Best Methods of Horses Mating
Some horse owners new to breeding are quite embarrassed by the functions involved in horses mating and the best methods to get proven results from each breeding encounter. There are two main methods used in producing results from your horses mating: pasture breeding, and hand breeding. Of those two, hand breeding is the one that is proven to be the most reliable method, but it is the one that also produces the most embarrassment for beginning breeders. Pasture Breeding Pasture breeding is the simplest form of breeding in that the only thing that needs to be done is to release a stallion in with one or more selected mares to be bred and leave them alone to do what nature intended them to do. There is...
Feeding a horse is one of the most important responsibilities of a horse owner. If not done correctly and overfeeding grain feeds a horse can develop colic, (build up of gas) it is caused as horses are unable to burp. This is very serious and in same cases can be fatal. The Ten Rules Of Feeding There are 10 rules to feeding horses these are - FEED LITTLE AND OFTEN - Horses have quite small stomachs so food must be fed small amounts at frequent intervals. Ideally a horse should never go more than 8 hours without feed. PLENTY OF BULK - To work efficiently a horses digestive system needs to be constantly filled. To achieve this feed bulk feeds such as hay and grass. CORRECT AMOUNT AND TYPE - You...
Pony Saddle Or Full-Size Saddle - Which One to...
Ponies are special little horses, and they deserve to be cared for the same as you're larger varieties. But deciding whether your pony can pack a full-size saddle or needs a specific pony saddle, is all according to the size of your pony. Ponies come in just about the same variety as large horses, some of them will be fine boned and petite, others will be heavier boned with a lot of muscle. So before choosing a saddle, it's important to determine the type of pony you're going to be riding. The other consideration that may come into whether you use a full-size horse saddle, or a pony type, will be the size of the rider. The pony saddle seat is especially suited for those very small riders that...
Hoof Flares in the Barefoot Horse - How to...
In my practice I see many horses suffering from the ill effects of hoof flares, especially the barefoot horse. In fact, with the barefoot movement becoming so popular, I see more horses than ever who have improperly trimmed hooves, sometimes with serious side effects. I've seen many performance horses with health and soundness issues directly relating to hoof flares. That's why this article focuses on both the causes of hoof flares and the ways to prevent them. Hoof flares are caused by a weakening of the attachments (laminae) of the hoof wall to the coffin bone inside the foot. In wild horses the separation that occurs at the lower part of the wall allows that portion of wall to break off so that...
Common Pasture Weed Causing Liver Failure in...
Amsinkia intermerdia - Common Name: Tarweed & Fiddleneck A common weed in the desert southwest is showing up in large volumes this year and causing liver disease in horses & livestock. What is it? A substance in the plant that is converted to a toxin called pyrroles in the body. This toxin can bind to DNA in liver cells and percent them from undergoing cellular division and liver regeneration. This process will continue as more & more of the weed is ingested until in a few weeks the once healthy liver cells are replaced by scar tissue (fibrosis) and the liver is unable to complete its normal functions resulting in liver failure. Other tissues are affected in the horse in smaller amounts...
How to Have a Great Trail Ride
There are lots of options for great summer vacations, but if you own a horse or horses, you might be considering a Trail Ride. Trail Riding is a great way to enjoy your horse, nature, and the company of friends. Along with all the fun of a trail ride, there can be some hazards and challenges. Things like lightening, the sudden appearance of a rabbit or deer, a washed out bridge or your horse's refusal to walk past something she's not used to seeing. You can't anticipate everything that may come your way, but you can start out as prepared and well equipped as possible. Here are some great tips to help you have a safe trail ride. Plan ahead. Study any trail maps, plan your route and if you're...
How to Choose a Livery Yard by Checking the...
Some livery yards seem to have loads of rules, regulations and restrictions, whilst others exist with very few. Having very few rules might seem to be a good thing, but if that means that everyone does as they please and there are no systems that will ensure you and your horse get fair treatment it is not so appealing. The other extreme is death-by-regulation where everything is restricted by a list of instructions. Many yards are a mixture of the two. They have very few written rules and regulations but when you try to do something you find out about a host of unwritten rules that become evident only when you contravene them. When you visit a yard ask for the list of rules. Horses can be dangerous...
