Horse Ownership: Some Things You May not Know but Need to Know

 

 

What’s not to love about horses?  Ronald Reagan addressed that question in his own colorful way in stating, “I’ve often said there is nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse.” As a former owner of horses, including a show horse, I can attest to the truth of those words. However, horse ownership is not to be taken lightly. There are things that one needs to know before purchasing a horse for the first time and much to know about ownership and care of a horse.

Need-to-Know Information before Purchasing a Horse

Buying a horse for the first time, especially for those who truly love horses, is an exhilarating experience. However, a first time buyer should be cautious not to jump into buying the first horse that bats his or her big beautiful eyes at him. It’s important for a first-time buyer to purchase a horse that is right for him. Doing so requires some research, some smart and strategic purchasing strategies, and experience with horses. If a first-time buyer lacks a lot of experience in choosing a horse, it would be wise for him to take with him a trusted friend who has experience when looking at a potential horse to purchase. After all, horses require a sizeable commitment of time and money.

How much investment one makes in purchasing a horse depends upon the goal or purpose for having the horse. If the purchaser mostly just wants to ride, have fun, and maybe even compete at a local level, it may be possible to find a good horse for at or under $5000. More serious competitive aspirations or goals, however, may involve a considerably higher purchase investment.

Another financial consideration in horse ownership is the ongoing expense beyond the purchase price. There is the expense of boarding if one doesn’t own his own place to keep horses. Boarding cost can range from complete care which can include feeding, stall maintenance, and perhaps even grooming and exercising of the horse. Self-care is a more cost efficient option as it would only include a place to keep the horse. With such an option, the owner would do all of the feeding, stall maintenance, grooming, and exercising of the horse.

Another expense that must be budgeted is veterinarian care for shots at least twice a year and worming about every two months, as well as regular farrier care or trimming and shoeing. The expense of at least the basic tack and equipment and feeding and bedding for the horse must be budgeted too and is certainly an on-going expense.

Need-to-Know Information for Ownership and Care of a Horse

Horse ownership requires knowing at least the basics of horse care. One must learn the proper strategies for feeding, housing, tying, and caring for the horse. If the first-time horse owner is a novice at these basics, it is necessary that he learn the basics from a friend who has experience with horses or pay for lessons in horse care and maintenance. If the first-time horse owner is a novice rider, he may find it necessary to take some basic riding lessons to avoid injuring himself or stressing or causing injury to the horse.

The basic needs of a horse include safe fencing and pasture in which the horse can happily move around and graze. The pasture should be free of holes, dangerous or rusty farm or other type of equipment, and loose wiring on fences. Horses are social animals, so having the horse among other horses, or even ponies, donkeys, cows, sheep or goats, in the pasture is an important consideration, as well. Proper horse ownership requires seeing that there is enough pasture for adequate grazing or the equivalent of that by providing quality hay. Other essentials for the horse include unlimited access to clean water, minerals, salt, shelter from inclement and wintry conditions, as well as shade from the summer sun. Additional basic needs for a horse include a clean and dry area to lie down and daily monitoring for any injury or illness.

Some Little Known Things and Common Mistakes about Horse Purchase and Ownership

Sometimes after purchasing a horse, the initial enthusiasm wears off. To avoid the mistake of making a long-term commitment to a horse that might be regretted later on, one can sometimes acquire a horse on sort of a trial or short term basis through opting for a full or partial lease. In leasing, one pays either a fixed fee or a portion of the cost of the horse’s care in exchange for riding time on the horse. If one opts for a full lease, he will typically assume all of the expenses and care for the horse. With the partial lease option, the actual owner of the horse remains primarily responsible for such expense and care. One shouldn’t hesitate to ask the seller for a trial period. Some sellers are receptive to that if they have concerns that the horses they are selling go to a good home. It never hurts to ask.

It is unfortunate, but true, that some horse salesman, just like some used car salesman, have earned the reputation of being somewhat untrustworthy individuals known to downplay a horse’s flaws and while hyping attributes. Always remember the motto, “Buyer beware!”

Too many first-time horse buyers make the mistake of purchasing an untrained horse because the price is considerably less for one, and they mistakenly think that they can train the horse themselves. Training a horse takes experience and sometimes months to accomplish. Training is not a job for a novice.

