Horse Appeal

There are several organizations looking after horses that were rescued after being mistreated by their owners. Adopting a rescue horse can be a fulfilling experience and will facilitate the rescue of other animals. However, careful consideration should be done before making your final decision. Before you consider anything else, you should make sure that you have the facilities and money to look after a rescue horse. Adopting a horse is usually free or considerably less expensive than buying one. Keep in mind however, that vet bills, feed, stabling, and other things will cost you money. If you think you can not afford a horse, consider sponsoring the rescue center or volunteering[..]

Remember holding your breath watching a Warm Blood or Thoroughbred horse in full flight, stretching its every muscle and sinew to clear a high and wide fence. Remember marveling at the grace and flexibility of an Hanoveran Stallion executing dressage. Your horse too can do these and more. You just need to teach it a few gymnastic exercises. Gymnastic exercises have been known to impart degrees of suppleness and flexibility in breeds of horses, hitherto not famed for these qualities. Gymnastic routines also improve jump position, centeredness, balance, strength especially in the horse's backs, shoulders, and hindquarters, and feel. They are preferred by both basic and experienced riders[..]

The western saddle and its particular characteristics have been a part of American lore and history ever since the first "cowboys" took to the western plains of the country. In general, it's a working saddle, meaning that it goes onto horses and is used by men and women who work on cattle ranches all over the country, though this particular version is more often found out west. Many people know this saddle as the classic cowboy saddle, by the way, and it's known to legions of fans of western movies and rodeo shows. It's also the most common saddle sitting on the backs of horses at many a guest ranch. As a means of helping to improve comfort for a person riding on a horse, this particular[..]

Horse supplement products regularly strive to compensate for almost any deficit in a horse's diet in terms of level of quality and quantity. That is why, they totally focus on understanding the basics of the equine's typical feeding behavior and the quality of their common supplement rations. For overall health and quality performance, the right feeding ranks with excellent breeding, schooling and training. Equines are fussy or picky eaters and their refusal to feed on anything, especially equine supplements, can cause owners and horse trainers great disappointment and possibly even stress. Organically, their refusal means that they are not primarily subject to deficiencies of essential[..]

When taking the kids with you on a holiday to Barbados, it is important to find exciting things for them to do. Of course there is the beach, where hours can be spent playing in the sand or surfing the waves, but there will be days when you want to do something different, or simply want a break from the sun. Catamaran sailing and swimming with the turtles There are several catamaran trips available but we like Cool Runnings. They offer a lunch cruise from 9:30am to 2:30pm. Price includes pick up from villa, drinks, lunch and two snorkeling stops, one of which allows you to feed and swim with the turtles. Highland Adventure Centre Bicycle and horseback riding tours, plus shorter hikes[..]

It is not impossible to make money off the races, but it does take work to become a horse racing handicapping expert. Like anything else in life, you must want it to succeed at it. The reason is that so many people are trying to do the same thing. On any given day across the country and around the world there are people who are doing their very best to handicap the races and make money. For some people it is a matter of necessity. For others it is a hobby, but they take it seriously. Whether it is an intellectual exercise or a matter of financial survival, there are people who are working at handicapping. So if you are trying to make money at it, that is what you are up against.[..]

Melbourne Cup Day is celebrated Australia-wide as a national holiday of sorts. The minute the famous horse race begins the nation comes to a stand-still. Workers drop their tools in anticipation of the race that starts at 3pm sharp, and we wait with bated breath whether our sweepstakes have paid off or not. History of Melbourne Cup: It all started back in 1861 when on November 7 a total of 17 horses raced for the first ever Melbourne Cup Day. The first prize was a hand beaten gold watch and £170 in prize money. Archer was the first winner ever of this race that has continued to delight a nation ever since. Archer, the winning horse took a full 3:52 to cross the final line after two[..]

1. Amphitheatre - The second most photographed site in all South Africa (after Table Mountain). This is a photo you need! It's in the Royal Natal National Park. Also there by the way is the Tugela Falls - by some measures the second highest waterfall in the world. 2. Champagne Sports Resort - Golfers dream of this. One of the best courses in the country. And it's just a pleasure. Various coloured tee boxes so if you're not feeling particularly tiger-ish today...that's O.K. you won't need 200 metres plus off the tee just to carry the rough. 3. Drakensberg Boys' Choir - Tissues. And a jersey for the goosebumps. Sublime. And cheap! 4. Giant's Castle - The central Drakensberg. This is[..]

On our 50,000-acre working dude ranch, one thing we always need are good ranch horses. My definition of a good horse may not fit the show ring model. Out here, "pretty is as pretty does." A really ugly horse looks darn good when he carries you safely through brush, along cliffs, and up and down steep canyons. Our criteria in order of importance: 1. Good sense. A spooky horse in this country is a recipe for disaster. Plus, no one is here to help you if you should get bucked off. I ride alone 90% of the time. No one would miss me 'til dark and then it would be too late to hunt for me 'til daybreak. 2. Surefootedness is essential. You are just as hurt if a horse stumbles and falls as if he[..]

