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There are five main types of modern horses. They’re the draft horse, saddle horse, coach or heavy harness horse and roadster or light harness horse and the Shetland pony. Each type contains various breeds which have been developed to serve some definite purpose. The life of this great animal, is not much different from you and me! Just like humans they’re all colors, different sizes and used for all different purposes.

Only about eight out of every hundred horses in the United States are purebred. But most horses show traces of one or more purebred ancestors. The words purebred and thoroughbred are often confused. A purebred horse is one that’s bred pure for a certain breed. A Thoroughbred on the other hand is the name given to the English horses which are bred for races. However, it doesn’t mean that a horse belongs to some superior breed. Horses of all breeds may be purebred, but only the English running horses are called Thoroughbreds.

Draft horses are large animals with powerful muscles. They’re often used on farms and for pulling wagons where great strength is needed. Through breeding draft horses have also acquired agility, beauty and stamina. Some breeds of draft horses…such as the Shire is descended from the Great War horses ridden by heavily armored knights of the Middle Ages.

The coach or heavy harness horse was developed to pull stagecoaches and wagons. They’re also useful on farms for light work. Some of them such as the French and German coach horses were developed to carry troops and pull cannons. Coach horses are lighter in weight and are usually more agile than the draft horses.

The Roadster or Light Harness horses were developed in the United States in the early 1800′s. They were bred to pull light weight buggies rapidly along the roads. The standard bred is now used for harness racing. Morgan horses are less often used in racing, but they’re used for driving and can also be ridden.

Saddle horses include the breeds that are mainly intended to be ridden. Some of them can be used in harness. The Thoroughbred is very fast! The Arabian horses have great endurance and are a very spirited. Quarter horse’s can run very fast for short distances.

They’re also very sure-footed and are quick to respond. These mammals are widely used on ranches to help cowboys to herd cattle. The Tennessee walking animal is used under saddle as a business or pleasure horse. The Palomino horse has become a popular pleasure horse because of its beautiful golden color. So there you have it! Once again the life of a horse is not much different…from you and me! Just like humans they’re all colors, different sizes and used for all different purposes. Each one has a name just like you and just like me!

Gary was raised in a family that loved and worked horses. He was a race horse jockey and his father was a horse shoer and a horse trader. The whole family each had their own horse and at times more than one. Nowadays’ there are issues with the mustangs and burrows in our Western States. They’re part of our American Heritage just as well as the bald eagle, buffalo, black bear and grizzly bear, just to name a few. Let your voice be heard since the mustangs can’t speak for themselves! See for yourself here: http://madeleinepickens.com

http://savingamericasmustangs.org

Author: G Wayne Cooper
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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English riding showcases the ability of the rider to control every move of the horse through use of the reins and the rider’s legs. Riding a horse was common in civilizations throughout history, dating back thousands of years. Horses were used by many civilizations as transportation, co-workers, draft animals, friends and entertainment.

Though there are other styles of riding today, equestrians hail English riding as the most elegant inside or outside of the show ring. But it’s not only the rider’s skill that sets English riding apart. The horse riding apparel that English riders wear is not only functional but also very stylish.

What’s The History Of Riding Horses?

When man first started interacting with horses, they didn’t initially ride them, but rather used them to pull carts and chariots. No one knows which civilization first started riding horses, but through artifacts historians have established that the first equestrian equipment likely consisted of no more than a rope around the horse’s neck and a blanket or mat of some kind to protect the rider.

Actively breeding horses for domestic use did not occur until 1000 B.C. and it wasn’t until the medieval period (the 5th to 15th centuries) that horses were categorized. Instead of categorizing by breed, horses were categorized by their use. Horses used to pull carts were called carthorses and horses used in war were called chargers. These areas of specialization eventually led to a divergence in equestrian equipment and horse riding apparel.

What’s The Difference From English Saddles And Western Saddles?

English saddles are much flatter and more lightweight than their Western counterparts. The English saddle does not have a horn and the stirrups are much lighter and simpler than Western equestrian equipment. In the same way, English horse riding apparel stays with this focus on control and formality by insisting upon sleek lines, trim forms, and subdued elegance.

In English riding, the English saddle is placed over a saddle pad of minimal size. A lightweight bridle is used and, in some cases, a martingale or chest plate may be used. While significantly different in size, weight, and construction from that of a Western saddle, there are many different types of English saddle, depending upon its intended use.