The Secrets of Selecting a Quality Bosal and...
Finding a Bosal and Mecate/bosal rein: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly! Bosal sets that don't cause pain to your horse. If you are looking for a mecate rein for the first time, you might be surprised at the price range. A Bosal can range from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars. Let's face it, quality costs. Unfortunately, the less expensive bosals that are not tightly braided, with few plaits and made with inexpensive leather or cheaply processed rawhide can peel the hide right off the horse nose and leave blisters and bare spots around the jowls. I know we have all seen those bare spots and know that most bare spots are caused from ill fitting equipment. The white spots are caused when ill...
What questions can a horse show program answer? Face it we have all been there, more often if you are newer to the whole horse show scene. Questions like when is your next class? Do we get a riding lunch break? How much is the sweepstakes class? When is the next show? These are a few of the many questions that may pop into your mind while at a horse show. If you are newer to showing, or showing with a new association, questions like these will become apparent throughout the day. Where is the best place to look to get your questions answered? You guessed it, the horse show program. What Is A Horse Show Program? The term horse show program seems like a broad term that can be taken a few ways. In one...
Can't Touch That - Ear Shyness
Ears can be a touchy subject and unfortunately, many horse owners will never address this problem, as they do not know how easy it is to solve. Just as other parts of the horses' body need cleaning and attention, the ears are no different. Dirt, hair, bug bites, and injuries all need cleaning to keep your horse healthy and comfortable. You will find that once your horse understands you are not going to harm them, they will learn to enjoy having their ears rubbed and cleaned. You will begin this lesson by placing a halter or bridle with full check snaffle on your horse. What we are going to do is start at a place on the face that the horse will allow us to touch. You will then take your hand up and...
When trying to solve a bucking problem horse, training can be a challenge. There are two types of "bucking horses" one who is determined to get you off his back and blows up and the other who is a crow hopper as if testing what his rider will do. If you have the blow up type horse and do not feel confident to get on him, find a trainer who will. A bucking horse is a danger to anyone who gets on him and is not worth getting hurt over. It is possible though, with training, to get it under control. If your horse is more of a crow hopper and you feel confident to get on him, there are exercises you can do to help him get through this. There is no cue to tell the horse to "stop bucking" but there are...
Saddle Up! Part 1
What kind of saddle do you ride? Does it have a horn? If so, how do you use the horn? In the riding environment I live in, western-style saddles far outnumber any other style of saddle. I occasionally see an Australian stock saddle or an endurance style saddle, but the default mode is a western-style saddle with a horn. Even some of the Aussie stock saddles come equipped with a horn. A good number of riders in my region actually need a western-style saddle with a horn for their recreational roping activities. The heavily-built saddles with horns are necessary for anchoring the rope after the animal is roped. Nobody in these parts actually needs to rope and brand their cattle. Cattle in most areas of...
Chiropractor For My Horse?
First and foremost, chiropractic methods are often mistaken for acupuncture. However, this type of therapy is based upon the relationship between the animal's body and spinal column and its nervous system. It is not acupuncture. Over the past decade various alternative therapies have been brought into the mainstream of veterinary medicine. One such alternative therapy is equine chiropractic care. Equine practitioners have remained skeptical, for the most part, in the benefits of this type of care. Admittedly, it is difficult for the veterinarian to imagine how the huge frame of the horse can be manipulated in such a fashion as to "adjust" a skeletal abnormality. Recently, however, a few brave...
Horse Breeding Uncovered - An In-Depth Look At...
Feral and wild horses breed naturally with no problems, but the selective breeding of purebred horses obviously requires specialist human intervention. The mating of two such horses has to be carefully planned, in order to produce the favourable characteristics required. Human management of horse breeding also ensures healthier pregnancies and a more successful outcome for foaling. In breeding terms, the male horse (stallion) is known as the sire, and the female (mare) is known as the dam. Each plays an equal part in the genetic make-up of any ensuing offspring, so it is important that both possess the desirable characteristics needed. This is especially important to professional breeders, who wish...
