Linzi's blog

So, all change. The horseriding is on hold until September at least as I am training for the 100 mile bike ride and want to be in one piece for it. The fish are having to move to a new home due to a flare-up of eczema which may or may not have been caused by the tank water, but I can't take any chances and I don't want to leave all the maintenence to mum and dad. Plus Mum wants a dog next year and dogs and fish tanks in a small house don't go.

My room is going to be redecorated in green with a creamish carpet.

The only constant is work, and the mental block on the book.

This is the Ride of the Roses from Lancaster to York which takes place on the 5th September this year and I'm taking part. I know, 100 miles is a long way no matter how you look at it, but it's to raise money for the British Heart Foundation, and I'll do (almost) anything for charity. If anyone wishes to sponsor me just click here

Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen,

Tod und Verzwieflung flammet um mich her!

Flücht nicht durch dich Sarastro Todesschemrzen,

So bist du meine Tochter nimmermehr.

Verstossen sei auf ewig,

Verlossen sei auf ewig,

Zertrümmert sei'n auf ewig

Alle Bande der Natur

Wenn nicht durch dich!

Sarastro wird erblassen!

Hört, Rachgötter,

Hört der Mütter Schwur!

I would have posted the entire transcript of my Spoken exam, but I don't understand it in English, so it doesn't make anymore sense in German, trust me. So, instead I have posted the lyrics to Der Hölle Rache from Mozart's Magic Flute Opera. They make much more sense whether in German or English.

I am currently attempting to translate my book into German. With not much success.

Andre, Novakovic, Brosinski, Vucicevic, Isobel and Ulla (the 6 White Clouds) are now housed in their lovely new tank. Unfortunately, I couldn't quite afford the 60l tank, so got a 48l one.
There is a planting substrate at the bottom, covered with a layer of gravel and sand. I currently have 7 plants in the tank and 1 moss ball. Today I bought a piece of Mopani wood which will be split into 2 pieces and then soaked in a 20l bucket before being placed in the tank.
The reason for the Mopani wood? Around September/October, the 6 WCMMs will be joined by 3 or 4 Otocinclus (Dwarf Suckermouth Catfish). I decided on a breed of catfish, knowing that the WCMMs are surface to mid tank feeders and there wouldn't be any point in putting more of that type of fish into the aquarium. So, I started reading up on the different types of catfish, knowing my requirements:

Size: must be small.

Temperature: Need to be happy at 22 Celcius

Temperament: Peaceful.

From a short list of suitables, I chose the Otocinclus as they fit those categories well. They only grow to around an inch in length, are peaceful fish and the tank temperature is Ok for them. They feed on Algae and vegetables, although may be tempted by Mango. So, although making the aquarium look more natural is hard work and can cost money, in the long term, the fish are happier and the look is really great.

I currently have a 21 litre tank which houses 6 White Cloud Mountain Minnows (Tanichthys albonubes). They are extremely well cared for, with a heater to maintain the water temperature, a filter which is powerful enough to replicate the conditions they would live in in the wild, an air pump on almost full flow to provide the right amount of oxygen, a plant to keep the nitrate levels in check (the filter looks after the ammonia and nitrite levels) and to provide shelter for them, plenty of light for the plant and them, and plenty of variety in their diet.

Very soon they will be re-housed in a tank between 60 and 120 litres with the conditions they are used to replicated, with the addition of some more plants and some new fish added.

You may wonder what I'm getting at with my post title.

Well, when I bought my tank, I was told a few lies which I will now list:

1. 21 litre tanks are suitible for 2 goldfish.

2. The fish will adapt to the tank.

3. You don't need to vary the diet of any fish.

These lies are told by a number of shops which sell these tanks and ones even smaller to unsuspecting people.

21 litre tanks are nowhere near large enough for 1 goldfish, never mind 2. Do not be fooled by this lie. The comet variety of goldfish, given as prizes on funfairs and the cheapest to buy, needs at least 80 litres of water to live in. That's a 160 litre tank for 2 at minimum. The smaller fancy varieties need at least 40 litres of water.

