Horse Appeal

y"> Equine physical fitness can make or break success in a horse show, equestrian competition, or pleasure trail ride. Every horse rider is a trainer whether they know it or not. Regardless of which sports or disciplines you enjoy, thinking of yourself as your horse's personal fitness trainer can either help or hinder your horse's success. Designing a physical fitness program for your horse is straightforward. Attention to detail and slight tweaks in your horse training routine now will reap dividends in your horse's performance in the future. It is easy to interweave fitness-building exercises with confidence-building natural horsemanship drills or skill-building horsemanship patterns. Follow the...

its continent’s tradition for equestrian sport and breeding some of the finest thoroughbreds in the world, it should not surprise anyone that among the upscale products that get exported from the Iberian Peninsula, the Portuguese saddles are a favorite among equestrian and horse riding sportsmen around the world. With a historic tradition of equestrian horsemanship dating back to the Age of Discovery in the 14th century and even earlier, Portugal is known to carry equestrian sports as its most favorite national past time, second only to soccer. With that came a tradition of handmade saddles crafted from the finest leather materials befitting the royalties, landed aristocrats and military...

History This heavy draft horse traces its roots to the early 19th century in the Lanarkshire (formerly Clydesdale) district of Scotland. There was a strong need for this large horse not only in the agricultural area but in the commerce area as well. The horses were used in the coalfields of Lanarkshire and for hauling wagons in the streets of Glasgow. To achieve the desired traits of a horse with a longer stride and larger feet, that were necessary on draft horses who worked on the soft soils of the Scottish lands, English and Belgian stallions were imported and bred with the smaller local mares. The result was the founding line of the modern-day Clydesdales. The breed's reputation grew to the...

We hear it every morning as we walk to the barn. A piercing whinny that announces the arrival of the official horse feeder of the day. Horses have a fairly small range of vocal sounds, but many of which we are very familiar with. But, what exactly do they all mean? Whinnying - The whinny is use to announce a horse's presence. The sound is designed to carry over a long distance and is often quite loud, even from the smallest horse in the bunch. In the morning, the horse is simply saying "hello" and "don't forget to feed me!" The sound is also used as a complaint of loneliness and sometimes a "wait for me!" Horses are also able to recognize the whinny of another horse that they know. Wild...

Have you discovered that the price of getting to a horse show plus the expenses of being there is on par with the national debt? And the reward is a few points or no points for a class win. Jill Bradley, Las Vegas, NV brought it to my attention that there is more to showing than chasing points at the breed level. She took a year off from traveling to show in her backyard, her state's horseman's association, had fun, won prizes instead of points and ribbons, and met interesting people that she may not of otherwise. There is a lot to be said positively about competing in your local area or region. Let us delve into the advantages of doing that. One of the advantages is that it does not cost as much...

Horse riding breeches and jodhpurs provide riders of every skill level the close contact with their horse that they need to ride safely and securely. In addition to being functional, horse riding breeches also create a stylish appearance that is crucial in the show ring. Riding horses is an athletic endeavor that deserves the highest quality riding apparel. The experience of riding can be made even better when the horse riding breeches worn are the correct cut and fit for your specific body type and riding style. Casual riding, endurance riding, hunt seat, dressage: they all have different physical requirements and demands that result in the need for different styles of horse riding breeches. In...

Tack Buying Guide 2000 loved the Thornhill Pro-Trainer saddle. After being tested on a variety of horses, it got the nod because it tended toward a close-contact saddle, yet remained very versatile. Stirrups can be adjusted to many levels. Many rider body types found the saddle to be very comfortable. Made from medium-grained leather, the Pro-Trainer minimizes break in time. It suits a wide variety of horses, riders, and applications. Thornhill makes the Pro-Trainer in Europe, North America, and South America. For the saddle panels, Thornhill uses a proprietary wool/closed cell vinyl foam "sandwich" that does a great job maintaining its shape. The trees are available in several widths, with the...

The word "dressage" is derived from the French word meaning "training." Its origins can be traced back over 2000 years, when the Greeks used dressage as a means of training for war. During that time, fighting on horseback is advantageous and so it was very important for the horse to be in sync with its rider. Dressage would entail movements such as pirouettes, piaffes, and courbettes -- those which can be used in the battlefield. While the Greeks didn't use dressage saddles when riding horses, it is said that they used jointed snaffles to aide their maneuvering. The beginnings of a proper dressage saddle would be developed by the Assyrians about 700-800 BCE, and consisted of a cloth attached around...

With the Horse of the Year Show just over in London, and Christmas coming up, now is the time that all pony mad children will be nagging their parents for equestrian clothing. No doubt they will have a long list of everything a rider needs, from the riding hat, via jackets and gloves to riding boots. Not to mention the accessories needed, such as the bags to carry it all in. The appearance of the top show jumpers always inspires the next generation and who knows just which of the enthusiastic boys and girls the next top riders will be. Certainly, their enthusiasm for the sport will include all the equestrian clothing that they see worn by their idols. Discovering somewhere like Scotts of Langholm...

