Horse Whisperer tames out-of-control horse - by teaching it the beautiful game

Kariba the horse is outstanding in his field - as a football fanatic

Kariba the horse has become a regular Mane Rooney - after his trainer discovered his amazing passion for football.

The troubled stallion was once so unruly, it regularly threw its riders and was nearly left on the bench permanently.
But thanks to horse psychologist Emma Massingale, he has been placated - by his love of soccer.
The 16-year-old animal has mastered passing, shooting, dribbling and hoofing a ball around his field. He has even moved on to nudging his large blue ball with his nose - in a horsey-style header.
Emma, 25, rehabilitates dangerous steeds at her training school, Natural Equine, based in Bradworthy, Devon.
She said: "I'm not interested in football myself. But I looked at the players and thought 'my horse could do that'. "We started by leading him to the ball with a rope and I rewarded him with a pat if he touched or kicked it.
"Horses naturally shy away from unusual, bright objects that move towards them, so that had to be overcome. "Luckily, he is such a show-off, he took to it immediately and there was no looking back.
"He loves to learn new tricks and will parade around showing off his skills without any instruction. If you leave him in the pen with a football, he is happy there for hours kicking and heading it about on his own.
"After England got beaten by Germany again the other night, maybe the team could do with some tips."
Kariba, who stands 16.2 hands high, was Emma's first-ever horse after he was bought by her father for her to ride eight years ago.
Named after a town on the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe, the steed is a thoroughbred Irish Draft Cross. But the jet-black stallion had such a bad attitude, the local pony club told Emma she should sell him straight away because he would never be safe to ride.
Emma later discovered Kariba's previous owners decided to get rid of him after he threw off his rider during a public parade.
She said: "When I first got him, he was out of control and I spent most of the time on my backside after he'd thrown me off. I couldn't bear the thought of losing him, I already loved him too much.
"Instead I travelled to Australia to a camp in the outback where I learned to understand the psyche of each horse."
On her return, she set her new skills in action on Kariba, who is now the star pupil among the 13 horses being trained at the school.
Three months ago, Emma tried Kariba with a football for the first time after watching a match with her fiancee Jeremy Colwill, 41.
The horse soon began playing with the ball by himself - known as "training at liberty" - and even invented his own moves.
Emma said: "If the football gets stuck in a corner, he has worked out how to knock it out with his head rather than scrabbling with his feet.
"When Kariba has the ball, he knows he has a job to do. Moving and looking after it are totally his responsibility and it is a complex task for a horse.
"He is developing mentally, problem solving and accepting changing situations. It will ultimately make him smarter, keep him fit and he also quite literally seems to get a kick out of it."
Kariba favours a larger than average football - a 65cm version so he can get a good boot down the field.
Emma said: "He will take a shot at goal, but seems to prefer playing about in a midfield position. I personally think he'd do best as a goalkeeper - you wouldn't get much past him."

Click here to see Kariba in action

NZ Draft Import Standard After EI

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing announced that, following revocation of "the import health standard for horses from Australia" due to the Equine Influenza outbreak in August 2007, "new conditions have been drafted which are similar to requirements when importing from other countries that have Equine Influenza". Conditions include vaccination, 21 days pre-export quarantine, 14 days post-arrival quarantine & pre and post-arrival PCR testing. "To date, Australia has had no new cases of Equine Influenza since December; assuming eradication is achieved, the import health standard will be redrafted with reduced importation measures." The draft import health standard can be found at www.biosecurity.govt.nz/strategy-and-consultation/consultation/horses-from-australia. Comments on this draft document "are required to be forwarded to MAF Biosecurity New Zealand by close of business on March 10"; depending on the outcomes of consultation "it is anticipated the new requirements will be in place by March 21".

Queensland EI Zone Changes

Queensland Racing chief operations manager Malcolm Tuttle announced that "following the successful transition of the Green Zone to White on February 1, everything looks on track for the Amber Zone transition to White due on February 22." He also confirmed the "proposed zoning changes that will enable thoroughbred movements within Queensland to return to normal on June 30". They are:

• Green Zone: went White on February 1.
• Amber Zone: proposed to go White on February 22.
• Red Zone: proposed to go Amber on February 22; proposed to go Green by Easter; proposed to go White on June 30.

Horse Flu Assistance Extended

Australian Government assistance has been extended to people affected by equine influenza horse movement restrictions. Federal Minister For Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry Tony Burke announced assistance "has been extended for those in restricted zones until March 14 or until movement restrictions are lifted". Burke noted: "While eradication of equine influenza from Australia is on track, many businesses & individuals still face hardship due to the continuing standstill. After consulting with horse industry stake-holders, I have decided to extend the Equine Workers Hardship Wage Supplement Payment, the Business Assistance Grant & the Commercial Horse Assistance Payment. This Equine Influenza Assistance Package has gone a long way to reducing the overall impact since the outbreak occurred. I am sure the decision to extend this assistance will be welcomed by people doing business in the areas affected by the continued movement restrictions."

Comment on Horse flu battle almost won.

Would there be any possibility that the current head of AQIS get the boot and someone who actually knows what bio security entails get the job instead of as I heard was appointed over far better qualified applicants,because of her expertise as a political animal?

Such a pity epidemics of virus or unwanted species arrival has no respect for politics.

Jenny