Yes, it may look like the fish you buy only grow to the size tank they are in. However, inside, their internal organs are still growing. That's why most only last a few years. In the wild the comet, which is from the carp family (that's what goldfish are - carps) can live for about 20-30 years. The fancy varieties should live about half that because they are more prone to problems due to the way they have been bred - short, round bodies, which cause swimbladder problems and make it hard to swim.

Variety in diet is important, and doesn't need to be expensive. My White clouds get a small pinch of fish flakes each day, but they also get Daphnia (a small planktonic crustacean which would be found naturally in the natural habitat of most tank fish) and brineshrimp (Artemia) once or twice a week. I am also looking at buying bloodworm for them. Most Goldfish species will eat fruit, crushed frozen peas, and cucumber in addition to their usual diet of flake or pellet food.

There is absolutely no reason to keep goldfish in cramped conditions. If you don't have room for the size tank they need, look at tropical fish instead. A small heater costs around £20 and light can easily be provided by placing a table lamp nearby. Tropical fish aren't even expensive unless you are looking at the larger fish. Most shops will sell you a shoal of 6 neon tetras, which look similar to the White Clouds for around £5-6. My own White Clouds cost £5.

They are lovely fish to watch, much more interesting to look at than goldfish and a lot easier to keep. This is a pic of 3 of mine. The one nearest the plant is called Andre.

Well, if the FEI sorts it's brain out enough to be able to tell it's arse from it's elbow and get the guts to upset the likes of Anky.
OK, time for definition: I normally use Rollkur when referring to slightly behind the verticle work that I do occasionally with Gypsy, although he has really calmed down now and no longer needs nor is worked in this outline.
In this post, Rollkur is defining the position where the horse's head is held a long way behind the verticle, in some cases against the chest. Today, we are referring to this extreme form of flexion.
Dr Uta von Borstel, of the University of Guelph in Ontario has been spending a lot of time researching the effects of Rollkur on horses, physically and mentally.
The findings show that Rollkur actually causes horses distress.
For the investigation, Dr von Borstel and her team took 15 horses and rode them in both the extremely hyperflexed position and the normal poll flexion position, using a seperate arena for each position. The horses learned to associate the differing techniques with the corresponding arenas.
The horses were then allowed to choose which arena to go into and 14 chose the non-rollkur ring.
The investigation also found that when the horses were ridden rollkur they had higher heart rates and reacted more markedly to frightening stimuli.
Last April the FEI issued a statement about rollkur which read:
"There are no known clinical side effects specifically arising from the use of hyperflexion (rollkur). However, there are serious concerns for a horse's wellbeing if the technique is not being practised correctly.
"The FEI condemns hyperflexion in any equestrian sport as an example of mental abuse. The FEI states that it does not support the practise."
Despite this, the FEI are said to be still considering whether or not to discipline riders using rollkur at FEI events. They are not currently, and unless the FEI gets off the fence and decides one way or another, they never will.
I'm sorry, but, I know that I sit a bit on the fence over this subject, leaning more toward the anti- brigade over the extreme form, but the FEI cannot have it both ways. They can not openly condemn rollkur and then say to the riders: "but don't worry, if we catch you using it, we won't do anything."
It just doesn't work.
Of course, the FEI don't want the likes of Anky van Grunsven, Isabelle Werth, and some prominent showjumping riders to up and leave the sport by cracking down on their training methods. But at the same time they can't say one thing and mean another.
If these riders are going to walk out on their sport just because the FEi decides to discipline them for using rollkur at an FEI event then do we really want them in the sport? Are they any better than the footballer who kisses the badge of his club after scoring a goal and then, as soon as a big club show an interest in him, demands a transfer?
As for me? Well, with Gypsy now much calmer in his work and happy to work collected movement, I can work him in the frame I want - uphill, elevated and flowing through from his hindlegs. Something I couldn't do with him without hystronics over the loss of ability to go 100mph last year.
Yes, he still gets a tad excited in canter work, but only to extent where I can get away with just bringing him back to walk on a circle line, and using the excitement to produce a more elevated walk. Last year I wouldn't have been able to get him to that stage and never envisioned it happening.

