Sunday, April 27, 2014

Cheryl Giacchetti, Equestrian


From Port Elizabeth Area, South Africa, Cheryl Giacchetti is a Founding Board Member of Mkulu Kei Horse Trails & Riding Holidays cc.
An avid equestrian, Cheryl enjoys sharing the waves with other riders! Gorgeous horses, stunning landscape, beautiful accommodations, and much more. If you’re looking for the perfect South Africa horseback riding adventure, connect with Cheryl and find what is waiting for you on the Sunshine Coast!

Describe your first encounter with a horse…
I have been around horses and riding since I was 6 years old and they have fascinated and attracted me ever since.

Do you prefer one breed over another?
I do not have any breed preference but rather look at the individual in terms of confirmation, attitude and temperament with reference to the discipline of riding that I am doing at the time. I also look at the bond I have with the horse as I feel that this is possibly the most important aspect.

Where do you like to ride?
Anywhere as long as it is on the back of a horse, but I must admit that if pushed for a favorite place it would be on the beach cantering through the waves.

Cheryl and Poseidon 
Describe Mkulu Kei Horse Trails & Riding Holidays cc...
I started the horse trails in 1998 with a few working horses and developed the operation from there. Initially I was focusing on the longer trips up the Transkei coast but with a young family I found I was away from home too much. My partner Don took over the long trips while I built up the day rides for the novice and first time riders on holiday in Morgan Bay. We built up our herd of working horses to 45 so we had a range of different horses to suit a wide range of riding abilities with more youngsters in training to replace the older ones as they retired from the trails. The operation has twice won the Eastern Cape Tourism Board’s “Best Horse Trail” award of excellence.  In 2014 we decided to expand the operation and focus on the Sunshine Coast. The area offers all that the Transkei has and a whole lot more, including riding in game as a part of the coastal trails. With the better accessibility along the coast we can now offer a wider range of options and more variety in terms of riding an accommodation.

How many horses do you stable?
All our horses live out and in as natural a herd as possible.

Are you open all year?
We are open all year except for the period between 15 December to 15 January, as this is peak holiday season along the coast and we have difficulty getting accommodation bookings. Our trails start on the 1st Friday of every month (except January) but we can book other dates on request and as long as the group is big enough.

Do you have diverse trails for different skill levels?
We can cater for all riding abilities but try to match the rider’s abilities on trail so that all members of the group get the pace that they are happy with. If there is a wide range of abilities within the group we will lay on an extra guide and split the group into two, novices and advanced.

What is the best time of year to schedule a riding holiday?
Any time of the year is great, our winters are very mild and the sea breeze keeps everything cool in summer. We cannot offer the game rides in June and July as the parks are closed to visitors.

What does horsemanship mean to you?
Forming a bond with the horse on the ground before you ride, having empathy for the horse and working with and riding the horse as naturally as possible. Communication in a manner that the horse understands and responds to willingly is, I believe, the key.

Connect with Cheryl...

Monday, April 21, 2014

Monday


Her dress is
Tied, a cross-grain
Ribbon

Moist hair is
Tied, a tight
Chignon

He wanders in
Like Monday morning

No words he says
No words needed
No words spoken

He unlaces his boots
His smile, a token

Ribbon slides south
Hair, doesn’t matter

All to the wayside
Hearts pitter-patter




© ginamc4/14


Sunday, April 20, 2014

Easter Blessings...

Sunrise Service, search for the Easter Basket, the ever-enchanting Egg Hunt, and a decadent family dinner. 

So many blessings; so much to be thankful for. Today we remember why we journey toward the Mark, and why we live a Victorious Life. From the Cradle to the Cross, we continually thank God for His Salvation, Provision, and Promise.

It was a gorgeous day here in my neck-of-the-woods, hope it was just as gorgeous wherever you are!

May the year ahead be filled with God’s love, peace, prosperity, and victories.

Peace and Blessings,
Gina

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Angela T. Roberts

Welcome author 
Angela T. Roberts!

Angela explains the importance of canine nutrition...

NUTRITION


I consider “Nutrition” to be the most important chapter in my book, Raising Dogs With Common Sense.  First, I encourage you to follow the advice and instruction of your trusted veterinarian.  Some dogs require specific diets due to certain illnesses or peculiarities associated with their breed.  While I am a bully-breed fan, I love all dog breeds, and I have done much research into the ingredients that seem to work best for most breeds.


