Where to start??? I've been going here for 18 mths now. Ha! That's possibly the wrong thing to say, it could be misconstrued!!! Hear me out!
I have an injury which can also be described as a disability. Reid Health is definitely the place to go if you have a disability. They are understanding, accepting, caring, genuinely good people. I possibly have one of the crazier disabilities they've encountered, but they cope with me so seamlessly it's such a relief to go somewhere where I am completely accepted and not treated as a freak.
I go to Reid Health specifically for acupuncture (although they also offer naturopathy, physio, massage and now speech therapy). My practitioner is Sohial, with whom I've developed a very trusting relationship. Sohial is known as an 'aggressive needler', but he has learnt to read me very well and treats me with the utmost respect (blessings to you Sohial!!), I'm a sensitive soul, LOL! He is rather innovative and flexible in his approach to therapy, which I love! I get treated weekly and this has helped me tremendously with my mental health and quality of living. I would probably be a terrible mess without my acupuncture. As I've said, I have a disability, which acupuncture helps me with. There is no known cure, but I haven't given up and neither has Sohial. That's another thing I like about him, he hasn't given up on me.
My partner also now sees Sohial and holds him in the highest respect. He's getting treatment for an old back injury and is very pleased with how things are coming along.
I've come to know many of the employees at Reid Health and they are all lovely! The receptionists have become like friends and, again, are all very accepting of me.
Thank you Reid Health Services!

As with anything horsey these days, finding the right person, therapist, tool or whatever is getting increasingly complicated. I let my horses go a little too long (yes... shame on me...) as I was fed up with 'jacks of all trades' sticking their hands and tools in my horses' mouths and doing a half hearted (and sometime brutal) job. And I've been getting increasingly worried as I haven't been able to find the right person...!!!!! Ahhhh :) that search is over :)

Sarah Wynd of North Eastern Equine Dentistry is a blessing! She has a great manner, enduring patience, extensive knowledge and is informative. She told me what was going on in each of my horse's mouths, what that meant, what she was going to do about it and what it might mean in the future. She's very happy to 'educate the owner' - something I love!!! as it helps me help my horses. She also considers the horse wholistically... excellent :)

One of my boys was a little difficult and distressed. Sarah was so patient and understanding with him, it was just lovely and inspiring to see.

She's based in Euroa, and does travel. Obviously the further away you are the more horses you should line up to make it worth her while. And if you can line up neighbours or friends to get their horses teeth looked at, it's worth it just to get Sarah to see your horse!!!

She spent time studying in NZ to obtain accreditation (something not possible in Aust yet, grrrrrr! typical Aust..)

Yes, she's young, but don't let that fool you! She's dedicated to horses and horse care and did a superb job with both my boys.

Cost is $70 per horse. I was very happy to pay this, but when the time came she charged me less. When I asked why she replied that to charge me the full cost would be to rip me off. ....I was speechless, such honesty surely shows her care towards her charges and dedication to her career!

Thank you Sarah! :)

I'd seen Saddleworld, Chirnside, many times, but hadn't gone in. I finally went on the recommendation of a friend. It's a surprisingly large store with it's own saddle repair shop inside. They stock a range of qualities, but there seems to be an emphasis on medium to high quality, and a wide range of products. I haven't explored the whole store yet, but I have bought a few different things and am very happy with quality and service. Prices are standard. I had a saddle fitting which was a different experience for me from the usual saddle fitting I get for my horse. Saddleworld came out with a variety of saddles (within my budget) to fit to my horse and me! It was nice to be able to ride my horse in a range of saddles and see how my horse responded to each and how I felt in each as well, before I decide to buy. It was a great experience and well worth the cost. I bought a saddle at the end of it. Unfortunately the saddle needed to go back to have an alteration made (to my size), but this was done within the week and was no extra cost. I also bought some gumboot-riding boots which have been a blessing! They had a few different styles and qualities in stock which surprised me as I'd only ever seen the one style before. If you're like me and are a creature of habit and loyal to your horse supply store, I urge you to go and look at different stores, you'll never know what you'll discover!

