LIFETIME RESOLUTIONS - not just for New Years anymore

Originally posted in 1998.

Happy New Year!

The following are my LIFETIME RESOLUTIONS. It is sort of my personal "Reference Guide/Help File for Life."

I put these thoughts together around 1990 and the list has never been edited since. I re-read them every New Years...and sometimes more often when I remember them...and I wish I had remembered them a couple of weeks ago! LOL! I used to have them printed out and posted over my desks at home and at work, but I moved so many times that the only place I could remember where I put them was on my old website! Now they are here on my blog, and despite being nearly 20 years old, are still timeless.

The books referred to are Dan Millman: "Way of the Peaceful Warrior"; and Richard Bach: "Illusions", "Bridge Across Forever" & "One", among others.


LIFETIME RESOLUTIONS

Continually ask myself this question: "Am I doing at this moment what I most want to do? And if not, WHY NOT?!"

Continue the challenge of facing fear head-on.

Try everything at least once before deciding whether I like it or not. And sometimes even MORE than once if it is something I am embarrassed or frightened of.

Learn to recognize a potential problem before it hides in the subconscious.

Ask for and accept gracefully the criticisms of others. Take what fits and leave the rest behind.

Stay firm in my resolve to be ME at all times.

Don't walk in anyone else's shadow.

Never lie to the dog.

Stand up not only for MY rights, but for WHAT is right.

Let it flow and let it go.

If anyone should ask "why", simply answer "why not?"

Treasure each moment as though it were my last - for it just may be...

Remember that all are immortal and one with every living thing in the universe, death is merely a mortal illusion - a trick played on us by our primitive brains.

See myself in everyone and learn from the outcome of their choices.

I am as young as I want to be - age is only a measure of time that doesn't exist in any realm but my mind. Time itself is but a man-made illusion.

Stay self-reliant and self-sufficient..

Be aware of and beware of dependency...NO ONE is worth losing my soul over.

Read people's words...not their minds...ABSOLUTELY MOST POSITIVELY IMPORTANT!!

Never inflict on others the cruelties I have endured - always let people KNOW where they stand and never flirt or toy with them or tease them for sport.

Remember always that others have feelings, too, and they can be bruised just as easily and painfully as I was. NO ONE deserves that kind of pain - NO ONE!

Don't EVER give mixed signals! Total honesty at ALL times.

If communication ceases, don't cease to communicate.

Know that all my paths in life exist and that it is up to me to choose which one to follow each day.

Do not make choices by default, be an active participant in my own life.

Somehow learn to FOCUS!!

Return to school and finish that bachelor's degree - in SOMETHING, DAMN IT - FOCUS!!!!!

Remember that my intelligence does not require a piece of paper for it to exist naturally.

I don't need to prove anything to anyone...except to myself.

Stop envying traits in others - cultivate them in myself!

Remember that being alone is essential for growth both in myself and in those around me. Being alone together is the sincerest form of friendship.

Each "mistake" is simply an unexpected learning experience. Cherish the mistakes.

There are no "wrong" relationships. Each one is a learning experience to aid in finding the "right" one. (You have to kiss a lot of toads before you ever find the prince).

Make lemonade out of every lemon life hands me...and add a little sugar in the form of humor, too. :>

If I don't take emotional risks, how can I ever expect to succeed? You only fail by not trying in the first place.

Continue to see the humor and paradox in life - rejoice in the illusion of it all!

I choose my own emotions - there is no need for me to ever be angry or depressed because I can choose my own happiness.

Do not dwell on past events, they cannot be changed, only learned from.

Accept the things I cannot change (such as the behavior of another person); have courage to change the things I can (such as my attitude toward a given situation) and make sure I know the difference between the two!

Nothing can be changed until it is faced.

Be strong always...it CAN be done! Remember my Rainbow Warrior...

Do not forget that I am the sum of all the positive definitions and descriptions of my name. It fits me perfectly.

Do not have expectations, life doesn't follow any script.

Do not allow others to drag me down or stifle me - I am capable of making my own decisions.

Only -I- am the Captain of my fate and the Master of my soul.

Love myself FIRST...it is the greatest love of all.

Remember that no one is ever too fat to be loved...

Embarrassment is non-existent if you truly don't care what others think.

Build self-defense skills so that weight loss can happen.

Just enough is always just right.

Remember always that THINGS TAKE TIME...

Know I am beautiful on the inside...where it counts!

The inner person is ALWAYS more important than the exterior that they present.

Do not allow a skin deep barrier to block the vision to one's soul.

