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The US Equestrian Federation (USEF) is holding this year’s national finals and the team selection trials for its Para-equestrian riders in Gladstone, NJ starting on the June 12, 2012. Barbara Adside, along with 23 other riders, has been invited. If she wins, she will compete in the 2012 Summer Paralympics Games in London, UK. Barbara is more than excited about this opportunity: “I’m the only one from the United States that has been chosen to qualify and go to this trial to get on the U.S. Paralympics equestrian team. Most of the people that are on there, I’d say 99% of them, have been doing this for like 17 or 20 years trying to get there. I have been doing this maybe 6 months, if that. In my competitions I have won mostly first place awards and that’s what has got me where I’m at.” To prepare herself for the trials, Barbara works with a coach from Uruguay, training six hours a day. The horse she is working with, “Pegasus”, is coming to New Jersey with her. “He’s a pretty little boy. He is valiant, which is a big deal. Usually they are harder to ride, they are wilder”, says Barbara. Despite all the excitement, Barbara cannot hide the fact that she is a little nervous: “My chances are probably slim, that’s the way I feel. But I felt that way as far as even being qualified. Because a lot of the odds were against me, I mean totally against me. Everything from financial issues to my experience. Usually it takes people at least seven to ten years to qualify.” When I ask Barbara if the fact that the odds are against her make her try and work even harder, she says: “Yes, absolutely. I love what I’m doing. I love working with the horses”.

The US Equestrian Federation (USEF) is holding this year’s national finals and the team selection trials for its Para-equestrian riders in Gladstone, NJ starting on the June 12, 2012. Barbara Adside, along with 23 other riders, has been invited.

If she wins, she will compete in the 2012 Summer Paralympics Games in London, UK. Barbara is more than excited about this opportunity: “I’m the only one from the United States that has been chosen to qualify and go to this trial to get on the U.S. Paralympics equestrian team. Most of the people that are on there, I’d say 99% of them, have been doing this for like 17 or 20 years trying to get there. I have been doing this maybe 6 months, if that. In my competitions I have won mostly first place awards and that’s what has got me where I’m at.”

To prepare herself for the trials, Barbara works with a coach from Uruguay, training six hours a day. The horse she is working with, “Pegasus”, is coming to New Jersey with her. “He’s a pretty little boy. He is valiant, which is a big deal. Usually they are harder to ride, they are wilder”, says Barbara.

Despite all the excitement, Barbara cannot hide the fact that she is a little nervous: “My chances are probably slim, that’s the way I feel. But I felt that way as far as even being qualified. Because a lot of the odds were against me, I mean totally against me. Everything from financial issues to my experience. Usually it takes people at least seven to ten years to qualify.”

When I ask Barbara if the fact that the odds are against her make her try and work even harder, she says: “Yes, absolutely. I love what I’m doing. I love working with the horses”.

http://www.incrediblefeatures.net/blog/2012/05/exclusive-meet-the-pageant-boys-that-are-taking-on-toddlers-and-tiaras/ EXCLUSIVE: Meet the Pageant Boys that are taking on Toddlers and Tiaras Orlando, Florida: We’re all familiar with the stars of reality TV show Toddlers and Tiaras – the little girls who are tanned, curled and dressed to compete for the titles of princess and queen at beauty pageants. Yet there are a rising number of boys entering this girl’s world and the trend is catching the attention of competition judges. Boys are now winning crowns away from popular female contenders and causing controversy on the pageant circuit. Former Beauty Queen Hazely Lopez is spearheading the change with her two sons – 4 year-old Marioandres and 8 year-old Jorgeandres Alvarez. She runs Hazely Corp, heading up an academy through which she coaches children and teens in the self-confidence, etiquette and presentation skills that they need to succeed in what she terms “modeling competitions” and, she believes, life in general. Amanda Returns 3 year-old son Cash has been performing in pageants for a year. “Cash competes with his heart and he wins. He loves to go on stage. He loves costumes – he’s been a racing car driver, a fisherman, and a soccer player. He loves to play soccer so he enjoys showing off his skills,” describes Amanda. Cash has taken the crown at the majority of competitions he has entered since turning 2. Amanda never has to resort to feeding Cash energy drinks or sugar packets to get him to turn on the charm – “I just make sure he gets to bed by 8pm and that he eats a good breakfast. If a child doesn’t like performing, giving them sugar won’t help. I ask my son before every pageant if he wants to do this and if he doesn’t I’ll pull him out. It’s just a hobby.” Katherine Herrera’s son Maddox is 4 years old. He started competing in pageants when he was only 3 months, following in the footsteps of his older sister Angelle. As with Hazely’s sons, Maddox gets to spend his winnings, as he likes. He’ll ask to go to Red Lobster after a pageant or to one of Florida’s theme parks on the weekend. “Whether they win or lose, if they go on stage and do well, they still get the prize they’ve asked for from me,” says Katherine.