Horse Behavior Training
Horse behavior training is a very interesting subject to study. The most interesting areas of behavior are communication, whether between horses or a horse and man. There are several ways horses communicate. Vocalization and visually are only two of them. Vocalization itself can be broken down in different kinds as well. Horse behavior training basically use the following cues and by knowing how to read the horse, one can communicate better with the horse. Lets look at the most used and popular ones in horse behavior training: A "neigh" is usually used as a greeting call but is most often used at times when a foal is separated from it's mare and will repeatedly "neigh" until they are brought back...
Navicular Disease, Contracted Heels And Bad...
If you're studying navicular disease you're undoubtedly finding a fairly wide array of information. Let's just look at it from the prevention/shoeing perspective. Navicular disease accurately describes a deteriorating condition of the navicular bones that lie in the horse's foot. Causes can vary and actually pinpointing the real cause often times is left undetected - there are just too many factors that can contribute to the problem. One such factor is shoeing. The navicular bones are under constant pressure from the deep flexor tendon. The deep flexor tendon is the long steel like cable of tendon that runs down the back of the leg down the back side of the pastern joint right over the navicular...
How to Become a Horseback Riding Instructor
If you have always wanted to teach horseback riding lessons, you might want to become a horseback riding instructor. These professionals are responsible for teaching children and adults how to ride horses, from baby-beginner levels to advanced instruction. Of course, in order to become a horseback riding instructor, there are a few things you must do to guarantee success. 1- Get Educated It isn't enough to know how to ride - you must also know how to teach. Read books about riding instruction, visit web sites dedicated to this profession, and obtain certification in the riding discipline you want to teach. In order to be a successful horseback riding instructor, you must be capable of breaking down...
Does Gelding Improve Behavior?
Stallions are very dominant by nature, and full of energy. Nipping, rearing, prancing, calling and other high jinx and horsing around are normal behavior. Geldings are generally more placid &predictable and much easier to handle and this is why many male horses are gelded. The gelding tends to be more suitable for a wider range of today's equine activities than the stallion. Although the stallion's extra testosterone enables him to perform with more muscle definition, energy and flashiness, it also tends to distract him from the task at hand with mating and defence impulses. In times past, only stallions were considered suitable for real riders. That is, riders that went to war on horseback...
Equine Cushings Disease - Symptoms, Diagnosis...
Cushing's disease occurs in various animals (e.g. dogs, horses, people), although the symptoms in horses are different than the symptoms in other animals (e.g. in dogs it results in hair loss whereas in horses it results in greater hair growth). When the disease occurs in horses, it is known as Equine Cushings Disease (or ECD). ECD is an illness caused by excessive hormone production. The pituitary gland produces too much hormone, which over-stimulates the adrenal glands, which in turn produce too much steroids. It is the excessive quantity of steroids which causes the symptoms associated with ECD. The over-production of the pituitary can be caused various changes, such as the growth of benign...
The twelve foot horse stride is the industry standard when designing courses for the show jumper or hunter competitors. Designers will use this standard to create "tests" for the horse/rider combinations by altering the length of distances between fences based on this measurement. Some horses have a larger stride than twelve feet, others have shorter strides, it is up to the riders and trainers to decide how to ride specific distances according to the animal they are competing with. It is essential for the show rider to be able to walk courses and figure out how many strides their horses will need to do within a course of jumps. The twelve foot horse stride is the average length of stride for show...
Horse Whiskers
Cats have whiskers, dogs have whiskers. Cows have whiskers. Horses have whiskers. I'd venture to say most every animal on earth has whiskers. Whiskers seem to be the norm, a necessity. Why then do we clip our horse's whiskers? And are we doing them a disservice? From all my research, extensive to say the least, I believe we are doing them a disservice. A horse having whiskers is a natural thing. They are feelers, necessary when grazing, when drinking water, when eating grain or hay, when nuzzling one another. Horses can't see what's down there at the end of their noses, they need feelers, hence the whiskers. When you look at the evolution of the horse, how they have come to be the magnificent...