I first went to the Lilydale branch of Horseland 4 yrs ago and my experience then did not inspire me to return. Why then did I return?! We were driving past and I urgently needed something that I felt was simple and should be easy to find. Well, I'm so glad I went in!! What a change!!!! The staff are so friendly, helpful and give good advice. They have so much stock I don't know how they fit it in! but they do and it doesn't feel too cramped. They stock a wide range of products. The store has a good, vibrant and friendly feel to it now. I'm not sure what they've done to create such a dramatic change, but well done!!

Telecommunication has become very expensive, particularly if you live rural. I'd been looking at MyNetFone for a few years, recommended to me by a friend who swears by them. I was rather nervous about VoIP, but finally took the plunge and haven't looked back. Call quality is the same as a landline, although I have found that if the internet is busy then the quality does drop - both ends! The first time I rang my parents they had no idea I was calling via the internet. Call costs are very cheap - VERY CHEAP! The catch though is that it does take from your download limit. With MyNetFone you can elect to go on a plan or just pay for what you use. International calls are also cheap, calls to mobile phones are about 20-25c per min. Payment is upfront, something I wasn't aware of until my friend kindly informed me of the ways of this company. They regularly have specials and bundles so if you're new to this you can get a good VoIP phone at a good price. They also do naked broadband, however they are still expanding their areas. It is easy to check to see if your location is covered.
Service is good, but it can take a long time to get through via the phone. The first (and only) time I rang I was kept waiting for a long long time and when I finally got through I could not understand the woman at the other end. After both of us getting frustrated I hung up. Yesterday (Sunday) I emailed because I'd made an error with my account and within 24hrs (they don't operate on a Sunday) the problem was corrected. Thank you MyNetFone!!
We have kept our landline, but have dropped it down to the basic plan, just as a safety measure if there's a blackout or the internet is down.
I'm not computer savvy, but if I can set this up and operate it, then anyone can!!

We booked for Sunday lunch to celebrate my partner's birthday. We've past through Yarck many times and haven't seen the Tea Rooms, but specifically going there, yes of course we found it! A rather assuming, converted weatherboard with many cars parked outside, testify to it's popularity. Upon entering, it's rather tight, or should I say intimate...? We were greeted by a waitress and to our dismay our booking had gone on holiday, it didn't exist. No drama, the woman took us through to the restaurant, through another cosy room and out into what I call an annexe. It was larger, white and had a fresh, open feel to it. I liked it. We sat at a table for 2 next to the front window, out of the way of traffic. I headed for the toilets, clean and spacious, then settled for lunch.
My partner had already sussed out what the go was and I was informed that we were having the Chef's Special, which is what all of the rave reviews have been about. Well, ok. All the waitress wanted to know was what we didn't/couldn't eat. I'm easy, my partner can't have pork. I was a little unsure about not having choice of menu, but at the same time it also seemed a little decadent.
We were shortly given 2 small slices of a vegetarian roll, YUM! and our glasses of wine arrived. You can purchase by the bottle, but seeing as I don't drink (rarely) my partner chose to try a few different glasses throughout the meal.
Anti pasta was the first course and this arrived in a series of plates, each timed with an appropriate interval. The theme of the anti pasta that day was seafood. Other that that, food is often sourced locally. Each serving was small (just as well!!), beautifully presented and simply exquisite! yum yum YUM!! Things like sardines and muscles alarmed me, but I tucked in and was pleasantly surprised. Bread was supplied so we could wipe our plates and soak up the delicious oils and salsas.
The first of the mains (that's right, the first!) was a pasta dish. I felt the pasta was a little undercooked, but it was still delicious. I realised I wasn't going to be able to eat everything and my partner helped me out. The next mains came, rabbit roll with pork mince and vegies, oh oh! No, my partner can't eat pork!!! There was a moment of 'are you sure..??' Then the waitress went back to check. Yes, it had been noted, but forgotten. Hm, just as well we checked!! I held onto my plate because I wanted to try the rabbit and my partner was given beef. Both meals were subtle in taste and tender.
The final course was dessert. We were first given a sorbet to cleanse our palette, it was pineapple, although I could taste something savoury in there as well. It was lovely. Then a plate of 3 sample sized portions arrived. Tiramisu - I'm not a fan, but this was best I've had - profiteroles and a custard tart with peach and raspberry sauce. I don't have much of a sweet tooth, but it was all lovely.
Throughout the meal the staff constantly surveyed the room, checking diners to ensure they weren't without food or drink for too long, yet not harassing. Service was excellent and very friendly!
Well, I'd been expecting the meal to be pricey, but when the invoice arrived I went into shock. I'd bought my partner a good quality first edition (1892) book he wanted, and well, the meal cost more...!!!
Don't get me wrong, the food was exquisite! The service outstanding and friendly! I just think I would've appreciated knowing up front what the cost of the Chef's Special was to save myself the stress of surprise. I certainly cannot and will not complain about the price as the meal was one of best we've had! We were both so full it was like Christmas lunch all over again!!
The Chef's Special is $85 per head, plus drinks. I'm not sure if that's a set price or if it changes according to what's available. We'd had a lot of excellent seafood that day.
If you're wanting somewhere special to dine I can highly recommend the Tea Rooms of Yarck! Just don't expect common tea room prices ;)