http://www.incrediblefeatures.net/blog/2012/05/exclusive-meet-the-pageant-boys-that-are-taking-on-toddlers-and-tiaras/

EXCLUSIVE: Meet the Pageant Boys that are taking on Toddlers and Tiaras

Orlando, Florida: We’re all familiar with the stars of reality TV show Toddlers and Tiaras – the little girls who are tanned, curled and dressed to compete for the titles of princess and queen at beauty pageants. Yet there are a rising number of boys entering this girl’s world and the trend is catching the attention of competition judges. Boys are now winning crowns away from popular female contenders and causing controversy on the pageant circuit.

Former Beauty Queen Hazely Lopez is spearheading the change with her two sons – 4 year-old Marioandres and 8 year-old Jorgeandres Alvarez. She runs Hazely Corp, heading up an academy through which she coaches children and teens in the self-confidence, etiquette and presentation skills that they need to succeed in what she terms “modeling competitions” and, she believes, life in general.

Amanda Returns 3 year-old son Cash has been performing in pageants for a year. “Cash competes with his heart and he wins. He loves to go on stage. He loves costumes – he’s been a racing car driver, a fisherman, and a soccer player. He loves to play soccer so he enjoys showing off his skills,” describes Amanda. Cash has taken the crown at the majority of competitions he has entered since turning 2.

Amanda never has to resort to feeding Cash energy drinks or sugar packets to get him to turn on the charm – “I just make sure he gets to bed by 8pm and that he eats a good breakfast. If a child doesn’t like performing, giving them sugar won’t help. I ask my son before every pageant if he wants to do this and if he doesn’t I’ll pull him out. It’s just a hobby.”

Katherine Herrera’s son Maddox is 4 years old. He started competing in pageants when he was only 3 months, following in the footsteps of his older sister Angelle. As with Hazely’s sons, Maddox gets to spend his winnings, as he likes. He’ll ask to go to Red Lobster after a pageant or to one of Florida’s theme parks on the weekend. “Whether they win or lose, if they go on stage and do well, they still get the prize they’ve asked for from me,” says Katherine.

hushnowbaby-babydontyoucry: jawhead: hello sweet baby I LOVE MOTHS SO MUCH..

hushnowbaby-babydontyoucry:

jawhead:

hello sweet baby

I LOVE MOTHS SO MUCH..

The Buffalo Whisperer—Texas Couple Lives with Two Enormous Buffalo Quinlan, TX – Snakes, spiders, chimpanzees and even lions… some people just love to keep dangerous animals as pets.  But RC Bridges and his wife Sherron have gone a big step further - the Texas couple shares their home with two buffaloes! What makes them love these huge, dangerous animals so much that they give them the run of the house? Incredible Features finds out. RC has worked with buffaloes for most of his life, but after suffering with health issues in 2004 he had to sell his herd - except for one young buffalo named Wild Thing.  RC and his wife decided to keep him as a pet. RC knew what he was getting into, however, even he was surprised to find out buffaloes make great companions: “I knew they were crazy animals. It actually turned out way better than I thought it would be,” laughs RC. RC is a professional when it comes to handling dangerous animals. In the 1960’s and 70’s he worked as a rodeo clown, and a horse jockey. He is also a two-time world champion at cutting, a sport where a horse and rider separate a cow from its herd and keep it away for a short period of time. Recently the couple have added a female buffalo to their family - Bullet. Bullet’s previous owner gave her to the couple as a gift when she found she was too hard to control. “She told me if I could catch her, I could have her. She kept getting out of the pen and the Sheriff’s department was mad about it. Well, I just caught her, put her in a trailer and brought her home,” RC explains. Surprisingly, although already very intimidating, Wild Thing and Bullet aren’t fully grown yet, and could potentially reach up to 11 feet-tall and weigh up to 2,500 pounds. Their curved, sharp horns are two feet long – and lethal - and they are able to run as fast as 40 mph. Considering this, RC’s rapport with the beasts is incredible! That’s why he’s been called the Buffalo Whisperer.  