Sometimes a first-time horse buyer, with visions of purchasing a young, fine, noble, and handsome steed upon which he can ride off into the sunset with the wind in his hair, allow that vision cloud to cloud their reason and may pass up on the benefits of purchasing an older horse. Most people don’t realize that an older horse makes a great beginner horse for a child or any novice rider.  It is a fact that many healthy horses can be ridden well into their senior years. This is particularly true when buying a horse for a child. Young, frisky horses and children and novice riders are not a good pairing.

Picture Credit: Cowgirl 13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Irish Drinking Toasts for St. Patrick’s Day

 St. Patrick’s Day is rich in tradition. This article provides information about the holiday and examples of Irish toasts for friendship, luck, happiness, and blessings.

March 17^th is the religious feast day and the anniversary of the death of St. Patrick and has been observed for over a thousand years. Irish families traditionally attended church in the morning and celebrated in the afternoon. Their traditional feast was Irish bacon and cabbage, and there would be much drinking and toasting for luck and happiness. Today, St. Patrick Day is celebrated by Irish and non-Irish alike. It seems that everyone is “Irish” on March 17^th.

History of Toasting

Throughout history and in almost every country, toasting has been used to mark special occasions. The tradition even traces back to biblical times. The first recorded drinking toast was in England in 450 AD. It was made at a feast given by British King Vortigen to his Saxon allies for good health and fortune. Toasting has since evolved in different stages and for different occasions. St. Patrick’s Day is one of those occasions.

History of Irish Toasts

Irish folklore offers many examples of stories, inspiring quotes, and songs about happiness, love and luck. Such inspirational stories and songs have, throughout Irish history, helped the Irish cope with problems and difficult times.  Since Irishmen have always loved celebrating, it is not surprising that some of these inspiring and rousing sayings were transformed into Irish toasts to show support, understanding, and friendship among the traditionally hard-working Irish.

Irish Blessing Toasts

The following famous Celtic blessings and prayers are appropriate for inspirational toasts on St. Patrick’s day, or on any day:

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

v  

May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

v  

May the blessing of light be on you…
light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
and warm your heart
till it glows like a great peat fire.

v  

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

Irish Sayings and Funny Toasts

There are many Irish sayings and toasts that are suitable for toasting friendship, happiness, good luck, or for providing humor to the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration.

For friendship and luck:

Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers—
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours—
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through!

v  

My friends are the best friends
Loyal, willing and able.
Now let’s get to drinking!
All glasses off the table!

v  

If you’re lucky enough to be Irish,
You’re lucky enough!

v  

May your pockets be heavy,
Your heart be light,
And may good luck pursue you
Each morning and night

v  

May the leprechauns be near you
To spread luck along your way,
And may all the Irish angels
Smile upon you on St. Patrick’s Day

v  

May the luck of the Irish
Lead to happiest heights,
And the highway you travel
Be lined with green lights.

For happiness:

Dance as if no one were watching,
Sing as if no one were listening,
And live every day as if it were your last.

v  

May the saddest day of your future be no worse
Than the happiest day of your past.

v  

Health and long life to you.
The wife of your choice to you.
A child every year to you,
And life without rent to you.
And may you be half an hour in heaven
Before the devil knows your dead.

v  

May you have warm words on a cold evening,
A full moon on a dark night,
And the road downhill all the way to your door.

v  

May your heart be light and happy,
May your smile be big and wide,
And may your pockets always have
a coin or two inside!

For humor:

There are many good reasons for drinking,
One has just entered my head.
If a man doesn't drink when he's living,
How in the hell can he drink when he's dead?

v  

Here’s to a long life and a merry one.
A quick death and an easy one
A pretty girl and an honest one
A cold beer – and another one!

In summary, Irish or non-Irish alike can observe and better enjoy the holiday by continuing the tradition of toasting one another with such tributes to and wishes for blessings, good fortune, and happiness.

 

Picture credit: Tegan Jones

 

 

Finding True Love: Does Everyone Have a Soul Mate?

 

 

Many men and women spend their lives looking for that special life partner, that kindred spirit, that soul mate with whom they can share life and love. Even South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, in his press conference after his own indiscretion, claimed to have found his soul mate in his Argentine paramour. Do we all have a soul mate? How will we recognize our soul mate when and if we encounter him or her?