I'd been buying Horse Herb Vitalis from interstate when I found Walkenny Park where I found the service friendlier and more helpful, plus being in the same state, the postage was cheaper.
I've been buying horse herbs and supplements from Denise for over 2 yrs now. She has always been friendly and helpful with advice. She knows her products!! Emails are usually answered within 24hrs and she is happy to call you if want to discuss products or concerns in more detail.
Denise now sells her own 'all in one' horse feed supplement, which is a more rounded product than what I was previously using. Vita Plus is a concentrate, pellet form, and while the prices are similar to the Vitalis, it is more economical as less is required - hence it lasts longer. It contains the essential vitamins and minerals with added herbs and EFA's to assist with immune function, nerve support, disposition, coat and hooves, digestion and performance.
I'm very happy with the Vita Plus, but will write more when I've been using it longer. I've also begun using diatomaceous earth which helps with arthritis (for all manner of creature! human or animal!) as well as assisting with worming. Will write more about this too soon!
All I can say, is if want to do the best by your horsey friend, then try natural products and try Walkenny Park!
Time for an update. I still like the Vita Plus and recommend it. It's so easy to use!! and lasts a long time. One of my horses was suffering rain scald, so I upped his Vita Plus and treated him topically as well with another chemical free product and he cleared up beautifully. The diatomaceous earth certainly helps with worming! I now have the dogs and cats on it as well. My cat's energy increased within days! I take it myself too. I think it's helping with my other horse's arthritis, at least, his knee is not as bad as it has been. Although I have read that diatomaceous earth is good for rheumatoid arthritis, which my boy doesn't have. But, overall, very positive results :)
OK, time to update again. Both of boys are pictures of health! Their coats glow! I haven't used a chemical wormer in over 12 mths and neither of the horses are wormy. As I've said, they're pictures of health. We have an abundance of dung beetles on the property now, the ultimate in proof that the land and animals are healthy!!

Like most people turning to barefoot trimming I began with a farrier. It seemed cruel to have my boy's feet cut so short and especially the crippling he endured for up to 10 days after was just torture. My farrier was not open to discussion about the specific needs of my horse. What specific needs?! He's a horse!!! and discussion on barefoot trimming wasn't even worthy of a reply.

I had a hard time finding a barefoot trimmer who would come out to my area and the first one charged me a fortune for the privilege and didn't seem to know if my horse's feet were in good condition or not. She wasn't asked back.