I'm certain it is. Not my Blog e-mail, but my other e-mail. It only shows e-mails I don't want, about stuff I don't want to know about.
A couple of weeks ago, I applied for a placement. Not going to go into any real detail, but, I was really keen on it. Recieved a reply e-mail on the Wednesday, asking some questions, and some pics.
Sent reply last Saturday evening, and I haven't heard anything since.
Surely, if I didn't get the placement, it wouldn't hurt to send an e-mail saying: "Thank you for your application ... blah, blah, blah .... Unfortunately, on this occaision, you have not been successful." Would it?
E-mails are definately free to send aren't they?
I mean besides the internet connection charge.
So, to my extremely logical mind, there is only one answer to the problem:
My e-mail has selective blocking.
Can it be removed?

I am looking at getting 2 fantail-type fish. We used to keep fish a few years ago, but everything has been gotten rid of, so I'm starting from scratch and want to get it as right as possible, so:
For 2 fantails, how big a tank would I need?
How long after setting the tank up can I buy and add the fish?
What's the best feeding regime for Fantails, pellets, flakes or a mixture?
If adding frozen treats, what is best?
Any other information an the upkeep of these fish would be greatly appreciated.
I am asking these questions, as everything I've read seems confusing and slightly contradictory, especially with regards the setting up of a tank. Some saying wait 7 days, others until the water is free of amonia.
That's another question, is there a testing kit to check the water amonia levels? i know to leave the tank, once it's set up to allow the bacteria to thrive.
Also, is there a small, cold water fish that eats algae, that would be able to live alogside the fantails without problems?
This question is because of the shape of the room where the tank is situated, direct sunlight would be hard to avoid, if there isn't a small algae eater that co-habits happily with fantails, then I can improvise a sunscreen for the side of the tank most affected.

If you believe that, you'll believe anything.
No, the British Bulldog is NOT going to become extinct, it just won't look like the country it's supposed to be representing: Grossly overweight, and unhealthy.
Is that really the fighting fit message we are supposed to be sending out?
No.
The British Bulldog has been let down over the last 100 years by the very people who supposedly cared about it: the breeders. They tried to play God, thinking they knew best. They failed. The Bulldog can't mate without assistance, and no chance of natural birth for MRS Bulldog: no, she needs a caesarean because the pups heads are too big for her hips.
I've seen an impression of the new British Bulldog, and I like it. It has longer legs, isn't so fat it has to waddle, and has a face shape it can breathe with. Whats more, lowering the nose means the dog no longer needs the owner to remember to wet it's nose, because it can touch it's tongue to it's nose.
That's got to be an improvement, surely?
Well, the British Bulldog club are up in arms about it.
Of course they are. They don't like the idea of having to admitt they've been breeding unhealthy dogs for years, dogs that their ancestors wouldn't recognise as Bulldogs.
Others to get a healthy make-over under the new KC guidelines include the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which will now be bred to have a head that is big enough for the brain.
The German Shepherd is another. The Police don't need to worry though, their dogs are, presumably, safe. I imagine that the change will be a lifting of the hips, meaning that the dog can walk.
The Shar Pei will loose those folds of skin around the legs, back, neck and face. Their breed club, welcome the move, which is great to see, that some people realise that something has to be done to help these breeds.
The Pekingnese will lose the flat face that stops it breathing properly, and will most likely, end the need for the owner to train the dog to drink from a bottle.
Yes, flat-faced dogs need supervision when they are drinking as the nose being flat against the face means theres a risk of them drowning in their water dish.
The Kennel Club may have taken a very long time to take action, but they are to be applauded for this move and should be supported by breeders, not shunned.
Those breeders thinking of leaving the KC because of this, remember:
When you breed those deformed pups, you'll have a harder job to sell them. It might have it's faults, but that piece of paper that says "KC Registered" holds more sway when people buy their pup than "non-KC Registered"
Maybe you should gice the new proposals a try, you might surprise yourself by finding you like the changes to your breed.