It would be difficult indeed to find a soul mate if you were to accept the theory of soul mates presented by Aristophanes. In Plato’s Symposium, Aristophanes asserted that human beings originally consisted of four arms, four legs, and one head made up of two faces. According to his theory, Zeus, fearing their power, split them all in half and condemned them to live their lives searching for the other half to complete them. 

In reality, a soul mate is generally considered to be someone with whom you share abiding love, affinity and intimacy. Your soul mate would be a kindred spirit. It would be impossible to recognize your soul mate, even if he or she were standing right in front of you, if you did not first know yourself. Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”  To find your soul mate, you must first examine your own life. You must know what you want out of life, what type of a person with whom you want to share your life, and, above all, you must know what makes you happy.

Abraham Lincoln said, “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” It’s sad, but true, that making up your mind to be happy may very well involve altering your expectations. If you expect less, you are more apt to be happy with what you have. In finding a soul mate, you must have realistic expectations as to a suitable person to fill that bill, as none of us are perfect. A good starting point for finding a soul mate is to foster lasting friendships first.

  “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.”  Henry David Thoreau’s immortal words have no gender. Desperate women and men!  Biological clock ticking! Have to find love!  What most women and men don’t realize is that when they get into this sort of frantic race with life, the desperation consumes them.  The serendipitous nature of their lives becomes the first casualty of a frenzied need to make love happen. The second casualty is their approachability by any dating prospect.  I believe that women and men sense desperation in one another, and such desperation is detrimental to the search for love.  I will always remember the words of a gentleman in a night club who chose to approach me, in particular, when I was surrounded by scores of lovely ladies that night.  He later confessed that he was drawn to me because I didn’t seem to be “looking”.  He said that my demeanor suggested that I might already be taken even though there was no bodily evidence there to support such a claim.  Men, competitive creatures that they are, love a challenge.  If a man senses that a woman has another man waiting in the wings (whether she really does or not), it makes the prize seem all the more precious.  I have a history of five engagements, four of which ended in marriages, to back my contention.   

As a college student, I was three months into an engagement to marry a very serious-minded fellow when I met the young men who lived in the apartment above my roommates and me.  One I found particularly interesting. He was charmingly humorous and a stark contrast to my fiancé. 

One day, he had come downstairs to my apartment under the premise of borrowing something when I heard my fiancé drive up.  It wouldn’t have been necessary to resort to such drastic measures, but I chose to ask my new acquaintance to hide under the bed when my fiancé came to the door to pick me up. I think that my new friend found this Vaudevillian maneuver in the face of competition captivating and challenging.  He decided to pursue a relationship with me. 

To the victors go the spoils, as they say.  I eventually broke my engagement and later married the man I had stashed beneath the bed.  However, probably due to youth and haste in judgment, the marriage ended in divorce, as did two more successive marriages. The one common thread, however, that I believe made it possible for me to be on the receiving end of five marriage proposals in the first place was that I never wore the badge of desperation - that my life would be incomplete without a man.  In retrospect, I think that I always gave potential suitors the impression, whether it was true or not, that there was always somebody else waiting in the wings – or under the bed.

Yes, I think everyone has a soul mate somewhere.  But don’t be consumed with the search. Just live and enjoy your life and keep yourself open to friendships and receptive to all possibilities. I’m currently enjoying my fourth and final marriage. I found my soul mate in a lifelong friend. This marriage will last because it was born, not of youthful impulse from an unexamined life, but of the wisdom gained from experiencing life’s roller coaster ride with a kindred spirit of many years.



 

Picture credit: Gabriella Fabbri





Tipping Guide: How to Tip for Every Circumstance

Knowing the proper tipping etiquette is important to anyone receiving personal services. These etiquette tips for personal services will provide the reader with gratuity protocol.

“When we can't get away for a vacation, we get the same feeling by staying home and tipping every person that smiles.” I must credit the source of this clever quote to Susie Spanos of the website Famous Quotes and Authors. It whimsically captures the exasperation and confusion we sometimes feel about gratuities or tipping etiquette.

I remember when I took my mother on a trip to Atlantic City. She became frustrated at feeling obligated to put a tip in the tip jar of the Casino’s restroom attendants every time she needed to use the facility. She asked me if it was necessary. I explained to my mother that restroom attendants provide  somewhat of a personal service by maintaining  the cleanliness of the restroom and by being of assistance  when needed. I explained to her that the restroom attendants probably make a very low salary and the tips help supplement that. My mother responded with her typical wry wit, “I’ll give them a tip – Get a different job!”

