The horse-human relationship started as a prey-predator dynamic, and in the past 6,000 years since first domesticating horses, we have created more than 200 breeds — from the powerful Clydesdale to the graceful Arabian. As we have shaped horses to suit our needs on battlefields, farms and elsewhere, these animals have shaped human history. Come investigate the extraordinary qualities that have made horses so important and useful to humans at the San Diego Natural History Museum starting this month – June 1. View astonishing artifacts that highlight the horse’s role in cultures worldwide, including a bronze figurine depicting China’s legendary celestial horse from the Han dynasty, which is dated as early as 2nd-century BCE to 2nd-century AD. This West Coast premiere of The Horse, offers fascinating stories as well as science behind these legendary, exceptional, and captivating animals. The comprehensive exhibit will remain on view through Jan. 20, 2013, exploring early horse-human interactions and showing how horses have, over time, influenced civilization — including major changes in warfare, trade, transportation, agriculture, sports, and many other facets of human life. The exhibition, which has never before been seen on the West Coast, is included with general Museum admission. Visitors entering the exhibition are immediately captivated by a high-definition video projection of a beautiful thoroughbred horse moving across a giant screen. A large-scale video and computer interactive allows visitors to peek inside a life-size, moving horse to learn about its anatomy and biology. The Horse offers numerous activities that invite visitors to measure their strength in horsepower, manipulate a mechanical horse’s leg to make the knee lock and unlock, discover characteristics of many different breeds of horses, and look inside a horse with computer kiosks and a life-size, interactive video screen. Also opening June 1, in conjunction with The Horse, is Vavra’s Vision: The Equine Images of photographer Robert Vavra. To learn more about these great exhibits, visit: www.sdnhm.org, and see the ad on page 15.

Join Big Horse Feed and Mercantile Friday and Saturday, June 29-30, as the popular Temecula store celebrates with its 14th Annual Anniversary Sale! Come early to take advantage of super savings and great deals on items and products for you, your family, your horses and your pets — all in one location! The first 50 customers each day receive a free Big Horse grain scoop with fun giveaways, and there will also be hourly drawings each day for prizes. And don’t forget to enter Big Horse’s free drawing for a $200 gift certificate! More than just a feed store, Big Horse provides a variety of products for a wide range of riding and driving disciplines, combined with friendly service. Known for its eclectic combination of equestrian, outdoor and lifestyle-living retail products, Big Horse has become a destination location for the public for all ages! For more info, call (951) 676-2544, or see the ad on page 3!

Tactical Avenues will host a Mounted Land Navigation Search and Rescue Clinic at Griffith Park in Los Angeles, on July 28-29. Tactical Avenues is a tactical training organization comprised of full-time tactical operators, current and former police officers, investigative and security professionals. The two-day clinic will cover basic, intermediate and advanced horsemanship skills and exercises to prepare you and your horse for search and rescue operations. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to orient your map to the terrain, measure distance on the map and the ground, learn about tracking, mounted patrol equipment and so much more! You will also complete a compass only course and then graduate to a true land navigation course, using terrain features and a variety of field craft skills. To reserve your spot and to learn more, call Don at (562) 631-8495 and see the ad on page 29..

Sweetwater Nutrition, well known for their popular equine joint supplement InflamAway EQ, is pleased to announce the launch of a new product specially formulated for equine athletes – Hoof ReNu Concentrated Hoof Formula. One of the most comprehensive and complete formulas available, Hoof ReNu provides an optimal combination of biotin (50mg), methionine, lysine, tyrosine, MSM, calcium, copper, zinc and other essential nutrients necessary to promote the growth of strong, healthy hooves. Hoof ReNu is a purely concentrated formula that does not contain sugar, additives or fillers, providing the horse with a complete and balanced product. Hoof ReNu’s special addition of natural sea kelp makes Hoof ReNu a uniquely superior product, as sea kelp is one of nature’s richest sources of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Hoof ReNu is ideal for dry, broken or cracked hooves, aid in repairing quarter cracks, repair eroding hoof walls, poor quality soles and frogs, or to build thicker hoof walls. Hoof ReNu is used to restore normal hoof growth and provides nutrients necessary for healthy hooves. For information about Sweetwater Nutrition, call (800) 200-7890 and see the ad on page 28.