English saddles used in jumping are far different from dressage saddles. Pleasure-riding or all-purpose saddles merge the benefits of several different styles of English saddle to make it more useful for the casual rider. Most English riders carry a crop when riding. English equestrian equipment is maintained in a clean and well-oiled manner, demonstrating the elegance and art of English riding.

What Horse Riding Apparel Is Appropriate For English Riding?

The goal in dressing for English riding is to demonstrate control over yourself as well as your horse. Loose hair and clothing are avoided, as are overly revealing garments and shabby work clothes. The English rider does well to take pride in their appearance wherever they are riding.

English horse riding apparel consists of a pair of paddock boots or tall boots worn with jodhpurs or riding breeches. In the show ring, women wear a short-collared ratcatcher shirt with a stock pin at the collar, while men wear a long-sleeved button-down shirt. Ratcatchers and other riding shirts have longer sleeves than street wear to allow the necessary freedom of movement required when jumping.

Many English riders are also seen wearing short, trim riding gloves. In the show ring, all English riders, except in some dressage classes, are required to wear an ASTM/SEI approved riding helmet as part of their regular horse riding apparel.

Sometime in the last 6,000 years, people have gone from riding bareback on wild caught horses to the exquisite art and formality seen in Olympic level dressage shows. English saddles facilitate the movement and grace necessary to the English rider. The equestrian equipment used today reflects that same measure of stately elegance and precise control seen when individuals ride in the English style.

Anne Coyle writes for The Equestrian Corner. They provide high quality English Saddles and horse riding apparel that define the elegance of English riding while providing safety to the rider.

Author: Anne Coyle
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Cleanliness in any form is a good thing. Keeping your horses sheath clean and free of beans is a very good thing. What is a horse’s sheath? This is the genital area that holds and protects your horse’s penis. Unfortunately the design of a horse does not give your horse the ability to clean this area in any way. Actually you may consider this area a hazardous part of your horse. When a horse urinates, he should first let his penis drop from the sheath, start with a strong stream, continue at a normal stream and usually end with a strong spurt of urine. If your horse is spreading out as if he is going to urinate but nothing happens, this is a warning sign. If he urinates often, this is a warning sign of either a problem involving perhaps his kidneys or he may be harboring beans in the head of his penis. At the head of his penis is a small channel of which you can take the tip of your finger and gently go around the inside of this channel. The reason for doing this is not only to clean the channel, but to feel for a waxy type of bean which must be gently removed as well as any other dirt or debris. These beans accumulate and can sometimes become so large that your horse has a very hard time urinating as the beans will stop the natural flow of urine. This is not only uncomfortable for your horse but can cause a serious amount of irritation, which in turn can hinder your horse’s movements behind. Some horses will not drop down and try to urinate while his penis is still inside of the sheath. This is an indication usually that your horse is experiencing some type of discomfort and you need to investigate and figure out why your horse is behaving in this manner. As with our ears, which have wax, a horses sheath develops wax that is there to collect dust and dirt, eventually dry up, fall off and take the dust and dirt with it. Unfortunately this does not work quite so well for every horse. Some horses develop too much wax which becomes hard but does not fall off and can cause irritation or pain. The bottom line is that this is not the most pleasant of jobs but someone has to do it and if you love your horse, you will eventually just take it in stride. My job is to try and give you some tips on how to not only get through this, but to make it as easy as possible for both you and your horse. After you learn how to clean your colt or gelding, you will be anxious to take the very few minutes of your time needed to clean his sheath and bring your buddy some serious relief. I have actually had horses give me a huge sigh of relief after extracting some very large beans from them as well as some shavings and other matter that was stuck further back inside of the sheath. Of course you will understand so much more after cleaning a few sheaths.