Not knowing the proper tip to provide for a particular service can make you as confused and exasperated as my mother was in the Casino restroom. This is a guide for those who want to tip and want to know the customary amount. This article covers some of the main tipping options or opportunities.

Tipping at Restaurants and Bars:

It is customary to tip10-15% on alcoholic drinks and 15-20% on food. Tipping 10% on the wine is perfectly acceptable. Deciding whether to tip the wine steward 10 or 15 % for the wine depends mostly on how helpful the server was in choosing the wine and serving it. Tip your waiter/ waitress 15 to 20 %, and tip the same amount for counter service. Your cocktail server and bartender should be tipped 15 to 20%. For free drinks in some Casinos, you should tip one to two dollars per round. It is customary to tip the restroom attendants and coat check attendants one dollar. Don’t feel obligated to tip the busboy unless he had to provide an extra special service such as cleaning up a mess that was above and beyond the call of duty. Tipping the Maitre d’ is unnecessary as well, unless he secures a special table for you or he provides seating for you in a fully booked dining room when you had no reservation. Tipping a musician that visits your table is discretionary, unless he played a special request. If such is the case, it is customary to tip him two or three dollars.

Tipping at Airports and on Amtrak:

If you are unaccustomed to traveling,  knowing when and whom to tip at the airport or on Amtrak can be unsettling. If you are traveling by air, the first place where you will encounter the gratuity dilemma is at the airport. It is customary to tip the porter or skycap two dollars per bag, or more if the bags are heavier than normal. Paying two dollars extra for curbside check-in is discretionary. If you arrive late and the porter or skycap helps you get to your flight on time, tip an extra five to twenty dollars. It is not necessary to tip charter pilots, flight attendants or other in-flight personnel.

If you are traveling by Amtrak, it is recommended that you tip dining car waiters, stewards and bar car waiters 15% of the bill. Tip porters one dollar per bag. If you are traveling in a sleeper birth, tip the sleeping car attendant five dollars per passenger per day.

Tipping at Hotels:

When staying in a hotel, tip the valet or parking attendant one to two dollars for parking or returning your car. If the Doorman or the Bellman for the hotel helps you with your bags in or out of your car, tip him one dollar per bag, but if he carries them to your room, tip him one to two dollars per bag.  If he hails you a cab, one to two dollars is a fair tip. For room service, if the gratuity is not included, tip 15 to 20% of the total bill. Tip hotel maids three to five dollars per day. If you are especially messy, tip up to ten dollars per day. It is customary to tip maids daily because you may have a different maid each day. Be sure to tip on the last day as well. If the hotel Concierge helps you with particularly hard to get theatre tickets or dinner reservations, tip him or her five to ten dollars, which can be made at the end of the stay or at the time of the service.

Tipping on Cruise Ships:

Check cruise ship policy in advance, but most tipping of staff for services rendered is done at the end of the cruise. Tip waiters and cabin stewards three dollars per day, per person. Don’t forget the bus boy. You should tip him $1.50 per person, per day. Tipping the Maitre d’ is optional. Normally a 15% gratuity is automatically added to your bill to cover the tip for the Bar Steward.

Tipping for Ground Transportation:

The customary tip for taxi, limousine, shuttle, or van driver is 15% of the total fare. You may want to tip up to 20% if the driver helps with the bags. Check limousine policy in advance because the rate charged for limos frequently includes gratuity.

Tipping at Hair Salons and Spas:

There are a variety of services offered in hair salons and spas. Tip your hair stylist 10 to 20%. If an assistant other than your stylist shampoos your hair, tip him or her two to five dollars, and make sure you give the tip directly to the assistant. The customary tip for a manicure or facial is 15%. Normally you should tip the spa massage therapist 10 to 15%. If you have purchased a spa package and the gratuity is not included, tip 15 to 20% to be split among the various service providers.

Tipping for Deliveries:

If you are having furniture or appliances delivered to your home, you should tip five to ten dollars per person. For flower deliveries, it is customary to tip anywhere from two to five dollars for normal size flower deliveries. For especially large flower deliveries, tip $20.00. For food and liquor deliveries, you should tip 15%, but never less than two dollars. For your daily newspaper delivery, it is customary to give only a Christmas bonus of $25.00 to $50.00.