Less than a year after a delicate twenty-two hour, two-part surgery for a benign brain tumor on my brain stem, I went from barely being able to move even with the aid of a walker to being back with my Missouri Fox Trotters practicing Natural Horsemanship and coaching others. Horses have been very important in my life, and a horse related incident even led to the diagnosis of my brain tumor. A young horse I was riding turned suddenly and I fell off, something that wouldn't have happened to me in the past. Casual mention of the incident at a routine doctor visit started the ball rolling for medical referrals, tests, and the diagnosis of a tumor that might have been growing slowly for years. The tumor...

My family has been involved in horse riding training for over 25 years and we thought it would be a great idea to share some of the knowledge we have built up. Also, as our 4 year old daughter is about to start her training we thought it would be great to share some of her experiences as she progresses. I've put together my Top 5 Tips for you to follow before getting started in your horse riding training. 1. An important factor when you start your horse riding training is making sure that you take your time to find a good reputable training school using good training methods. The reason why this is important is because it's easy to pick up bad habits. If you don't take your time in finding the right...

Conserving Space, Saving Time Just like Chicken Coops and Dairy Farms, Horse Stables can hold 20 horses. While they are pretty large buildings themselves, the stables still take up much less space than 20 horses do. Plus, the stables have the added bonus of allowing you to harvest from all of these horses at once. That can save a ton of time, especially if you still have a bunch of goats, pigs, sheep and other animals that have to be harvested from individually. Getting Started Your Horse Stable is actually free to get started - that is, you'll find the frame in your gift box when you log into the game. Before you set it up, though, you may have to clear some space. The stable takes up about as much...

Quarter Horses are a breed of horses that run extremely fast for short distances. Some horses have been clocked at the speed of 55 miles per hour. The horse is very popular in the United States today. The horses are very valuable as working ranch horse, they are also known for racing, horse shows and rodeos. The horse is well known for speedy maneuvers required for barrel racing, calf roping and other rodeo events. In the early years these horses were used for work during the week and a race horse on weekends. The main duty of the ranch horse in the west was working cattle. Even after automobiles were invented, horses were still used for handling livestock. Large ranches in the Texas area had a...

y"> As you proceed through your horse's fitness training program, remember that change is not only inevitable, CHANGE IS THE GOAL. As your horse increases in physical fitness, his body, mind and emotions will all change too. The horse trainer who pays careful attention to the horses in her or his stable will achieve the best results in the shortest amount of time. Keep your eyes trained on your horse for changes in these common areas: - Vital Statistics- Vital Statistics refer to your horse's temperature, pulse and respiration (TPR). As your horse progresses through your fitness training program, his vital statistics can act as red flags. Check his TPR at the same time each day for several days in...

Horses train themselves while hanging around in the pasture. No really, I'm not kidding. I've seen it happen over and over again. A while back I rode one of my mustang mares in a beginner reining clinic. During the clinic, the instructor asked: "How does an untrained horse reverse direction when at liberty?" After we all volunteered various wrong answers, the instructor told us that the untrained horse will reverse direction by walking in a half-circle. Specifically, he pointed out if that if your throw a flake of hay behind the untrained horse, he will circle back to reach he hay. He will not pivot on his hind end. Fascinated, I went home and watched the horses in my herd, and sure enough, all of...

If horses are kept inside in a barn, they require regular daily exercise for their physical health and mental well-being. Some scholars believe the Spanish Conquistadors brought some vividly-marked horses with them when they first arrived in the early 1500s, others believe that the Russian fur-traders brought them at a later date. The Nez Perce obtained their original horses from the Shoshone people, and from there took advantage of the fact that they lived in notable horse-breeding country, relatively safe from the raids of other tribes, and developed strict breeding selection practices for their horses. The earliest evidence horses with a spotted coat pattern is from the cave paintings dating from...

Pack and prey animals, horses have evolved to be incredibly attuned to the emotions of those around them, and when a horse and an equine assisted therapist get together, it results in a powerfully revealing therapeutic method. You can lie to your therapist, but a horse - a horse only accepts the truth! Equine assisted therapy occurs un-mounted, there is no riding involved, and it is an emerging treatment for people suffering an addiction to drugs or alcohol. How does it work? In equine assisted therapy, the client will be asked to interact with a horse. Asked to lead, feed, groom or even catch a horse loose in the stables. As we perform this task, and interact with the horse, the therapist observes...

