How to Horse videos on YouTube

It is always best to make sure you're allowed to use YouTube, but if you are allowed, they have some fantastic instruction videos.  Here's one on 'How to Mount a horse':

There are so many to choose from!  What about 'How to Trot'

Or maybe you have a shy horse - 'Working with a horse that spooks easily'
 

HorseWyse Magazine

Have you seen HorseWyse magazine yet? 

We have a subscription you can borrow, but their website is jam pack with lots of awesome stuff about horses.  From riding, ‘how to’ videos, fun, games, pony parties, photo galleries, back issues and lots more!

Mildura-Alcheringa Pony Club Website.

Are you a member of the pony club? Why not check out their website.  They have some great information about ponies, riding and various camps that they hold around the district.  If you'd like to improve you riding, or just want to meet more people who love horses as much as you do, you should think about visiting them.  The have a great gallery which you can have a look at, they also have links to other useful websites like Mildura Horse Trials and the Sunraysia Eventing Team.

Victoria Eveleigh Website

We're not just about books Red Cliffs Library, we like to find out what's happening all around the world!

Why not check out author Victoria Eveleigh's website.  You can find information on her Katy and Joe series of books, find out what she's up to next and even better - you can see her ponies!  Why not check out her new Exmoor Orion!

Here's some lovely Exmoors' in the snow!  Aren't they pretty?  We'd like to start a gallery on this blog, so if you'd like to share a picture of your pony, why not send it through :)

Nancy Drew: the Secret of Shadow Ranch.

Nancy Drew: the Secret of Shadow Ranch. [cd-rom].  United States. Her Interactive, 2004.

Nancy Drew is having another adventure, this time at Shadow Ranch in Phoenix, Arizona.  But strange things are happening, there’s a phantom horse visiting Shadow Ranch, and there is a trail of accidents and damage that no one can explain. As Nancy Drew, you must divine the truth from the ghost stories and the legend of Dirk Valentine.

For ages 10-14.  Place hold here…

Heartland [DVD]

 
Conkie, Heather., (Producer), Cox, Tim., (Producer)., Bennett, Dean., (Director)., (2007).  Heartland.  Calgary, Alberta.  Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund.



Finished all the Heartland books?  Or maybe you’re halfway through and want a break from reading all about Amy and her family – why not watch their adventures instead!  The TV series is now up to their seventh season, so there is plenty to catch up on!
As with the books, the TV series follows Amy after the loss of her mother and the return of her sister to Heartland ranch.  From there we get to see Amy, Ty, Grandpa Jack and Lou as they adjust to life as they try to horses and their owners alike with behavioural problems.  Heartland is a great show for the whole family to watch together.

For ages 9-14.  Reserve DVD here…

The Man From Snowy River by A.B. 'Banjo' Patterson

This is only the first of 13 verses that make up Banjo Patterson’s well known poem.  Do you know the rest?  Why not click on the YouTube clip below to listen to the whole poem.  The poem was originally published in a newspaper called ‘The Bulletin’ on 26^th of April, 1890.  123 years ago!!!

The poem tells the story of a horseback pursuit to recapture the colt of a prizewinning racehorse that escaped from its paddock and is living with the brumbies. Eventually the brumbies descend a seemingly impassably steep slope, at which point the assembled riders give up the pursuit, except the young hero, who spurs his pony down the side of a really big cliff to catch the mob.
 
There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around
That the colt from old Regret had got away,
And had joined the wild bush horses - he was worth a thousand pound,
So all the cracks had gathered to the fray.
All the tried and noted riders from the stations near and far
Had mustered at the homestead overnight,
For the bushmen love hard riding where the wild bush horses are,
And the stock horse snuffs the battle with delight. (Patterson, A.B., 1890).

For all ages.  Click here for complete poem…

And have a look at this amazing clip, 'Jim's Ride' taken from the The Man from Snowy River movie.  Don't try that at home guys!!

