Thoroughbred Horse

He is the thoroughbred horse.

What image does that bring to your mind?

Kentucky Downs. Horse muscle. Horse grace. Horse strength. Horse speed. Power.

A thoroughbred is all of that of course and so much more.

He is the hopes and dreams of horse racers and owners and breeders everywhere and has been for generations.

He is the depiction of grace and power and strength.

He is the epitome of dreams of winners. He is the wreath of roses ... the top of the mountain ... the pride and joy ... the dream attained.

He is the Thoroughbred.

The selective breeding of horses to bring about the thoroughbred breed as we know it today began in the early 1700's. Three horsemen, Thomas Darley, Lord Godolphin and Captain Robert Byerly, brought their horses ... the Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian and the Byerly Turk ... from the Mediterranean area to be bred with the native horse in England. This breeding produced a horse inbred with speed and strength and a less precocious nature than the original studs .. for the purpose of aristocratic horse racing. This selective breeding ... the best studs to the best mares ... has been going on since.

For many years the records of the horses' ancestries were not public ... as they were expected to prove themselves before being noted as good racers.

It wasn't until late 1700 that James Weatherby researched records and came up with over 300 horses that traced back to the original names, Darley, Godolphin and Byerly, and began a registry of his own that became The General Stud Book which is still published in England. It wasn't until late 1800 that the American Stud Book was begun in North America as racing here had proliferated to the degree that a pedigree record of American studs became a necessity.

Col. Sanders D. Bruce, a long time pedigree researcher from Kentucky began the registry that was then taken over by the Jockey Club, whose responsibility it is is to protect and maintain its integrity. It is the integrity of this registry record that the entire racing industry in North America depends on for its own integrity - the absolute assurance of the knowledge to the breeding of each registered foal.

What determines the best thoroughbred racer?

There are all the technical determinations of height and withers and leg and bone forms and widths, each of which comes together to project the image of the perfect race horse,with that image projecting the fastest and strongest horse yet on the race track.

However, the bottom line is, the most important qualities of all in that perfect thoroughbred race horse is determination and will.

If one could engineer the perfect horse according to technical information determining stride and power and speed .. it would mean nothing if the horse had no determination, will and heart.

So in the end product with all of the introspection and breeding according to what the records seem to prove, it is in the final analysis nature itself that determines the winner. That winner can go against everything that man has determined in his mind to be the perfect thoroughbred racer that picture of grace and power and speed flying across the land in all its beauty.

The thoroughbred horse ... the perfect thoroughbred horse is the goal that keeps man forever on a quest that only nature in its random beauty can ever really fully determine.

John Grayson- working with horses all his life, still sees every thoroughbred horse as the one striding across the finish line... front of the pack. Equestrian Care [http://equestriancare.blogspot.com]?

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Thoroughbred Horses

The Thoroughbred horse is a breed of horse. They are members of the "hot blooded" group of horses. Thoroughbred horses are outstanding competition horses. They are excellent jumpers and are intelligent trainable horses. These horses can often be seen in the show ring and compete at the highest levels of show jumping and dressage. You can visit classified advertising websites for these sort of horses for sale as well as going to recommended dealers. Smaller Thoroughbreds are in demand as polo ponies due to their agility and great speed. Thoroughbred horses dominate the top levels of eventing as they posses speed, stamina and the ability to jump large obstacles.

The Thoroughbred horse is most famous for being a race horse, and was originally bred to race, but they excel in many equestrian disciplines. They are supreme equine athletes; they are extremely fast, strong and have superb stamina. There is no correlation between the size of the horse and its athletic capabilities, many champion race horses have been under 16 hands.

Characteristics

Thoroughbred horses usually stand from 15.2 to 17 hands, they can be any solid colour, although they are normally bay, black, grey or chestnut. If you are looking for a Horse for sale with these characteristics then searching the internet for a good horses for sale website is recommended. Thoroughbred horses have muscular, lean bodies, they have a defined head, a longer than usual neck, high withers, deep chest, a short back and fine lengthy legs.