For your tools needed, mineral oil or baby oil and a fairly large syringe, a small bucket with warm water, a small hand size sponge, castile soap and a hose with preferably warm water and the nozzle removed. This is what I have found that works the best. Usually the day before, I take the syringe and fill it with the baby oil and inject it up into the horses sheath until I am sure there is a sufficient amount to coat the entire area inside the sheath. As you will find out, the upper wall of the sheath is very much full of wax and the baby oil will help to dissolve some of this wax. I really do not try to take all the wax off of the upper wall, just the overage. The oil will also soften up the larger amounts of hard wax on the penis. The second day, have someone hold your horse on the wash rack. I usually stand on the right side of the horse as I am right handed making it easier to use my right hand for this task but you must stand on whatever side you feel more comfortable. I usually insert the hose with warm water into the sheath and hold the opening of the sheath closed so the water can travel back into the second chamber of the sheath. Next, using the bucket of warm water, sponge and castile soap, with the very soapy, very wet sponge in my right hand, I insert my hand with soapy sponge into the sheath. Usually the horse will have his penis all the way in the back of the sheath. There will be a second chamber and you will have to use the sponge and your hand to make sure you get water and soap into this chamber, cleaning his penis at the same time. You will probably have to pull your hand out and into the bucket and soap up the sponge several times. Once you have made sure that the inside of the sheath is full of soapy water and that the penis is covered you can go to work. Without the sponge, you will have to use your fingers to first get all the crust and debris off of the penis and move your hand around in the second chamber feeling for any other pieces of things other than dried wax. Once the sheath is clean, go to the head of your horse’s penis and try to feel for the channel in the head of the penis. If he has any beans, you will feel them. The hardest part is to try and gently remove them without causing too much discomfort to your horse. After you have cleaned the upper wall of the sheath, gone into the second chamber and cleaned there and removed any beans from the head of his penis, the next step is to use the hose and rinse your horse, THOROUGHLY. It is extremely important that you make sure that you rinse and rinse and rinse out your horses sheath. After I feel that I have put the hose all the way back into the sheath and into the second chamber very gently, I ALWAYS check with a clean hand to make sure there is NO MORE SOAP IN THE SHEATH. Leaving soap in your horses sheath is not a very nice thing to do to the animal that you love. This can cause a serious amount of discomfort and pain to your horse during and after urination.

Please understand that cleaning a horses sheath takes only about five to ten minutes and this is something that does not need to be done on a daily or even weekly basis. You will know when your horse needs a cleaning. Some horses will need it often and other horses will need it seldom. It depends on how much wax they produce, and whether they hang out when they sleep and collect dirt. You can come up with your own schedule. As a rule, I would always clean performance horses more often, sometimes, just as a courtesy. If your horse objects in the beginning, usually after he knows what you are up to, he will be much more accepting. He may even ask you. After cleaning so many sheaths and seeing the positive results, it really is not a big deal. Just another act of love for the animals I so dearly love and hold close to my heart.

Beverly Jansen
http://bevshorseadvice.com
Co-Owner of BevWeb, LLC
I’m a licensed Thoroughbred Horse Trainer and a licensed Equine Message Therapist. I have devoted my entire life to horses and have over 40 years experience to share. My blog site was created to share my knowledge and will soon offer exceptional, all natural horse products that are above and beyond any other products in comparison and will guarantee fantastic results. I will also be posting “How To” videos on my YouTube channel soon.

Author: Beverly Jansen
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The term, “horse whisperer” originated in the early nineteenth century and first referred to an Irish horseman named Daniel Sullivan. Eventually making a name for himself in England for his ability to rehabilitate intractably vicious horses, spectators noticed he would square up and face the troubled horse seeming to whisper the horse into a calm submission. The public began to call him a horse whisperer.

The early horse whisperers were sought out by great numbers of people needing advice and help with their equine counterparts. That need is still in high demand today. Here in the United States the practice of horse whispering developed in the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain areas. The better known horseman of that time were two brothers known as Tom and Bill Dorrance. These two practitioners of horse whispering would prove to have a profound influence upon today’s horse world and the practice that has become better known as Natural Horsemanship.

One such individual profoundly influenced by the Dorrance brothers is Ray Hunt. Ray has been a pivotal character in the landscape of Natural Horsemanship. His unwavering pursuit to grasp the concepts, philosophies and spirit of the Dorrance brother’s approach to the horse did not go unanswered. Hunt has perhaps been the most instrumental horseman in propelling natural horsemanship into the consciousness of horse enthusiasts around the world. Ray Hunt died in March of 2009 at the age of 79. The world lost a great horseman. The horse lost a good friend.

Like the Dorrance brothers, Ray Hunt left this world a legacy as well, his gift of sharing what he knew about the horse and showing them, “the way”. One of Ray’s beneficiaries is one of Florida’s best kept secrets in the horse world, Ronnie J Ford. He is a horseman well defined by his experience and knowledge and most assuredly touched by the time he spent with Ray. In the spirit of Ray Hunt’s legacy, Ronnie Ford is first and foremost an advocate for the horse and will be quick to tell you, “I’m just trying to improve the lives of horses, one owner at a time”.

