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D
Dandy brush
Also called horse brush. What looks like a cosmetic utensil and
is used by many riders to make their horse look shiny and well
is a necessity. On the one hand, the brushing and grooming with
currycomb and dandy brush gives the horses a beneficial massage,
which first of all serves for better circulation, and on the other
hand, all grains of sand and dirt particles which may turn into
real rasps under the girth or saddle are removed. It should also
be mentioned that cleaning and brushing are the first pleasant
ways of making contact between rider and horse. A bit of fondling
and agreeable brushing is perceived as pleasant by a horse too.
Dinner
Dinner is served! The time for evening meal is, just as the time
for breakfast, one of the sacred and unalterable cornerstones
of a stay at Horse Holiday Farm. The substantial breakfast is
usually served from 9 to 10 a.m. In the evening, all riders should
be back for dinner by 7.00 p.m. The time required for grooming
and stabling the horses should be planned for and taken into account.
Do not groom your horses when feeding them. The trail stations
expect the riders to be back for 7.00 p.m. although nobody will
complain if, especially after longer rides, or an involuntary
detour, someone arrives a little later.
Dominance
A delicate and yet a fundamental subject. Horses are by nature
apt to seize; power. In their herd they fight and establish dominance
and which horse has got which position in the order of rank. This
is basically the same as with humans. The horse must know who
is the boss. This is the precondition for it to obey you and to
do, and actually to do only, what you ask it to do. In precarious
and dangerous situations dominance is there fore the most important
prerequisite in mastering the problem of safety. You as the rider
must never allow any doubts to arise as to your claim to leadership.
Remember you do it and that it draws conclusions from these observations.
Just the way you approach it in the field and how you ask it to
follow you to the sable allows the animal to draw important conclusions.
Also be prepared for the fact that it might want to try out very
quickly how consequently you react to one or the other bad habits.
Again; do not allow any doubts to arise as to the fact, that you
as the rider, are the only one to have the say. Anyone who approaches
his animal apprehensively has already lost in principle. In case
of good-natured and insensitive animals this will usually have
no consequences but every animal behaves differently according
to its mood and condition. To create dominance does not
mean, however, to brandish the whip firmly and furiously or to
use physical force, but it means that along with love and care,
you should give the animal to understand your capability of physical
dominance, and clearly that you are of
consequence. This is not so easy because - between ourselves -
we have actually no chance again the horse; it is head and shoulders
above us as far as strength, speed and mass are concerned. But
we must never let the horse feel this. As a rider the only advantage
you have over the horse is that you have your mental strength
to set against this overwhelming physical strength. In this respect
every rider is to behave like the tamer of beasts in the circus.
With small hints and clear gestures copied from the disputes of
the horses among each other, we can set ourselves up towards the
animals the more powerful "leader" and the horse will
accept our claim to power. On the ground you can already make
the horse obey using just reins or halter, a wave of the hand
of whip, make the horse leave your immediate circle, send its
head to the side or direct it backwards occasionally. This is
an elementary submissive exercise. Principle; the horse should
make room for you, should retreat from you. This is copied from
the behaviour in the field where the weaker animal always gives
way to the stronger one.
Donnacha
The eldest of the two lads from the house. He is keen on videos
and an expert at riding. He regularly collects prizes with his
horses at the various competitions in the area.
Donegal
The most northern county of the Republic with the most original
and contrasting countryside of all Ireland; a rugged coastline
with steep, precipitous cliffs, fjord-like bays and miles of lonely
beaches, barren mountains with vast moors, only populated by thousands
of sheep, lovely long valleys and charming lakes. Geologically
the countryside belongs to the Scottish Highlands. Touristically
Donegal could, after its present slumber, easily challenge Kerry
and Connemara one day. For trail riders it is therefore, rightly
claimed as an eldorado for their trips of discovery. The Donegal
Trail leads through the southern part of the county and offers
a representative cross section. Each day is made outstanding by
a new impression.
Donegal - this is also the town, which could be called the gateway
to the county of the same name. The hustle and bustle, which is
comparatively abundant here, creates an attraction for the people
from the near and far surrounding area. They occasionally shop
here when looking for something special; and it is also an attraction
for tourists. Donegal is the centre for tweed, which is woven
by home workers and appreciated all over the world. The centre
of the town of Donegal is the Diamond, an almost square place.
In the middle of it; the Four Masters Memorial. The seven-metres-high
obelisk is a memorial of the four Fathers of the local Franciscan
Monastery who, in the l7th century, wrote the most important work
about the former Irish Church history; "The Annals of the
Four Masters". This is where the major roads from Sligo,
Londonderry and from West Donegal meet. Until the l7th century
Donegal used to be the residence of the O'Donnells, one of the
old Ulster houses. The name comes from the Gaelic "Dun na
n Gall" which means 'castle of strangers'. Behind the central
square there is Donegal Castle, a castle originally built in the
l5th century which was repeatedly changed and converted during
the course of history.
