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Posts Tagged ‘horses’

We cannot start our ride until we can get on our horse and for some that can be a long and tedious ritual. The good news is that it does not need to be a struggle and we can teach our horses to wait patiently for us to get into the saddle no matter how clumsy we may be. We need to start with an understanding that horses are lazy by nature and we will use that in our favor. We also have to remember that the horse is like a computer and we cannot get out of the horse something we did not put in. With that in mind, lets program our horse to stand for mounting.

Today I will explain how I address the problem using the bridle. I start with a full check snaffle bit and continuous round rope reins. I do not use nylon as they can burn your hands and round is easier to hold then flat. Remember to praise often and look for every opportunity to praise, it makes the lesson go faster.

If the horse does not respect you, you will not go far in his training. Respect has to be earned, don’t confuse it with fear which is a debilitating emotion. That first day the horse knows nothing about me good or bad, and could really care less about the requests I make of it. The round pen allows me to set up lessons that build on one another starting with the horse learning first off that I will be assuming lead horse position.

When two bodies occupy a space one will lead, like it or not and I have found horses make dangerous leaders for humans. Bit by bit the horse begins to respect me as I lead it through lessons that get into the horses’ mind and do not harm him.

Take your horse to the block or place you will be mounting. Line him up using the previous cues you have already taught your horse. If at any time the horse moves, take him away from the mounting area and with energy work on his hips, shoulders, back-up, and go-forward cues. When he is soft and responsive, walk back to the mounting area and set him up again. Continue in this manner until the horse stands calmly. Then you are ready to add mounting.

Ground Work in a Plowed Area

You might not be able to ride but you don’t need a lot of area to do some ground work with your horse. You can work on basic showmanship commands such as forward, stop, backup and pivot in a small area. This is great because it keeps you horse use to being handled and also gives you the jump on getting them ready for Spring shows.

Radio in your Barn

Horses’ s love the radio. It is soothing for them especially if you can find a channel that plays soft rock. Heavy metal is out! Haha.

Some people even bring their Cd players to the barn and play relaxation music or chakra music for their horses. It is very cleansing.

Author Verónica Carrillo
Todo sobre Juegos Mario para gente que le gusta jugar
Trabajar es fácil si sabes como
Encontrar un Trabajo Empleo es fácil si sabe dónde buscar

As the name suggests. This breed originated in Belgium. Back in the medieval times, the center of Western Europe became well-known for the large black horses known as “Flemish”. These horses are the ones which carried the armour-clad knights to war. Out of necessity, the most powerful selection of this breed became “chargers” or “destriers”. It is from this stock that other draft breeds drew for genetic material.  At the heart of this area, Belgium was established as a country. The regions stallions’ were shipped throughout Europe as larger draught horses were demanded to work in both agricultural and industrial environments. 

As Belgium was the resource upon which other countries relied for such large stock animals, all that remained was for the country to establish the breed and strengthen the genetic makeup already at hand. The government in Belgium set up district shows which helped in refining the breed, the winners of which would compete in the Brussels National Show. From those who participated in the national, the best were selected by the country’s inspection comittees for stallions for public service. These efforts resulted in a substancial improvement of the fixed breed type, and the Belgian horse became a national treasure. 

When the Belgian was initially imported into the States, they were criticized for being “too thick, too low-headed, straight shouldered, and round-boned”. However, the Belgians quickly found a place with American farmers because they were easy to maintain, were hard and willing workers, and had good dispositions. The Belgian remained and the American horse breeders aimed to correct any wrongdoings. This outcome is considered to be one of the most influential successes in the animal breeding world. American Belgian’s possess strong feet, a solid middle, good muscle as well as a good temperament. Belgian’s ship well, are easy to care for and remain hard wokers. The breeders from America basically developed a new horse with cleaner lines, an increased slope in the pasterns and shoulders and a head and neck that was more elegant. 

Description
With reards to color, whilst the initial Belgians to be imported to America were a wide mix, about 50% were bay and bay-brown. Although, there wasn’t an individual colour which was a character definition. Through breeding, shown by American preference, the ideal for a Belgian in the U.S. A typical Belgian has a sorrel or chesnut coat with a snow white mane, a white stripe on the face and white socks. You can, in other areas of the world find a large variety of different colours. 