Ronnie recalls an incident which took place in Wauchula, Florida where Ray was holding a clinic. “Ray was mounted, watching all of us in the arena. There were probably twenty-five to thirty horses and riders. Now, you have to understand, I teach all my horses that what ever may be going on “out there” ain’t none of their business. My horses are taught to pay attention to me and they won’t get into trouble. So,I was riding my stud horse, Jo around the arena. Everything was going along just fine until this guy on a red gelding came by me and Jo. Well, this gelding just decided to reach out and tag Jo. Well, Jo didn’t have too much of a response and we just continued on. Jo never missed a step and he never paid any mind to the riders and horses we were passing or the ones passing us. We were riding around the arena and Ray just happened to be watching about the time that red gelding approached us. All of the sudden, Jo decided to take issue with that gelding! It happened so fast and because Jo didn’t have much of a response when the gelding tagged him back there, I figured that was the end of it. Evidently, Jo kept an eye on that gelding and an opportunity to teach him he wasn’t going to get away with that, so Jo got after him. I collected Jo and simmered him down but Ray came riding up about that time and asked me for Jo’s reins. I gave over the reins to Ray and Ray went to gettin’ after him pretty good and he was crawlin’ my a** along with it! Ray rode my butt the rest of the day. He never let up. Well, at the end of the day when we were sittin’ around discussing things, Ray started in on me again, right in front of everybody! Ray wasn’t gonna let it go and that was pretty certain. Well, the next mornin’ I loaded up Jo and a mare that was in full season. When we got to the arena, I unloaded Jo, saddled him up and unloaded the mare. I put the mare on a lead rope, mounted Jo and trotted over to Ray. He looked up at me and I asked him, “Ray, did you see what happened before Jo went after that gelding?” Ray said, “No, guess I didn’t”. So, I explained how that gelding went after Jo and what he saw was a very delayed response on Jo’s part. I said, “This mare here? She’s in full season and this stud horse knows she ain’t none of his business. I probably deserved everything you gave me yesterday, but this stud horse didn’t”! As Ronnie retells this encounter his blue eyes are lit with a smile that told of his fondness for Ray Hunt and the old man’s passion and wisdom.

“Ray Hunt is the best horseman this world has ever seen. I leaned a lot from that old man. He even taught me something one day he never knew he did. Ray had a sayin’ he liked to use a lot: ‘You go through the mind to get the feet to move.” Ray was inside a horse trailer with the horse trying to get him to unload. The horse was so scared and had so much fear of that trailer, Ray was having a very difficult time getting him in there. As I watched Ray with this horse, a revelation tapped into my senses and I realized a profound truth: Sometimes a horses mind is so cluttered with fear that you just can’t go through the mind. That day Ray taught me a valuable piece of information that he never knew he did. I learned that sometimes you have to bypass the chaos and get straight to the point to get the success you want.”

Ronnie is referred to by many as a horse whisperer. He is noted for his ability to work magic with horses. When faced with praise by spectators he falls humble and says there’s nothing special about what he does, praising instead, the horse for it’s magnificence, it’s intelligence, grace and spirit. He says, “You just have to understand that a horse does what makes sense to him. If a horse exhibits bad behavior, it’s because some human taught him how to do it. If he can learn that, then I can teach him to do something different and replace the wrong behavior or response with a desired one.”

There are those who say, “Ronnie is spooky, the things he can do with horses, I have seen the man stand in the round pen and literally cause a horse to suddenly stop with only his eyes!” If asked, “Do you really whisper to horses?”, Ronnie would tell you he rarely talks to the horses at all. The only thing you’re likely to hear him say to the horse is something along the lines of, “Good for you”! But he will tell you that he understands that it is his obligation to the horse to know what he wants the horse to do and how to ask it. The horse has it’s own language, once you understand something about that, then you’ll be on your way to a better line of communication.”

So, in conclusion yes, there are horse whisperers in existence today. In spite of the horse whisperer’s longevity in our history and the supposed secrets revealed, one thing remains clear: what ever it is they are saying, it is exclusively for the benefit of the horse and if we are to capture any understanding at all for ourselves, we will have to listen closely to something above a whisper.

Author: Beverley J Ford
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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For some time now, Horseback Riding Lessons e-books have dominated the web as alternate method of learning to ride horses. Each system/product promises that you will shave the learning curve radically by learning the basics of horseback riding before you take actual lessons. Claims are also made to save you hundreds of dollars in doing so. It seems that these programs are becoming mainstream and are living up to the expectations they proclaim.

