe a few rules, that are after all, good sense. Take the Trail Riding Quiz to find out if you have the smarts to stay safe when heading outside of the ring or arena.
There are Lots More Quizzes to Try:
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Monday, March 28, 2011
How To Play Polocrosse
For The Best Quality Polocrosse Gear Visit KW Saddlery
KW Saddlery - Quality Gear For Horse And Rider
KW Saddlery - Quality Gear For Horse And Rider
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Cunningham Polocrosse Training
Cunningham Polocrosse Club held it's first training session for the year. The day was well attended and all participants enjoyed themselves. 
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Friday, March 25, 2011
The Basic Riding Seat
No matter what the discipline of horse sports that you are into, the basic seat forms the foundation for all types of riding. The basic seat is the type of seat that is best used for any type of flat work or for the schooling of both the horse and the rider.
It is important to note that the basic seat position will differ slightly from person to person due to factors such as the build of the rider and the height and width of the horse.
In the basic seat the rider sits upright in the saddle and should be in a position where a vertical line can be drawn through the rider’s ear, shoulder, the point of the hip and the ankle joint. The bottom should rest in the lowest part of the saddle. The body’s weight should be spread equally over both halves of the saddle as well as the inside of the thighs. The legs should be relaxed as any tension or tightening in the inner thighs will lever the rider out of the deepest part of the seat and cause the rider to become unbalanced.
The rider’s seat should be relaxed and free from tension and the thighs should be rolled inward slightly so that the knees will rest flat against the saddle. This will ensure a “deep knee” position which is vital for a deep seat and correct leg position which will allow the rider the maximum use of the riding aids.
A fork seat may result if the stirrups are too long. With a forked seat, the legs have to stretch too far and this causes the riders weight to be taken on the thighs which in turn decreases the ability to correctly apply the leg aids.
Riding with the stirrups too short will result in a chair seat, thus named because the rider’s legs rest in the same position as they would in a chair. This position will also affect the use of the leg aids and cause the rider to sit in a shallow seat.
The lower legs should slope backwards from the knee, with the inside of the calf maintaining a soft contact with the horse’s body. This angle will place the lower leg just behind the girth, completing the vertical line that runs from the ear to heel.
The feet should naturally rest on the stirrup tread, almost parallel to the horse’s side and with the tread just behind the widest part of the foot. Whilst moving the foot should be allowed to flex and the heel should sink slightly lower than the rest of the foot.
The upper body should be vertical and the rider should be seated in the deepest part of the saddle with his body free from tension. The rider should sit tall in the saddle but not in a forced or unnatural way. The muscles of the upper body should be strong enough to maintain the upright position but no so tight as to prevent the body from going with the movement of the horse.
The head should be freely carried in a natural position without tension in the neck muscles and the eyes should look straight out over the horse’s ears.
The shoulders should be in a natural position without tension and should be drawn slightly back so as to extend the chest foward. The upper arms should hang down freely from the shoulders slightly in front of the verticle with the forearms pointing in a direct line to the horses bit.
For all your saddlery requirements visit http://wwww.kwsaddlery.com.au
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The Beginners Guide To Horse Care
KW Saddlery - Quality Gear For Horse And Rider
Horse Care is a vital element in the bond between man and horse. How well a horse performs for its owner is greatly influenced by the calibre of its stabling, care and feed. The follow article will help to give understanding of the basics of horse care.
Daily Grooming
The purpose of a daily grooming routine is to remove any dust, dirt or other material such as burs or dried sweat from the horse’s coat. Daily grooming also helps to massage the skin and promote blood circulation. Therefore it is important to understand that it is not just something that you do before a ride but it actually helps promote not only the health and wellbeing of your horse but helps its performance as well.
In the wild horses will actually groom themselves on a daily basis by rolling as well as scratching and licking each other. However with the domesticated horse and especially one that is kept in a stable it is the responsibility of the horse owner to ensure that their horses are properly groomed.
The basic elements of a grooming kit include a hoof pick, a hard and soft brush, a curry comb, a comb and bush for the forelock and tail as well as a sponge and a squeegee for after your horse has been washed.
Before you begin grooming your hose it is important for safety that its head is tied in a way that will control the horse but allow it to be released quickly in the event of an emergency. This can be done with either a quick release stable knot or a panic clip.