"The unwanted horse" is a term used to describe horses within the domestic equine population that are considered no longer useful or needed, or whose owners are either uninterested or not capable of providing care for them, physically or financially. The unwanted horse is not a new problem. It is a growing concern, however. Some unwanted horses do find new homes; most probably will end up being sent to slaughter; some are humanely euthanatized; others are abandoned and left to die of natural causes. There is no typical description of an unwanted horse. It may be a perfectly normal, young, healthy horse, purebred with breed registry papers, or it may be a horse that is unsound due to an[..]

Many of you are familiar with the song, "One day at a time..." and are well aware that time management and making life changes are works of 'today.' Yet, there remains a constant demand for time management articles, tips, books, consultants and audio courses. The need to remind ourselves of what we already know is just a fact. When you find your time slipping away, and recognize a need for change, what you're really looking for is the way to create new habits. This article is the first in a series; an introduction to investing your time wisely. "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." - Annie Dillard Success is a Lifestyle Success isn't a destination; it is the[..]

Founder is a horse disease of the feet. Normally only the front feet are affected. The problem occurs for some horses, generally those who have a tendency to be overweight such as ponies, when they eat too much rich, green grass, especially the new grass of the season. Some sturdy horses, and most ponies, have evolved to live on little, scavenging on scare vegetation in various regions of the world. These equines are not dissimilar to mountain goats. They tend to be sure footed and don't need lush grass to survive. This is at the heart of founder in horses. So you need to know what sort of equine you have. And then feed them accordingly, or limit their access to rich new grass. However,[..]

When you buy an older horse, it will already have its name. However, when a new foal is born, you have to choose from pony names, which may include the stable name or a variation of the mother's name. Whether you will be registering the pony as a racer or you just want to enjoy riding it, you need to give it a good strong name. Most people prefer two syllable names, rather than official sounding names of two or three words. When you choose short names that are easy to say, there is less chance that you will shorten the name to a nickname and that will be the only name the pony responds to.   Before you name the pony, try it out. Try calling it out, which may seem funny calling out a[..]

Marie has been teaching hunt seat for almost 10 years. As a junior rider, she had a successful show career with her two horses. As an adult rider, she has ridden in advanced lessons and clinics with well-known and talented professionals. She is an excellent teacher of both children and adults, and she certainly has the experience and knowledge to teach beginner riders; however, she is not licensed or certified. Some states, like Massachusetts, require horseback riding instructors to be state licensed. To gain a license in Massachusetts, an instructor hopeful must perform a 6-month apprenticeship with a licensed riding instructor, 60 hours of which must be teaching mounted students under[..]

The concept of speed plays a significant factor in horse racing. Let me clarify that opening statement by quoting a leading turf authority; "show me a person that can properly evaluate the horses true speed rating and I'll show you a person that can win consistently at the races." Understanding speed give us the edge, it gives us the ability to separate a top-grade stakes horse from a low-level platter, thus allowing us to evaluate the horse effectively. Speed can also be described as a universal concept because it works at all race tracks throughout North America and the world. So regardless of where the race is run, Belmont Park in New York, Hollywood Park in California, or Woodbine in[..]

A lot of horse racing handicapping is about beating the horse that has the most money bet on it. That means you will spend a lot of time looking for reasons that the public's choice is a false favorite. When you can isolate one or two horses that are going off at attractive odds and who have a legitimate shot at winning, then betting them to win makes sense as long as the shortest priced horse is suspect. But if you can't find that situation, but still feel the top choice of the fans is going to tank, you may want to try some exotic betting strategies. Here is something that worked for me in the Jefferson Cup Stakes, a grade 2 event run as the 9th race at Churchill Downs on June 14th,[..]

Depending on how picky you are about feeding your horses, and if you have any "special needs" horses, doing chores can take up a lot of time. I've picked up a few tips along the way on speeding up the horse feeding process, and I'll pass them along here, just in case they are of use to any other horse folks out there. Soaking Beet Pulp If you feed beet pulp then you know it has to be soaked before being fed to prevent choking and other horse health hazards. It can also take a long time, especially in the winter in a cold climate. I've found that beet pulp shreds soak a lot faster then pellets, and give horses a lot more "crunch factor." They also tend to satisfy a horse's need for[..]

It was time for nightly feeding and all seemed well. All the horses were eager for their food and dove into their hay as if it had been a week since the last feeding. After eating my own dinner I returned to turn horses out when the dreaded signs of colic showed in my older gelding. While all others were busy looking for the final pieces of hay, he was lying down with his nose on the ground. Trying not to panic I begin the process of evaluation of his condition and much to my dismay all signs pointed to gas colic. I tried in vain to contact the vet as I watched my horse writhe in pain every time his bowels moved. I went to the house and collected the shot of pain killers my vet had left[..]