Nutrition Rule: READ THE INGREDIENT LIST of anything you intend to feed your dog (dry kibble, can food and even treats).  If you find corn, wheat or glutens of any type in the ingredient list, please search for a better product.  Dogs are unable to digest corn and corn glutens; therefore, corn = filler = more poop in the yard.  Wheat and wheat glutens convert to sugar in the body, and cause yeast to form on the dog’s skin.  Yeast can also cause stinky ears and “eye boogers.”  The wrong ingredients have potential to irritate skin and coat.  Gluten is a sticky protein that can build up in the body and blood stream, causing allergies and other health problems.  I believe in prevention, so I do not allow “bad” ingredients in my dogs’ nutrition.  In my 20+ years of raising dogs and experimenting with various canine formulas (I even cooked for my dogs at one point!), I discovered that I saved money by spending more on the best foods.  My dogs actually eat less because I provide them with grain-free, meat-&-sweet- potato-based dry kibble.  Please see my website for preferred brands, etc.  Remember, in the wild, dogs are carnivores (predominantly meat eaters).  


Sure, I supplement my dogs’ diet now and then with meat and dark greens from our meals.  I also throw a handful of fish oil gel caps into the yard each morning, as fish oil is excellent for humans AND dogs (more info on supplements in my book).  The ONLY “treat” I purchase is meat jerky – 100% meat, no fillers.  I break the strips into tiny pieces to make them go further, for training purposes.


I own five dogs that enjoy running our fenced-in farm.  None of them are over-eaters even though they have an automatic feeder containing 100% digestible, grain-free food.  My senior dog (“Cindy,” age 8) has a few health problems and she might be a tad overweight; but she still has loads of energy once she gets going in the mornings.  Her skin and coat are beautiful, and she has clear eyes.  My other four range from ages 7 to 18 months, and they fall into the criteria of what I feel a young, healthy dog should possess:  excellent muscle tone, plenty of energy, beautiful coats, healthy skin, great temperaments, wagging tails, clear eyes, and clean teeth!


We’ll talk more on NUTRITION in my next article.


Angela Thompson Roberts, Author
RAISING DOGS WITH COMMON SENSE
Website:  www.dogbluff.com




Monday, April 14, 2014

The Original Rug Bag



It is what we have been waiting for to protect our expensive rugs and to help them last longer.

From Hertfordshire, UK, welcome Janette Perrett, CEO

The Original Rug/Travel Bag protects your rugs whilst hanging on a rug rail. It also doubles as a travel bag rolling up to transport your rugs making them compact and easy to carry. It is a new innovative Patent Pending product made in Britain made from strong light/weight waterproof/breathable fabric.

Janette shares how the Rug Bag happened…

I have wanted a Rug Bag to protect my rugs for years ever since I bought my first rug rail. Every year when all the new equestrian catalogues came out I eagerly looked to see if anyone had made one and was disappointed over and over again. In 2011 I decided to make my own and a friend who makes curtains helped me make my first Rug Bag. I made many design changes and lots of mistakes before I got it right and I rigorously tested it in my own stables and tack room for over a year to make sure it does what it’s designed to do. It has been a huge challenge getting the Rug Bag to manufacturer lots of stress and tears but with lots of help from very unexpected sources I now have a Rug Bag that I am very happy with and proud of.


We are a new online family business based in East Hertfordshire. We are horse owners and are passionate about our horses and horse welfare, they are a very important part of our lives.

Horses are tough on their rugs and they can be very expensive to replace so we feel it’s really important to take the best care of them. Keeping horse rugs neat and clean has always been a challenge but not any more as we now have The Original Rug Bag. We have designed the Rug Bag to fit around your rugs whilst hanging on a rug rail, it also cleverly doubles as a Travel Bag making transporting your rugs easy and compact.

It’s easy to fit on/take off and its the solution that you have been waiting for to help protect your rugs from dust, dirt, water, creepy crawlies etc. plus it makes your tack room look neat and tidy.

For more information and to connect with Janette please go to: www.theoriginalrugbagcompany.co.uk
email info@theoriginalrugbagcompany.co.uk 
phone 01920 438306


Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Rain on the barn roof...

Love lives here. 

My muses Bake and Cherokee rest in the warmth of the barn while listening to the sound of rain on the barn roof. <3



Milliron Monday: Letters Home Oct 10 1960

          Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.:   June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010 Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1...