Never forget the inner flame that is the Rainbow Warrior. It is my core of strength and dignity and burns eternal.

Re-read Bach and Millman at LEAST once a year...preferably more often...and definitely as needed.

Know that I am not given a wish without also being given the power to make it true. I may have to work at it however.

Remember the blue feather in the agate slice...and how it got there. ;>

Whether I think I can or I think I can't - I'm right...and I -know- I CAN!

Play only games where everyone wins. Never trample another for ANY reason...

Acceptance and forgiveness - Accept others for their differences, forgive them their shortcomings. We are all perfect in our own ways.

Never take any of my friends for granted, they are the most special people in the world. Never let them forget it... :>

Share these life gifts with others - it is the only way to repay those who have shared them with me.

About Crystal Eikanger
Crystal Eikanger is a freelance writer, web designer, video editor and voice talent working as Ei-Kan Productions on www.rentacoder.com as well as other freelance sites.

The High-Stepping Hackney Group of Horse and Pony

Many people think of the Hackney Horse as the English carriage horse but these well bred equines also make very suitable riding horses and they are known for having excellent endurance and good tempers. They also have a distinctive high-stepping gait which makes them popular in the show ring, but it is true that most of the horses are trained for driving.

The Hackney Horse has its roots in the 1300's when a desire for a sturdy riding horse emerged in England in the 14th century and various horses with incredible stamina and smooth gaits started to be bred. But the modern Hackney Horse roots can be found in the 1700's in Norfolk, England, where the horses called Norfolk Trotters had been selectively bred for elegant style and speed. When people crossed the famous Norfolk Trotter mares with the grandsons of the foundation sires of the newly emerging Thoroughbred, the result was the Hackney Horse, which blended desirable traits from both breeds. The first Hackney is said to be The Shale's Horse who was foaled in 1760. During the next 50 years, the Hackney was developed as a special breed.

In the early 1880’s the name Hackney was chosen for the breed because it was non-geographical and was also the name of one of the carriages that it was often seen driving. The British Hackney Horse Society (BHHS) was formed in 1883 to provide a registry and to formalize the breeding of the horse.

The first Hackney Pony was imported to America in 1878 and in 1891 the American Hackney Horse Society (AHHS) was founded and affiliated with the English Hackney Society (CEHS) and maintains the registry of the Hackney Horse and Hackney Pony. From 1890 until the Depression, wealthy Americans and Canadians imported boatloads of horses and ponies of the most noted strains to be used as fancy carriage horses. When trotting races began to lose their popularity in the second half of the 19th century, the breed was gradually transformed into the show horse that we see today.

Up to that point, there were 2 types of Hackney Horse - the heavier coach type and the light horse similar to today’s horse. Along with the Hackney Horse, there are four types of Hackney ponies. The Hackney Pony is smaller with distinct pony traits and evolved in the span of a few years in the 1870’s in England. It was developed by Christopher Wilson who crossed Hackney Horses with Fell Ponies and Welsh Ponies, which are extremely hardy British ponies well known for their sassy attitude and surefootedness. The pony has all the speed, action and courage of the horse but is a true pony with pony character. Hackney ponies have a reputation for being tenacious yet every bit as strong as their horse relatives. The differences are in their sizes, show ring performance and the appearance of their mane and tail. The pony was actively imported by United States as the horse was.

The Hackney Pony is also known as the Cob Tail and is a dynamic high-stepper that stands 14.2 hands and under. These ponies are shown with a shortened tail and with a braided mane. They are hitched to a four-wheel vehicle called a viceroy and are shown in pairs.
The Hackney Harness Pony is also called the Long Tail and this dynamic high-stepper stands 12.2 hands and under. It is shown with a long mane and an undocked tail. They are hitched to a four-wheel vehicle called a viceroy and are also shown in pairs.

The Hackney Roadster Pony, or Road Pony, is popular and speedy and measures below 13 hands. It has 3 separate trotting speeds: jog, road gait and at speed. It is shown hitched to a two-wheeled road bike with the drivers wear racing silks. They are also shown under saddle by Junior Exhibitors wearing racing silks. In a new division, the Road Pony is raced hitched to a miniature doctor's buggy.

The Hackney Pleasure Pony is the newest variety and stands 14.2 hands or under. These may be shown either as Long Tail or Cob Tail but with unbraided manes and tails and hitched to an appropriate pleasure vehicle. They can be shown only by Amateurs or Junior Exhibitors in any of the following gaits: pleasure trot, road trot, and flat walk. They must be able to stand quietly in the line-up and back up when asked. It is well mannered, quiet, and a pleasure to drive.

