Archive for December, 2008

I<3ct asked:

What is a good horse care book for someone that knows the basics?

afav2775 asked:

i have been to horse camp 1 year and know how to mount up and lead a horse and i know most basic things.

Aleasha C asked:

Okay, I have a horse. But, I would like some care tips. I’m no expert and just want to make sure I’m doing everything right. What percentage of grains, horse feed, hay, and grass should be in the diet? How often do I need to float the teeth? How often should I worm? How often should I pick the hooves? Any other care tips and advice on horse ownership is appreciated. Thanks!

Have you ever seen the fast horses galloping in the races? Well, these horses are called Standardbreds, and they are well known for their skill in harness racing, being the fastest trotting horse in the world. In continental Europe all harness racing are behaved between trotting horse. Standardbreds have shorter legs than the American thoroughbred race horses and longer bodies. Often their hindquarters are several inches taller than their withers, which provides them with the power and thrust necesary to trot or pace at high speeds. Standardbreds are any color, usually chestnut .

Standardbreds are the cavalry of alternative for the Amish, as they often find these affordable, sound horses at local auctioneers or compensate away the course. The horses handle the change from the busy racetrack environment to the farm roads of the country. Standardbreds can be found ridden for pleasure or show in many disciplines: jumping, dressage, equitation, trail, team penning, endurance, gymkhana events, saddleseat, and even sidesaddle. There are even growing associations for racing Standardbreds under saddle — trotting or pacing just as they do in harness. Standardbreds race as either a pacer or a trotter. Trotters, as the name implies, race at the traditional trot.

Standardbreds are known for their skill in harness racing, being the fastest trotting horse in the world. Usually these horses require good food and good protection during the winter and rain, breeders recommend using Rambo horse blankets or  Turnout horse Blankets to protect this unique animals. Standardbreds are any color, usually chestnut, black, or brown; they average 15 hands (60 in./160 cm) in height and weigh near 1,000 lb (450 kg). Standardbreds will trot in a few races in which they need to trot out very chop-chop while asseverating their instinctive pace. If the horses break gait and do not return immediately, they are disqualified from the race.

Standardbreds have a wide range of height, from 14.1 to 17 hands (57"-66"), and most often are bay or the darker variation of bay called "brown," although other colors such as chestnut and black are not uncommon. Gray and roan are also found. Standardbreds are a relatively new breed, dating back just over 200 years, but it is a true American breed. Standardbreds are bred for racing and command training earlier all-purpose horseback riding. If trained correctly and consistently, they will adapt well to other tasks after retiring from racing.

If you are looking for good, highly quality Western saddles, then the best place to go would be the markets where there are horses for sale, as well as pre-owned horse tack supply items. You should be able to find some great used saddles and to choose the one that suits the horse and yourself the best. Pay very close attention to the fit of the saddle, as this is what matters when you ride; if it is too loose or too tight, leave it. Go for soft buffed, used leather that not only looks good but also is very comfortable.

When you are looking for proper pre-owned saddles, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind, such as the brand of the saddle, the model of the saddle, the fit to the horse and the present status of the saddle. The brand and the model of the saddle will tell you the actual quality of the saddle. Good brands saddles, no matter how old, are as good as gold. The fit and status of the saddle is important, as this will influence your ride; the horse will not listen to your body language if it does not accept the saddle. This is why it is very important that you find a saddle that not only matches perfectly with what you have in mind, but also is comfortable for your horse.

Do not buy any used Western saddles over the internet, no matter how beautiful and perfect they look. Buying anything that is even remotely connected with horse supply should never be bought unless it is checked, by putting it on the horse, and also inspected for quality. The horse is not an animal that can be trifled with. Many horses refuse to listen to their riders if they are unhappy with their saddles and other gear. Check out the Western horse tack shops as well. For information on what to look for, speak with a veteran horse-rider or educate yourself online.

The best Western saddles are those which are sold as pre-owned at horse supply shops or anywhere where horse equipment is sold. This is because the most important factor is comfort when it comes to saddles. Never buy over the internet since you can’t try it out on your horse before purchasing.

Horses are not cheap to own because of the many horse tack supply items that they require. Consider shelter, food, tack supplies, and a whole lot more and you will understand why. While not everyone would want to own a horse, ranchers find horses to be very interesting and useful creatures. They are willing to go the extra mile just to provide their horses with all the necessary tack supply items they need.

Horse clippers are primarily used for keeping different parts of a horse neatly trimmed or shaved, whether for vanity or showing purposes, or for health reasons. That is why it is important to think about the important aspects of choosing the right horse clippers before you finally decide to buy. There are hundreds of types and brands of these clippers available today; however, there are four things to take into consideration, which include the motor, the size, the power and the speed. Clippers with decibel ratings are also efficient since most horses are easily startled by loud and strange noises.

Tack trunks are also very important tack supplies. There are a lot of beautifully designed tack supply trunks sold these days and your options are really endless. But regardless of the design and overall look, the functionality of tack trunks is also very important. Find those that have built in wheels so that you can easily maneuver them around without worrying about heavy loads. Since these trunks are designed to keep and properly organize your horse equipment, it is normal to see them with compartments. These compartments are basically add-ons to a trunk but they are very useful as well, especially in storing horse tools like combs, accessories, grooming tools, and a whole lot more.

When buying a tack supply trunk, be sure to check for a proper lid. During a horse show, the trunks with a treaded rubber lid are multi functional, as they are useful for standing on when grooming or braiding a horse’s mane. When purchasing any tack supplies, keep in mind that a trunk with multi functional uses is always a better deal. Visit www horses com for additional equine info.

Steph W. asked:

around how much a month would it cost to have a miniature horse? do you care for it the same way you would a regular horse? does it need a big place to be let out to or a small fenced in area,

westhillsgarage asked:

What kind of things make horse tack leather more supple and less cracked? Is there any specific oils that would help? I just bought a saddle and the leather is really stiff. Is there anything I can do about it?