07 Mar

Training A Yearling

A youngster is called a yearling from 1st January of the year after his birth. Remember therefore that he may still be very young if born late (ie November) in the previous year, but still called a yearling – hence their level of maturity will depend upon how much you can do with them.

So, in this article we’re going to cover what you can expect from a Yearling, and to be clear I am referring to a foal that has been weaned and is actually between 6-9 months old.

A reasonably well developed, mature yearling can be lunged a little, although only for a few minutes on each rein. As the joints are not yet fully formed at this stage, there is an obvious risk of injury if you do too much at this stage. An experience trainer will know how much to ask of a yearling or whether to delay the first lessons on the lunge until the horse is 2 or 3 years old. So if you are uncertain, seek advice.

06 Mar

Buying A Horse – On The Day Of Viewing

Buying a horse is buyer beware. Not to make you frightened, but it is your responsibility to make sure the horse you choose is what you expected you were getting. Check all claims made about an animal out for yourself.

To start with, take someone you know who knows horses. If you don’t know anyone who will volunteer their time, consider paying a trainer or riding instructor for their time as it will be money well spent. There is so much to take in when viewing a prospective horse that many eyes alone will give a more accurate picture. Different people will ‘see’ different things. A beginner may see an affectionate good looking animal. An experienced horse person may observe an arthritic joint and a tendency towards pushiness.

Also on a general note, take lots of pictures. Consider making notes. If you have particular questions in mind, write them down beforehand and note the answers when you ask. This way you’ll cover everything and remember a lot.

02 Mar

Grooming Your Horse – Easy Steps

Regular grooming of your horse is a necessary horse care chore. Whether you view grooming as a “chore” or an enjoyable activity, bare in mind you’re not only keeping your horse’s coat looking healthy and shiny, but grooming allows you to further develop trust and bonding with your horse. Also, regular grooming can alert you to any signs of skin diseases, infections, or injuries. Your horse will appreciate the time and attention he is receiving from you while being groomed, and will look great as well.

Grooming your horse does not have to be long and laborious. With the right tools and established routine, you can be done in no time. For starters, keep all of your horse’s grooming tools in a carry container so they are easy to find and so you don’t have to go running back and forth to look for and fetch the tool you need.

01 Mar

Garlic – Good For Horses?

The relatively new practice of feeding garlic to horses in an attempt to help with respiratory health has come under fire in recent months. Because garlic has strong antibacterial aspects, some horse owners are hopeful that it is a miracle cure for many horse ailments. There are many in the horse world with doubts about the product, though. A line has been drawn in the proverbial sand as some see it as effective, while others call the herb a toxic horse killer.

For horses that come down with respiratory illness, garlic has shown to be an effective remedy. It is used in a simple way. Horses ingest the herb and after a few days, they get better. The debate about garlic seems to exist over the long term effects. No one debates the fact that garlic is an effective short term remedy, but is the quick fix really the best fix? Could the horse contract a more serious illness later in life because of the garlic? These are questions that scientists are looking to answer.

21 Feb

How To Photograph Your Horse

A good photograph portrays your horse in his best possible light. A bad photograph, by contrast, draws attention to every fault, no matter how insignificant, and sometimes even exaggerates those faults!

Whether you are advertising your horse because he is for sale or advertising his recent show ring accomplishments, knowing how to photograph your horse correctly is a skill you must develop. If you derive income from your horses getting good photographs of them to put in front of the public is absolutely integral!

So, how do you take good photographs of your horse? Well, the first thing you should know is that it takes a little bit of practice. You shouldn’t expect to load your camera, take a few rolls, and be Robert Vavra over night! However, if you follow the following tips you’ll be shooting great pics of your horse in no time.

20 Feb

Horses Make A Landscape More Beautiful

The title of the book comes from the words of Lakota holy man Lame Deer:

We had no word for the strange animal we got from the white man—the horse. So we called it šunka waken, “holy dog.” For bringing us the horse we could almost forgive you for bringing us whiskey. Horses make a landscape look more beautiful.