How to Finance a Horse Business
Horses are expensive, whether you own an enormous equestrian facility or just a couple of "backyard ponies". When you decide to start a horse business, however, finances should come to the top of your priorities because without the necessary capital, you won't be able to get very far. To finance a horse business, you need to have a detailed money-management plan that allows for every contingency. There are hundreds of different types of horse businesses, each of which is unique and requires different amenities. Therefore, your financial plans should be tailored to your individual idea, and you should separate in your mind the items you will need versus those you will simply want. For example, a...
Seriously though - people seem to assume horses will be fine in summer and only worry about winter, but horses overheat easily. I was walking my dog early this morning to avoid the heat and I noticed a field of lovely horses of all different varieties, shapes and sizes, all clustered under one small tree. It was already getting warmer and on closer inspection (in fact I scoured the whole field) they were doing their best to stay cool because the water supply they had was totally inadequate. Now taking aside the care of these particular horses (which I can assure you I will be dealing with...) I wondered how many other well meaning owners were assuming their horses were ok in summer? Dogs, cats, and...
Horse Names - 7 Tips to Finding the Perfect...
Horse names, specifically registered show horse names or race horse names can be more difficult to come up with than one might think. Pegasus or In the Money might come easily to mind, but registered names have to be unique, in addition to conforming to each registry's individual requirements such as the number of characters allowed, use of punctuation and numerals, etc. The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), the largest equine breed registry in the world, has recently recorded its five millionth quarter horse. The number of U.S. thoroughbred horse registrations is approaching two million, and registered Arabians and qualifying Arab crosses are just over 1 million. With so much competition...
New Horse Breaking Methods Are NON-Abusive
There is the right way to break a horse and there is the abusive way to break a horse. I bought two horses from a man one time it turns out that the first one was a good as can be nice gentle gelding that was, started but had not been, worked with too much. The other was as crazy as they come. Just trying to trailer him he reared up and went over backward and liked to killed his fool self. Therefore, I had my doubts but I figured it was just because I was new to him and he was scared. I continued on home with him finally in the trailer and then once we got home the same thing he was acting wild and crazy again. This went on for three days and I loaded him back up and took him back to the seller...
Loafing Shed Plans For Horses - Tips For...
A good set of loafing shed plans will go a long way to protecting your horses from harsh weather because the shed will be solid, safe and ensure a strong structure. When building a loafing shed, you should build it using similar construction methods as you would any other shed. This article will cover other important details regarding construction of loafing sheds. 1. Location Choose an area that is well drained whether the shed is going to be permanent or temporary. IF you do live in a wet area, you can prevent the floors from becoming too muddy by adding pea gravel or rubber mats. Put the back and sides of the shelter to face the prevailing winds 2. Walls and/or Gate Decide before starting if you...
Daily Horse Grooming Promotes Necessary Blood...
Horse owners know that a daily regimen of grooming their horse is a necessary step in keeping them healthy. The chore of grooming a horse aides in removing old hair, but also provides a method for improving a horses circulation. A horse that resides in a stable most of the time does not get the exercise required to keep their massive muscles well lubricated. A romp about the yard helps, but what is necessary is to get that horse out of the stable and on to an open area where they can walk, trot and gallop. Once the workout is over, it is time to give them a good grooming while their pores are open from the exercise. Removal of the lose hair and oils can be removed easily now that the pores are open...
Horseshoeing And Bowed Tendons
Bowed tendons on a horse can be murder. The deep flexor tendon between the knee and the pastern joint blows due to excessive stress and stretch. It's a long recovery process sometimes leaving a blemish. There can be several elements that can all contribute to this problem. Hard work is surely one while incorrect shoeing the other. A quick look at race horses and how prevalent bowed tendons occur can give you some clues to a deeper understanding into this issue. Race horses are definitely worked hard - at the end of the race horses are completely exhausted. In this condition of exhaustion and fatigue the muscles of the body are not carrying the horse in the most optimum manner-hence a breakdown. Race...
Most people think of food from only its nutritional value which they consider the same for every horse but when viewed energetically foods have different effects on different horses depending on their Five Element type. In addition to looking at foods from a standpoint of different types we should also look at what we feed our horses in different seasons. Each Element has a flavor associated with it and this flavor is often needed for that type when it becomes out of balance. The same horse may need a different flavor to help him balance for seasonal changes. For example, bitter is the flavor assigned to Fire because the Fire element has a tendency to overheating conditions. A Fire horse might...