In contrast, the Hackney Horse must stand over 14.2 hands to approximately 16.2 hands and is shown in a variety of ways, such as the many different driving and carriage events, as singles, pairs, tandems, four in hand, and obstacle with some also being shown under saddle as dressage, eventing and trail riding. Some people also rely on the Hackney's sound feet and intelligence to help them through challenging courses of competitive jumping.

The Hackney has a small, refined head like its Thoroughbred ancestors, along with a muscular, compact body and long neck. There should be a general impression of alertness. The Hackney can have either a long or a docked tail that is carried high. They have a bright spirit, and gentleness, along with intelligence and responsiveness when well trained.

Both the Hackney Horse and the Hackney Pony, have a good reputation for soundness. In order to be accepted into the Hackney studbook, the modern Hackney must be black, brown, bay or chestnut with some small white markings permitted.

But the most identifiable trait of a Hackney Horse is their incredibly flexible knees that give these horses a high stepping, showy gait, especially in the trot. This action of Hackney is the hallmark of the breed and often amazes the first time Hackney viewer. According to the AHHS, the gait is described thusly: "Shoulder action is fluid and free with a very high, ground covering knee action. Action of the hind legs is similar but to a lesser degree. The hocks should be brought under the body and raised high. All joints should exhibit extreme flexion. The action must be straight and true. The whole effect must be arresting and startling, showing extreme brilliance."


About Crystal Eikanger
Crystal Eikanger is a freelance writer, web designer, video editor and voice talent working as Ei-Kan Productions on www.rentacoder.com as well as other freelance sites. www.HorseClicks.com is a popular website filled with classifieds of horses for sale, horse trailers, tack, and horse related properties.

Miniature Horses: The Tiny Horse That Is Hugely Popular

No bigger than a large dog, the American Miniature Horse is less then 34" tall at the withers and weighs between 150 to 250 pounds. This tiny equine is popular in many countries and is known by several names such as the American Miniature Horse, Miniature Toy Horse, Miniature Pony, Falabella or Falabella Miniature Horse, Guide Horse, Minis and Dwarf Horse. They have been bred for centuries by selectively breeding horses and ponies of diminutive size. In prehistoric times, tiny horses were likely the products of having to survive harsh climates with limited food. Today, genetics has made it possible to breed specifically for size.

In 1879, the Falabella family of Argentina bred small horses found on the Pampas south of Buenos Aires, where these undersized horses have since been known as Falabellas. But long before that, many breeders in different countries were trying to create miniaturized horses.

As early as the 1600s, they were being bred as pampered pets for European kings and queens. Later they were used in the coal mines in the English Midlands, northern Europe. The first mention of a small horse being imported into the United States was in 1888. Some of these mine horses were brought in from Holland, West Germany, Belgium, and England in the 19th century and used in some Appalachian coal mines as recently as 1950 since the tunnels were small and full-sized horses were just too big to fit.

Small horses, European minis, ponies, and Falabella miniatures, all went into the breeding of the American Miniature Horse to produce a well-proportioned animal. However, depending on parentage, they may have characteristics of Shetland Ponies, Arabians, Hackney Ponies, Thoroughbreds, and others. This has resulted in a wide range of body types and every color and pattern in the equine palette. In fact, any color or marking pattern with any eye color is equally acceptable.

But over the past 100 years there has been disagreement regarding the origins of the genetic characteristics of Miniature Horses. Some tiny breeds, such as the Falabella horses of Argentina, were developed in a totally separate environment from the tiny European horses of the eighteenth century, and independent breeding programs have been established on every continent on the globe.

Some have noticed that miniature horse dwarfism and congenital defects are more prevalent in the USA than in foreign countries. American breeders claim that because the horses were bred exclusively for size, dwarfism traits have became commonplace in them, while overseas breeders have noted that the rate of dwarfism is less in those countries that have rejected the breeding of tiny horses or ponies with undesirable dwarf characteristics, or achondroplasia, as it is called in humans.

A dwarf is different from a miniature. Its teeth often don't match up properly; the head is too big for its neck; and it may have a pot belly. A horse with some dwarf traits may be perfectly healthy and be a good pet, but others have problems with bones and teeth that make life painful for them. Dwarfs cannot be registered as miniature horses, but as breeding improves, fewer dwarfs are born.

However, it is very clear that dwarf genes have deliberately been introduced into American Miniature horses and some "famous" miniature stud horses has obvious equine dwarfism characteristics. Bond Tiny Tim (19” tall, AMHA Registration number R 00015P) was said to have many dwarfism-related issues, yet he was bred extensively, passing-on potentially crippling genetic mutations to thousands of his descendents throughout the USA, therefore the Dwarf gene is floating around in many bloodlines today, and it is difficult to locate as the gene has not been identified.