Having devoted over 40 years of my life to horses, I feel that I can speak from some authority about this topic. I strongly feel that having a good foundation to the basics of horseback riding is paramount. E-book education is a very good start.

While horses are second nature to me, many people are mystified by horses and horse riding. They are big animals that look intimidating just from the shear size of them; The idea of getting on a horse’s back is frightening. To many, horseback riding is out of budget or not feasible. I actually believe that if you fit in this category, a good foundation that is provided by horseback riding lessons e-books are an excellent alternative.

This is what a good horseback riding lessons e-book can do for you.

1. Determine if learning to ride is what you really want. Once you go through all the basics, you may find that horseback riding is not your cup of tea.
2. Save a lot of money on basic riding lessons. Mainstream lesson run between $35-$50 per lesson. A lot of money. As any type of learning curve, teaching always starts with the basics; No less than learning to ride horses. You will be taught, safety, grooming, horse behavior etc., before moving on. The price tag can quickly add up to $100 or more, just to learn the basics. Going into lessons already knowing the basics is going to save you a lot of money.
3. Gives you a clearer focus. You know the terminology, you understand horse behavior, so therefore you can give your instructor and your horse your undivided attention.
4. Give you confidence. Knowledge is confidence. A confident rider is a rider that excels quickly.

I talk a lot about horses to anyone who will listen, and the general feeling I get from most people is that, they would love the chance to learn to horseback ride. If you are thinking about learning to ride horses, or has a child that talks non stop about horseback riding, then do yourself a favor and invest in the beginnings of a good education about learning to ride and horses. You will not regret it. My bet is it will just whet your appetite for more, and the real horseback riding lessons will follow soon.

I have also reviewed three programs extensively, listing their pros and cons. More about this review can be found here

Live, laugh and go horseback riding. There is no life like it.

Author: MaryAnn Eastman
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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It used to be that if you wanted to gamble on the odds of a horse race, you would have to go to the sporting event in person to wager your bets. While a day at the horse track is still an appealing pastime for people who like to bet on horses,today’s horse racing can be gambled on with online websites from the comfort of your own home. Online horse racing is becoming a lucrative business in the gambling world, and knowing how to bet on horses can make or break your wallet. Do you want to try your luck with betting on horse racing? Would it help if you understood the way bets are wagered and paid? Then the following tips on how to calculate odds at the racetrack will help you place your bets.

Calculating odds

The odds on a particular horse at winning a race are calculated by the amount of money that is collectively wagered on the horse. For example, a popular race horse that already has a proven winning streak will be what is known as the “favorite,” and will most likely have the most money wagered on it to win the race. Therefore, the ratio of odds for the horse to win will be the lowest, and the return on your wager will be nominal. This process is used to calculate the rest of the horse’s odds in the race with increasing odds until the least favorite horse, or the “long shot” odds have been calculated shortly before the race begins. Your winnings are based on the odds ratio that are calculated this way, (odds/1 x bet amount + bet amount), or a 2/1 odds on a $2.00 bet results in a $6.00 payoff.

Win, place and show

The term win, place, and show in a horse race simply means first, second or third place and bets can also be placed on these outcomes. Experienced betters will often bet on the same horse placing in first and second place because they will win both bets if the horse indeed wins the race. However if the horse places, the bet on second place pays off and often covers the bet on both. Others will wager “across the board,” betting that the same horse will either win, place or show and places bets on all three possibilities with the hopes of the horse finishing first so that all of the bets pay off..

Exacta and trifecta wagers

An exacta wager in a race is when you pick the first two horses in the race and predict their finish in the exact order of first and second place. Another strategy for the gambler is to “box” two horses together so that either horse can finish first as long as the other horse finishes second the bet will pay off. A trifecta wager is basically the same as an exacta wager except the better has to pick three horses that win, place, and show in the exact order. Three horses can be “boxed” in the same manner as the exacta to improve the chances of wining the bet. The payoff for trifectas can be very large especially if the horses have high odds to finish the race in first, second, or third place.

While you can still go to the race track if one is located near you, today’s horse racing can be bet on through online websites. Now that you know how to bet on horses, you can make your wagers with online horse racing websites that are becoming more popular in the world of gambling.

