Stables

Horse Boarding Stables - The Important Steps to a Happy Horse

When looking through the different horse boarding stables around, it may become a little intimidating trying to figure out which one would be the best one for not only your horse, but for your needs as well. There are many places that offer good deals for boarding a horse, but of course the question in mind would be if the facility offers the proper equipment and enough free roaming space for the horse's happiness and good health.

One of the more important things that horses would need to get great exercise is a large enough area to run, play and interact with other horses. Check the amount of room available for the horses, while also keeping in mind the number of horses that are boarded in that particular stable. If there are too many horses in a small area, most, if not all of the horses will experience stress that may begin to affect them physically and emotionally. Horses are very social and athletic creatures that need opportunities to learn and grow with other horses, while also going out to explore their surroundings.

Another very important thing to look at is the stables themselves. Make sure the stables are well structured and in good working order, with a fair amount of room for the horses to stay in. Just as important as the exercise fields, the stables must be an adequate size to keep the horse relaxed and give them a sense of safety without being too constricting. Check the equipment in and around the stables to see their condition as well. If everything looks to be well kept and regularly checked and cleaned, shows the general care given to caring for the horses.

For most, finding the perfect horse boarding stables the first place they check would be considered very lucky, but of course it is quite possible. Ask around to people you know and trust, or check with the different equestrian shops that you know. The staff are usually horse experts and certainly the people who would have the most background knowledge of the various boarding stables around.

For more information about Boarding Stables in tx, have a look on the author's website at http://www.doringcourtstables.com

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Buy a horse

Ten Steps In How To Buy A Horse

Buying a horse or a colt is an exciting experience for the first time. It is easy to captivated by the looks of a particular horse, but that same horse may not be the best horse for you at your level of experience. The horse could make for you an unpleasant and unsafe companion, and may become more of an issue than an asset for many years to come.

The following are 10 steps to serve as your checklist in how to buy a horse. It serves to help you avoid the mistakes that new horse buyers may incur.

1. Purchase of an untrained horse.

Many experience horse men and women will give the advice that they see this very often. Because the fact that inexperienced horses are often cheaper, or some other excuse, the buyer will choose an untrained horse.

Don't buy a horse because you tell yourself that you are going to train the horse or send him to a trainer. The training of a horse can take months. It can dangerous if not done correctly. Young or inexperienced mature horses are not reliable. The beginning horse rider will be happier with a horse that they can enjoy from the moment it gets off the trailer.

2. Turning down aged horses.

Actually, an older horse, makes a great horse for the beginner. The beginner may shy away from a horse in their teens or twenties, but many healthy horses can be ridden far into their senior years. In fact, daily light exercise, will be beneficial both to the rider and to the horse.

When buying a horse, verify the birth date, height, weight, and sex of the animal. Ask about any health problems. If you can, try to get information on the horse's training history. Find out if the horse been kept on a pasture or in a stall, and where are you keeping it? Has this horse part of a herd, or has it been alone?

3. Purchasing a young horse for the kids, "to grow with".

This philosophy sounds great, but the reality is that young horses and young riders are not a safe mix. It pays to buy a trained, mature horse that can be saddled up the moment you bring it home. A more experienced horse, contrary to a younger horse, will know how to handle the less perfect, "scarier" parts of the world. An older, well trained horse will provide more safety and enjoyment for your little ones.

4. Buying at an auction.

It takes a keen eye to acquire a good horse from an auction. At the auction, the horses appear to be calm and docile. That is because they are so confused about where they are, they freeze. Horses can be drugged to make them look calm and healthy. There was a young horse bought at an auction, that was drugged into good health right before the auction, but had the "heaves", similar to emphysema in humans, for many days after being brought home. The new owner spent many days and much money in vet bills nursing the colt back to good health afterwards.

5. An impulsive buying decision.

Before buying a horse, and making such a big decision, sleep on the decision. You may want to the idea across your friends, and of course, your spouse, if you're married. Buying a horse is a big decision, and you want to make sure the horse will be well suited for you.

6. Ask for a testing period.

Don't be afraid to ask the seller for a testing period. The majority of the private owners would prefer that their horses went to the good homes, and they want to feel confident that the purchaser can handle the horse. Some sellers will agree on a trial period, or may help you find a horse that is a good fit for you.

7. A breeding purchase.

Do you want to buy a horse just to breed it? Horses should be bred so as to pass on outstanding qualities, not just for the "fun" of it. Before you indulge your desire, visit an auction where the horses are destined for meat or otherwise. Let your own eyes behold the result of someone else's "backyard breeding experiments". Because the foal will be really cute is not really an important quality to pass on.

8. Resist the urge to buy "too much horse".

Your dreams may be bigger than reality. You may dream of going cross country on your new horse and jumping the culverts as you go. But, your reality is that you have only been riding a few months. Let your horse purchase be consistent with your skill and fitness level, not one to match your dream which may be ahead 5 years up the road.

