Hores

BMW to Test Endurance in 24-Hour Race

The BMW endurance racing team are in Barcelona and preparing for their next dare - the 24 Hores Frigo de Motociclisme at the Circuit Cataluyna in Barcelona.

The 24-hour endurance race will give the team a chance to continue the development of the 1200s bike they raced so successfully in the Le Mans 24 hours earlier this year, though the one at the Circuit Cataluyna is not part of the World Endurance Championship series.

Since then, the bike has improved in terms of weight reduction of some five or six kilos, refined aerodynamics and other small touches. The rear Brembo disc and caliper are now lighter then before, as is the lower triple clamp. A new windscreen and mild revisions to some of the streamlining has given the bike a better shape and appearance through the air.

The team is allowed to use four riders for this race, so they have called up Briton Richard Cooper. He may only be a twenty-four year-old rider but he is an experienced BMW racer and exhibits BMW's commitment to youth. Richard joins the triumvirate who finished top in their class at Le Mans and 16th overall. The triad is composed of Marcus Barth, Thomas Hinterreiter and Rico Penzkofer.

Team Manager Berti Hauser said that this race was in their schedule for the season and it gives them the opportunity to put into practice what they have learned at Le Mans. The race gives their team a nice opportunity to test the ideas from that race and continue their development programme for this bike.

Hauser continued that they learned a lot in Le Mans and they feel that their pit work will now also be better because they have a bit more experience of this category. The team targeted to finish the race at Le Mans, and they did it. And for the upcoming race, the have the same target. He said that he would like a top ten finish at the Circuit Cataluyna, but one can never tell what is going to happen in a whole day race. His team wants to make this a good race for all the BMW fans in Spain and exude that they are a sporty brand.

He also said that they chose Richard for he has experience of this kind of bike plus the fact that he is young. Hauser said they want to show that young riders can have fun in their kind of team and on their kind of bike.

Aside from making BMW manual [http://www.advancebmwparts.com/bmw-manual.html], it seems that BMW is ready for another tough challenge.

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Hailey Kerr is a Business Administration graduate. She is currently part of a business consulting firm in Massachusetts. Hailey loves to write and enjoys doing her favorite hobby during her free time - cooking French cuisines.

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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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Dream horse

How to Care For Your Dream Horse

I remember when I was a little boy; I would fervently pray to get a horse. Yes! I want to have my very own white horse that I can ride all day and night. When you grow old, buying a horse is not a small thing anymore. You need to be responsible enough and knowledgeable enough on how to take care, groom and even feed your horse. Do not worry! We have it all covered, we will give a few tips and tricks on proper horse care. So when you get your very own white horse or whatever breed of horse you plan on getting, you will be prepared!

Horse Care is something that should be enjoyable for both the owner and the horse. You are not just horsing around because proper horse care will do a great deal on your horse's health and it is a way to monitor the growth and progress of your horse. Like humans, it is best to treat grooming as a daily habit; this is to avoid too much dirt and grit on the horse's body.

Here are some useful tips and tricks to make grooming a fun experience for the both of you, read on and apply this on real life!

• First, it is important you buy a brush. A nice horse brush to brush that wondrous mane and tail. You would like to opt for plastic than metal since plastics are more durable than compared to metal which is prone to breakage.
• Next, a grooming mitt is a must for petting your horse; not only you get to pet your horse but also you care for his hair by brushing out those tangles and dirt.
• You need a lot of brushes for your horse but do not fret there are a lot of stores that carry different kinds of brushes, you just need to find the right one! Remember quality versus quantity.
• Another type of brush that you may want to purchase are body brushes it serves as brushes for the main body of the horse.
• Also, you might want to throw in a clean sponge or a dry cloth. The use of the clean sponge and dry cloth is for bathing and cleansing your horse.
• You could keep all your brushes in a bucket or a box for easier storage and handling.

That is about it. Remember to enjoy the experience and make it a bonding moment with your pet horse!

You may even be interested in learning more about horse care.
Find out more by visiting the Horse Pro Site at http://www.TheHorsePro.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Toma_John

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.

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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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Foals for sale

Horse racing is a popular game all around the world and people love watching it. Do you know that horse owners spend millions of pounds on the training and development of a horse? When it comes to buy a foal for sale, one can easily understand the level of difficulty that most riders come across when evaluating a baby horse. Young horses look definitely cute, but they dont look like the mature horses that they will develop into. So, how to assess a foal, and ensure that you will be investing your money into a fruitful option.

