The Importance of Keeping A Horse's Surrounding Clean

When you own a horse, you are probably aware that he possesses natural strength, and usually doesn’t have anything to complain to you. Horses can stay loyal and they can be wonderful animals to keep so long that you know what you are doing. As long as you provide him a safe and warm shelter to live in for colder months, a shelter from the warm months, and provide him with the right feed and clean and safe water, he can become your companion for a lifetime.

Massage for your Horses

Have you ever experienced that soothing feeling after a nice massage? Massage helps to release stress and tension from our exhausted muscles and it has the same effect for any animal built with almost muscles, like horses, that are basically made up of 60% of its body weight.  Massage for horses are really beneficial and even way back time horse owners and groomers massage the horses to keep them healthy.

The Modern Sport Horse

Sport horses are type of horses and not categorized under one of the animal’s breed.  The term was coined to usually apply to horses that are bred to participate basically for Olympic equestrian sporting events.  They are bred to meet the specific quality that is required for such sports by getting the right conformation, temperament and movement.  Although the term has different and various definition from different countries, in general it applies to all horses that are physically built for activities such as dressage, eventing, show jumping and even on hunt seat disciplines.

The Art of Dressage

Image grabbed from BestHorse Photos

Dressage has been one of the sports that needs total patience and hard work as it is not easy to train horses with the art of this activity.  During dressage, there is an aim to control your horse with its movements such as in gaiting, hopping, turning, forwards and backwards and as well as in halting.  What made the sport more impressive is the ability of the rider to understand the movement of his horse and ride with him harmoniously together and not ride against his companion. 

The sport has been basically and literally a training as its French origin word suggests.  During the training, there is systematic and progressive activity of riding the horses for them to almost perfectly execute wide ranges of precise maneuvers. 

Akhal-Teke

The Akhal-Teke is a race horse that dates its origins back to 2400 BC; Akhal-Teke horses originated from and are used as an emblem of Turkmenistan. In this country, horse-racing is the most popular sport.

In the past, Akhal-Tekes have been mentioned in ancient texts by the writers of the Chinese Han Dynasty and of Herodotus, the Greek historian. Akhal-Tekes have preserved their purity and abilities which they inherited from their ancestors because since the ancient times, these horses have been bred in a geographically isolated desert called the Kara-Kum desert and until now, these horses are continued to be bred for their speed and stamina. 

Akhal-Teke. Photo grabbed from Monica Borg.

Akhal-Tekes have been used to breed other horses such as the English Thoroughbred, the Arabian, the Trakhener, and the Russian Warmblood. Stud farms for Akhal-Tekes are found mostly in Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.

Standing from 15-16 hands, these horses are characterized by a high head carriage and a long, slim or slightly convex body, with their colors ranging from black, chestnut, palomino, buckskin, and grey, and are known for their distinct metallic sheen.  They are known for their speed and endurance on long marches. Akhal-Tekes have almond-shaped eyes and long ears. They have long and straight backs, a scarce amount of manes and tails, and they have a thin and silky coat unlike other horse breeds. They have thin, firm lips, hooked muzzles and have small, hard hooves.

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They jump over fences and make use of its front and hind legs very well. They also have well-developed muscles, and their moves are long, elastic, as well as comfortable for the horse rider. Akhal-Teke owners have no problem with this horse since they are known to be friendly towards people, be quick and observant, as well as bond with trainers very effectively. The Akhal-Tekes are naturally athletic, have great endurance, and energetic, which makes them effective for use in all classical sports, as well as on events such as show jumping, eventing, racing and endurance riding. In the Soviet Union, Akhal-Tekes are famous for winning show jump competitions. They can also be good sport horses.


There are diseases that may be of concern to Akhal-Teke owners. One is the Naked Foal Syndrome, where foals are born without any hair coat, mane or tail. Symptoms include dry, inflamed skin, and frequent pulmonary infections. This disease is fatal, killing foals within weeks of birth, and others die from complications and digestive problems.

Grooming: Lift hooves higher!

You’ve started grooming your horse: brushed his hair, cleaned his body, gave him a healthy massage—but you haven’t groomed his hooves yet. Your horse isn't even lifting it an inch. What to do?

Choosing the Right Horse Breed

So now you have decided to buy a horse. The next question will be, what type of horse should you choose? What horse breed do you want? The question of purpose also sets in. Why will you buy a horse? Is it for racing, for trailing, or simply just for pet purposes? Well, here’s a small list of the horse types that could guide you in choosing a horse. Before that, there are things you should identify.

Clydesdale. Image from Anna Herr

I want to buy a horse – but how?

One random day you woke up and realize that instead of buying a dog, you want to have a horse. Yes, possible, but how? How do you choose a horse? What is needed before you can buy one?

A Good Riding Horse

Sometimes it is not enough that we feed them, maintain their health, provide them shelter and stuff because these will not make a good riding horse.  As a horse lover and a lover of horse riding, do not depend and settle with false beliefs during your encounter with your horse.  Your horse will not be a good rider if you will not ride on it. 

Ride, ride and ride.  That’s a good way to train him to be a good riding horse.  Probably with some new horse owners they easily lose their excitement with their horse because they thought that it doesn’t follow his instructions or it doesn’t like to go do activities with him.  But the fact is they just ride randomly.  Ride your horse every time and not once a week because this will really lose his interest with you riding on him as well.  Riding with your horse more often will create more bond and tighter relationship between you and him.  The frequent rides will also draw you closer to him, make you understand more of his weakness, strength and his attitude in the whole.  Your mastery with his attitude will make you a good rider and a good rider will get a good riding horse.
Do not depend that he will improve with only the training he gets with the trainer you provide for him.  Actually the owners and not the trainers should be the more effective teachers because they should be the one gaining the trust and confidence of their horses.  Plus, do not limit the teaching from the trainers because you as the owner can also train him.  Every time you do your activities together, that is another training experience with your horse.  Some routines are considered as training for them already.  That is what we call that every interaction with your horse is already training for him. That is why, you should also be careful and responsible with the things you teach and show your horse because they are greatly affected with your actions.

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To sum it all, what good riding horses need is to be brought to riding exercises and trainings more often than twice or thrice a week.  It could even be better for them if you do it every other day.  The frequent training not only gives them another learning experience, another healthy exercise but another bond with his owner once again.