My Friend Flicka & Flicka on DVD

Dietrich, Ralph., (Producer), Schuster, Harold. D., (Director). (1943). My Friend Flicka. Los Angeles.  Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.

There have been a lot of different adaptions of this film, but this is one of the earliest available.  In this movie Ken is is big trouble with his parents, he hasn't done we at school, he's always getting in to trouble, has bad grades and it looks like he'll have to repeat the year.  That is until his parents decide that maybe a young horse to train will be good for him.  And instead of choosing the horse his father wants him to, he picks a young filly.  It's not long until Flicka is injured and Ken has to nurse her back to health.  Will Ken be able to do it?  And what will Flicka teach Ken about horses?

For ages 7-12.  Place DVD on hold here...

Here's another version of the movie, this time it's a girl who finds Flicka.

Netter, Gil., (Producer), Halloran, Kevin., (Co-Producer), Mayer, Michael., (Director)., (2006). Flicka. Los Angeles.  Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.

This is a coming of age story set in the mountains, A headstrong 16 year old Katy McLaughlin desires to work on her family's mountainside horse ranch, although her father insists she finish boarding school.  Katy finds a mustang in the hills near her ranch.  Katy then sets her mind to tame a mustang and prove to her father she can run the ranch. But when tragedy happens, it will take all the love and strength the family can muster to restore hope.  This is one of my favourite versions of Flicka, maybe because I always wished we lived on a ranch and I'd find my very own Flicka!

For ages 9-14.  Place DVD on hold here...

The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell

Mitchell, Elyne. (Writer)., Lee, Caroline. (Narrator). (2009). The Silver Brumby. [playaway]. Tullamarine.  Bolinda Audio.

 Here at Pony Pals and at the Red Cliffs Library we know sometimes it's hard to read, you might not get enough time to sit down each day, maybe you're not a fast reader, or maybe you can't read very well - either way why not try and listen to book on a playaway.  All you need to get started is some head phones and a battery - it's that simple.  Then all you have to do is sit back, relax, press play and listen to someone read you the story.  If you're not quite so lucky, you can still listen to it while you clean your room!

Now PP's - onto the story!

A silver brumby is special, but he will be hunted by man and horse alike, and must be stronger than both ... Thowra, the magnificent silver stallion, is King of brumbies.  But he must defend his herd from the mighty horse, Brolga, in the most epic of battles!  But that's not all Thowra needs to protect his herd from and he will need all his speed and cunning to save his herd from capture by man. In a desperate chase through mountains, it seems there is no longer anywhere for him to run to.

For ages 8-12. Reserve playaway here...

Martin Clunes: Horsepower

Clunes, Martin.(Presenter)., Leese, Ian. (Producer/Director). (2010). Martin Clunes Horsepower. [DVD]. North Sydney, N.S.W: Direct Holdings/Time Life.

Get your friends together, pop the corn and turn on the TV and join Martin Clunes as he travels the world to unlock the secrets of the special partnership between man and horse that has shaped the world.  First up Martin explores the origins of yesterdays horse and then see how that animal has evolved into the horses we have today. Then discover the connection these horses have had with humans and our reliance on them.  In the second episode, we see how horses have changed our world, from chariots to cowboys, knights to mounted police.  Travel across the world as we visit the furthest reaches of Mongolia, the deserts of Arabia;  Then to the Mustangs of the Americas and the Brumbys in Australia.  This is a must for any horse lover - reserve a copy today!  Approx running time: 90 minutes.

For ages 7-14.  Reserve DVD here...

The Complete Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Horses & Ponies by Catherine Austen

Austen, C., Gorrie, S., Roome, P., & Swinney, N. J. (2008).  The Complete Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Horses & Ponies.  London.  Flame Tree Publishing.

This book is your one stop guide for all things horse!  Discover the horse throughout history and culture, its uses, anatomy, appearance and behaviour, and read up on all the practical advice on how to choose and buy a horse, how to care for it, tips on keeping your horse healthy.  And all the information you could want on tack and equipment, riding, training, and competing. Easy to read entries which cover all the main breeds of horse (nearly 200), split into ponies, light horses and heavy horses and organised by country.  So if you need to know anything horse related, get into the library and find this book!