History

The Thoroughbred was developed in the 17th century in England; three imported Arabian stallions were bred with English mares. All of today's modern Thoroughbred horses are descendants of the imported Arabian stallions, Darley Arabian, Godolphin Arabian and Byerly Turk. Thoroughbred horses have artificial birthdays. Horses born in the northern hemisphere all share the 1st of January as their birth date, Thoroughbreds born in the southern hemisphere share the 1st of August, this is to regulate the races for thoroughbreds in age categories.

Horses for Sale- Classified Advertising Website. Thoroughbred Horses for Sale [http://www.horsewizard.co.uk/professional-yards]- Recommended Horse dealers.

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Palomino horse

Palomino Horses: A Question of Colour?

The term Palomino refers more to a colour, or rather a range of colours, than to a certain breed. The term Palomino itself is a Latin word with an original meaning of paleness. Today, the description Palomino horse depicts a golden coated horse with manes and tale of a remarkably lighter colour.

There are several ranges of gold colours and in order to get an official recognition as Palomino, the horses "coating" must fall exactly in a well defined range, going from light cream over blonde to more copper like. The only places where a Palomino may have white markings is below the knee and on the face. Just because of their vigorous and vivacious colours they are very successful as show horses. Both Mr. Ed and Roy Rogers' horse Trigger were Palominos.

Palomino and Genetics

The specific coat colour of the Palomino horse originates from its genetics: they are hybrid horses and have genes from both a chestnut brown and a cream parent. If you want the scientific term for this it is "heterozygous" - meaning that their blended colour comes from both parents' genes.

In plain English this means that the parents of Palomino horses will not always produce Palomino foals. It all depends on which genes are passed on from the parents to the foal. A cream colour producing gene from one parent combined with a chestnut colour producing gene from the other will give a Palomino foal. This does not mean however that the foal will have the exact same colours as its parents. However, even with the aforementioned combination of cream and chestnut genes, some horses come out spotted or dappled or in a array of patterns and although these animals are still extremely beautiful horses, Palomino registries will not list them.

The Famous Registry

Horse enthusiasts will often choose to list their animals in the official registers of their breed. Having your Palomino listed in the registry proves your horses bloodline and also tells a potential buyer the horse is above suspicion. The biggest registry in the United States is the Palomino Horse Breeders of America. They made up a list of over one hundred rules to determine whether or not a horse is a true Palomino.

Frank Rom runs and operates an information site about owning, training and buying horses [http://www.horses-202.com/].

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Draft horse

Draft Horse Breeds - Still Useful and Popular in America

The word "draft" originally comes from "draught," an old word that means "to pull something." From early plows to carriages to fire trucks, draft horses have pulled them all. Without strong draft horse breeds, this country wouldn't have been built. The original work horse plowed the farms, provided transportation and helped to build the great American railroads. With the onset of the automobile, the number of draft horse breeds in the U.S. rapidly declined, but the proud work horse is enjoying resurgence and making a comeback.

Most draft horse breeds are bred for the region in which they were developed. For example, the Clydesdale draft horse breed came to being in Clydesdale, the Irish Draught in Ireland and the Belgian was born in Belgium where it was more suited to the climate and soil. The French draft horse breed is known as the Percheron, while the popular Shires hail from England. The only American draft horse is the American Cream Draft, originally bred in Iowa.

To be considered a true draft horse, a horse needs to reach at least 19 hands at the withers and weigh more than 2,600 pounds. The draft is believed to have descended from a primitive ancestor known as the Forest Horse, eventually conforming and specializing into its individual specialty breeds.

Despite their size, draft horse breeds are known for their docile nature and easy handling, and are often referred to as "Gentle Giants". Through hundreds, if not thousands of years of breeding, most draft horse breeds exhibit a stoic and solid temperament that's both admirable and rewarding.