With regards to height, Belgian horses are usually 16 hands (162.5 centimeters, or 64 inches) at the shoulder, but can exceed 18 hands (183 cm or 72 inches) to the shoulder. The American Belgian usually has a rather large head, short, “feathered”, muscular legs, and large hind quarters. 

The normal weight is 1600 to 2000 lbs (113.6 to 142 stones), but stallions can exceed 2400 pounds (170.4 stones).

For more information and horses for sale, please visit the Horse and Pony Directory

When looking for a new horse trailer, there are various features to consider. One significant feature is whether the horse trailer will be of a bumper pull or gooseneck design. There are a number of reasons why you could benefit from either design. We’ll compare the two layouts to see which suits you best.

Bumper Pull Designs – Good and Bad Points
Bumper pull trailers, also known as tag-along trailers, are horse trailers that join to a hitch on the pulling vehicle. The trailer “tags along” at the back of the towing vehicle and is not a part of the overall vehicle.

Plus Points
There are a few good aspects of bumper pull layouts. They regularly cost less than a gooseneck horse trailer. It’s not essential to own a 4×4 pickup for towing the trailer, because of this more people can pulll this layout of horse trailer with their usual car. Manouverability is often more easily done because the horsebox will follow the line of the towing vehicle. You won’t need as much storage space for the horsebox as needed for a gooseneck trailer. Finally the trailer doesn’t have to be classed as a “commercial” vehicle when it comes to licences because the combined weight of both the trailer and pulling vehicle is usually under 10,001 lbs.

Bad Points
There are many negative points as well. These style of trailers do not present as much storage for tack and clothing. Some bumper pull horseboxes may not be sufficient for towing over two horses as a result of the style of hitch needed for the mass of the trailer. Also, bumper pull trailers have a tendency to weave on wavy roads, which can be hazardous.

Gooseneck Horse Trailers – Advantages and Disadvantages
Gooseneck trailers vary from bumper pull trailers in their hitch style. The gooseneck is attached within the hauling pickup’s load bed using a ball and coupler joint. This design provides a number of benefits. It won’t wobble or fishtail like a bumper trailer tends to do, and towing is more stable. It provides more room for living quarters, which can be suitable for camping and long trips. The gooseneck is more simple to reverse up to and line up with the ball while joining it to your towing vehicle, as you can see it clearly from the rear window. The gooseneck style is safer without the unease of the trailer becoming unhitched while travelling anywhere.

Disadvantages
There’s also a few issues. Gooseneck layouts are more expensive and are typically bigger so they have to be towed with a 4×4 that is able to handle it. The hitching application is also more expensive for a gooseneck design. Another negative point is that while hitching the trailer, you normally have to climb into the bed of the 4×4 to finish the attachment. Also, you will have to take off your load cover from the truck to pull a gooseneck trailer.

Choosing the Right Trailer
Whether you’re considering a bumper pull or gooseneck design, you can check online to look at several styles of each. If you’re on a tight budget, you might consider searching for used horseboxes for sale and horse trailers for sale to find a bargain. Think about the advantages and disadvantages of both designs before handing over any money. For more information and horses for sale, visit the Horse and Pony Directory

History of the Thoroughbred:
This form of horse was formerly bred in The UK as a result of the English horsemens need to have a rapid horse. There are three that began this breed which are: Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin Arabian, named after their owners, Thomas Darley, Lord Godolphin and Captain Robert Byerley. Every one of these stallions were imported to the UK from the Mediterranean Middle East between 1670 and 1710. The conclusion was an animal that could bear weight with consistent pace over extended distances. Somewhere in the region of 9/10 of current thoroughbreds have derived from Eclipse the grandsire of whom was Darley Arabian, who never lost in eighteen races. This started a very selective breeding procedure which has been going on for nearly 250 years, breeding the best race horses, giving them superiority and excellence on the race track.

Throughout the turn of the 1700′s, breeding reports for Thoroughbred horses were meager and frequently imperfect, and many times, they would not name a horse until the young horse had proven themself creditable. A man called James Weatherby, through his own investigation and hard work, and by the collection of his personal privately kept pedigree records published the earliest volume of the General Stud Book. He achieved this in 1791. The first book listed 387 mares, each of which could trace back to Eclipse. The General Studbook is still available in the United Kingdom by Weatherby and Sons. Many years afterward, as thoroughbred racing increased in popularity in North America the necessity for a pedigree registry for American Bred Thoroughbreds, similar to the General Stud Book became apparent.

