English horseback riding has a formal look to it; English riders are often dressed as if for the hunt, while Western riders may appear less formal because their traditional dress reflects the working environment of the cowboy. This style of riding requires skill, not least because it deprives the rider of certain safeguards, such as ...
Dressage is a French word that means training. And to be a top dressage rider takes years of training and hours of practice, A horse and rider must move as one, with just a gentle pressure with knees or reins as communication. Dressage is sometimes referred to as ballet on horseback and rightfully so. There ...
If you spend any time riding in the dressage arena, you know that your horse can sometimes become tight and even a bit sore just like any athlete that has to use muscle power. If a horse is tight, they can’t relax. Relaxation is very important to a good dressage test. With the help of ...
Many horsemen and women ride English style saddles. They are smaller, look more elegant, and are often more comfortable than Western saddles. Their parts are easier to clean, and the saddle is simpler to disassemble. Storing an English saddle is much easier due to the small size of the saddle. There are many different types ...
Heat will add extra stress to both the horse and the horse owner. There are several simple tips you can consider when you are vacationing with your horses this summer! A successful trailering experience may lead to several great vacations in the future! The first tip is to travel in the early morning so that ...
My little boy is nine years old and weighs all of sixty pounds. His 9-year-old quarter horse mare is 1,000 pounds of sinew and muscle and big mare spirit. When I watch him catch his horse in the pasture, putting on her halter and then leading that long-legged horse out through the gate for a ...
In the old west, cowboys tried to be as comfortable as possible for long journeys on their horses. They needed saddles that would serve the necessary purposes – a horn for wrapping their ropes while steering cattle, a place to attach their saddle packs, and a cinch that would not slip – but they also ...
Who is the world’s smartest horse? For at least a century, horse lovers have pointed to Jim Key, the clever trick horse of Civil War veteran William Key, D.V.M., as the smartest horse ever. Today, however, a 17-year-old chestnut thoroughbred gelding named Lukas (registered as “Just Ask Mike” – click here for pedigree), may have ...
Horses lead stressful lives, especially horses competing in competitions such as three-day eventing, dressage or barrel racing. When horses become stressed, they produce more hydrochloric acid in their stomachs. Over time, this acid can eat away at the stomach’s natural lining and can cause a gastric ulcer. Omeprazole, a human protein pump inhibitor used to ...