There are numerous options as to when the good times are to look for a foal for sale. There are certain stages, in which a foal tends to look its best, and if you will get a chance to take a look at this time, you will definitely be getting a good foal.

According to experts, the first such time is around 2-3 weeks old. At this point the foal has outgrown most of the natural crookedness it may have had at the time of birth and has gained enough muscles and bones onto his body. While the foal may still be a bit unbalanced, generally by this time foals are reasonably level from front to back. By taking a careful look at them, you will get a clear idea about how they move, and do they have enough guts to face desired level competition.

The next such good time comes in and around 2-3 months of age. At this time, most foals grown out to their fullest. The only negative thing is that many foals are in the middle of shedding their foal coats, so they will look a little motley.

Although an experienced person can do a perfect examination of a foal at any time before the full growth takes place, it is important to first understand the entire growth process of foals and then make your final decision of a foal for sale. You can get enormous information on the growth cycle of a foal even on internet. 
Once they have straightened out, a large number of foals will have the leg conformation they will grow up with. Unless trimmed precisely, or surgically modified, most conformational flaws will not be grown out of. The foal's shoulder angle will stay more or less as it is, as will the neck to shoulder connection. While adding muscle can improve a weak connection, the bone structure remains the same. Likewise, a foal with weakly built hindquarters will not likely change the overall structure of the hind end. Muscle can be built up with time, but the bones remain aligned as they are.

Looking for a foal for sale? George and Gillian Newburn are based in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire and our aim is to produce well bred, good quality, Warmbloods sport horses for sale. We always have a selection of foals, yearlings, 2 and 3 year old horses for sale.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

Pictures of horses

Professional photographers will tell you, horses are the most difficult (and rewarding) subjects for good photography. Horses in general absorb light and have lots of natural places which will create dark shadows and underexposed areas. In addition, they don't usually stand still or cooperate as planned and you find yourself with quite the challenge on your hands!

To survive as a Kentucky Photographer you either have to shoot weddings or horses - I definitely prefer horses over brides and have learned some tips over the years for capturing better shots. First, the background of the animal is extremely important. Try to photograph your horse without messy things in the background such as fencing (unless it is attractive), barns, and other people. Even things and shadows on the ground take away from what should be the focus of the shot - your horse!

Find a green field in the early day or late afternoon allowing the clear blue sky to bring out the edges of the horse. Shooting in the middle of the afternoon will create sharp, underexposed shadows and the heat will cause a horse to be less cooperative anyway. If the horse is wearing a saddle, make sure the leather is clean and that any brass pieces are not reflecting a bright light back at the lens.

Positioning the horse:

Angle the horse to better take advantage of its shoulder muscles and anatomical lines. This is usually with one leg a little forward, forming an "M" pattern with his legs. The neck and head should be held up natural and not dipping looking for grass. No matter what angle or position you choose to use for the photo - the number one most critical rule in equestrian photography is to ENSURE THE EARS ARE FORWARD!

This can be easier said than done, especially on a hot day when the animal is nervous or irritable. However, a photograph is practically worthless if you do not get the ears forward!

To make things easier, introduce yourself to the horse before you start slinging a camera around. Rub it enough to allow the horse to become comfortable.

If needed, have your assistant cause a brief noise to get the horse's attention (and ears) toward you and the camera. If you are alone, you can snap your fingers enough to make a horse center its ears toward you.

Photos from the side are usually better and are required to register a horse If you are taking pictures of the animal head-on, as in shooting humans, the most important feature is the eyes. If you don't capture the eyes, you will not capture the life present and your photograph will be average.

If the subject is moving, always try to get the lead leg extended forward and a little curved rather than perfectly straight. Again, getting the legs spread into an "M" pattern is optimal. You may have to attempt a lot of shots rapidly and pick the best position.

Some other easy suggestions:

- Check the corners of the horse's mouth for green foam which will definitely show up on a print.
- Shoot with your aperture at the widest setting (the lowest F number) to blur the backdrop and allow the most light.
- Get as close to the horse as you are comfortable, the further your focal point the flatter images appear.

Definitely check with the rider first, but set your flash (yes, even outdoors) to a low power to give some fill light for the natural shadows caused by the horse's shape.

Taking pictures of horses is fun and very rewarding, ask any Kentucky photographer, but it  gets easier with practice - so start shooting!

Gregory Rodgers is a Kentucky photographer and photographs horses during competitions at the KY Horse Park.

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