Horse Allergy Treatment and Prevention
Just like humans, horses can have a number of different types of allergies. The most common types of horse allergies are respiratory and skin. Respiratory allergies are also known as 'heaves' and are often similar to asthma in people. A horse can be allergic to things in the air (e.g. pollen, dust, mold, spores), certain foods or nutritional supplements, or insect bites. Normally, allergies develop over time with exposure. For example, a horse may not have an allergy to straw but if exposed to moldy straw over a long period of time may develop an allergy to straw mold. Symptoms Just as people can have many different allergic symptoms (itchy eyes or skin, bumps or rashes, difficulty breathing...
Understand Horse Behavior
As you might have realized by now, is that horses do not speak our language, so it is essential for us to adapt and learn to speak theirs in order to understand horse behavior. Haven't you ever noticed the swivel of their ears, expressions on their face and movements of their hips. So in order for us to understand horse behavior and their language, it is essential for us to understand what our body language says to them. Waving your arms around in a desperate attempt to get the halter on will surely cause some alarm. Also running towards them when in pastures might give them the image of a predator attacking. Rather try to approach them calmly. You must always remember that no horse is bombproof...
If you're going to be riding Western and are new to the horse world, you can choose just about any Western saddle that you find that you can afford, that fits your horse, that fits you and is well made. While it's nice to be able to purchase brand-new saddles for your new enthusiastic hobby, sometimes it's just not quite financially feasible. This means that you may be choosing a saddle that is not exactly what you want. In other words, instead of purchasing a brand-new saddle of inferior quality, look to a used saddle for your Western riding experience. It may be difficult at first when you're looking at a saddle to determine exactly what type of Western riding it suited for. Many of them have...
Approaching a horse correctly is the first step to gainingit's trust. Walk slowly from the side toward theshoulder, never approach a horse head on. Don't lookdirectly at the horse for a horse may interpret you as astalking predator. Horses have a blind spot right in front of their nose due tothe position of their eyes on either side of their head. Approaching from the shoulder is less intimidating for ahorse and allows them to see you clearly without a blindspot. Horses have a strong prey animal response. In the wild,horses were stalked by predators and their defense wasto run from danger. Predators approached from the rear or from the nose of thehorse - the two blind spots in a horse's field of...
Welcome to the first in the series on horse behaviour. We have a simple purpose: to benefit horses through the science of animal behaviour. Our experience is that once people have access to practical, scientifically accurate knowledge, they naturally begin to choose in ways which increase their animals' well-being. This is the purpose which underpins this free series of Equine Science articles which we will publish over the coming months. Surprisingly, few of the findings of the scientific equine behavioural research have actually filtered down to those who can really make a difference - horse owners like yourself. As an animal behaviourist I know that once you understand the science of animal...
The factors to take into consideration when deciding where to ride your horse are: where you keep your horse and your level of experience with horses. Other aspects such as whether you want to have a pleasure ride or to train your horse will also factor into the location of where to ride your horse. Growing up in the country I had access to a vast area of dirt roads that lead to open areas for hacking and trail riding. Both the roads and the country posed their challenges, but I was never short of a place to ride. I did however have to face my fears and leave the safety of our property if I wanted to ride. If you are learning to ride or if you have a new horse, the best place to ride your horse is...
Equine Founder
Equine founder is a very serious condition that is due to the complications and tissue damage of the foot after one or more attacks of laminitis. If not treated properly, founder can cause serious and permanent damage to your horse. If you suspect that your horse has laminitis or founder you should immediately start treatment before it gets worse. Read the information below to find out more about equine founder and how to treat it. What Causes Laminitis? Laminitis can be caused by several factors including eating too much grain, lush pasture (especially in the springtime), drinking large amounts of cold water when overheated, overweight horses that do not get enough exercise, too much work on a hard...