Drizzle
The most unpleasant form of the inevitable precipitation. For
people wearing glasses it causes impairment beyond description.
If it lasts several hours its penetration is hard to predict,
therefore, a coat of waxed cotton is the safest and most lasting
protection.
Drumcliff
A tiny village on the main road between Grange and Sligo. Worth
seeing are the churchyard, with a high cross from the l0th century,
and the grave of the Irish poet William Butler Yeats who grew
up in this area and immortalised the atmosphere of this countryside
in his work. The grave looks quite modern and has been provided
with a plain stone. The epitaph, however, is impressive. Yeats
himself wrote it for us riders; "Cast a cold eye on life,
on death. Horseman, pass by"
Dunes
An extensive area of dunes is visible from the farm. During the
trail some passages lure you through the dunes. If you ride through
them you will feel like Winnetou and Old Shatterhand on a track.
A fantastic experience the horses are sufficiently agile and tread-safe
to pass up and down unharmed, even with pleasure. Danger lurks
at the breaking edges and there are numerous rabbit warrens where
the horses - especially during trot or gallop - can strain their
ankles. And it is said that some horses, as soon as, they are
left in peace here for a few moments, make an attempt to roll
in the pleasant sand together with their rider, saddle and luggage
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E
Ear (play)
The rider can learn from the movements of the ears to whom or
what his horse pays attention. Like radar antennae they are permanently
in motion and directed towards what seems to be the most important
thing to them. If it is the rider all the better ……..
you are in control of the situation. If your horse's ears are
clearly laid back, almost touching the neck
you can be sure that is not happy about something. Laid-back ears
are a clear threatening gesture among the horses.
Ellen's Pub
Original pub in Magherow about 25 kilometres away from the farm.
With the horse it can be reached only via the Sligo Trail The
thatched cottage is the meeting point of the farmers from the
surrounding area. The interior and the atmosphere are special.
Recommended by different travel guidebooks. Ellen's is on the
programme of many back packers who wait for the music night together
with the locals and with a pint of Guinness in front of them.
Eyes
A sense organ which exhibits a surprising capability when considering
the horse. Horses have a much larger field of vision than we humans
do. Your horse can "see " you sitting in the saddle,
for instance, without having to swing round its head. Sudden movements
[for instance, putting on or taking off a coat] may frighten it
and cause real panic reactions.
Especially plastic bags or bin liners flapping in the wind and
other not clearly identifiable objects at the side of the road
are registered by the horse and gazed at with an anxious look.
In order to precisely fix on a potential danger the horse
must move its head in that direction. So, if your horse ever becomes
nervous or anxious, do not forget that it might have perceived
something, which you have not noticed so far.
F
Felt
An indispensable shock absorber and buffer between saddle and
horseback. The felt is to be placed on top of the blanket. Always
check thoroughly, to ensure that it serves as a protection. During
saddling-up, pull the felt up a little at the front of the saddle
so as to relieve the tension. The felt must always be kept meticulously
clean. During trail rides the felt should be laid on in such a
way that the saddlebags could rest on it.
Fence
Should actually close a paddock or field in a way that the animals
within cannot get out. Therefore, it is not useful to tie your
horse to it with a rope. You can definitely expect it to tear
this fence down as soon as you have turned your back and will
run past you together with the lot. This also applies to gates
that are not good for tethering either.
Field
Regular quarters of all horses at Horse Holiday Farm. In the morning
the rider must fetch his horse from the field and in the evening
he has to take it back there. As an incentive to be picked up
from the field the horses are given a bucket of food in their
box and in the evening, before being taken back to the field or
after a ride they are fed again.
Flies
A pest of the harmless kind. On windless days when they appear
in large numbers they may make the horses a little nervous. More
of a nuisance; gnats, tiny midges and horseflies. There is no
effective and especially no lasting protection against them. Insect
repellent sprays usually help just for a short time, and even
the vinegar solution sprayed on the horse's neck and breast in
an emergency will lose its effect after a short time.
Fodder
Before you start in the morning and at the end of the day feeding
is called for. This goes for animals, just as for humans. Whether
it is on the farm or on a trail, the horses know this. They expect
it. After a days work, especially after long and great strain,
they are sometimes very, very hungry and consequently greedy.
Watch out for the rivalry among the animals! If possible, they
should all receive their fodder at the same time so that they
don't get envious. Also be careful at the trail station whose
feeder might good naturedly busy himself with the fodder bucket
in the shed next door. In such situations even calm and well-behaved
horses may turn into beasts. Avoid all circumstances that may
cause your horse to try to push through a door with you still
in the saddle.
It goes without saying that every rider allows his horse the time
it needs to empty its bucket or trough. Grooming, cleaning the
feet and anything else that needs doing to the animals must wait
in the meantime. Do not groom your horse whilst it is feeding.
During feeding we keep the horse on the halter for more safety.
Each animal takes its own rhythm. Watch out if one happens to
kick against the others trough….
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