Friesians

 Friesians

Friesians are always back. The friesians has remained physically unchanged for centuries and its origins can be traced all the way to the medieval horses of the Crusaders. Apart from the period of time in the 80 year war when it was crossed with the Andalusian, the breed has remained pure. It is said that William the Conquerer also used Friesian stallions in the battle of hastings in 1066.

The Friesians were mainly used as draught horses, therefore advance in farm technology led to reduction in numbers. The result was that only 500 mares remained by 1965. Fortunately obstinate owners of the breed managed to afford studs. The fortune of the Friesians has changed since them, for they are now used for carriage driving, dressage and as a show horse.

They are beautiful, lively and reliable with an amazing temperament.

Shergar

SHERGAR

Shergar,  (1978-unknown) was a very famous Irish racehorse. Winner of the 1981 Epson derby by a record of 10 complete lengths, The Longest winning margin in the race's 226 year's history. This victory earned him a spot in "The Observer" newspaper's 100 most memorable sporting moments in the 20th century. This same bay colt with a white blaze down his face was named EUROPEAN HORSE OF THE YEAR in 1981n and retired from racing that  september.

2 years later, in 8th of February1983, he was stollen from a stud farm by masked gunmen. The thieves requested Lots of money for his release, yet the owners refused. The Big horse was never seen again, and his whereabouts will remain a mystery. Had they paid the money, Shergar Would have lived a calm tranquil life of many years to come siring many more winning racehorses.

Now, There's a Race in his Honour. The Shergar Cup at Ascot.

Riding styles

Let's Talk about Riding styles...

There are 2 main riding styles; English and western. Today I'll talk about both.

This is the English Saddle

English riding is  a very popular way of riding. It consists on mainly 3 areas. Dressage, show jumping and Cross country. But there are many more, like Hunter classes and Pleasure classes. This saddle is designed to allow the freedom to move an successfully carry out the Task ahead, ranging from classical dressage to Horse racing. English bridles also vary in styles based on the Discipline but most feature a cavesson nose band and closed reins buckled together at the ends ( this prevents them from falling to the ground if the rider becomes unseated).  Riders are needed to have great balance and seat in order to control the horse properly without putting him or the horse in any kind of danger.


Western styles evolved from ranching in the U.S.A Brought by the spanish conquistadors. This riding style is equipped to meet the need's of a Cowboy in the american West. Cowboys needed to work long hours over rough terrain, sometimes needing to rope cows with a lasso. Because of the necessity of controlling the horse with one hand and roping the cow with the other, western horses are trained to neck rein ( meaning they will change direction from a slight touch on their neck from the outside rein). The horses were also trained to follow the movements of the cattle therefore producing a saddle that is deep and securely seated with a horn to tie the lasso. Though there are significant differences in equipment, there are fewer differences between English and Western riding than appear at first glance. Both styles require riders to have a solid seat as to avoid jerking the horse in the mouth and interfering with it's performance.

This is a Western style tack.

How to Decorate a Horse Shoe

Merry (almost) Christmas !!!!

Today is going to be a special post. Have many of you out there have a Horse shoe at home?? well, ever thought about decorating it??!! here's how:


what you will need:

* anti rust paint  (metallic colour)
* Different colour beads
* beading wire
* wire cutters

1. clean your horse shoe and spray it with the anti rust paint. This works best with a metallic colour like copper, gold or silver. Follow the labeled directions and let the paint dry completely.

2. Gather your decorating supplies. Nip off bout 12inches of wire (30cm). Insert  one end of the wire into the first nail hole of the shoe and wrap it tightly around the shoe to hold the wire in place. Then, begin wrapping the strand of wire and pull the wire through the next nail holes. Keep wrapping.

3. Start threading beads into the wire when you get to the last nail hole on the left side. Use the smallest beads on curves and the back side, leaving the big ones for the flat part at the front.

4. When you get to the first nail hole on the right side stop beading and go back to making wire loops. Try to do the same number of loops you did on the left side of the shoe. If you happen to run out of wire, tie it off on the back and just twist in another strand and continue. At the final hole twist one last time at the backside juts like you did at the start, cut off any extra wire.