After the second World War, America began to turn to automobiles and mechanized farm machinery, and the popularity of the draft horse declined. However, today, thanks to environmental movements, a desire for mobility and agility and fuel efficiency woes, draft horse breeds are coming back in style. For example, parts of the small-scale logging industry have returned to using draft horses to remove timber. Because the horses manoeuvre better than heavy machinery, cause less environmental damage and cost significantly less, they're quickly becoming a popular choice.

When it comes to farm work, a large range of horse equipment is still available, along with draft horse team breeders and specialties. Newcomers to team driving often purchase a complete and trained team of horses, along with lessons on hitching and driving. When it comes to providing a renewable source of energy, it doesn't get much better than draft horse breeds. As for riding, draft horse breeds often provide a comfortable ride with an easy gait akin to sitting in a rocking chair. From trail riding to even dressage, draft horses are easily trained and ready and willing.

Today, contemporary draft horse breeds are not only part of our heritage, but also our sustainable future. Whether you're a farmer, logger or simply a hobbyist, these beautiful and gentle giants have something wonderful to offer you. With awe-inspiring power, unwavering strength, stoic temperaments and grace, these beasts will win their way into your heart.

CS Swarens is the president of Find a Pet Online. 800 998-7065

For additional information on dogs, cats, birds, horses, and exotic pets visit the internet's pet resource including pet classifieds at http://www.findapetonline.com

Research over 130 horse breed profiles at http://www.findapetonline.com/horse_breeds_a_m.html

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Draft horses

The Draft Horse - A Great Friend

Equine evolution was characterized by a reduction in the number of toes, from five per foot, to three per foot, to only one toe per foot . Austria is known worldwide for its Lipizzaner horses, used for dressage and high school work in the famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna. Horses are oriented to be ridden or driven in a mass of different sporting events and competitions.

A number of equine breeds are used as draft horses with the variation being largely geographic. Draft horses are recognizable by their tall stature and extremely muscular build. Additionally, they are general for crossing to lighter breeds, especially the Thoroughbred, to create a good-minded sport equine for amateurs. Draught horses are versatile breeds used today for a multitude of purposes, including draft equine showing, farming, and for pleasure, but all share the traits of strength, stamina, health, longevity, patience and a docile temperament which made them indispensable to generations of pre-industrial farmers.

They tend to have short backs with very powerful hindquarters, again best suited for the purpose of pulling. They are also by and large used for cross-breeding, especially to breeds such as the Thoroughbred. These Shire horses are used to pull a Wadworth Brewery dray delivering beer to pubs in the Devizes area of Wiltshire, England. Today, draft horses are again valued as riding horses thanks to their temperament and stamina. The draught equine declined in economic importance following the end of the Second World War, and in the latter half of the twentieth century even the most well-known of the heavy breeds were on the verge of disappearing.

The vast majority of horses used in harness racing are of yet another breed, the Standardbred. They are used in carriage driving activities, pulling coaches, traditional and modern carriages, marathon vehicles, carts and gigs etc.

Andy McMellan writes for the bi-monthy newsletter American Horse Care. It contains useful information on horses and horseback riding.

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Appaloosas

Appaloosa - A Great Equine

If horses are kept inside in a barn, they require regular daily exercise for their physical health and mental well-being. Some scholars believe the Spanish Conquistadors brought some vividly-marked horses with them when they first arrived in the early 1500s, others believe that the Russian fur-traders brought them at a later date. The Nez Perce obtained their original horses from the Shoshone people, and from there took advantage of the fact that they lived in notable horse-breeding country, relatively safe from the raids of other tribes, and developed strict breeding selection practices for their horses. The earliest evidence horses with a spotted coat pattern is from the cave paintings dating from the Upper Paleolithic era, circa 18,000 BC found at Lascaux and Peche-Merle in France. The Nez Perce tribe of the American Pacific Northwest developed the breed. The Nez Perce people were a relatively peaceful nation, a high amount of of whom engaged in agriculture as well as horse breeding.