Horses Make a Landscape More Beautiful is a slim volume of poetry written by the remarkable writer/activist Alice Walker. The work is a powerful collection of poems that are raw, honest, and celebrate the capacity to celebrate life and stand up against injustice and abuse.

Horses do indeed make the landscape more beautiful. It is a joy just to watch them grazing and in communion with the land—and with their herd.This quote is poignant because of course alcoholism has wreaked so much long-lasting devastation on the Native American people. European settlers, including my own ancestors, also brought other diseases, violence, and the forced removal of native peoples from their tribal lands. Yet, amidst this devastation, Lame Deer honors the return of the horse to the Americas, saying that it was almost worth it.

17 Feb

Keeping Your Horse Healthy

You always wanted a horse when you were growing up and now that you are a successful adult, you have decided to take the plunge and purchase a horse. Keeping a horse is not possible today in most cities so you arrange to have it boarded and cared for at a local stable. Sounds easy, but owning and caring for a horse is a big responsibility that each owner must be prepared for. So, where do start to learn about what it takes to have a healthy horse?

Quickly, you will realize that there is a lot to learn and at first, you will be overwhelmed and think that you can not possible learn everything. You must provide for daily care of the hooves, maintain their teeth, joints, and internal health. Keeping your horse healthy involves feeding him the right food, watching for digestive problems and colic, watching for leg and foot problems, purchasing and using the correct tack, doing regular grooming, having him vaccinated and dewormed, and there are dozens of other details that must be dealt with.

15 Feb

Training A Yearling

A youngster is called a yearling from 1st January of the year after his birth. Remember therefore that he may still be very young if born late (ie November) in the previous year, but still called a yearling – hence their level of maturity will depend upon how much you can do with them.

So, in this article we’re going to cover what you can expect from a Yearling, and to be clear I am referring to a foal that has been weaned and is actually between 6-9 months old.

A reasonably well developed, mature yearling can be lunged a little, although only for a few minutes on each rein. As the joints are not yet fully formed at this stage, there is an obvious risk of injury if you do too much at this stage. An experience trainer will know how much to ask of a yearling or whether to delay the first lessons on the lunge until the horse is 2 or 3 years old. So if you are uncertain, seek advice.

11 Feb

Horses Make A Landscape More Beautiful

The title of the book comes from the words of Lakota holy man Lame Deer:

We had no word for the strange animal we got from the white man—the horse. So we called it šunka waken, “holy dog.” For bringing us the horse we could almost forgive you for bringing us whiskey. Horses make a landscape look more beautiful.

Horses Make a Landscape More Beautiful is a slim volume of poetry written by the remarkable writer/activist Alice Walker. The work is a powerful collection of poems that are raw, honest, and celebrate the capacity to celebrate life and stand up against injustice and abuse.

Horses do indeed make the landscape more beautiful. It is a joy just to watch them grazing and in communion with the land—and with their herd.This quote is poignant because of course alcoholism has wreaked so much long-lasting devastation on the Native American people. European settlers, including my own ancestors, also brought other diseases, violence, and the forced removal of native peoples from their tribal lands. Yet, amidst this devastation, Lame Deer honors the return of the horse to the Americas, saying that it was almost worth it.

10 Feb

Horses Make A Landscape More Beautiful

The title of the book comes from the words of Lakota holy man Lame Deer:

We had no word for the strange animal we got from the white man—the horse. So we called it šunka waken, “holy dog.” For bringing us the horse we could almost forgive you for bringing us whiskey. Horses make a landscape look more beautiful.

Horses Make a Landscape More Beautiful is a slim volume of poetry written by the remarkable writer/activist Alice Walker. The work is a powerful collection of poems that are raw, honest, and celebrate the capacity to celebrate life and stand up against injustice and abuse.

Horses do indeed make the landscape more beautiful. It is a joy just to watch them grazing and in communion with the land—and with their herd.This quote is poignant because of course alcoholism has wreaked so much long-lasting devastation on the Native American people. European settlers, including my own ancestors, also brought other diseases, violence, and the forced removal of native peoples from their tribal lands. Yet, amidst this devastation, Lame Deer honors the return of the horse to the Americas, saying that it was almost worth it.