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A manureman’s story
Hello again! A few days ago I wrote here about the job of a manureman. Now I would like to share with you a funny story from my hometown, Ierapetra, which is narrated on a number of Cretan websites. So here’s the story: In the old times, in Ierapetra lived an illiterate but very cunning man, whose name was Karchimas. He irritated people, drank like a water snake, banged his boots onto the ceiling, hit horses in the buttocks and used to say all the time: “I went to America, but it didn’t work out, so I came back”. As a manureman, he worked day and night on the unpaved…
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Water crisis appeal for an equine sanctuary
In some places, people take water for granted. In others, they are desperate to save it. I was born and raised in a place where water shortage is always a problem and has to be faced on an individual level; “close the tap”, “don’t wash more often than twice a week”, “don’t handwash the car”, “look how much water you’ve used to boil a portion of spaghetti”, “look how much water you’ve boiled to make just one cup of tea”, “I’ll bring you the water bill and have you pay it” and other “don’t” and “look at what you’ve done” phrases. People do whatever possible to save water, and the authorities…
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Mare found tethered with a metal head collar in Ierapetra
On their walk to the beach, the founders of the charity Walk with the Donkeys, passed by a field between Stomion and Kalogeroi (Ierapetra area), in which the lovely mare of the photo wearing a metallic head collar. The mare is considered to be of the native Cretan breed. As you can see from the pictures, the horse looks well-looked after, but she was standing in the heat (40 degrees celsius approximately) -with this collar. We can see also that the collar exercises some pressure on this creature’s face. Marks have also been noticed, while too many flies were disturbing the animal. There are also thoughts that she might be pregnant…
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Great news: the owner of the two equines has been found
Hello, people! Sorry for the pause, uni work is often overwhelming! Remember my last post about the horses that appeared at the Walk with Donkeys Sanctuary? The owner has shown up to pick them up, which is an absolute relief to the sanctuary, the horses themselves and the local equestrians. Thanks to anyone who’s helped! Oh! By the way! Since summer is near, what about living the unique weekend retreat experience the sanctuary offers? Or even volunteer? I will definitely do both when I return to Crete! I’m confident that equestrians from northern Europe are going to love it! Just check out the lovely pics to get motivated! Click here to…
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Egvus: My home equestrian club
I have not written much about Yannis’ equestrian club, have I? Or, at least, I have not devoted any post to it yet. The name of the equestrian club where I go at home is called “EGVUS”, just outside of the centre of Ierapetra, Crete. It is situated just opposite to the Aghios Andreas beach, and is surrounded by a range of hotels. The facilities are very small, and advanced lessons are mostly carried out outside, in the surrounding roads and fields. The whole club is indoors, with a roof made of professional warmhouse materials. Also, inside you will find handmade furniture, and -yes- handmade wooden jumping fences. Yannis has…