In any case, the Nez Perce had a high amount of spotted horses by the late 1800s when they once again came to the attention of the rest of the world. The encroachment of gold miners in the 1860s and settlers in the 1870s put pressure on the tribe to give up much of their land, and various treaties between 1855 and 1863 reduced their original treaty lands of seven million acres by 90%.

A similarly spotted breed in Europe, with a sport equine build, is the Knabstrup. All ApHC-registered Appaloosas must be the offspring of two registered Appaloosa parents or a registered Appaloosa and a equine friend from an approved breed registry. The middle of the road "stock equine friend" build is well suited to western horsemanship disciplines such as cutting, reining, rodeo and O-Mok-See sports such as barrel racing (Camas Prairie Stump Race) and pole bending (Nez Percé Stake Race) as well as short-length equine friend racing, generally at the quarter-mile distance. The breeding program was financed by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the Nez Perce tribe, and the First Nations Development Institute, a nonprofit organization that promotes tribal business development. The Appaloosa Museum foundation was formed in 1975 to preserve the history of the Appaloosa equine. The physical conformation of the original Appaloosa was typical of the range horses found in the western United States.

Appaloosa markings overlay the base coat color, and have several pattern variations.

The preface of the ApHC rule book states that the Appaloosa is "a breed defined by ApHC bloodline requirements and preferred characteristics, including coat pattern. The Nez Perce tribe once again began a breeding program in 1995 to develop a distinct breed, the Nez Perce Equine friend. The registry was originally housed in Moro, Oregon, then in 1947 moved to Moscow, Idaho. Today, the Appaloosa breed is one of America's most in favor breeds and there are over 670,000 Appaloosas registered by the ApHC.

Andy McMellan writes for the bi-monthy newsletter American Horse Care. It contains useful information on horses and horseback riding.

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All about horses

Learn All About Horses, From Bridle Bit to Saddle

If you own a horse, you know that there is a never-ending stream of purchases and things you need to do to care for your horse. Having a horse is a full-time job, and most people don't realize this until it is way too late. Whether you have to buy a bridle bit or a saddle, shovel your stables, or work on your training, the work never really ends.

When owning a horse, there really is no sense in re-inventing the wheel. Everything you are doing, and everything you are experiencing has been done by others before you. And, most of the information you need to get through the daily trials of owning a horse can be found online.

One source that provides an enormous amount of information when it comes to horse ownership and training is Eric Bravo's Gentle Natural Horsemanship. His approach to training horses is unparalleled in its inventiveness, quickness, and above all, kindness. His techniques do not allow room for cruelty or inhumane treatment, and he takes the time to tell you about how to choose the correct bridle bit, or how to teach a horse to understand new commands.

Prior to the advent of the internet, people with horses would resort to paying big money for information on a bridle bit, a saddle, or how to outfit a stable. That expense is no longer necessary. For the most part, all the information you need to care for, and train, your horse is available online. Of course, nothing beats an expert's opinion, a lot of hard work, and a lot of time, but getting help online can be immensely beneficial.

Vanessa Peters is an expert on bridle bit and the director of the Horse-Health-Care.Com blog. For tons of fantastic information about bridle bit, you should definitely check out her blog.

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The horse

You Ride The Horse You Lead

I have a very bad habit of assuming horses know certain lessons. No, not every horse, in fact just clients that I have worked with before. "Never assume anything," is a cliché that is well heeded in horse training. I also tend to forget some of the very words I teach, "Every rider has different cue spots and cue delivery." Meaning, a horse has to learn those new cues spots with each new rider/handler. Horses do not generalize and although they will catch on quicker than a horse that has never had that cue put on, they need time to adjust.

These truths become especially clear each time I get in a new horse. Due to the fact that I train several horses a day, 6 days a week, I have become above all particular when it comes to my cues. Mind you I do take the time to teach my cue system to new horses, however, I tend to forget to adjust returning client's horses. Either way, I always expect the horse to show improvements. One of those lessons I tend to do the most assuming with is leading.

