Salukis Friesians Arabian Horses
Here's What's New
Makes a great gift!
Sherry's new book Rixt's Star, How I Prepared My Friesian Mare For the Keuring was released in mid April to glowing reviews. Told in a narrative form, it is the story of two attempts at acheiving a Star for her friesian mare.... once with a trainer and once by training Rixt herself. The book chronicles all of the preparation, training, conditioning, feeding, supplementing, grooming, shoeing, and the actual day of keuring presentation .
The story follows Rixt's journey with two unscrupulous
trainers, illness, and a frightened and injured owner to her eventual triumph as Star and Keuring Champion.
This book is not only a great resource for people who want to prepare their friesians themselves, it is also an entertaining and inspirational story of how intense and enduring the bond between a woman and her horse can be.
Order your copy today!
or send $24.95 plus $4.95 Priority postage to
Sherry Mathers
1929 E. Campo Bello
Phoenix, AZ 85022
Questions? Call 602-330-7397 or email nearlydutch@yahoo.com
Looking for Keuring Prep Info?
Check out the "Friesians" page
Keuring Nightmares
Since publishing Rixt's Star, I have been inundated with emails from other Friesian owners with horror stories of ther experiences with trainers. I firmly believe that nearly anyone can properly prepare their own horse, but if you do choose to send your beloved Friesian to a trainer please, please, please be careful! If you get a bad feeling about the trainer, their methods or facilities, take your horse and RUN!
These horses are much too precious to allow these atrocities to continue. Please be sure to do ALL of the following...
1. Personally visit the facility and see exactly where you horse will be housed.
2. Ask who will be caring for your horse, and meet them. A trainer is only as good as their stable help.
3. Take a walk to the hay shed and look at the quality of the feed they feed the horses.
4. Get references from previous and current clients. But if you still have doubts, do not send your horse there.
5. Ask about the training regimen and feed and supplement plan. If they indicate your horse needs to loose weight, be sure that they do not put your horse on a starvation diet! If the trainer is not willing to tell you the general plan, seriously reconsider! Preparing a horse for the keuring is not rocket science and should not involve "secrets"!
6. Have a written contract that specifies EXACTLY what you are getting for your money. Include how many hours of training per week, who pays for supplements, shoeing and other expenses,who will bring the horse to the keuring, who will groom and prep him there, etc.
7. Visit your horse at least weekly! Think long and hard before sending your horse so far away that you cannot monitor him closely. Damage to your horse can occur even when you are right there., and if it continues for weeks or months before you know about it, it may be permenant! If you see something happening that you don't feel comfortable with, SPEAK UP. Do not be intimidated by the trainer, after all, he works for you. And if it doesn't change or the trainer argues with you, take your horse and go home. You are the only advocate your horse has, do your best to safeguard him!
I would love to hear from you about your keuring experiences, good and bad, and whether you used a trainer or prepared your horse yourself.
Please send emails to nearlydutch@yahoo.com.
Calling all Saluki Lovers......
Scheduled for a summer 2012 release is a tender book of short stories about salukis and their unique way of impacting our lives. Saluki, Thief of Hearts will make you laugh, make you cry and quite possibly will inspire you to add another saluki to your household.
This wonderful book will make a great gift for any saluki or sighthound lover on your list, and don't forget to treat yourself to a copy too.
Coming
in Summer 2012
Contact Sherry Mathers at
Nearlydutch@yahoo.com
602-373-7618