Miscellaneous Services:

Tip the person who washed your car at the car wash two to three dollars per car. If your car is an SUV, tip three to five dollars. Tip the groomer of your pet 15% of the bill or two dollars per dog. Tipping pet sitters is discretionary, but if you do, you should tip the sitter 15%.

Tip Jars:

Dealing with tip jars can be really perplexing because we are beginning to see them everywhere. I get particularly perturbed at tip jars on the counter at coffee shops, such as Starbucks. Tip jars are out of place in coffee shops, such as Starbucks, fast food restaurants or any restaurant that does not actually bring your food or drink to your table. Tipping is not necessary in such establishments.

In conclusion, remember that gratuities are discretionary. If you don't think tipping is necessary in certain situations, then don't tip. If you think tipping in general is foolish and a nuisance, then don't tip. Remember, however, that tips help out workers who do a personal service for you. Such workers generally make a low income salary.  Though you aren’t morally obligated to tip, if you are using a service that is commonly known to be a service dependent upon gratuities, such as restaurants, bars, hair salons, valet parking and a few others, then one could argue that you should feel a moral obligation to tip if you were given good service.

Picture credit: Foxumon

Fashion Strategies: Dressing to Look Thinner

Very few women and men are fortunate enough to have a perfect body shape. Some are heavier than they would like to be. Looking thinner is a goal for many women and men. This article addresses how to dress to look thinner. 

It’s imperative that women and men who want to look thinner know how to choose a wardrobe that will help them achieve that result. It’s also important that they know how to wear the chosen outfit correctly. Selecting the right wardrobe can create an illusion that will appear to reshape a person’s body in a more flattering manner.

 Assessing Body Shape or Type

Men and women should analyze their body shape. To do this effectively, they should stand undressed in front of a mirror. In assessing the body shape, there are certain features that should be noted. They should take note of the proportion between the top part of their body and the bottom part of their body. The must observe their bone structure, the width and size of their shoulders, chest, waist, and hips, and the length of their neck. In order to create the illusion of being thinner, people must choose wardrobes that draw attention away from the less flattering part of the body and accentuate the more flattering part of the body.

For Those Who are Heavier on the Top

People with a heavier body type should wear loose fitting tops that gradually taper in hugging the waist and hips. Lighter and thinner fabrics, such as cotton or jersey, are good to wear as they are less apt to add bulk than heavier fabrics would do.  One color choice for the entire outfit will also help to create the illusion of being taller and leaner. They should avoid jackets with shoulder pads. Pleated skirts are a good choice because they tend to draw the eye away from the heavier top part of the body down to the more flattering lower half.

For Those Who are Heavier on the Bottom

People who are heavier in the bottom half of the body could opt for shirts, blouses, or jackets with a bit of shoulder padding. Such a strategy helps to balance the frame of the body. They should choose vertical lines and patterns when opting for an outfit.  People with such a body shape, should wear printed fabrics on the top half of the body. They should opt for longer jackets and tops that completely go below the hips. Such a strategy creates a longer line and serves to hide a heavier bottom. They should choose suits, jackets or shirtwaist dresses that are classically straight in design.  Such choices would better flatter the shape of people who are bottom-heavy.

Flattering Fashions for Those Who are Less Curvy

All women would love to have curvy figures but, unfortunately, not all women have vivacious curves. Ladies lacking curvaceous figures can add breadth and give the appearance of having curves by choosing clothes with prints, patterns, or flowers. 

For Those with Hour-Glass Figures

Some women have hour-glass body shapes. Such women can wear clothes that drape and are looser fitting. Such women can accentuate their slim waist by wearing a beautiful belt.

Slimming Fashions for All Body Types

Petite women are those shorter than five foot four inches. Shorter women should opt for dresses that hit just above or at the knee. A-line dresses, dresses with empire waistlines, and straight-legged pants also help to create a longer and leaner appearance. Men and women should avoid wearing pants with pleats. Such pants serve only to add bulk or girth to the middle of the body. 

People should avoid turtleneck tops. Turtlenecks make the face look wider. V-necks, jewelry and scarves, however, flatter and draw attention to the face.

In conclusion, despite one’s body size or shape, a slimming effect is better created with monochromatic coordination of outfits and color schemes. No matter what type of outfit people choose in an attempt to create a longer and leaner illusion, the choice will be ineffective if they have poor posture. Men and women should remember to stand tall, square the shoulders, and hold the head upright to help elongate the neck.