As the number one, fastest growing discipline in the equestrian world, it seems Natural Horsemanship is the new kid on the block. There would be very few people that had never heard of it and as it grows it is no longer the "other" style of training. 15 years ago, when yours truly first came across it, you had to be either a hippy, or at the very least a bit different, to want to give it a go. Still today, the stick wielding, rope shaking, scruffy horsemen are the minority. But slowly the true partnerships with this beautiful animal are starting to make an impact. Already several Olympians, internationally known trainers and Showmen have made their mark and shown us what can happen when[..]

Have you ever handled a horse that was afraid of something it saw? If you handle and ride young or many different ones, it's bound to happen. Some seem to be super sensitive to so many things whereas others take almost everything in stride. Some will see something they are afraid of and freeze, looking before deciding to leave and others will take off at the slightest suggestion of something amiss. I've been on them before that were so terrified of something that I could actually feel the horse's heartbeat through the saddle.Not a confidence builder for horse or human either one! Some horses react in a big way to something that spooks them, others startle and soon get over their fear and[..]

There are many types of saddles, or seats for a horse rider. The general types include British, Western, Australian stock, sidesaddle, and military. Wade saddles are a type of Western saddle, and as such, are designed for riders who work with their horses. They are built for comfort, durability, and utility. Natural horsemanship is at the core of a Wade saddle's philosophy, and they are built to be easy on both the rider and the horse. Like all other Western saddles, wade saddles do not have any built-in padding. They are meant to be used with a blanket or some sort of protective cushion between the saddle itself, and the back of a horse. Leather cinches are usually found on these, are[..]

Sometime in most of our lives we all have dreamed about riding a beautiful horse like we see in the movies or on TV. Like everything else it looks easier than it really is. But if you go about it in the right way you can reap all of the rewards and pleasures that comes from riding a horse. How to: Ride a Horse First, start with a horse that is suitable for you based on your riding skills. Don't fall in love with a horse just because it is beautiful. You must choose an animal with a temperament and a gate that suits your personality and riding skills. Nothing will turn a new rider off faster than starting with a horse that is way too advanced for them. A horse must have a suitable gate[..]

I have not ridden a horse for six months. And that ride was definitely less than eight seconds. I've learned many lessons in the months since, but one of the biggest is to not take shortcuts when checking my tack. I was preparing to ride our Percheron-cross gelding, Elvis. He is big and very gentle, so I took his demeanor for granted. When I threw my leg over him, it was two steps at a walk, two at a trot, and then a couple of big bucks. When I landed, I broke my right radius bone just above my wrist. The surgeon pinned together nine pieces. Four months later, I had my biceps tendon re-attached. There was so much misery around the wrist that we didn't notice that that tendon was torn.[..]

In the current issue of the British Horse Society's Magazine there is a double page spread covered in furious letters from some seriously upset readers. The cause of all these ruffled feathers is a controversial letter that was published in a previous issue. The letter writer was of the firm conviction that overweight riders should not be allowed anywhere in the vicinity a horse's back. She stated categorically that this could do immense physical harm to the horse. Further more, the writer claims, overweight riders who get injured in remote areas put a heavy load on the emergency services as it would be impossible for them to be rescued without spending a lot of money. She implied that[..]

the beginning of life, people have wanted to be heard. In the past, this required an intensive and expensive education, as only the richest and noblest were allowed, or taught, to write. Now, since the widespread adoption of public school systems, more people are fully literate than at any other time in history. However, traditional analog printing (books, magazines, etc.) is expensive, time consuming, and as such, publishing companies are reluctant to print anything that crosses their doorsteps. These companies are struggling to survive, though, thanks to the rise of, and near ubiquitous access to, the Internet. No longer do the large publishing companies decide what makes it into[..]

When it comes to learning horseback riding, the main question I get from curious riders and young learners alike is usually: What are the benefits of learning to ride side saddle? In answering their question I have often given out these basic reasons as to the benefits one can gain by learning this classical riding form: 1. Riding aside is a unique riding method for that has been around for centuries, and it is perfect for those interested in learning about the historical aspects of horsemanship. 2. This form of riding is a perfect style to use when riding horses who may never become show winners in any kind of competition. 3. It is also perfect for those with fine ability who wish to[..]

Every horse needs pasture or access to some type of forage. Ideally, the more time your horse can spend in the pasture the better. This is not only healthy for them nutritionally, but mentally and physically as well. There bodies are just better off when they are able to graze on a regular basis. Eating all day is what horses are good at and they enjoy it. Horses have a remarkably small stomach for their size and multiple small meals per day is ideal for the horse. They are meeting their requirements for these multiple small meals when they are allowed to graze on a regular basis. In fact, horses that are not ridden or worked on a regular basis may be able to survive quite well on[..]

Where is the active senior heading for vacation? The choices have never been more numerous. While there are many vacation destinations that only a few years ago were unheard of, other vacation spots have updated in order to become more attractive to seniors. Overall, seniors today are healthier and more active than ever before. Visiting new places and experiencing new activities is possible for many of today’s seniors. Of course, relaxation is still of prime importance, which is why all-inclusive vacations are still popular. All-inclusive vacations are great for active seniors for a variety of reasons. Because everything is included in the price, including airfare and meals, it is easy[..]