Firstly the coat is gently scuffed with a hard brush to remove any hard crusts of mud or dried sweat. It is advisable to keep this technique for fleshy areas of the horse and not areas such as the face. Once that is completed the horse should be cleaned with a soft brush, working from head to toe and following the grain of the hair. As you are brushing it is important that you continually tap the brush clean to ensure that you are not removing dirt from one area and depositing it in another.
To finish off the horse is either wiped with a cloth or hosed and dried off with a squeegee to remove any last traces of dust.
With a wet sponge you can then gently wash out the nostrils, corners of the mouth as well as the underside of the tail and the anus. Ensure that you use a different sponge for the different ends of the horse.
Main And Tail
To properly care for your horse’s tail it should be brushed on a daily basis to remove any foreign matter that has been tangled up. When brushing the tail ensure that you grip the tail higher than the area that you are brushing so that you do not pull out too much hair. The tail can be washed as required with a little water and a suitable shampoo. The mane and forelock are combed or brushed flat with a damp brush.
For Best Saddlery and Horse Care Equipment Visit KW Saddlery
Friday, March 18, 2011
Why Wear A Safety Helmet
KW Saddlery
Why wear a safety helmet?
It's simple. If you fall from your horse, the helmet takes the force of the blow - instead of your head. When you're riding, wearing a safety helmet is the most effective way to prevent a life-threatening head injury.
Selecting a safety helmet
Horse Riding helmets are cooler, lighter, and more comfortable than ever before. There are plenty of choices for riders of all ages and abilities. Just remember some ground rules:
- Make sure the helmet is safe and "approved". Look for Australian Standards Compliance label
- Make sure it fits properly. It is important to be correctly measured and fitted for a riding helmet. Not every helmet fits every rider, and there are sizing differences between brands. The helmet should feel comfortably snug. Sizing pads are included with most helmets and can help make the fit more secure. If you have long hair, consider a helmet with a ponytail port. You don't want to try to fit all of your hair up inside the helmet. That would make the helmet too big to properly protect you in case of a fall.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Avoid Outbound Links
Rapid SEO Expert: Get Your Website On The Front Page Of Google The more links that leave a page, the less ranking factor the elements on that page have as equity. The only instance when this is not a concern is if the page itself is augmented from other strong internal pages or have strong inbound links from other sites to offset the hemorrhaging effects of excessive links leaving a page. Rapid SEO Expert
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Manage Outbound Links
Rapid SEO Expert: Get Your Website On The Front Page Of Google The more links that leave a page, the less ranking factor the elements on that page have as equity. The only instance when this is not a concern is if the page itself is augmented from other strong internal pages or have strong inbound links from other sites to offset the hemorrhaging effects of excessive links leaving a page.
Rapid SEO Expert
Rapid SEO Expert
Thursday, March 10, 2011
I will give you web hosting with all the extras and install wordpress for $5
Rapid SEO Expert: Get Your Website On The Front Page Of Google Check This Out
Great Quality Web Hosting and Wordpress install for $5 per month Rapid SEO Expert
Great Quality Web Hosting and Wordpress install for $5 per month Rapid SEO Expert
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Social Media And Link Building
Rapid SEO Expert: Get Your Website On The Front Page Of Google
Rapid SEO Expert
When it was finally confirmed that Twitter & Facebook links pass SEO value for search engine rankings, I must admit: I cringed a little. It’s not that I didn’t see it coming. It’s just: now that they have confirmed for everyone what many have been predicting for years, even the doubters are rushing to incorporate social media into their link building strategy. And that worries me.
Eric Ward wrote about this a couple years ago, calling the idea of using social media for link building: “Spam 2.0”. I think it needs repeating:
“…those of us who are in the link building business need to recognize and respect the distinct culture of social media networks. Social media is not there to be exploited for SEO. Don’t ask “what can social media do for my links”. That’s just spam2.0. Instead, ask, “what can I do to contribute to the conversation aside from link drops”. If you have nothing to add but company and/or client links, frankly, your wasting your time, and ours. If you worked for the engines, would you really trust anything about social links enough to incorporate it into a ranking adjustment? Maybe In certain cases, and for certain topics, but if you spend some time looking through the social apps, you’ll see they are polluted already by the usual suspects. “
Polluted now more than ever, I’m afraid. And I can’t see how that will be getting any better in the near future, especially on Twitter. So before you start revamping your Twitter and Facebook accounts in an attempt to advance your link building efforts, there’s some things you should consider first:
“Limited Situations”
Since Google admitted that they use signals from social media sites “in limited situations”, there’s been a handful of SEO’s who are rushing around to do testing in order to determine just what the actual benefit these links carry. What I believe they’ll find is this: Just because you have a twitter account with 10,000 followers and you link to your site via tweeting, it doesn’t necessarily mean that link is providing any SEO value. I might actually go as far as to say in MOST cases, they won’t.