9. Buying a horse just for color.

You probably want a horse of a particular color like paint, palomino or Appaloosa, but it is not the wisest decision to buy because of the color only. You don't ride color, just the car adage is that you don't drive paint. If you have several horse buying options, and all the horses are of great sanity, demeanor, and training, then by all means get the color that you have in mind. However, do not base your buying decision solely on color because that is not all you ride.

10. Horse care is a big factor in horse buying.

Taking care of a horse requires both time and money. Be realistic about this. These animals don't stop eating on special days, and can't just take care of themselves. The horse care requirement is still there even if you lost your job. You may love horses, but maybe it's more worth it to spend some money of riding lessons or a trail ride and leave to care and other details in someone else's care.

I hope these 10 steps will help you in your decision making process in how to buy a horse. In summary, find out as much about the horse as possible before you make your buying decision. Finally, please make sure that there is a bond between you and the horse since that will carry you through your entire ownership of that horse.

Erik Loebl offers a large selection of horse care, buying, recipes, and breeding topics at his website: http://horsecook.com

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Riding Horse

Riding Horses - Safety First

No matter how well trained your horse may be there are always little things that can spook or startle a horse, causing him to jump sidewise, stop suddenly or even take off running. Knowing what bothers your horse is important, as you can be alert and watchful of any potential problems while you are out.

I

f you have a horse that is a known to shy or startle, it is important to be sure that they are as calm as possible before starting out on a ride. Using a longe line to work the horse for 20 minutes or so before riding will help take the edge off, plus it will help your horse work with your when you get on its back. A horse that trusts its rider is much less likely to over-react to a sudden noise or a bird flying out of the bush ahead.

A good idea is to start introducing new things to your horse in training, this helps them to understand that while you are around they have nothing to fear.

Aside from watching for blowing objects, flapping flags and weird shaped objects that may be new to your horse, as the rider you also have to stay in control of the horse. Always maintain contact with the bit through the reins, don't ever drop the reins or hang them over the saddle, this is really dangerous as if the horse bolts you will have no way to calm and steady the horse.

Also, don't allow the reins to become so loose that you cannot, with a gentle movement, apply pressure to the bit to control the horse. If your horse does become spooked or seems hesitant to go forward, stop the horse and allow them to become familiar with the object that is bothering him. Talk calmly to the horse and even cue him to back away and then approach the object from a different direction. You may also want to dismount and lead the horse past the object, allowing them to smell and look at it. When you return, allow the horse to walk past at a distance, soon they will accept the object or area without hesitation. Never try to run a horse past an object they are frightened of as this will establish a really dangerous habit.

Avoid any types of stunt riding with your horse unless you are in a training arena with someone that knows what they are doing. Riding side saddle, sliding off the back of the saddle or even trying to stand up in the saddle are simply accidents looking for a place to happen. You should also avoid your friends or fellows if they tend to engage in these types of activities as they are likely to cause problems for you and your horse through their actions.

Another consideration that a responsible rider will make is to avoid specific things that they know are upsetting or frightening to the horse until they have had a chance to desensitize the horse. For example, if the horse is afraid of vehicles, avoid riding them beside roadways, especially those with heavy traffic. If the horse is particularly excited in stormy weather, postpone your ride or do some work inside in a covered arena.

Susanne Malloy is an avid equestrian and an editor for [http://www.englishsaddleshop.com] , your complete resource for new and used English saddles [http://www.englishsaddleshop.com], riding apparel, and tack.

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Riding horses

Riding Horses - A Great Sport

In war, horses were specifically trained to be "bomb proof." Most horses, like soldiers, would not survive many battles and wars. In the early colonization of america, horses were used as farming aids, and as a backing in building the railroads, large buildings, and many water canals. It is safe to say that as time has passed by, the human race has become more and more reliant on machines and other advances in technology, that eventually pushed the role of horses back.

In order to find horses today, one must look past the busy streets of urban cities and into the rural, or country sides. Horses take part in the rich-man sport of horse racing, as well as being found competing in sports such as equestrian, show-jumping, cross-country, or dressage. Today, many people are turned off of horse-back riding because it is seen as a boring or unpopular or an uncommercial sport. This should not be the case at all.

There has been disputes about horse-back riding, or equestrian actually being able to fall into the genre of sport. However, there are countless arguments against the claim that riding a horse is "not a sport." There are over fifteen different muscle groups that being used in simply riding a horse around in a circle.When you start competing, and moving to different speeds, such as the trot, and canter, almost every single muscle in the leg are being used. You are competitive in the sense that you compete for ribbons and an over all title in show-jumping, and horse eventing, it is a competitive and olympic sport.

Check out Carolina's new sites on Rocky Mountain Hardware or check out this new site on Modern Fan.