In 1873, the foremost American Stud Book was published by Colonel Sanders D. Bruce. This man used up practically a lifetime researching the pedigrees of American Thoroughbreds. He followed the example of the General Stud Book producing six volumes of the register up until 1896 when the project was furthered by The Jockey Club. The accuracy of the American Stud Book is the base on which all Thoroughbred racing in North America relies. The initial edition of the American Stud Book by The Jockey Club had a foal amount of roughly 3,000. In 1986 in had grown to an incredible 51,000. Nowadays The Jockey Club operates a powerful new computer system to counter the registration challenges posed by the massive number of yearly registrations. The Jockey Club is responsible for and runs one of the most sophisticated computer systems in the world at the moment, with its database holding in excess of 1.8 million thouroughbreds on a main pedigree file, with names that can be traced back to the 1800′s. Including bloodlines, this computer also handles daily racing results of every Thoroughbred race in North America, not including the ability to process digitally submitted pedigree and racing figures from the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and other principal Thoroughbred districts. Another offspring of Darley Arabian is Diomed; he won the principal running of the Kentucky Derby in 1780. When he was twenty one years old he was introduced to the United States where he began the male line through his son, Sir Archie.

Thoroughbred horses are the preferred option for track racing. Most thoroughbreds are born somewhere between January and April, although their certified birthday is January 1 of the current year. Throughout their first year of development, they are developing size and power with the adolescent beginning his training as a yearling. Thouroughbreds learn to accept a bridle and a saddle and a short while after a rider on his back to break the horse and prepare him for the starting gate and the competition around the track.

For more information and horses for sale, please visit the Horse and Pony Directory.

When you care for your horse, it is crucial to make provision for the winter months. Horses must be able to tolerate the chilly climate and remain as healthy as possible. In the winter horses will have particular needs which you as the owner will have to tackle. It is imperative to prepare for winter ahead of schedule.

Horses are naturally tolerant to cool weather. In fact, horses handle icy weather conditions a good deal better than scorching weather. Despite this, there are some necessary things owners will need to do to make sure their horses remain healthy. Be sure the horse doesn’t have any lice, and has been fully vaccinated. The expenditure for doing these things will greatly pay off through the winter months, as the costs of feeding the horse will be much reduced.

You may also want to work with your vet in setting up a health plan for your horse. Preparing your horse for cold weather will help it decrease the requirement to eat large amounts of feed in order to maintain its weight. Your horse should never lose weight during the winter. Allowing your horse to gain a slight amount of weight will aid them in the winter months, as the additional fat will work as a cushion to supply the horse with energy if it becomes stressed. For the duration of the winter you will want to provide your horse with some extra calories.

The most effective protection for a horse in the winter is its natural winter coat. If allowed to grow, it will act as a warm jumper which will reduce the loss of heat that the horse is subjected to in frosty environments. The coat is also glossy and will help brush off off the frost and ice. If you keep your horses outside, you should be sure their coats grow long enough prior to winter commencing.

To check the condition of your horse, you will need to feel its ribs. Having a longer than usual coat may hide a slight loss in weight Your horse should be lean enough so that you can feel the ribs, but not so lean that you can see them. Feel your horses ears. Do the ears feel cold? If so it’s a good indication that your horse is cold.

As is the case with every warm blooded animal, horses must maintain their body temperature in order to survive. It is vital that they conserve heat throughout the winter, so you should make sure they’re prepared for the cold.

Visit the Horse and Pony Directory for more information and horses for sale

This is basic ground manners explained. It simply means that your horse does as you ask. The horse’s movements should be performed safely no matter how simple or routine the task may be. Your horse needs to know that to push, step on or endanger you in any way – either intentionally or not – is unacceptable. It’s easy to see that even such simplest annoyances have the potential to cause a person serious injury. Since horses outweigh you by a ton, literally, a misplaced hoof can break your foot. You could be covered for this type of injury under the terms of your equine insurance – but it’s far less painful to avoid the necessity of that in the first place! If you first establish and then maintain an area of personal space, this can be avoided.