And that guys is how you bling out your horse shoe for Christmas!!!!

Grooming a Horse

Grooming a horse is a very important process. Apart from keeping your horse clean and beautiful, its also a chance for you to check for any injuries that might go un seen on a normal basis. Also grooming can act as a reward for your horse after a long day of work. Grooming relaxes your horse's muscles as well as their brain. Grooming a horse is a great way of building a bond between horse and rider, the horse will soon learn to trust you while grooming and eventually in riding. For those of you who don't know how to groom a horse, here's how to do it :

Step 1:
tie your horse on the cross ties or hitching posts. Remember to always use the quick release knot, so you can untie it with one swift pull.

Step 2:
Pick your horse's hooves. Using a hoof pick, start at the heel of the toe picking your way to the toe, carefully removing any rocks, dirt or any other objects. The frog ( the V- shaped squishy part of the hoof) is extremely sensitive, so don't hit that. By picking out the fee first It will be more likely for you to notice any signs of lameness or un soundness in your horse.

Step 3:
Use the Curry comb on the coat first. It helps allot if your horse is shedding his winter coat (molting)
or has very thick long hair and is muddy. it should always be done before brushing for its loosens the hair and brings out mud. use the curry in small vigorous circular motions across your horse's muscles avoiding bony areas like the face,spine, or legs. Work you way from the neck to the barrel to the rump. repeat on the other side.

Step 4:
Use the dandy brush. the dandy brush is a hard bristled brush used to remove the dirt and hair the curry comb left. Use the brush in short flicking motions to allow the bristles to take all dirt away. do not use this on the face, ears, belly, mane and tail or any clipped areas as it will cause a horse discomfort.

Step 5:
Use a Body brush next. A body bush is a soft bristles brush that can be used on any part of the horse. if you have a very soft bush you can brush the face and legs too if you are very careful. Do not use it on the inside of the hind legs. This brush is used to remove any remaining dirt on the horse's body. make sure to avoid cuts.

Step 6:
Take a wet sponge and gently clean out his eyes, nose and dock. Make sure to use different sides of the sponge for each eye or nostril, also different sponges for the dock and the eyes to avoid spreading infections.

Step 7:
Use a wide bristled mane and tail brush to remove any tangles in the Mane. First remove any knots with your fingers to make the combing easier. Like us humans horses do not have nerves in their hair, so don't worry if you pull on it. In fact you could pull the horse's hair all day and it wouldn't feel a thing, but either way be gentle with your horse. Make sure when brushing the tail, to never stand directly behind the legs, stand on one side and pull bit by bit the tail to you because the horse might kick.


Well, That's how you groom a horse. Once you get the hang of it, Its easy!! Check this link out to see how to do it.           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHtyy0tAPpA

Dutch warmblood

The Dutch Warmblood....

Its native to the Nether lands but is now found world wide. Its size ranges from 15.2hh - 16.2hh

The Dutch warmblood is the result of selectively breeding Dutch stock with English, French and German horses. The program was initiated in the 1969's. In the 1800 coaching and coach horses reached a peak. Horses from the British isles including the Norfolk Trotter, the Yorkshire horse, the Cleveland and the hackney were exported to Europe to cross with the local breeds. The resulting cross had to be able to pull a Plough yet look elegant between the shafts of carriage and whilst being ridden. This was the beginning of the modern sport Horse.

The Dutch warmblood has over recent years had a remarkable rise in the Internacional Equestrian World. This superb modern horse is Eager, Reliable, Intelligent and suitable for any discipline.

Show Jumping

In English riding there's 3 main disciplines; Show jumping, dressage and cross country, but there's many more, for example hunter classes, pleasure riding..ect
Today we're going to talk about Show jumping.

Show jumping, also known as " stadium jumping" and "open jumping", is a part of the English way of riding. Show jumping is often seen at horse shows around the world, like the Olympics for instance, of the Badminton Horse Trials.