The Buffalo Whisperer—Texas Couple Lives with Two Enormous Buffalo

Quinlan, TX – Snakes, spiders, chimpanzees and even lions… some people just love to keep dangerous animals as pets.  But RC Bridges and his wife Sherron have gone a big step further - the Texas couple shares their home with two buffaloes! What makes them love these huge, dangerous animals so much that they give them the run of the house? Incredible Features finds out.

RC has worked with buffaloes for most of his life, but after suffering with health issues in 2004 he had to sell his herd - except for one young buffalo named Wild Thing.  RC and his wife decided to keep him as a pet. RC knew what he was getting into, however, even he was surprised to find out buffaloes make great companions: “I knew they were crazy animals. It actually turned out way better than I thought it would be,” laughs RC.

RC is a professional when it comes to handling dangerous animals. In the 1960’s and 70’s he worked as a rodeo clown, and a horse jockey. He is also a two-time world champion at cutting, a sport where a horse and rider separate a cow from its herd and keep it away for a short period of time.

Recently the couple have added a female buffalo to their family - Bullet. Bullet’s previous owner gave her to the couple as a gift when she found she was too hard to control. “She told me if I could catch her, I could have her. She kept getting out of the pen and the Sheriff’s department was mad about it. Well, I just caught her, put her in a trailer and brought her home,” RC explains.

Surprisingly, although already very intimidating, Wild Thing and Bullet aren’t fully grown yet, and could potentially reach up to 11 feet-tall and weigh up to 2,500 pounds. Their curved, sharp horns are two feet long – and lethal - and they are able to run as fast as 40 mph. Considering this, RC’s rapport with the beasts is incredible! That’s why he’s been called the Buffalo Whisperer.

 

EXCLUSIVE: A Kangaroo for Kayla Jeni and Nick Dreis of Spring, Texas have been finding out all kinds of fun facts about the Australian marsupials since they took on Mike. Six months out of the pouch he’s a 12-pound playmate for their sixteen year-old daughter Kayla who has Down syndrome. He’s also an important first step in the creation of the Dreis family’s dream – a wildlife park and organic farm providing support to those with intellectual disabilities, the Texas Downs Facility. Jeni swears Mike is a far easier to care for than their Schnauzer, Porter. During the day he hops around the house and yard, taking breaks to rest in a handbag hanging from the stair banister or a door handle. The bag mimics his mother’s pouch and Mike sleeps in it upside down with his long back legs hanging out the sides. He eats kangaroo kibble and drinks specialized formula from a bottle. For a treat he’ll have a cracker, Cheerios or his favorite split pea soup. Kayla and Mike bonded on sight. “She was wearing a floral-print dress,” describes Jeni, “He wanted to eat those flowers! He hopped around after her, nibbling at her dress. She hopped backwards and led him around the house. Then she fed him his bottle and they’ve been inseparable since.” When Jeni found Mike and bought him from an exotic pet breeder and veterinarian not far from Spring she didn’t plan for him to act as a therapy pet for Kayla. However, she believes the unusual animal has had a greatly positive effect on her daughter. “Mike has been wonderful for our family,” she says, “Kayla’s changed her attitude remarkably. She wants to feed him, care for him and play with him. She loves him. Before she watched a lot of TV or played on her own.  She has a strong personality so she was a little aggressive and bossy. She’s always found it hard to find real friends and now she has a companion. I take him up to her bedroom in the morning before school and he licks her face. She jumps out of bed, happy to start her day. She can hold him like a baby on her hip – he won’t let anyone else do that.”            