Nuzzling his nose into your pockets to see if you have apple treats can result in a nibble in a most inconvenient place if he decides to have a little taste. A horse’s love nibbles are painful when applied to mere human skin. Horses in a herd treat each other differently than they must treat us. Often they will bite, nip and crowd each other, but they are somewhat more robust than we are.

The space bubble lesson is one that many horse owners and trainers have learned the hard way. My first, and subsequently the last, experience with the concept of crowding occurred when I bought my first horse years ago. My wonderful new four-legged friend liked to “help” me with the paddock cleaning. As I shovelled and filled the manure cart, he would come and put his nose into it. Then one day he actually lifted his front hoof and put it into the cart when I put a rake full of manure in. He knocked the cart over, which spooked him, which in turn spooked the other three horses in the paddock. Suddenly I found myself within the midst of hooves and tails every which way. Thankfully I was not hurt, but this could have been a mild or even a serious disaster – and may have even necessitated a claim on my horse insurance.

This happened when our training relationship was in its learning curve phase. I was so amused at his trying to help me with my chores that I didn’t think about the potential consequences. I learned about the importance of safety manners that day. from that day on I began to teach him the importance of respecting my space if I happened to be in the paddock doing jobs or attending to the other horses. If he wanted to play cute he could still do this during the time we spent together learning cues and training.

You can use the three Ps of horse training to instil basic safety manners into your horse. Patience, persistence, and positive reinforcement are crucial to the future relationship between you and any horse, be it your own or one you are training or riding.

Patience. Remember, your horse does not know what you want. You need to show patience in showing your equine what to do, then patience in letting him practice until he gets it right; this is key to building trust. Your mind needs to be free of stresses and anxiety before you begin any training session. Take a deep breath and relax. It is part of the natural learning process for your horse to test the waters. He needs to check and see if what he thinks you want is correct. This can occur several times before the horse has confirmed his correct assessment of the task.

Persistence. You can’t just give up after just a few tries. At first it is hard to communicate. After all, you don’t speak the same language yet! Stay with it and be consistent in your cues. Horses are very perceptive to even the slightest cue. Your horse will only cooperate when he has learned what the cue means.

Positive reinforcement. Whenever your horse does something correctly, show him a signal. It’s not always necessary to use a tasty morsel as a reward. They love to be released when they’ve done their job. Imagine the “whoa!” or “stop” cue. This is a pull on the bit within his mouth. When the horse exhibits the signs that he understands that you want him to stop, release the bit immediately. That will let him know that he’s doing things correctly.

Horses need to know their limits. How close can he stand to you before you feel crowded? Can he pull on the lead rope if he doesn’t want to go the way you are leading him? Is he allowed to get away with things that he may not wish to do on a whim? For a horse this is not natural, even though to us it may seem like common sense. A correctly and carefully trained horse will forever be both a most pleasing companion and could also represent a lower liability when it comes to renewing your horse insurance policy.

This large breed of draught horse can be traced back to the 19th century Clydesdale, now Lanarkshire area of Scotland. Both the commercial and agricultural scenes displayed a strong need for these large horses.

Clydesdales were originally worked in the coalfields in Lanarkshire, and also for pulling carts through Glasgow’s streets. Stallions from Belgium and England were imported to achieve the desired breed of long legs and large feet which was necessary to work in the Scottish soil. What we know as the modern day Clydesdale horse was the result of this.

Due to the excellent reputation of the Clydesdale horses, they were exported to The US, Cananda and as far south as Australia by the Scottish breeders. The Clydesdale horse is now almost exclusively the only large draught horse in Scotland where it originates, though it is still sought after throughout the world. Clydesdale horses are in fact used to pull promotional beer wagons for a very popular brewery in the United States. They make it possible for you to view these horses close-up in their temporary stables. The horses are sort of goodwill ambassadors for their company. And darn good ones too, one might say.