Many people might confuse Show Jumping with Hunter classes. Hunters are judged on their style and manners and how they look while going over the Jumps. Show Jumpers are judged on a clean, fast round and is determined on a numerical score. The score is given by the horse's attempt at the obstacle, if he clears it, refuses it And if he clears the course in the time set. Jumper courses tend to be more complex and technical than hunter courses because riders are not being judged on style.

Jumper classes are held over a course of show jumping obstacles, including verticals, spreads, double and triple combinations, usually with many turns and changes of direction. The Point is to jump cleanly over the course withing the time. Time faults are set when the rider exceeds the time limit. Jumping faults are set when 1 rail or more is knocked down or when the horse dis-obeys the rider, for example a refusal or a "run-out". They are allowed a certain number of refusals before being eliminated.

In most competition riders are allowed to walk the course on foot before riding. this helps them plan their ride.Some courses have a "jump off " too. Usually the same course with a different order of jumps.Unlike show hunter classes, which reward calmness and style, jumper classes require boldness, power, accuracy, and control; speed also is a factor, especially in jump-off courses and speed classes (when time counts even in the first round). A jumper must jump big, bravely, and fast, but also must be careful and accurate to avoid knockdowns in order to rate and turn accurately. The rider must choose the best line to each fence, saving ground with well-planned turns and lines and must adjust the horse's stride for each fence and distance.


I hope you guys enjoyed this blog!!! Please comment! :D

How to Tack up a Horse

Tacking up a Horse the first few times can be a Headache if you don't know how to do it.
Its a fairly simple process, and its done quickly if you're doing it right. for those of you who don't know how, here's how to tack up your horse.

Step 1:
Tie Your horse with cross ties or a hitching post if you have to. Always use quick release knots. Its better to chase your horse down than having him get hurt because the rope won't untie.

Step 2:
Brush your horse. This can be a Full groom, or just brush the places where the tack is going to rest. Also, Remember to pick his feet free of rocks and dirt. When grooming check your horse for heat, lumps, swelling or any unusual things that might be a sign of un-soundness.

Step 3:
Put on the saddle pad on his withers, a bit higher than usual. Slide it down to its normal place so all the fu is lined up one way.

Step 4:
Place the saddle gently on the horse's back. It should sit in the middle of the saddle pad. make sure it doesn't interfere with the horse's shoulder. If it is placed correctly there should always be a thin strip of the pad sticking out underneath, directly underneath the Pommel. Lift both the saddle AND the pad higher than usual and slide it back to normal.

Step 5:
Put on his Girth next. If your horse is know for blowing up his stomach with air so you tighten the girth to loosely, make sure to tighten it slowly from both sides when he exhales.
Check your girth again prior to mounting.

Step 6:
Put on your horse's boots.

Step 7:
Unbuckle the cross ties and put the reins over your horse's head. This will prevent it from getting tangled in all the other straps and help you keep control of the horse.

Step 8:
Put the bit in the Horse's mouth. Put your fingers on the ends of the bit and gently push it against the horse's mouth. It i also a good idea to press your thumbs at the very corners of his mouth where he has no teeth to encourage him to accept the bit.

Step 9:
Put the horse's crown piece over his ears.

Step 10:
Buckle the throat lash. you should be able to fit 4 fingers in between the two.

Step 11:
Buckle the Chin strap. You should be able to fit 1 or 2 fingers under it.

Now you are ready to go!!!!

Steps to successful horse buying

Are any of you people out there thinking of buying a horse?? well, if you are, you might want to stick around for some tips.

When you are looking for a horse, its very important that you look really close at the add. People can sometimes lie about their horse's condition. Here I've made you a list of what the add might say:

* Perfect lead rein Pony= Can't take him off the lead or ge Bolts

* Good doer= Total Fatty! will eat you out of house and Hay.

* Good to shoe and float= yes... but a total Nightmare to catch and tack up!

* Loves to jump= Goes berserk at the sight of a coloured rail and is unstopable

* Been To pony club= Took him once and he was so Naughty we never took him back again.

* Not in regular work= I'm to scared to get on him myself so I'm selling him

* Can be spooky= Goes bonkers at the sight of a Plastic Bag

* Needs confident rider= Completely Mental! You'd need to be MARK TODD to control this Lunatic!!

