 I
recently released a new book, The Passion for Horses and
Artistic Talent: An Unrecognized Connection. Originally, the
purpose of the book was to try to understand why some people’s
love for horses leads them to a career working with them, or to
an all-consuming avocation involving horses. Also, I was curious
as to why some people, in mid-life, walk away from a successful
career completely unrelated to the horse industry, and end up in
a new career centered on equines.
As
I interviewed people who fit the above description, I became
aware that all of them had one thing in common: they were
involved, either professionally or as a hobby, in one or more
artistic outlets. Most often, it’s music. Poetry and prose, and
painting and drawing were also very prevalent, followed by every
conceivable art form. Some carved wood or leather, or sculpted,
or did interior design. Often, these horse lovers were skilled
in three or more forms of artistic expression.
My
love for horses led me to a career in veterinary medicine, but I
realized that my aptitude toward writing and cartooning fit the
same mold. So, once the book was underway, the artistic
connection became the central theme, leading to my conviction
that the passion for horses and artistry are genetically linked.
Since publication, many readers have expressed, with surprise
and delight, “Why, that’s me!”
In
addition to the interviews with horse people who are as the book
describes-farriers, trainers, veterinarians, breeders,
entertainers, and horse show competitors, all people with
artistic talent-the book includes chapters on the source of
these talents. It explains why all horse lovers are animal
lovers, and why not all animal lovers love horses. The book also
explores why horses are special amongst other animal species,
and why so many people sacrifice income and an “easier life,”
just to work with equines. In this month’s newsletter, I wanted
to present an excerpt from The Passion for Horses and
Artistic Talent: An Unrecognized Connection, in the hopes of
creating greater awareness of this connection.
If you’d like to share your own horse/artistic link, we’d love to hear from you; we'll select two stories for inclusion in our next newsletter.
Send to newsletter@robertmmiller.com

Handling The Equine Patient – A Manual for Veterinary Students & Veterinary Technicians
Dr. Miller was recently asked to write an illustrated manual on
how to handle equine patients, for veterinary students and
technicians. Projected for a late summer release, the project
isn’t just for professional personnel providing medical services
to horses. It’s designed to be useful to all horse owners,
because inevitably, the need arises to administer medicine, take
a temperature, handle various body parts, and treat feet, eyes,
and wounds. Look for updates on our website, and excerpts in a
future newsletter.
Some health and safety tips, below.
KEEPING YOUR HORSE HYDRATED: SUMMER SOLUTION
Summer is when most owners travel with their horses. Whether
you’re doing the driving, or having your horse transported
professionally, here are some precautions to follow or ask. Note
that depending upon the size of the transportation service,
policies may vary.
- Drive with consideration. Stop, start, and turn gently.
These are good driving habits to have, regardless, but
especially if hauling livestock.
- Stop once an hour and allow the horses to rest. It isn’t
necessary to unload them. Balancing while driving keeps them
constantly exercised, so what they need is simply to stand
quietly for awhile.
- Don’t allow them to become dehydrated, especially this
time of year. It’s a good idea to bring water from home, so
the horses are familiar with its taste.
Get trailer videos from two or more of your
favorite trainers or clinicians, and study them carefully.
There’s a lot to learn, and it is completely unnecessary for
horses to learn to fear trailers and develop destructive habits.
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Have a
question for Dr. Miller?
Send it to
questions@robertmmiller.com.
We apologize that due to
volume, we can’t
guarantee Dr. Miller can
respond to all emails,
but we are building a
more comprehensive
FAQ page on our
website to address your
needs. All questions may
be edited for clarity
and space.
Q.
What’s the best bedding material for a stall?
A.
To some degree, it’s a matter of preference. Straw, tanbark,
wood shavings, and even chopped-up newspaper have been used. The
important thing is that it’s clean, and that the stall is mucked
daily. In the United States, the most popular beddings are straw
and wood shavings (avoid walnut). For a foaling stall, I prefer
clean straw.
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New This Month:
Read
part-one of Dr. Miller’s two-part series on Training and
Breeding Errors, in
HorsesforLife.com. Dr. Miller has also written the
foreword to trainer Sean Patrick’s informative new book,
The Modern Horseman’s Countdown to Broke: Real,
Do-it-Yourself Horse Training in 33 Comprehensive Steps.
To order, click
here.
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Mark Your Calendars!
Interested in catching one of Dr.
Miller’s lectures?
Summer and Fall Schedule: |
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Don’t miss Dr. Miller at the Hawaii Horse Expo, August 20-22, on
the Big Island:
This annual event features workshops, presentations and
exhibitions from the nation’s leading clinicians and equine
industry experts. This year’s lineup includes Richard Winters,
Dale Myler, Tammy Pate, and Rick Lamb. For info, go to
www.hawaiihorseexpo.com, or call organizer Nancy Jones at
(808) 887-2301.
Fall European seminars!
See Dr. Miller speak on the Revolution in Horsemanship in
Trondheim, Norway, Sept. 11-2, Oslo, Sept. 18, and Poland, Sept.
20-21. Contact Bente Fremo,
www.hestebente.com.
For contact details and other dates and locations in 2010, go to
www.robertmmiller.com/appearances.html.
Coming in our October newsletter:
More on
Count Down to Broke, holiday gift ideas for the horse
lovers in your life, and choosing the correct-size horse to meet
your needs.
Want to place an ad in our
newsletter, or book Dr. Miller
for a lecture, demonstration, or
book signing?
Contact
info@robertmmiller.com.
Please send any comments or suggestions to
newsletter@robertmmiller.com. Have an idea for a
cartoon? Send it to
cartoons@robertmmiller.com, or visit our site and store,
www.rmmcartoons.com.
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