With regards to weight, Clydesdales are normally between 1600-2000 pounds. They usually stand 16 to 19 hands high (162.5 to 193 cm, or 64 to 76 in) at the shoulder. While this is larger than the original Scottish horse, today’s breeders have retained the large feet, the sound legs, and the distinctive looks of the ancestral Clydesdales. Coat colours are usually highly vibrant and coupled with a white face, with the most recognised and popular horses displaying four white feathered socks which start at the knee. The legs are normally feathered with long white hair, and the most usual colour for a Clydesdale is bay. You can also find various other colours such as black, brown and chestnut. Those are accepted when purebred registration is applied for.

The general concensus is that Clydesdsales are a stockily built breed, which display stength, finesse and agility. They carry a great deal of finesse due to the way they naturally hold their heads high. The Clydesdale shows it’s calm temperament, strength and prowess even when simply standing still. When seen working, Clydesdale horses are truly magnificient and unforgettable!

Visit the Horse and Pony Directory, where you can find more information and horses for sale.

Horse equipment runs the full scale from grooming supplies to dietary supplements.

However there is an essential piece of equipment that you should not leave your shelter, or your saddlebag without.

Horse first aid pack might be just the one factor that could save your horse’s life. You should know from experience that no matter how well planned an outing might be, there are always incidents that can happen. It’s not just paranoia, it is being prepared. Prior preparation may well help avert your ride from turning into a serious situation.

The kit ought to be stored in a container or bag that can stop water and dirt out as these promote the development of bacteria. It’s likely you would exacerbating your horse’s infection if you used contaminated bandages. Places that sell horse supplies carry things such as a plastic waterproof bag. Apart from keeping tools, or grooming equipment, these bags are also good for protecting first aid items. Groceries sell plastic food containers in a number of sizes. Aside from keeping potential bacteria elsewhere, you could also pick out one that could fit in your saddlebag.

Amongst the items that you should incorporate in your kit, a disinfectant in all probability is the most helpful in most situations. From small grazes and abrasions to cuts, disinfectants are fundamental cleansers. Just stick to the manufacturers’ instructions notably when using industrial grades as unnecessary use could dehydrate your horse’s skin. Antiseptic scrubs and pads become helpful for disinfecting cuts in the nonexistence of water. These are excellent substitutes for disinfectants as they cleanse wounds with similar efficiency, but minus the need for water.

Creams or injury powders are also valuable additions to your gear. They can prevent the entrance of new bacteria inside the injury and hurry up the medicinal procedure. However, make sure to use ointments, powders, and creams that have been permitted by your equine vet.

A fly repellent applied or sprayed on the wound lowers additional infection or contamination risks a great deal. Wound coverings come in sterile individual packets and they are excellent for covering wounds and furthering the healing process. There should be a stock of bandages in your kit, or at the very least two with a broad width. They are reliable for stabilizing fractures, splints, and applying pads over cuts. With regards to bleeding, cotton wool and gauze are essential for slowing additional bleeding. Salts are beneficial for soaking diseased hooves and feet.

Away from these medications, there are several provisions which you can purchase from equine stores and conventional drug stores. Petroleum jellies are useful for abrasion, minor burns, and skin irritations.

A thermometer is a useful addition to your horse first aid kit. Expert riders recommend you keep your thermometers attached to the tail of your horse to avoid loss. Scissors, tweezers, and forceps are all items you shouldn’t disregard in your horse first aid pack. Aside from cutting bandages, they are also perfect for taking out splinters and stones wedged in horses’ hooves.

Last of all, keep in mind these first aid packs are just for giving your horse help in emergencies in preparation for the vet. These are simply precautionary measures, it is still vital to call a vet after providing first aid.

For more horse information and horses for sale, please visit the Horse and Pony Directory

A horse with colic is a situation that worrries any horse lover. So what exactly is colic? What symptoms should you look for?

Equine colic refers to pain originating in the abdomen. Normally horses will not tolerate abdominal pain very well. So if there is any disturbance of gut functioning they tend to show signs of discomfort.

Signs of irritation could be stretching, standing as if to urinate, and pawing the ground. If in more pain the horse will stand up and lie down, and try rolling to get more comfortable.

It will start sweating. In more severe cases it will stand up and down and continuously roll.

What Should You Do?
If you believe your horse has colic, you should call an experienced equine vet straight away. The vet will be able to provide rapid pain relief and decide whether further action is necessary.