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Arabian horses

Arabian Horse Characteristics - Not Your Ordinary Horse

A Beautifully Built Head and Neck

Arabian horses have a distinct beauty that is cherished today, just as it was centuries ago in the Middle Eastern desert by the ancient Bedouins. This beauty is not only cosmetic but the Arabian horse's build also give it some great advantages.

Let's take a look at the head and neck of the Arabian:

o A refined, wedge-shaped head that is finely chiseled
o A broad forehead
o Large, lustrous eyes that are set far apart
o Large nostrils
o Small 'teacup' muzzles
o Lips that are fine and thin
o Ears that are smaller in stallions and of good size in mares. They are set evenly together and they have great flexibility.
o The skeleton of the head is characterized by a relative shortness of skull, slender lower jaw, and a larger size brain area within the skull.

The Arabian's head has always been considered a thing of beauty and the Arabian's face really sets it apart from other horse breeds.

The majority of Arabian horses display a distinctive concave or "dished" profile. Also, many Arabians have a forehead bulge between their eyes, known as the Jibbah. The Islamic people believed the Arabian horse was a gift from Allah and that the forehead bulge held his blessings. From a physical standpoint, the forehead bulge gives the Arabian extra sinus capacity, a plus for endurance. Another characteristic that helps with breathing and endurance is the arched neck with a large, well-set windpipe set on a refined, clean throat latch. This high-arched neck often signified courage to the ancient Bedouins and Islamics. The cheek bones are spread wide apart at the throat, typically between five or six inches. This enables the muzzle to be drawn in without compressing the Arabian horse's windpipe, and permitting the animal to breathe easily when running. As you can see from some of the characteristics that an Arabian has in its head and neck, this horse is built for long rides and running.

A Powerful Body, Bred to Perfection

Arabian horses have a broad chest and a short, but strong back and sloped shoulders which give them power and floaty gaits. In general, all horses that are bred to gallop or run need a good length of croup (posterior or backside) and a good length of hip for proper attachment of muscles (as a rule, both go together). Typically, a good-quality Arabian has both a relatively horizontal croup and a properly angled pelvis with good length of croup and depth of hip (or length of pelvis) to allow agility and impulsion. Of course, within the Arabian breed there are variations:

An Arabian horse with wider, more powerfully muscled hindquarters is more suitable for intense bursts of activity such as reining.

An Arabian horse with longer, leaner muscles is better suited for endurance riding or horse racing.

Size and Colors

Arabian horses typically stand between 14.1 and 15.1 hands (57 to 61 inches) tall. Of course there will be an occasional horse that is over or under this. Therefore, all Arabians, regardless of their height, are classified as horses even though 14.2 hands is the traditional cutoff height between a horse and a pony. A common misconception is that the purebred Arabian isn't strong due to its smaller height. Their bone density, though, is much greater than that of many other breeds. This gives the Arabian breed physical strength that is comparable to many taller animals.

For color, Arabian horses are bay, gray, chestnut, and black and sometimes roan. Common markings on Arabians include:

* Stars, stripes, or blaze faces
* Snip noses
* A white foot or more, or white stockings

Arabian horses that appear white are actually gray since their skin is black. White hair on horses grows out of pink skin. Arabian horses follow suit and any white markings found will show white hair growing out of pink skin.

A Pleasant Disposition

Arabian horses are well known for being affectionate and bonding well with humans. This goes back to their early history with Bedouin tribes in the Middle Eastern desert. The ancient Bedouins and Arabian horses lived inter-dependently as a means of survival. The Bedouins often prized these animals and sheltered them from the harsh elements of the desert by keeping them in their family tend. A strong bond formed and through the centuries, the Arabian breed has kept its gentleness and its willingness to learn and please. This makes purebred Arabians perfect for activities such as riding and showing and it makes them a perfect horse for children and families to enjoy. Having such a mild and gentle temperament makes Arabians one of the few breeds that the United States Equestrian Federation allows children to exhibit stallions in nearly all show ring classes, including those that are limited to riders under 18.

A High Intelligence to Boot

Arabian horses are classified as a "hot-blooded" horse. Even though they are in the "hot-blooded" category, most Arabians have a natural tendency to cooperate with humans. This category includes other refined, spirited horse breeds that are bred for speed such as Thoroughbreds. Like other hot-bloods, the sensitivity and intelligence of Arabians enable them to learn quickly. It also enables riders to communicate with Arabians more easily than other horse breeds. Thus training them is typically easier than other horse breeds.

A Perfectly Engineered Horse

Throughout the ages, romantic myths and stories have been told about Arabian horses that give them near-divine characteristics. The ancient Bedouins and Islamics considered these horses perfect, prizing them for their unparalleled beauty, sturdiness, stamina, high intelligence, and friendly nature. Virtually unchanged through careful breeding, Arabian horses still exemplify these same characteristics today and their popularity continues to grow.

Randy Meyer, along with his family, are well-respected breeders of high-quality, beautiful purebred Arabian horses on their farm, Red Oak Arabians. They usually have fine quality Arabian horses for sale at all times.

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