Leading is actually one of the best ways to learn a lot about a horse/rider relationship. That is because the relationship starts well before you ever place a foot in the stirrup. Leading is where I tend to fail the most at my own teaching. I assume the horse knows to stay off me with its shoulder, not to forge ahead or lag behind, and focus on where we are going. It even has caught me off guard at the tie rack, giving me a broken foot. If you did not take the time to cover a lesson, the horse cannot be held liable for its actions. Boy, how I hate hearing those words in my ear.

As I mentioned, the horse handler relationship starts well before you saddle up. It begins the moment you enter the stall and this attitude continues well into your riding. Yet, it is one of the hardest ideas to plant in a horse owner's mind. If you allow your horse to push into you, forge ahead of you, lag behind, set back, pull away from you, and the list goes on, you are telling the horse he calls the shots and is the head decision maker. At this point, the rider cannot figure out why it is a constant fight on the trail to get the horse to do what they want when they want. In reality, the horse was taught by the rider for the previous 30 minutes before the ride that the horse gets to make the final decisions.

It is here that my training with a new horse begins. There are some days with some horses that the 50 foot walk to the round pen is the lesson of the day. By the time we reach the round pen we are both out of breath and sweating in 40 degree weather. Can't wait for the walk back. Some horses have been successfully taught that humans are just a rag doll that are to be tolerated at the end of the lead rope, and will fight tooth and nail when someone tries to tell them something different.

To make matters worse there are horses that cannot handle that kind of control. Just like people, not every horse makes a good leader and from birth a horse knows its rightful place in the herd. A born leader is very confident and seldom kicks or bites as every other horse stays away with just a look. The lowest horses however, are apprehensive about being pushed down even further and they will become very reactive, kicking and biting to keep hold of their position in the herd. It is the later horse that makes a very poor leader as they become suspicious of all other horses and people, trying in vain to keep what they have. When these horses join up with the apprehensive or hands-off owner, the horse takes up leadership and that is when things get nasty.

Now we have a distrustful horse as top dog and an apprehensive or hands-off owner that has no idea how bad this relationship is going to become. Out on trail this horse fights about where the ride is going, dives for food at every opportunity, snake faces or even kicks every other horse, lags going out, spooks or balks when it has gone far enough and gets chargy going home. All in all it is a horrible ride. Back at the ranch the owner can't understand why the horse acted like that. "He is soooo sweet in his pen, he isn't afraid of anything, you can do just about anything to him, he loves people and doesn't have a mean bone in his body." They fail to see how the horse crowds them in the pen, refuses to be caught, pulls the head away from the halter, balks at leaving the pen, forges ahead when being lead, lags behind when you go to the hitch, steps into them when being groomed and saddled, walks off when they try to mount......the list goes on.

Similar issues arise with the dominate horse paired with a permissive owner, but quite often not as apparent as this personality has plenty of self-confidence. Where the dominate horse will tend not to be as reactive to others in everyday settings, it may take longer to persuade that you are a worthy leader. Your leadership with them will be questioned, as well as the subordinate horse, and you will need to be consistent and fair with both. The dominate horse wants to be leader and the subordinate horse needs a leader. Leader does not mean dictator, yet for everyone's safety and to fully enjoy your horse, you must become a fair and just leader.

And so with either personality trait, you really do ride the horse you lead. When the horse is taught from the first moment to face you when you enter the pen, stay at your side while leading, stop and move forward with the handler, stand quiet at the hitching post, stand still for mounting or in essence learns to wait for the handlers direction, there is harmony, peace and security. Both parties are content and prepared to do their part in this relationship or rather partnership. Now the stage is properly set for an enjoyable ride. The horse has learned to wait on the handler and will wait on the rider as well. There won't be a fight for leadership on trail as it has been firmly and fairly placed from the ground. And even the low horse in the herd will be more content as they know the leader is their comrade and will keep them safe. They will gain healthy self-confidence and lose their defensive behavior. The dominate horse will trust your decisions and be willing to follow your lead. It will rightly become a win/win situation for horse and rider.