What should you do while waiting for the vet to arrive? Leading your horse for a walk often helps. It may encourage his guts to start working normally and surpress any pain. It could also prevent him lying down and rolling. However if he is lying down peacefully then you should let him stay there.

It was previously thought that a horse could twist its gut by rolling. That has been proven to be probably incorrect. But it is best to stop him rolling around if you can. This way you will stop your horse causing injury himself by striking itself on the stable walls. But be careful that you don’t cause injury to yourself. Horses often forget all their normal manners when they are in pain.

There are several differing reasons as to why horses get colic. Frequently the signs look similar regardless of the cause.

What will the vet do to look into the problem? He or she will have a listen to the abdomen with a stethoscope which will tell whether there is more or less activity in the gut than normal.

Examining the heart rate gives a good idea of the severity of the discomfort and the seriousness of the colic. Normally a horse with a normal heart beat does not have a sever problem. However fast heart rates are not such a good sign.

A very useful part of the examination will be the rectal examination. By physically feeling the intestines, your vet could be able to find the root of the problem. Without doubt this is a very skilled procedure, that is potentially dangerous for both parties. But for an experienced vet the feedback it gives is incredibly useful in deciding the cause of the problem. It may reveal a blockage, or a swollen loop of intestines as a result of a loop or another intestinal issue.

In all but the simple scenarios the vet may inset a tube through the nose into the stomach. Though it sounds unpleasant but helps make the horse comfortable by releasing any pressure in the stomach. This process can also give the vet detailed information about whether the stomach is functioning properly.

Sometimes a horse is in so much pain that it isn’t possible for the vet to diagnose fully without first applying a dose of sedative.

Only by collecting all of the signs provided by a careful examination is the vet able to make an initial diagnosis. Even then it may not be possible to tell exactly what the problem is.

It might be the case that, after the first inspection, your horse requires emergency surgery. Though more usually the vet will decide to treat the horse with a fast-acting painkiller and review his condition after a few hours. The majority of examples display a quick improvement. However some will either not respond to the treatment, or they will improve at first, then start showing signs of pain again later on.

In preference to having to bring the vet out several times, it is normally preferred to move these cases to a specialist practice where they can be monitored closely and operations can be performed if appropriate.

In Conclusion
Fortunately the majority of cases respond well to medical intervention. However if surgery is needed – it is important to operate early. The likelyhood of a successful outcome is much better if the surgery is carried out before too much damage has taken place.

For more information, horses for sale and more, please visit the Horse and Pony Directory.

The Arabian horse is an animal which has lived on the Arabian Peninsula for well over 2000 years.

Arabian horses were bred for their many desirable qualities including endurance, beauty and strength. Studies have show that Arabian horses are amongst the oldest breeds discovered in the world.

The Bedouin people are thought to be the first to train the Arabian horse. Bedouin people took the ancestry of these breeds very seriously and could back date the lineages of the horses they owned. This is why it was crucial during these times to depend on a strong, reliable horse. It was vitally important that it was able to survive within a desert setting. Horses were used to take the Bedouin people into battle against other tribes.

The Bedouins bred some of the most striking horses. These horses would often be traded and much importance was placed upon their lineage and ancestry. There are a number of different variations of Arabian horses, which are known as strains. These horses have a common ancestor and look. Some of these are Hadban, Kuhaylan, and Dahman.

The Arabian horse (Arab) is possibly the most popular breed known. Large expressive eyes and a comparatively small muzzle can be found on a wedge shaped head. Arabian horses which have a concave shaped nose are highly prized. An Arab neckline should be arched, and they have toned muscular legs. Arabian horses have a silk-like coat which shines in the sun. Despite this, Arabian horses are often not seen at the highest levels of  show jumping competitions, because it does not have a good bascule compared to other breeds.

Generally, the coat of an Arab horse is grey or brown although some may have black coats. Arabian horses with black coats were rare, because in the desert they would absorb heat, and this would be dangerous. Arabian genes are so pure, they are commonly used in enhancing other breeds characteristics. Arabian horses are mild mannered and have a good temperament, as a result they are very attractive to breeders.

Arabian horses have been used in professional horse competitions for a long time, and Arabian horse games are being held every year in which the horses and their owners can compete with each other.

For more information, Arabian Horses for sale and more, please visit the Horse and Pony Directory