Like humans, horses need dental care. But do horses need a dentist? Some believe that the Vet training in dentistry is enough, others believe that lay professionals should be allowed to practice equine dentistry. Horses from birth onward need regular dental examinations, much the same as humans do. And, like humans, horses need differing types of dental evaluations. Newborn and young horses should be checked to ensure their teeth are formed correctly; their bite is sound, etc. As the horse becomes a "teen" the dental evaluation will ensure that their baby teeth are being replaced in a timely fashion with the adult teeth; that there are no "left over" teeth that are in the way of chewing, biting, or...
The Practice of Bleaching Water Buckets
It's a great feeling when stalls have been cleaned and all the horses have been grained, hayed and watered. The halters are all hung outside the stalls, the aisles have been swept. It's a beautiful morning, not cold, not hot. It's just right. The birds are singing. No flies yet. There's an underlying antiseptic scent in the air. You take a breath and sigh. All is well with the world, at least inside your barn. You hope. You've done everything you can to create a clean healthy atmosphere for your horses. But have you done too much? Are you guilty of over-kill? Horses are animals, remember. Yes we are, too, but that's the problem. We have placed our human standards onto the backs of our horses, and...
What Sort of Jump Poles Do I Need?
Buying Show jump poles is not an easy decision. For years wood has been used, but any vet will tell you, that wood is dangerous, for several reasons. First, it is dark, and usually blends in with the back ground. This is a problem because horses do find them more difficult to see, and so are more likely to hit them. This is all very well, but when you kick a solid lump of wood with your foot, damage is likely to ensue, and this is so often what happens. In the worst case, bones can be broken, but bad bruising, and splinters can also injure a horse. In come the UPVC poles. These have been sold for a number of years, and have the benefit being able to vary the weight depending on the horse. Clearly...
Guide to Connection Part 2 - How is it That We...
How is it that we can ride horses? This is not a mechanical question. Nor can it cannot be answered in simple terms. The horse is one of the largest animals that we, as humans, have daily contact with. They are also one of the oldest surviving mammals, dating back millions of years. Their ability to evolve and flow should be something (you would think) most humans would WANT to study, yet, through our relationship with the horse, we have simply taken their physical attributes and for the most part, exploited them in our history. The very size, temperament and longevity of the horse suggest this animal is not one to work and train easily. Yet just the opposite is true, even to the point where the...
There are several methods for feeding and watering horses and you will find the ones that suit you and your horse. Every horse and owner is different and you must not feel you have to follow a certain pattern if it does not suit you both. It is your responsibility as the owner to provide food and water, so use the method that is best for you both. In the summer most horses will be kept out at grass where they will graze almost constantly. In this case there will be no need for additional hay. If your horse/pony is prone to Laminitis you must limit the grass supply. When the horse is in his stable you will need to provide a constant supply of hay from a correctly hung hay net, on the floor or from a...
The horse's respiratory system is large and complex, precisely suited to provide the right amount of oxygen for both ordinary and extreme conditions. It begins at the large nostrils that can expand to take in large amounts of air when the horse, a prey animal, has that "need for speed," and lined with a sophisticated defense system to keep out dust and airborne pathogens like bacteria and fungal spores. The intake of air starts at the nostrils and moves through a long network of thin bones called turbinates. From there, it moves through the sinuses, located in the front part of the skull, and into the main airway, the trachea. At its lower end inside the chest, the trachea splits into two branches...
Don't Confuse Your Gold Cup Horse Races
v> With the Cheltenham Festival upcoming, there tends to be some confusion over Gold Cups! The totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase occurs on the fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival and is the feature event of the meeting. Run over three miles two and a half furlongs, it is a Class A Grade One chase open to horses five years and above. This is the race that brings the best European horse to the fore and cannot be underestimated in terms of its importance in the horseracing calendar of events. The Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup on the other hand is a Grade Three race for five year olds and over, run over a distance of three miles two and a half furlongs...
Horseback Riding Tips - The 5 Fundamental...
