Posts Tagged ‘equines’

When looking for a horse, the desired horse age is an important consideration. Horses which are too young lack maturity and training while horses which are too old cannot provide many future years of riding. Following is a review the typical advantages and disadvantages of the various ages.

Horse of 4 years. Horses typically start training at 3 years, with basic training complete by age 4. Such a horse is old enough for riding immediately but still young enough for advanced training if you wish. Although it may be a bit more expensive than a younger horse, the difference is partly offset by saving the fees on basic training.

Age 5 to 7 years. In this category one can get a horse which is fully trained rather than just basic training. In addition, partly due to its age and partly due to the additional training, it will be a calmer and more reliable horse, less likely to spook. As such, it is more suitable for inexperienced riders and children.

Over 7 Years. Older horses are increasingly calm and dependable. Consequently, the older horse is great for children and new riders. They are also less expensive to buy as they are less popular. If the horse is not too old and has been well treated, it should still have many years of riding left. However, one would not want to purchase a horse which is too old for the number of years you intend to ride it.

Three year old. This is the age when riding training normally starts (depending on the breed, individual horse and owner). As such, one can have the pleasure of seeing the horse trained yourself. However, if you are buying a horse primarily to ride or have limited time, an already trained horse may be more suitable.

Under 3 years. The main benefit of horses under 3 years of age is that you can have the pleasure of watching them grow up. Although such young horses are cheaper to buy, in the end it is usually less expensive to buy a trained horse than it is to buy a foal and pay for the years of stabling and then training required before it is ready to ride. Furthermore, with an older trained horse one can be more certain of the horse’s physical and mental characteristics than with a foal.

The above is a general guide only. Various breeds mature at different rates, as do individual horses. Owners also vary in terms of the timetable and extent of training they provide to their horses. If you intend to compete with the horse, you need to take into account various applicable age restrictions as well as the competitive requirements in terms of timing and intensity of training.

Yes, horses have a language of their own, and unhappily many of usa aren’t as aware of it whether we should be.  It is a big mistake to not to understand their language, whether it could signify problems for usa in the long run.  Every swivel of the ear(s), hip movement, tail flick & facial expression means something.  This is the language horses reason to talk to other horses & to usa – when just we would listen. 

We want to know what OUR body language says to them 1st before we could know them.  Flapping arms while trying to obtain the halter on will cause concern. Running at them in a pasture rather than walking up to them calmly could make them consider -  predator chasing me. We have every heard about bombproof horses – sorry, there isn’t any such point.  Something, some event will spook your horse – any horse.
In the meantime, remain your body language quiet, slow, confident & calm.  When you’re calm, this helps your horse maintain calm.  

Horses talk to usa through every body parts & that includes the front & back end.  Both ends can cause usa untold grief if we don’t pay attention to what they’re saying.  For example, most of us understand that when a horse has both ears pinned back flat something is actually wrong.  Chances are they are either frightened or angry.  In lots of cases it is anger.  Thus watch the front & rear really carefully.  Caution is best even if you think the horse might be listening to something behind them or bored.  Once you actually know your horse well, you would understand what the ears are saying. 

Ears perked up & forward indicate they are focusing their attention on something and are either up to a few mischief or they are on good alert about something they see, hear or smell.  Remind your horse you require his attention, specially if you are riding & the ears whip forward.

Brushing & caring for your horse is THE primary bonding experience among humans and equines.  Don’t ever underestimate how powerfully you’re communicating to your horse about YOU while you brush him. Find more other useful articles about natural food for dogs, poodle dogs and dog cages

The play by Peter Shaffer, where a psychiatrist attempts to treat a young man who has a pathological sexual obsession with horses, is reminiscent of the work of US photographer Monica Stevenson she uses luxury goods such as Tiffany bracelets and Hermes Scarves on and next to equines as the focus for some of her major work.

This piece of a horse wearing a luxury scarf ‘Hermes Scarf Horse’ won Stevenson a place in the ‘Advertising photographers of America’. It makes you ask the following questions inwardly, is that a horse? What is tied around its ears? and touches on the use of animals as commodities. It grabs you and makes you look at the scarf, it captures your interest in a way that a model on a catwalk would not.

Horses are a passion for Stevenson and this shows in her work, she mixes the beautiful equines with the glitz of luxury accessories for the likes of Gucci, Cartier and Hermes.

Her photographs are potent and sexy, although, is there is something wrong about liking it? It feels as if Stevenson is pulling back the curtain and unveiling a taboo, daring us to keep watching.

The work does have a cruel edge to it, somewhat evil with the hair wound tightly around leather straps and saddle stirrups.

Stevenson’s use of insects, typically reviled in fashion is also very beautiful. She dares the observer to keep watching and in that, exposes the underbelly of each piece and holds it up for closer inspection.

What I love about her work is that it encapsulates a story in each shot, takes you into a fairytale world of Stevenson’s making, and although this world may not be a beautiful one much like the mind of Equus’s young hero, it is an intriguing one, and one that you seek to understand and return to again and again.