* Not a typical Thoroughbred= Yeah, Right!

Now that you know what the horse might be like, The next step is to go see him!!

When you see the horse, check the overall conformation, This means to judge is the horse is fit, if his withers are higher than his rump ( which indicates his power is in his front half, meaning this horse will be a good Show jumper)   If he has a strong thick bone ( necessary for an Eventer of Edurance Mount)...

Once this is done, Run Your Hands down the legs to check for swelling or Heat, which are both singns of Lameness. Next up, Look at the horse's Face. If there's a runny discharge coming fro the nose, this might indicate the horse is vulnerable to infection or is suffering from allergies. Look at his eyes and see if they have a sad, suffering look. If they have Bright, Curios eyes this shows the horse is in a Pretty good condition. Now take a look at his teeth. This will determine his age. Take a look at his feet next. The hooves of a horse should be Symetrical, meaning the left side should be a mirror of the right. 

When you have looked at the horse, request to see his  Stall. Once there, check the door for Cribbing Marks ( cribbing means when the horse has made a Habit out of biting the stall door out of boredom), Next look around the stall and try to spot any Kick Marks in any of the walls.

Now its time to ride The Horse!! Walk him a few laps around the arena to get the feel of him, push him to a trot when ready. When you've got a steady rythm going, pay attencion to how he moves and how he places his feet. Next, you canter him around the perimeter of the arena. Take a look if he's counter cantering, or if he moves akwardly with his hindquarters engaged. Take him through some serpentines to see how well he bends to your leg cues.
When you are ready, request that a small crossrail is built at X (the center of the arena) and pop him over it. See how he reacts, if he spooks, slowly walk him to the jump and let him take a good look at it. If you go clear with minor problems, take him around again an dpay attencion if the horse is Balanced, and Listening, Collect him and see if he tries to edge his way to a side, if so, apply a firm leg to get him back in the center.

Finally, See if you are buying this Horse, If you aren't, then repeat the same process to all other horses you see. If you do decide you want to buy it, Ask for a 1 week trial at your riding stable. Take him there and install him in his stall, leave him there to grow acostumed to his new surroundings. The next day, take him out to the field and see how he interacts with other horses. When you ride him, make sure you do the same things you did when you rode him the first time. Afterwards request for your Vet to check him thoroughly again, for you always need a profesional's opinion.

After the one week trial, you can either decide to take him, or to keep Looking, You decide!!

The lusitano

The Lusitano....

This Breed is native to Portugal, but is now found world wide. Its size Ranges from 15.1hh- 15.3hh.

It can be any solid Colour. Grey is the most common but other colours tend to grow grey with age.

The Lusitano Originated in the hilly and rough mountain like terrain of Portugal, these surroundings have produced a horse that is agile, courageous  and Hardy, The good looks of the Lusitano are purely by chance as it has always been bred for ability rather than  appearence.

The breed's exeptional ability has been know to man for over 5000 years as it was once used as a farm horse and war horse.On the Battle field it was able to out manouver any opponent and had an amazing gift of second guessing its rider's thoughts while keeping him safe and carrying out the Job.

Today, the Lusitano's talents can be seen in Disciplines such as Dressage, Carriage Driving and Show Jumping.

Intelligent and Courageous, Athletic and Level headed, no not me, The Lusitano

Andalusian

Give it up for the Andalusian Everybody!!!

The andalusian is native to spain, but is now found worldwide.
Its size is around 15.2hh-16.2hh.

Most are grey but Bay, black and Chestnut also ocurr in purebreds.

The Andalusian is one of the oldest breed in the entire world. The breed is At least 25,000 years old. The ancient Greek and Romans used the andalusians for their cavalry horses because of they're remarkable agility  and strength during a battle. During the 14th and 17th century the Classic Rising academies used this breed because of its natural balance and agility in High School Dressage.

This Horse is Strong, Sensitive, intelligent and with the right treatment and respect, learns Quickly.

New Blog

right, in this blog you might find things like, the different disciplines, the ways of riding, some tips, horse health care, tack, ect...  Hope you guys like it!