There are always some kind of hints or tricks that can make something that might seem so difficult end up seeming so easy. There are gardening tips for those with a black thumb, there are cooking tips for those who aspire to have their family not run when you say that dinner is ready and then there are those who just want to be able to stay on a horse. Those are the ones that could easily benefit from some of these horseback riding tips: Tip1 - Don't go about riding like you're stomping snakes. You want to approach your horse with a gentle tone and manner so that they feel comfortable around you. I don't like people yelling at me for no reason and neither does a horse. Tip 2 - If you are a new...
...From an unusual and rather interesting email recently, asking for information on the innate vs learned behaviour of a young horse. A great topic to investigate! After a dig around, this is what I have compiled for you: Innate behaviours are the things an animal can do or has the urge to do without being taught. Behaviour that is hardwired in from birth. But you knew that bit. In horses that means; suckling, standing, running, neighing and possibly 'mouth clapping' (a strategy for appeasing older horses) are all innate. Please note that although the drive to do these is innate, the actual behaviour is perfected with practice. A foal cannot stand perfectly first try! The fact that a foal has...
The sliding stop of a horse is generally affected by quite a lot of factors. One is the natural skill of the horse and its capacity for stopping. Then, the dirt or ground also has something to do with its stopping. The speed rate of the horse before it stops and the manner that it is shod are a couple more factors. And the manner in which the trainer gives a cue to his horse for it to stop affects the length of his horse's slide, as well. Even so, most of these factors can be efficiently controlled by way of reining horse training. So, in other words, reining horse training is really helpful in achieving sliding stops that are longer. But it is very helpful in training the horse to wait for its...
There is always excitement when you have little ones that enter your life or the life of your animal. Something that you should know a lot about right from the get go is that caring for fouls is a very important part of raising horses First of all, make sure that you have tended to the mother before she gives birth. Be sure that you are feeding her a food that is going to help her maintain good health, giving her things that help her to gain the strength and nutrients that she is going to need to be the kind of mother she should be. Make sure that you talk to a vet if you have never taken care of a mother horse before, be sure that you get a vet's advice if you have never had a foul before. When the...
How I Treated Arthritis in My Pony, Ben
My little pony Ben who was 13 h.h. that I had from a young child suffered from arthritis in his old age, Ben had a knee injury he had before I had him and I loved him to bits. When the arthritis started to effected him he was around fifteen years of age, this is when he started to have slight joint puffiness , now this might sound strange to you but if you have a pony with this condition putting them into complete retirement could be the worst thing you could do because joints need strengthening muscles to protect them but with your vets assistance with a regular exercise program tailored to your horse or ponies needs and age, you can increases his joint-fluid circulation and get his nutrients up...
7 Keys to Understanding Natural Horsemanship
Natural horsemanship is a horse training method based on the built-in instincts, herd lifestyle and communication methods horses already use. Rather than use force, dominance, or intimidation, natural horsemanship seeks to train the handler to communicate with the horse in ways she naturally understands. In this article we'll review seven keys to understanding this horse training method. 1. Horses are social animals that live in herds Hroses live in large groups in the wild called herds. So, like humans they're social creatures and how they interact is a huge component of their identity. And like human societies, horse societies have leaders. The herd has an alpha mare and stallion that the other...
Though it would certainly be nice if there was a full proof template for feeding a horse, unfortunately one does not exist. Simply put, you have to take these things on a case by case basis. There are many different factors that can impact how much food a horse needs. Obviously, a horse that goes through a lot of activity will need more food than one that just sits around. Not only will all horses have different needs for how much food they ingest, but they will also have different likes and dislikes about their food. It is important to always keep a finger on the pulse of your animal's temperament. Find out what kind of foods it likes and what foods it does not like. When you do this, you will be...
Its show time!! Well, it will be after I get my horse washed and cleaned up. Why is it, that the harder you try to keep them clean (and grays are the worst), the dirtier they become?? Wel, I can't answer that. But I can give you a few hints on better washing technique, and how to avoid some of those show day mishaps (or at least how to cope with them). Here is some equipment I like to have handy on washing day: - hose with adjustable jet, bucket, sponge, dandy brush, comb, body scraper, scissors, gum boots, hair bands (or horse bands), clean dry rugs, skinny hood (if required), vinegar (I will explain) and of course suitable shampoos, conditioners and highlighters. Here is the procedure I have used...