Horse riding is an art. In order to master horse riding, you need to have the correct mindset. Not only that you have to love horse riding as your daily routine, but you also have to have passion for horses. They are like your friends and family. With all those "pre-requisites", you then have the chance to become a skillful horse rider. Now, lets get on to the first lesson. Before horseback riding for the first time, you first need to learn the proper attire for you and the horse, how to mount, and dismount. Before you approach the horse, you need to be dressed properly for your own safety and comfort. First of all you need a helmet, or a hunt cap. In case of an accident, you will protect your skull...

Dressage is a riding discipline that celebrates discipline, grace, elegance, and beauty. It is a riding discipline that is made even more beautiful by its simplicity. When is comes to outfitting the dressage rider less is better. A rider competing in the lower levels should be wearing well polished black hunt or field boots. They should have invested in a pair of britches. A clean white shirt should be worn with a collar and ta stock pin. Covering the white shirt should be wearing a dark colored jacket. The riders hands should be covered in dark colored gloves that will help disguise the movement of the riders hands. If the rider has long hair is should be gathered up and tucked neatly out of sight...

If you love horses and love photography, equestrian photography could be the perfect hobby for you. It gives you a great opportunity to spend lots of time around these beautiful animals and get some really great shots. First, determine what kinds of equestrian photographs you'd like to take. You could take photos of horses grazing or eating, horses running through the pasture, formal portraits of horses with riders, informal shots showing the relationships between horse and rider, action shots at horse shows and competitions, rodeo photos, or all of the above-and that's just the beginning of all the photo opportunities that exist with horses. Good equestrian photography requires good equipment, an...

My life is blessed. I have owned horses and been horse riding since I was a young girl. I can't imagine life without them. They make me laugh, they give me love, and after a hard day at work, there is not a greater stress relief than saddling up and going for a ride. Together we share a deep bond. While horses are second nature to me, many people are mystified by horses and horse riding. They are big animals that look intimating, and the idea of getting on a horse's back is frightening. To many, horseback riding is intimidating, or worse, some are fearful of horses. It is not your fault. You are simply reacting to a lifetime of what you have seen and been told. The very fundamental basis to...

Miniature horses are one of the most exotic and unique breeds of horses which exist today. They not only make great pets, but can also be of great use. However, when they are off-duty, they prefer to stay outdoors, and constructing a good shelter for them with the help of mini horse barn plans is the perfect gift you can give them. These horses perform a variety of versatile roles. They function as adorable backyard pets, show animals, a form of therapy for the handicapped and as a companion to the elderly. Due to these varied roles, they spend a lot of time indoors. However, being horses, they are healthier when allowed to live outdoors, with a proper shelter and room to run. This is so especially...

u are intending to buy a horse at auction, you need to be able to tell the quality horses from the problem horses. Remember that most horses at auction are sold ‘as-is’, so you do not have a guarantee and have little legal protection, even if the horse has a serious problem. Consequently, you need to do your own research on the horses in advance to identify the ones that are worth bidding on and the ones which you should keep away from. The first step is to arrive well before the auction starts, so that you have sufficient time to look over the horses. Watch the horses are they are being unloaded and walked to their pens. The horses should display overall good condition and walk easily...

As you're acquiring your equestrian horse back riding training knowledge and getting enthusiastic about practising your horse training - you need to organise your tools and training areas so they're on hand and available when you need them. Just as cricket players wouldn't train or play amongst briars or on scrubby pitches and practise in specifically designed nets to improve their focus, you also need to have access to a variety of practise areas, so as your comfort and confidence increases with your horse back riding and horse handling skills training - you can then graduate to larger areas - WHY?- because until you've calmly and gently proven to your horse that you are in fact the leader, if they...

Copyright (c) 2008 The Naturally Healthy Laminitis or "founder" is a common illness known about by horse lovers from an early age, as native ponies on pasture that is too lush are common victims. It is caused by inflammation of the laminae in the hoof. This article will cover how laminitis happens and ways of managing it. How does Laminitis happen? The sensitive laminae lie between the wall of the hoof and the pedal bone. As this area gets inflamed, the feet become extremely painful. The illness is often associated with over-eating, especially where grass is lush. More rarely it may be associated with any situation associated with toxaemia or septicaemia, and it is also seen in Cushing 's disease...

Equine Infectious Anemia is a viral disease for which there is no vaccine and no cure. Though most horses succumb rapidly to EIA a percentage of infected horses appear to recover. However they still harbor the virus and during times of stress may become ill again. It is because of these healthy appearing carriers that we test horses. It insures that we do not put their pasture mates at risk.The disease is spread by horseflies. The large horsefly is the main vector. If they bite an infected horse and then bite a healthy horse, the disease gets transmitted. The virus does not live for very long on the horsefly, maybe as little as fifteen or thirty minutes. So for one horse to infect another they must...