Jodi Wilson is a recognized authority on the subject of horse training and has spent almost 30 years developing training techniques and solutions for horse owners no matter the discipline or breed.

Jodi is an Accredited Josh Lyons trainer, and is Certified in John Lyons training techniques. Her website, http://Jodi-Wilson.com, provides a wealth of information to improve the relationship between horse and rider. Jodi is also available for clinics and demonstrations as well as lessons, apprenticeships, and horse training.

Jodi has trained and competed in Reining, Sorting, Jumping, Dressage, English and Western Pleasure, Trail and Problem Solving.

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Quarter horse

Horse Breeds - American Quarter Horse

The American Quarter Horse is the first breed of horse native to the United States. The breed evolved when the bloodlines of horses brought to the New World were mixed. Foundation American Quarter Horse stock originated from Arab, Turk and Barb breeds. Selected Stallions and Mares were crossed with horses brought to Colonial America from England and Ireland in the 1600's. This combination resulted in a compact, heavily muscled horse that evolved to fill the colonists passion for short distance racing.

The amazing power behind a quarter horse enabled this great animal to run short distances over a straightaway faster than any other horse with the fastest being named Celebrated American Running Horse. The names for this breed has changed many times over the years until 1940 when a registry was formed to preserve the breed which officially became the American Quarter Horse Association.

In the year 1674 in Enrico County, Virginia the first American Quarter Horse Race was held. They were one-on-one match races down village streets, county lanes and level pastures. Many disagreements and fights were generated from heavy betting of large purse races by 1690.

The American Quarter Horse, due to their calm disposition and quick response time, the horse became known for its "cow sense", being able to outmaneuver cattle. During the 1800's as many pioneer folk moved westward, so did the American Quarter Horse. An abundant amount of cattle ranches stretched across the plains. Making this breed well suited for the cattle ranchers.

In today's world, the American Quarter Horse still remains a great sprinter known for their heavy muscling, but they have exceeded way past the cattle horse. These amazing horses compete in almost every discipline available, from rodeo events, such as barrel racing and calf roping to English disciplines such as dressage and show jumping. The make a nice little children's hunter as well, with the ability to jump a wide range of heights. They are one of the most versatile breeds in the world.

Many pleasure riders still look to the American Quarter horse for recreational riding, as they make a nice pleasure horse as well.

Breeders, since the creation of the breed over fifty years ago, have diligently been trying to perfect the bloodlines to produce a high quality versatile animal.. Strict guidelines have been set by the American Quarter Horse Association regarding registration of the American Quarter Horses. Some of these guidelines include:

1. Limited white markings on the face and below the knee

2. Only thirteen accepted colors recognized by the AQHA. These are sorrel (reddish brown), bay, black, brown, buckskin, chestnut, dun, red dun, gray, grullo, palomino, red roan and blue roan. The official gray color is what most people call white, but there are no "white" American Quarter Horses.

3. A quarter horse foal must be the product of a numbered American Quarter Horse dam and a numbered American Quarter Horse sire. There is an appendiz registry for foals with one numbered American Quarter Horse parent and one Throughbred parent registered with The Jockey Club.

Some other notable characteristics of the American Quarter Horse is their speed, versatility, gentle nature, heavy muscling and keen cow sense.

If you own an American Quarter Horse, no matter what discipline you choose to ride, your horse will excel. This breed is one of the most enjoyable horse breeds around today and one of the most popular.

Nanette Hughston is a freelance writer from the southern United States Region. She has a bachelor’s degree in finance. She rides dressage with Grand Prix Level Trainer, Tracy Masterson at Highlife Farms, Orlando, FL. For more information and articles please see her website at http://www.dressageamerica.com and http://www.informbyweb.com and to visit her training site, please visithttp://www.highlifefarms.com for dressage and hunter/ jumper information. Permission for reprint is granted with full bio remaining intact.

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