The search engines are looking for signals of quality for the content in their index. How far a link spreads and how influential the users are who are doing the spreading (followers ≠ influence) are going to be the big factors for what (if any) value is being passed. There’s little doubt that a few will still find a way to take advantage if this value, but most spammers will be wasting their time. At least, that’s my hope…
Questions about PageRank
An area of confusion of this new advancement is whether or not links from Twitter now pass PageRank. The short answer is no, they don’t (they’re still nofollowed). Yet the question remains: will the link carry weight similar the way PR works? Or is it something totally different?
For example: even if you happen to be getting the link benefit from a tweet, it has been speculated that it may not only be temporary, but also page specific. In other words: you may not be able to pass value to the rest of your site like you can with links that carry PageRank. Just an FYI: I have little to back up this claim; further testing is needed to determine how this new signal actually works.
It’s not just about Twitter & Facebook
Social media link building doesn’t stop at Twitter & Facebook (I have plenty of evidence to back up this claim). There are literally hundreds of social media sites & tools to take advantage of for their potential SEO value. The problem is, even more so than on Twitter or Facebook, it’s not about adding a link and walking away.
You can submit to spam hundreds of social media sites and get little to no value from it. Even if your content is appropriate and of acceptable quality, you still need to have some influence and a network of users for it to spread. Otherwise you’re wasting your time.
Getting REAL link value from Social Media
Some social media bookmarking sites award submissions a direct dofollow link. Sometimes it’s only in certain situations, like if the submission has become popular by being featured in a main category page or hitting the front page. What I’d warn people about, however, is that it’s not the links from social media sites themselves that should be focused on. For one, the PageRank value, if it’s passing any at all, doesn’t last long. Second, similarly to how SE’s are treating links from Twitter & Facebook, if they’re to take quality signals from these other social sites as well, it’s all about how far the link spreads, and by whom. Third, the link from the social site itself isn’t where the real SEO value comes from.
So where does this REAL link value come from? It’s all about getting high quality linkable content in front of as many relevant webmasters & bloggers as possible:
- Network on appropriate social media sites & within relevant subcategories (this means being social)
- Focus on creating high quality linkable content designed to spread (e.g. link bait)
- Submit and promote your content to get it in front of webmasters
- Webmasters provide natural links to your content
Regardless of the added value Twitter & Facebook links pass, it’s also a great place to do this type of promotion. In fact, when successful on Twitter, I’d argue it can be the best. And I would still take the links you receive for having created content of value over the added power of a Twitter link any day. But it’s a nice bonus!
Written By:
Todd Heim | Essential Internet Marketing | @ToddHeim
Todd Heim is CEO, co-founder, and SEO manager of Essential Internet Marketing, LLC, an SEM and Social Media Marketing company based in Albany, NY.
Rapid SEO Expert
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Search Engine Marketing
Rapid SEO Expert: Get Your Website On The Front Page Of Google Search Marketing is so much more than a bunch of keywords on your website. It's about doing some big things, and many small things really well. It's not just about SEO, PPC, website design or Google. You need a holistic approach to your online business, right down to planning and implementation to help achieve your online goals. I believe that knowledge transfer to your staff is the key to ensuring success. Rapid SEO Expert
Thursday, March 3, 2011
What A SEO Does
What Does A SEO Do
In simple terms SEO involves writing pages that use keywords and phrases people use in searches, and securing links from other pages to show how important your page is compared to others. SEO will improve the volume or quality of traffic to your web site from search engines via “natural” or organic (free) search results.
In simple terms SEO involves writing pages that use keywords and phrases people use in searches, and securing links from other pages to show how important your page is compared to others. SEO will improve the volume or quality of traffic to your web site from search engines via “natural” or organic (free) search results.
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