How would you tell a friend you were in pain without words? No arm gestures, or holding that sore in your lower back or pointing. OK that would be a stretch for us but our equine friends have to somehow tell us or show us they are in pain with actions or body movements. How can you be sure that you are dealing with a mental problem or a physical problem? Often they will just act out and we don't see that they are trying to tell us about their jaw or a tender gut. This can be frustrating until you develop a sympathetic communication with the horse. Some places to look are not as obvious as you might think, are they? Teeth pain can result in head throwing and bobbing or cribbing. Back problems or...

Para dressage provides disabled riders the ability to compete in dressage against other disabled riders. Since the 1970s, the FEI Para Equestrian governing body has held international competitions for disabled riders. The first World Championship was held in 1987 in Sweden. Riders are graded according to their disability with Grade I riders being the most disabled. The tests for both Grade I and II riders involve only the walk and trot. Grades III and IV are allowed to canter and perform more difficult maneuvers. Once a rider is classified internationally, they receive an FEI Para Equestrian International Identity Card with a profile number, their Grade level as well as any aids the rider is allowed...

What is COPD? Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD is similar to human Asthma. It is an allergic reaction to dust causing obstruction to the air passages in the lungs of horses. It generally affects horses ages six and older, who are stabled, eat hay, and/or live in dusty areas. Signs your horse may have COPD: The first signs of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease are often quite mild. Here are some signs to look for: - Elevated resting respiratory rate - Taking a bit longer to recover after work - Sluggishness - Quitting when they normally wouldn't More pronounced signs that your horse may have COPD are: - Heaving - Frequent coughing - Work-induced cough - Breathing problems Diagnosis of...

The Horse racing is one of the oldest types of games. The development of the horse racing was completed very rapidly and it is conducted now everywhere in the world. There are also many types of horse racing. Some jockeys are taking the part in the horseracing since many years. But the main participants in the horse racing are the horses. Such racing horses are trained in the constant training sessions by trainers and the jockeys make the practice sessions with them. After all such efforts, the horses win the race. Such horses become famous worldwide due to their performance. If you go on searching for famous race horses, then you can easily get the information about the famous race horses with...

As far as famous race horses go, Desert Orchid was perhaps the most striking to look at because of his colour. This article looks at his incredible career, in which he achieved a grand total of 34 victories, something that didn't seem possible when he fell during his very first National Hunt race. This is the first part of a three-part article. The People's Champion - Desert Orchid Easily one of, if not the most popular racehorse in UK horse racing history, is undoubtedly the great grey, Desert Orchid, who was affectionately known as 'Dessie". There's something about a grey horse that stands out amongst others. I suppose its that although not rare, they are not as popular as bay, chestnut etc, and...

Here's a quick test. Ready? * Does your horse sometimes seem sluggish, gain or lose weight easily, or lose muscle over his top line but maintain a cresty neck? * Does he stock up easily or sometimes seem prone to hoof soreness or abscesses? If your horse displays any of these symptoms he could be insulin resistant (IR), a condition that has recently come to the attention of many professionals and owners in the horse industry. Insulin is produced by your horse's pancreas and is needed to move glucose out of the blood and into the cells where it can be used for energy. Some horses are genetically predisposed to develop a condition where their cells do not respond properly to insulin so glucose...

Many years ago I attended a motivational seminar (one of many!) where the speaker made quite a startling comment. He was talking about the power of co-operation and how it was so much easier to achieve a goal when everybody was pulling together. He gave an example. He started off by making a statement: "A draft horse can pull between 1 to 3 tons..." Well, I didn't know that. I still don't know for sure. I just took his word for it because it sounded reasonable. Then he posed a question. He asked: "What would you expect TWO draft horses to be able to pull?" Obviously, by simple deduction and mathematics, the answer that most of us came up with was 2 to 6 tons. Double the horses, double the capacity...

In today's horsed training world, it is becoming (if not already) increasing unacceptable for horses to be trained through the use restriction and tying in order to defeat the horse. Rather the modern and more humane methods rely on the philosophy of creating situations where the horse has a way out. The horse's way out being the trainer's desired action. By providing a way out and the horse always responds to you because you made it his idea. As the horse realises you are the one giving him a way out, he learns to trust you and sees you as his friend. Let's look at a common situation amongst 'natural horsemanship' proponents. We have an unbroken colt in a round pen. When the trainer enters the colt...

Riding hats and helmets come in different designs and the design is often chosen dependant on the discipline. More often than not the design of the hat that riders choose will be down to personal preference, comfort and fit. It is important that the hat you choose is new and conforms to current safety standards BSEN1384, EN1384 or PAS015. The correct leg wear can contribute to an enjoyable ride. Wearing uncomfortable leg wear that pinches or allows the riders leg to move too much can hinder the rider when performing aids and affect their safety when on the horse. While riding skills are not going to be improved with the use of suitable clothing, improper clothing can hinder the progression of the...