For ages 7-14.  Reserve book here... 

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (book & graphic novel).

Sewell, Anna. (1877). Black Beauty. 2003 Ed. Maryborough.  Scholastic Inc.

A horse is a horse of course unless of course the horse is Black Beauty. Animal-loving children have been devoted to Black Beauty throughout this century, and no doubt will continue through the next.
Although Anna Sewell's classic paints a clear picture of turn-of-the-century London, its message is universal and timeless: animals will serve humans well if they are treated with consideration and kindness.
Black Beauty, narrated from the horses point of view, tells the story of the horse's own long and varied life, from a well-born colt in a pleasant meadow to an elegant carriage horse for a gentleman to a painfully overworked cab horse. 

For ages 9-14.  Reserve book here...

And for something different...the graphic novel version.

Brigman, J; Richardson, R & Sewell, A. (2005).  Anna Sewell's Black Beauty. Puffin.

This edition is filled with June Brigman's beautiful illustrations.  It also contains extra drawings and step by step guide of how June illustrated the novel.  For all those who loved Black Beauty in the original format, this is definitely worth a look.

For ages 9-14.  Reserve graphic novel here...

 

Pony Pals by Jeanne Betancourt

Betancourt, Jeanne. (1994). Too many ponies. In Pony Pals Series: No. 6.  Maryborough.  Scholastic Inc.

Do you love ponies?  Be a Pony Pal!

Pam Crandal has a great new job.  She is helping to school new ponies.  Pam loves training the ponies, but she must work long hours.  Pam worries that her pony, Lightning, doesn't understand why Pam is spending so much time with other ponies.  Her Pony Pals, Lulu and Anna, are getting mad that Pam is too busy for trail rides with them.  Will Pam have to stop being a Pony Pal?

This is book six in the Pony Pals series - have you read them all?  Chaps off if you have, there are forty four all up!  That is a lot of reading, but just think, you get to join Anna, Lulu and Pam in their pony adventures.  And boy do they get up to some mischief - from runaway ponies, circus performances and helping horses with special needs this series has it all.

For ages 7-10.  Reserve series here...

Joe by Victoria Eveleigh

 
Eveleigh, Victoria. (2013). Joe and the Hidden Horseshoe. In Joe Series: No. 1.  London.  Orion Children's Books.

You might have already read Victoria's exciting Katie Exmoor trilogy.  But Joe's life changes unexpectedly when he discovers an old horseshoe in the first in this new pony trilogy about making new friends and facing new challenges.

There are lots of things Joe would wish if he had the chance—that his family hadn't moved from the city to the country, that his mom hadn't bought two ponies no one could ride, and that one day he might have a dog of his own. So when he finds a lucky horseshoe in his garden, he makes some wishes just for fun. After all, there's always a chance they might come true.  Proof that reading and riding horses isn't just for girls!  So whether you're a boy or a girl, come join Joe on his pony adventures.

For ages 7-10. 
Reserve series here...

Heartland Series by Lauren Brooke

Brooke, Lauren. (1999). Coming Home. In Heartland Series: No. 1.  London.  Scholastic Children's Books.

The Heartland series is comprised of twenty six titles all about Amy and her family on their ranch Heartland.

Healing horses, healing hearts.

The daughter of a respected horse healer, or 'whisperer', 14 year-old Amy has a powerful connection with horses. With her mother's help, she is developing her skills as a horse whisperer while tending to the animals at Heartland, a refuge for horses that have been emotionally or physically traumatized. But when her mother is killed in a tragic trailer accident, Amy realizes she will never see her world the same way again.  This series is fantastic as it allows you to really understand the day to day workings of a real ranch and helps to show the importance of a good horse/human relationship.  If you've only just discovered horses or you're a long time fan this series is a great introduction into the equine world.  A must for all animal lovers.

For ages 9-14.  Reserve series here...