EXCLUSIVE: A Kangaroo for Kayla

Jeni and Nick Dreis of Spring, Texas have been finding out all kinds of fun facts about the Australian marsupials since they took on Mike. Six months out of the pouch he’s a 12-pound playmate for their sixteen year-old daughter Kayla who has Down syndrome. He’s also an important first step in the creation of the Dreis family’s dream – a wildlife park and organic farm providing support to those with intellectual disabilities, the Texas Downs Facility.

Jeni swears Mike is a far easier to care for than their Schnauzer, Porter. During the day he hops around the house and yard, taking breaks to rest in a handbag hanging from the stair banister or a door handle. The bag mimics his mother’s pouch and Mike sleeps in it upside down with his long back legs hanging out the sides. He eats kangaroo kibble and drinks specialized formula from a bottle. For a treat he’ll have a cracker, Cheerios or his favorite split pea soup.

Kayla and Mike bonded on sight. “She was wearing a floral-print dress,” describes Jeni, “He wanted to eat those flowers! He hopped around after her, nibbling at her dress. She hopped backwards and led him around the house. Then she fed him his bottle and they’ve been inseparable since.”

When Jeni found Mike and bought him from an exotic pet breeder and veterinarian not far from Spring she didn’t plan for him to act as a therapy pet for Kayla. However, she believes the unusual animal has had a greatly positive effect on her daughter. “Mike has been wonderful for our family,” she says, “Kayla’s changed her attitude remarkably. She wants to feed him, care for him and play with him. She loves him. Before she watched a lot of TV or played on her own.  She has a strong personality so she was a little aggressive and bossy. She’s always found it hard to find real friends and now she has a companion. I take him up to her bedroom in the morning before school and he licks her face. She jumps out of bed, happy to start her day. She can hold him like a baby on her hip – he won’t let anyone else do that.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tamra Rothenburger’s Arizona Sugar Glider Rescue

 Tempe, AZ – In late April, Tamra Rothenburger held the First Annual Arizona Sugar Glider Gathering at a park in Tempe, AZ, where a large group of people from all over Arizona were brought together by their shared passion: to educate people about sugar gliders and how to care for these unique, exotic animals. Tamra runs a sugar glider rescue, where she often sees gliders that have been treated badly, simply because their owners didn’t know how to care for them.

Sugar gliders are marsupials, native to Australia. They have a gliding membrane between their arms and legs, similar to those of flying squirrels, which lets them glide from tree to tree. They are intelligent, highly developed animals with problem-solving abilities much like monkeys.

According to Tamra, getting sugar gliders is a commitment: “When you’re thinking of bringing a glider into your life, you’re bringing in a child. Their intelligence level is equivalent to that of a two-year-old. They need constant stimulation”.

“People get them at carnivals and fairs and malls. That’s not the place to get these animals. They are sold by breeders who are mass-producing them and not giving them the devotion and attention they need.” The gliders are often taken away from their mothers too soon and the prospective buyers don’t receive enough education on how to handle these exotic animals.

When people realize how much time and effort it takes to own a sugar glider, they often decide not to keep them any longer. Tamra and her husband Dan founded the AZ Sugar Glider Rescue for the purpose of making the lives of sugar gliders happy and healthy. They do not only care for gliders, but also offer training and information on the care and handling of gliders to both, current glider owner and potential owners. The rescue takes in injured or malnourished sugar gliders and cares for them until they are ready to be matched with a new loving family. 

Currently, the AZ Sugar Glider Rescue has seven rescued gliders and four sanctuaries. Sanctuaries are animals that have serious issues and cannot be adopted. One of Tamra’s sanctuaries is Foamy. His owner kept him alone and did not give him enough attention. When he arrived at the rescue, he had ripped most of his fur out, to a point where he was almost bald. Now, a year later, he is doing much better and most of his fur has grown back. Tamra matched him with a female cage mate, Isabella.

