"The other night, I was watching a documentary about the current economy and the stock market.  They used some statistics from world champion poker players to make a point about making good decisions about investments.  Many horse business owners use an emotions based strategy for running their business.  Instead of examining the facts, they judge how well their business is doing based on how they feel. If they get a new client in, they feel great, even if that client is totally wrong for their business.  There are very few extremely profitable poker players.  There are also very few extremely profitable horse business owners.  But it doesn't have to be this way.  Profitable horse business owners - from boarding stables, horse trainers and instructors to professional riders - all do the same thing that profitable poker players do... Read the full article

The mission of Well Trained Horses (based at Icssoma Farms LLC) is to rehabilitate, re-train and re-home promising rescue horses; work to eliminate equine transport across US borders for the purpose of slaughter; and include youth at risk in their rescue programs, helping them to build confidence, compassion, career and life skills.  For many of the kids in the Well Trained Horses program, their work with the horses is the first success they've ever had. "So much of a trainer's work with the horses involves consistency and self control," Hornstein says. "This really benefits these kids as well. They learn how to tune in to what the horses need and to tune out the chaos of their inner lives. And when the horses respond, the pay-off is extraordinary."  Read the full article

Giant Steps' mission is to enrich the lives of individuals with physical, behavioral and developmental challenges through the benefits of therapeutic riding and related equine assisted therapy.  Volunteers assist with the preparation of horses for class, leading a horse or side walking with a rider in a lesson, or helping with special events and office activities. Volunteering is fun, give it a try!  Fall 2010 Volunteer Orientations and Training Dates begin Saturday, October 2 and run through December 4, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  To sign up, please contact Giant Steps at (707) 781 9455, sandy@giantstepsriding.org, www.giantstepsriding.org.