I got in touch with Jeane (pronounced Je-nay), she told me she came out my way once a month. She sms me on the day to let me know she was running late and then again to tell me how far away she was. This was an impressive start. She brought a friend with her that first time and her dog. The dog posed an issue for us as it meant our dogs had to be locked up. She brings her dog most times.

Anyway, she seemed to know what she was talking about. At least she had an opinion of the condition of my horse's feet ;) and she was efficient yet took pride in her work and my boy was only a little sore afterwards. All looking good so far! Jeane promotes Easy Boots, and I mean promotes them at any opportunity! She leant me a pair to test drive for a few months and while they were fine I wasn't convinced that I needed them. More on that later.

Jeane likes to trim every 4 weeks, but this doesn't always happen. She doesn't book the next trim when she sees your horse, she prefers to send an sms 1-2 days prior to her next trip out and expects you to be available.

The impressive start we had steadily declined. It seems to me she doesn't know how to run a business effectively.

Also, 2-3 months ago my boy began to become sensitive in his feet. Jeane couldn't give me an explanation for this and kept siting environmental issues. The last time she came out she was surprised at the change in both my horses feet and fobbed this off as environmental changes. There had been no change beyond wet or dry conditions.... I was worried about the increasing sensitivity in his feet, particularly the back feet and the change in his posture. Jeane commented that it was very strange for a horse to be sore in the back feet and suggested that he may be a little laminitic. After the trim my boy deteriorated to the point where I couldn't even entice him out onto the road and I became so desperate that I almost bought a complete set of Easy Boots.

Things came to a head recently and I cancelled future appointments with Jeane. I sought the advice of 2 equine specialists. My boy did not have laminitis. Environment did not cause his sore feet or the change in his posture. The heels of all four feet had become underslung and the bars were in contact with the ground. This was causing bruising and inflammation. No wonder he was so sore!! So, what caused it? I have been told it is because of incorrect trimming.

I do not blame Jeane. Her heart is in the right place and she cares about her work. I blame the lack in her education that failed to teach how to assess correctly and trim accordingly.

Jeane covers a wide area, from the Yarra Valley up to Yea and surrounds, down to Narre Warren... you'll just have to get in touch to see if she'll come out to you. Email, call or sms. To date, she charges $50 for the first visit and $40 for subsequent trims. For 3 or more horses the charge is $35 per horse.

I wish we'd known about this company before we built our house, but we know about them now. Another company installed our Nubian grey water system - not happy with them at all. Nubian organised for Sustainable Plumbing Solutions to service our system last year and this year and I cannot express enough how happy we are with them. Professional! Knowledgeable! Quality! Friendly! Yes, their prices are not the cheapest around, but you get exactly what you pay for, quality!!! They are up with all of the environmentally friendly products and solutions to your needs. We are very happy. Due to our location, our service appointment is always first thing in the morning and they've never been late. We've had our Nubian system for approaching 3 yrs now and until 6 mths ago we had nothing but problems. Not since Sustainable Plumbing have been on the job! :)

In a world dominated by chemicals what a fantastic idea, home delivery of organic produce, and it's even a family run business! Customer service is friendly and professional, online ordering is simple, payment is the following week after you've received your produce so you have time to call if there are any problems or concerns. Fantastic!!!! Alternatives are sometimes put in and if the produce is second rate it is often reduced or free. Fantastic!!! Living in the country however, I've encountered a few problems. The first was I kept asking for my order to be delivered on a Friday, it kept arriving on the Thursday. This was a problem as being in the country if you're not at home then there is no access to the property and I was unable to organise an alternative delivery address. My other problem was that every week certain items where unavailable. We managed to get by until my last order in which numerous items where unavailable. When I rang to ask what was going on the reply was honest. They receive their deliveries on certain days of the week (I can't remember which days) and this meant that those orders being delivered later in the week ie orders to the country, by this time much stock had run out. I asked if orders to the country could be made earlier in the week as I felt I was being penalised simply because I live outside of Melb! The answer was yes, but the cost was not a viable option. So, while I think this company is fantastic if you live in Melbourne, however, sadly I no longer use them.