Author: Cindy Morse
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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It can be difficult to perfectly balance a horse’s good health with its owner’s equine needs, but when it comes to a horse’s joints, overwork and trauma can lead to a horse’s lameness and inability to perform any work at all. A disease called degenerative joint disease is found commonly among older horses and is a result of wear and tear, trauma, and the fact that domestic horses live longer than their wild brothers.

This is a condition that befalls most horse during their lifetime unless the horse is largely let alone to pasture and is never ridden. While a horse certainly is a wonderful mode of conveyance, the horse’s body did not develop and evolve with a large amount of weight on top in mind. With this in mind, joint care should be an important aspect of your horse overall health care.

Degenerative joint disease is the name given to the condition that arises and progresses as a horse’s joint becomes worn. The membrane within the joint is slowly worn and inflamed to where it no longer produces the fluids found in a joint regularly or in sufficient quantities. The limited amount of fluid causes the cartilage of the joint to thin and possibly even tear which will be painful for your horse. A horse with untreated degenerative joint disease will likely experience lameness.

The first sign of joint problems is puffiness around the joint areas. Unless you are looking for this, you are unlikely to notice it, and a horse that exhibits no other symptoms might still be on the path towards serious joint disability.

More overt and obvious symptoms involve clear pain in the joint areas, and your horse may be very reluctant to do work. At this stage, the horse will have obvious puffiness around the joints. You may note that your horse movements and gait seems to be stiff when you first brought her out and that they improve as she warms up. If you notice that maneuvers that usually would have been easily performed are now very difficult or your horse refuses to do them, this may also be a sign that degenerative joint disease has indeed set in.

You should bring your horse in for a checkup immediately if you suspect that it is developing degenerative joint disease. A flex test will be carry out on the joints. Afterward you will likely be asked to lead your horse to walk around briefly which will give your vet a chance to get a look at the horse’s gait. At this point the vet will tell you what he or she thinks and your horse may require x-rays.

There are a couple of options to help manage your horse’s joint problem. After working, you may choose to spray down your horse’s joints with cold water. This simple exercise will help to reduce the swelling in the area. You might also consider limiting your horse to activities that do not stress the affected joints.

Last but not least, your veterinarian can administer injections, made out of your horse’s own blood, that go directly into the joint to help mitigate the pain and inflammation.

Akhal-Teke, a horse breed who lives in Russia can survive for days without food and water. To learn more about horses, including more horse health and horse care articles, visit our site by following the links.

Author: Jared Wright
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Misconceptions exist about horseback riding. This article aims to address the myths about riding, inform you about how to find riding hats and other necessary equipment and answer your basic horseback riding questions.

MYTH: Riding Hats Aren’t Necessary

If you wear riding hats when you ride, follow safety rules, and take lessons from a good school and teacher, then you reduce your chances for accidents. Yes, accidents always can happen. However, that is also true of other sports and disciplines.

When it comes time to select your school, ask for recommendations from the school’s other students. You want to know you are picking a good place to learn. When you take your first lesson, you should be given a calm horse and a confident and kind teacher who can show you the ropes. If you don’t get this, ask for another horse or teacher.

The most important thing, of course, is to be safe and wear your horseback riding safety equipment. This includes boots, certified riding hats and horseback riding pants.

When shopping for your riding hat or helmet, be sure to select one that is ASTM or SEI certified. Ideally, you will buy your hat from an in-person store, so you can try on the helmet and get advice from a knowledgeable salesperson. Buy a new helmet so you can be sure it hasn’t been in an accident and that it isn’t too old and degraded to hold up in an accident.

MYTH: Riding Is Too Expensive

You’ll find you can come up with excuses not to do just about anything in life. Although horseback riding isn’t inexpensive, there are ways to save money by taking group lessons or renting a horse tack as opposed to buying it. If you find you enjoy this sport, ask your horse riding school if you can get a discount for booking several sessions at once or taking group lessons.

In addition, purchasing all of the horse riding equipment isn’t necessary until you know you want to keep riding. Your riding school should be able to rent or loan riding hats until you buy one yourself. If you decide to continue riding, do shop for riding hats as soon as you can. You don’t want to take the risk of getting a worn out hat that isn’t safe.

MYTH: Horseback Riding Isn’t Real Exercise

If you’ve never been riding before, then I could see why you might say this. If you have been riding – and had the aching muscles to prove it – then you know well that horseback riding is a workout. You will work muscles you did not know you had in order to move with the horse and to keep yourself in the saddle.

Deborah J. Williams manages a website about horseback riding and riding hats.

Author: Deborah J. Williams
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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