 

 

 

 

 

Drunken Brits Steal A Penguin In Australia! What sounds like a hilarious scene from the movie Hangover actually really happened last month in Australia:Rhys Owen Jones, 21, and Keri Mules, 20, appeared before magistrates in Brisbane, Australia last week and pleaded guilty to trespassing, stealing and keeping a penguin.The two young men from Wales were arrested after breaking into Sea World on Queensland’s Gold Coast during an alcohol-fueled escapade on April 14. After drinking vodka at a beach party, they sneaked into the animal park and snatched the penguin, called Dirk, from an aquarium before waking up with the bird in their apartment the following day. When they sobered up, Jones and Mules took photo and video footage of the animal before releasing it into a canal, but were arrested after a friend saw updates they had posted about their antics on Facebook and reported them to police.

Drunken Brits Steal A Penguin In Australia!

What sounds like a hilarious scene from the movie Hangover actually really happened last month in Australia:
Rhys Owen Jones, 21, and Keri Mules, 20, appeared before magistrates in Brisbane, Australia last week and pleaded guilty to trespassing, stealing and keeping a penguin.
The two young men from Wales were arrested after breaking into Sea World on Queensland’s Gold Coast during an alcohol-fueled escapade on April 14.

After drinking vodka at a beach party, they sneaked into the animal park and snatched the penguin, called Dirk, from an aquarium before waking up with the bird in their apartment the following day.

When they sobered up, Jones and Mules took photo and video footage of the animal before releasing it into a canal, but were arrested after a friend saw updates they had posted about their antics on Facebook and reported them to police.

opcion: Wild kisses

opcion:

Wild kisses

(via theanimalblog)

slowlytosea:

Lichen, moss, and fungi; these are a few of my favorite things.

(via darkknightofdisco)

http://www.incrediblefeatures.net/blog/2012/05/caviar-chips-and-green-tea-oreos/ Caviar Chips and Green Tea Oreos? What sounds quite gross to most Americans is actually very popular in other countries. Russians like their Lay’s potato chips dusted in caviar and crab flavors. The Chinese like Oreos stuffed with mango or green tea cream. And in Spain, Kellogg’s All-Bran cereal is served in hot coffee instead of cold milk. American snack foods are being sold around the world, but food scientists have to adapt them to the regional tastes. For example the Oreo, which Kraft Food Inc. introduced in China in 1996. Sales of the vanilla cream-filled chocolate cookie sandwich were respectable there, but the Chinese didn’t completely take to it. So Kraft decided to tweak the Oreo. The Chinese like their cookies smaller and not as sweet as Americans do. So the company changed the recipe to create a cookie that was a tad smaller and a touch less sweet. But the company wasn’t finished. After noticing sales of Oreos were lagging in China during the summer, Kraft added a green tea ice cream flavor. The cookie combined a popular local flavor with the cooling imagery of ice cream. The green tea version sold well, and a year later, Kraft rolled out Oreos in flavors that are popular in Asians desserts — raspberry-and-blueberry and mango-and-orange.

http://www.incrediblefeatures.net/blog/2012/05/caviar-chips-and-green-tea-oreos/

Caviar Chips and Green Tea Oreos?

What sounds quite gross to most Americans is actually very popular in other countries. Russians like their Lay’s potato chips dusted in caviar and crab flavors. The Chinese like Oreos stuffed with mango or green tea cream. And in Spain, Kellogg’s All-Bran cereal is served in hot coffee instead of cold milk.

American snack foods are being sold around the world, but food scientists have to adapt them to the regional tastes. For example the Oreo, which Kraft Food Inc. introduced in China in 1996. Sales of the vanilla cream-filled chocolate cookie sandwich were respectable there, but the Chinese didn’t completely take to it. So Kraft decided to tweak the Oreo. The Chinese like their cookies smaller and not as sweet as Americans do. So the company changed the recipe to create a cookie that was a tad smaller and a touch less sweet.

But the company wasn’t finished. After noticing sales of Oreos were lagging in China during the summer, Kraft added a green tea ice cream flavor. The cookie combined a popular local flavor with the cooling imagery of ice cream. The green tea version sold well, and a year later, Kraft rolled out Oreos in flavors that are popular in Asians desserts — raspberry-and-blueberry and mango-and-orange.