Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone

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Smile!

Kick start your day with a smile!

Soaring High

Pinworms Kiss Ass X_x

Don't let your horse lose his beautiful tail! If you can take care of other equine parasites, you can take care of pinworms!

Can a horse really fit inside a car? Oh wow! Just check out this cool video of Patches!



Patches seemed like a dog here, riding comfortably in a car and sitting on a couch - -a lovable dog - - only much bigger, way too big. lol.

Let me hear your thoughts about this video.

The Singing Horses

I've come across this website that presents the Singing Horses. I don't know if every horse lover out there has seen this already, but I'm gonna share it anyway - it is worth sharing! It's good to have fun once in a while.Click on the image to play with the singing horses!

To Foal or Not to Foal?

There are several considerations to be made when deciding whether or not to have your mare put in foal - among them:

• Are you prepared for the cost of breeding the mare and and willing to wait 11 months for the foal?
• Is your mare healthy enough and unencumbered with hereditary conformation faults or certain diseases that may be passed on to her foal?
• Do you have a place, somewhere safe where you can keep a mare and her newborn foal?

Horses Gone Unshod

By origin, horseshoes are designed to protect horse’s hooves from any harmful debris in the ground, to enable horses to perform their tasks better. It has been used during the Roman Ages, most often during the Crusades of Europe, wherein there came a point where horseshoes are used in lieu of money, and as a valuable item. Nowadays, some horse owners have horses that are unshod.

Horses and Euthanasia

As we grow old, so does our horses. Horses who have diligently served us long enough are more than deserving to have a peaceful death. Although it is hard to admit it, there will come a time that we should choose to let our old horses live, or let them leave this earth as peaceful and as pain-free as possible. 

Get the Confidence When Riding and Working With a Horse

It takes a great quality time and being compatible
with your horse so he can fully trust you
and obey you. 

Most people can easily learn principles and techniques of horse riding, if they are given proper instructions and dedicate enough time.  It’s how the mental state is handled that defines a good rider and a bad rider, and the most important state of mind a rider should possess is the art of confidence – the confidence to remain mounted on top of a horse, which can be achieved through proper training.

What to Consider When Sending Your Horse to a Boarding Stable

When you need to place your horse in a stable, there are many things to consider, and one of them is the entire structure of the stable and its surroundings. You need to understand about the facts of stabling and it could also help if you visit some of the stables in your area, so you can make out a comparison, which of them would be the most appropriate for you and your horse.

There are basic needs of horses that are on stable. When you visit this boarding yard, observe the things they keep around to be used on horses. If the stable you chose is neglected, you could end up paying for a significant amount of veterinary bills due to the sickness or injuries that your horse may have acquired.

Boarding stables should provide comfort to the horse.
It should also be maintained and cleaned well.

When you inspect the local stables, you need to be very observant. How does the fencing look like in a particular yard? Can the owner guarantee that it is well maintained, as well as safe for all horses? Is the entire property properly secured? Are there too many horses in a field or is it just right?

When you enter the yard, does the staff note your presence? Is someone present to assist you while other employees are taking of the horses? You may need to contact the yard first before visiting especially when you go during lunchtime, when most of the employees are taking their break.

Check if the stables have proper ventilation and make sure fresh air is circulating well. Also check the lighting of the stables, whether the owner makes use of natural or artificial light. See to it that the horses in the yard have access to clean water always and are also fed with hay.

When you look at the floor of the table, how does it look? Does the floor have rubber matting, dirt, or sawdust? Does the water drain well from the floor? Make sure that the stable beds are also cleaned out on a regular basis and keep the stable clean. This also helps reduce your horse’s risk of acquiring equine parasites. You can also tell that a stable is well-maintained as it will not smell of strong ammonia from urine.

You can also check how the horses in the stables look like. Do they look unkempt or properly groomed? Observe how the horses behave – this could be a sign that shows how the stable is managed. An unhappy horse is likely prone to develop stable vices such as kicking, box walking, wind sucking, and chewing wood. Stable vices are not the only signs that differentiate a good horse from a bad one. Some horses may show different signs of boredom, so watch out for horses that exhibit these behaviors.

When choosing a boarding stable, the first thing you need to ensure is the comfort of your horse. He may not need a huge room or an outdoor arena; he only needs the basic things that should be provided by you and your chosen boarding stable.

Photo Credit: Priceypads

Fall Feeding

Feeding adjustments may be necessary every season. When you need to do so, help your horse get used to the changes.

During spring and fall, grasses contain higher amounts of simple carbohydrates (sugars) compared to summer and winter, and this may result to feeding complications. This can mean that your horse can develop problems especially when giving him grain. You can avoid digestive disorders, including colic in horses, when you know how to feed your horse the right way.

Consider the Bugs Inside Him

The large intestine of a horse is where fermentation takes place. Hind-gut bacteria and other protozoa located in the large intestine are there to break down the nutrients. The result of the nutrient breakdown will be utilized by your horse as source of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. When the bugs inside your horse receive a constant flow of feed for them to do their fermenting job, they can adapt to the change. But when you give your horse huge amounts of bulk feed that’s different from your normal feeding, it could reach the hindgut all at once. There will be an increase of different bugs (those that ferment that certain type of feed), and as a result, the intestinal chemistry changes and other beneficial organisms die off. The end result can be distention, gas, diarrhea, and even colic. You can help by slowly adjusting the feed but in a constant manner and also incorporate equine probiotics to help promote the growth of hindgut bacteria.

Foraging

You may have known by now that a rapid transition of feeding can result to intestinal upset. But you may not have realized that changes in hay can be risky as well. The large intestine is where food breakdown takes place. Even if you constantly feed the same hay each time, they may not be created equal. Growth conditions, the cuttings, and even the strans may differ for the same type of forage and this can influence the level of fermentable nutrients. The grass in your pasture can also change composition during the season spring and fall as they grow rapidly and may contain high levels of sugars.

Here are tips on how to do feeding adjustments:

• Gradually introduce grain feeding
• Allow three days to pass before giving an increase in the amount of grain so gut microorganisms can adapt easier.
• Do not give your horse grain that is as much as 4 pounds in one go.
• Let your horse feed from lush pastures gradually especially during spring and fall. 

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