Founded in 1978, in Arlington, Texas, the American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA) has registered nearly 160,000 horses and has more than 12,000 members in 37 countries and provinces. The AMHA's goal is to promote a standard of excellence and purity in the Miniature and to that end; they closed the stud book on December 31, 1987, so that only horses with AMHA-registered parents can be registered. Additionally, a foal is eligible to be temporarily registered as soon as it is born and if it is no taller than 34 inches when it reaches the age of 5 years, it can be permanently registered as a Miniature Horse. To ensure the accuracy of pedigrees, all foals born after December 31, 1995 must be blood-typed and/or DNA-tested before any of their offspring can be registered.

Practically anything you can do with a regular size horse can be done with a Miniature, except for riding. Minis should not be ridden by anyone over 60 pounds. They can be shown in classes at halter, in-hand hunter/jumper, obstacle courses, showmanship, single pleasure driving, country pleasure driving, roadster, multi-hitch driving, fine viceroy, liberty, costume conformation, and games. Outside the show world, many owners drive their Minis hitched to carts, wagons, or sleighs singly or in teams. A trained Miniature driving horse can pull two adults for ten miles with no difficulty. Children 3 to 4 years old and up routinely drive at home, in parades and in shows. People even let them come into the house to watch TV with them.

Miniature Horses are very good for visiting shut-ins; senior citizens in retirement homes that have pet visitation hours; and many have been trained as guide animals to assist the blind or the hearing impaired. They are also good for people with health problems or physical disabilities that can make it impossible to handle or ride a full-sized horse, but they can learn to drive a cart and enjoy their horses.

The natural gaits of the Miniature Horse are the walk, trot, canter, and gallop, but other gaits are easily taught, especially when the horses are used for driving carts. For example, the Collected Trot is rhythmic and the horse should look like it could keep this gait up all day; and The Working Trot is brisk and snappy without excessive speed. This gait should be animated and showy with a long stride that makes the horse appear to float off the ground when all 4 feet actually are off the ground.

A Miniature Horse enjoys human company and does not fear strangers, in fact, they are quite eager to please their handlers possibly because they get handled so much. A newborn weighs about 20 pounds and is between 16 and 21 inches tall, and it is easy to pick one up and carry it around. It is hard to resist hugging a fluffy foal as if it were a teddy bear. A small child may be intimidated by a normal sized horse, but that same child will be eager to hug a Miniature foal.

There seems to be a discrepancy in the Miniature's disposition. Breeders may say they are gentle and affectionate so that they can make more sales, but many owners complain they have been bitten by aggressive Minis. Without knowing the circumstances of these complaints, the horse may have been abused by the previous owner; or. it may be simply a case of not being gelded or spayed.

All stallions of all breeds can be aggressive, but gelding is a simple, inexpensive operation that can resolve territorial aggression and a hormone driven lack of manners. Even when no stallion is near, a mare's estrus (heat) cycles can cause unpredictable behavior - the equine equivalent of PMS. Spaying can resolve this also.

Horses do not possess complex reasoning skills, but Miniature Horses are quite intelligent and excel at tasks that require long-term memory skills. It has been shown that the more a horse learns, the greater their capacity for future learning, and with proper training, a horse can be taught to do almost anything, such as sit, lie down, pull up a blanket, turn out the light and go to sleep, or even catch a Frisbee.

The Guide Horse Foundation trains Minatures as Guide Horses for the Blind and part of the basic training includes learning 23 voice commands. Additionally they can be reliably housebroken and trained to paw at the door or make nickering noises. The American’s with Disabilities Act guarantees the right of any service animal to use public transportation, so it should be not unusual to see a Guide Horse on an airplane, riding in a taxi, or on an escalator.

Miniature Horses thrive in pastures, and one acre can support as many as three Miniature Horses, but hey are prone to overeat. Ideally they should not share their pasture with the larger breeds since one kick or bite could significantly injure the Mini.

Since owning a Miniature Horse can cost 1/10th that of maintaining a large horse and they can become as much a part of the family as a dog or a cat, they have become extremely popular as companion animals that live 20 to 30 years.


About Crystal Eikanger
Crystal Eikanger is a freelance writer, web designer, video editor and voice talent working as Ei-Kan Productions on www.rentacoder.com as well as other freelance sites. www.HorseClicks.com is a popular website filled with classifieds of horses for sale, horse trailers, tack, and horse related properties.