Images of pets

I’ve occasionally heard people say, “Horseback riding is easy; you just sit there.” Oh, how wrong they are.

While you certainly could “just sit there” you would be giving the horse the signal that he, rather than you, is the leader. Do you, as a natural predator, really want to be lead by a 1200 prey animal? I don’t think so.

It is true that, while far more than simply climbing aboard and going along for the ride is required, horseback riding probably shouldn’t be as difficult as we humans sometimes make it. Horses are an exceptionally compliant and cooperative species, when we speak to them in a way they can understand (physically, telegraphing our intentions in a direct, honest manner that makes sense to the horse). Read the rest of this entry »

When it comes to feeding horses it depends on the amount of work being done and on how nutritious the grass in the paddock is. The stabled horse will obviously need a different mix of grains to one on grass, but most grass fed horses will still need supplemental feeding.

1. Before you feed your horse you should offer him water. If he drinks large draughts of fluid after he has eaten it will just flush all your expensive food straight through his system undigested. Read the rest of this entry »

A lot of individuals nowadays are fascinated with horses. And most of them love to own one, and as soon as they have it, they need to have the right place to raise it. Horses require more maintenance compared to other pets. This means that you have to consider a lot of factors other than rooms, bathrooms and community when you own a horse. You definitely need the proper horse property to make sure that your horse will live longer and comfortably. Read the rest of this entry »

I have found that riding my horses in the morning before I show solves many problems that may arise during the show day. For example, horses that are ridden in the morning tend to be less “fresh” and spooky in the show ring. Secondly, the show rings are often open for hacking and i can allow my horses to see the jumps before actually competing, and thirdly, riding in the morning gives my horse and I a physical as well as mental prep for the day ahead. Read the rest of this entry »

My Morgan mare Malaki is allergic to just about everything; dust, wood oil, mold, mildew, corn, vaccinations. I used to think she was just a “special case” to put it mildly. But horses with allergies are commonplace.  I don’t know when the increased frequency of horse allergies all started or if allergies have plagued horses forever. I wonder if Roy Rogers’ horse Trigger had allergies, or Dale Evans’ Buttermilk? What about Man O’ War? Or Seabiscuit? Exterminator? I wonder if they even had vaccinations back then. Read the rest of this entry »

Caring for your horse’s coat doesn’t need to be difficult if you stick to a daily routine. Stabled horses tend to require more grooming than one kept on grass, but both techniques start the same.

For caked on dirt or manure coated on the lower body, use the stiffest brush which is the dandy brush. Grooming every day is an intimate way of thoroughly inspecting the entire body looking for any obvious lumps or cuts. The mane will need to be combed through to remove any knots that could get caught on fence posts or in hooves. The tail likewise should be brushed through with the body brush, don’t use the mane comb as it will tend to pull the precious hairs out. Read the rest of this entry »

Most horse owners love the idea of being able to stable their horse. The horse is always handy and accessible whenever the urge to go for a ride strikes. As opposed to when the horse is kept in a paddock or on agistment where you will have to trudge through a field; if he is hard to catch then a game of cat and mouse can ensue. After you finally catch him, you will then have to groom all the extra dirt off him before you saddle up. Read the rest of this entry »

Since I touched the smooth muzzle of the first horse I ever met, I was so young, I remember the big shimmering eyes looking at me full of wisdom and kindness. I hate seeing horses who have been mistreated, trained in the wrong way, lose that look of kindness towards us, and it’s replaced by fear or aggression. So since I started my first job in a stables in South England, I wanted to help those horses who don’t trust anyone anymore and show them that we can work together happily and that they can trust us. I used to stay after work a few days a week to try different methods with horses that just didn’t seem happy having anything to do with humans. Read the rest of this entry »

Well, You Want To Purchase A Horse – What Do You Need To Know?

Before you go to the large expense of getting a horse, you need to evaluate how competent a rider you may be, and just how much do you really know about horses, beginner horse training, and horse care. Make no mistakes, you need to really be truthful with yourself as this is a large commitment. Ask yourself truthfully what height and age of horse would work the best for you also. If you are only going to just trail ride, don’t buy a sports horse. Read the rest of this entry »