Horses

Like English versus Western riding, one of the most debated topics among horse owners is if they prefer mares or geldings.

If you have ever read horse advertisements online or been to a horse auction, you may have heard the term "grade" horse used. What does it mean? Are grade horses better or worse than purebred horses?

Want your horse to come running at the sound of your voice? Learn this easy method.

When people think of horseback riding lessons, they typically think of a bunch of children in a group riding lesson. Hopefully, this article is all the encouragement you need to start riding as an adult!

What parts of a horse are trimmed? How does it vary from breed to breed?

Every noble steed deserves a special name to reflect its personality and style. I present you with a list of different names that I think are fitting and well-chosen.

Lots of kids are horse crazy. Some stick with it and others don't. If you are seeing any of the following signs and behaviors in your child, chances are their love of horses is here to stay!

A common question I get asked a lot by my clients is what does it mean to lease a horse? Also, why would you want to lease a horse rather than buy one? Hopefully, I can help you understand what it means and if it might be a good option for you.

Being in the business of teaching riding lessons and giving pony rides, I need the safest horses I can find—horses that have seen the world and experienced a lot, and horses that are calm and kind. Usually, these are older horses who may need special care.

Rare horse breeds like the Caspian and the American Cream Draft face extinction if the conservation efforts in place are not successful. Learn more about these beautiful and rare horses with facts, maps, images and videos.

Learn how to manage and handle a scared horse and find out if you need the help of a professional.

Horses are known for their beautiful, flowing tails. Why do they have a tail so unlike other equids? And what do they do with it?

Ponies are beautiful animals. They are part of the equine family. They come in a variety of breeds which all carry different attributes and likings. Ponies also make great pets.

These great names for your horse, foal, or pony were inspired by astronomical, celestial, star, and space terminology. Give your horse a stellar name so that you will soar together as a team.

Congratulations! You're about to experience one of the most rewarding experiences of horse ownership: the arrival of your long-awaited foal. Here's what you should have on hand.

Some horses are born with white markings on their faces and legs. Do you know the difference between snips, coronets and stockings? Correctly identifying them can be very satisfying for anyone who loves horses.

Out of all horse breeds, the heaviest and tallest are often the most gentle and docile of all. To many travelers, riders, and workers, the heavy horse breeds are not only companions, they are friends.

Every kid that rides has, at some point, begged their parents for a horse. Here is a guide to help parents determine whether or not their child is ready.

This is my opinion of the true definition of horsemanship.

These names from Norse mythology give you lots of interesting choices for your horse. From Fenrir to Odin to Loki to Sleipnir (the eight-legged horse), the names below all have meanings that will add to your bond with your horse.

Some horses definitely prefer to turn to one side. If your horse is like this, then why? And how can you fix it?

This article gives advice on lunging your horse before riding. When should you do it? When not to? (Another alternative!)

Helpful advice for riding instructors on teaching fearful students. Even confident riders have scared moments—it happens to the best of us. As instructors, we need to be prepared to handle that. Here are some hopefully helpful hints!

In this article, you will learn the signs and symptoms of colic and ulcers. You will learn what causes them, and how prevent these chronic conditions that are frequently occurring amongst our equine athletes.

Look here for a list of the best Native American horse names and their meanings. These beautiful, unique names would work wonderfully for Appaloosas, Morgans, Paints, Mustangs, Standarbreds and other American breeds.

Rain rot, or dermatophilosis, is a bacterial skin infection that can cause discomfort and hair loss in horses. Learn what you can do to prevent this affliction and what to do if your horse already has it.

There is a lot out there about finding the right horse, but not so much about what to do if you buy the wrong one! Hopefully, this article helps!

Here are a few cute and easy tricks to train your horse to do!

What makes a great student? How can you be one yourself? Having taught for almost 20 years now, I think I can give you some advice on how to be a superstar riding student.

What do you do if your horse bucks? Why is he doing it? Is he deliberately trying to get you off or not?

I recently was in search of the perfect horse to join our education program. I decided to detail my experience in order to help others with what to look for and which questions to ask when shopping for a horse.

Learning the proper and basic balanced riding position from the very beginning will help riders to be more safe and confident. In this article, I hope I make it easier to understand and visualize for you, and provide some hints that have helped my riding students get it!

There are practical ways to afford a horse at any age! Learn where to look for a horse and affordable tack and, most importantly, learn how to save on board and other expenses.

The Thoroughbred holds one of the oldest recorded pedigrees. There exists ongoing concern that the ever-narrowing gene pool of the Thoroughbred may be restricting genetic progress both athletically and reproductively, and contributing to an eventual increased frequency of heritable diseases.

Having a goal, writing it down, and taking notes is a great way to accomplish your goals with your horse. Journaling also helps you to see how much progress you have made over time. If you keep journals on all the horses you work with, you will be surprised how great a reference it can be!

English vs. Western? This is a common question that I get quite frequently from people who are interested in horses and riding. Here are my thoughts on the matter.

Horses are remarkably intelligent and beautiful creatures that have been bred by humans for a multitude of purposes for thousands of years. Here are some of the world's most unusual equine breeds.

What's so great about working with horses? An article about utilizing the horse as a source of power, based on my personal experiences using them to perform farm labor and other tasks.

Does your horse throw its head in the air when you try to bridle it? Or turn its back on you when it sees the bit? What causes this problem and how can it be fixed?

The names for all horses here—from mares to foals to geldings and stallions—are based in Greek mythology. Discover a cool name with meaning for your new horse.

Knowing what to expect during your mare's pregnancy and the foal's birth can be life-saving to both the dam and the foal.

Leasing a horse is an alternative to owning a horse that is cheaper and still gives you some of the benefits of having your own horse. I'll go over the pros and cons, different types of leases, and how to find a horse.

The energy and "vibes" that we carry with us around our horses affects how successful we will be in our interactions with them.

There are so many different scenarios that can happen with new horseback riders. We will talk about typical lesson-horse issues and how to overcome them while in the saddle.

Learn basic training from foal to three year old, including haltering, tying, leading, saddling, biting, and ground work. This is just an overview of the very basics a foal needs to know.

These are just a few of the many misconceptions that I have heard floating around out there about horseback riding. I figured I would shed some light on them and help to add some clarification for those who may be wondering!

Look here to find great fire-related names for chestnut horses, mares, geldings, stallions, foals, and colts. These fiery-red names, which come from different languages and mythologies, will give you some great ideas for your new horse.

Being realistic about your confidence as a horseback rider is important. Why? Having a firm understanding of your confidence level and skillset allows you to know what to work on and helps you to stay safe when interacting with horses.

There are many causes for nosebleeds in horses. Some causes of equine epistaxis can be detrimental to the health of your horse. Learn to recognize the symptoms of these serious health conditions.

Learn about the Persian Onager (Equus hemionus onager), a rare wild horse native to Iran that is endangered. Only 600 to 700 individuals remain in the wild and at zoos around the world.

Sores in your horses mouth may be caused by a weed in the hay being fed to him. Pictures and video explain and identify those weeds that may be the culprit.

Why do people breed mules? What are they useful for? Are there any other equine hybrids - and why? What makes a mule better or worse than a horse?

Learn how to search through the ads, choose a trail-worthy horse, and what to do before you finalize the sale.

Genetics determine a horse's coat color. There are many different coat colors that are possible, but all colors are produced by the action of only a few genes. This article will review the basics of equine genetics, and the genes that create the beautiful coats of the horses we enjoy today.

A few hints and tips about dealing with anxiety and nervousness in horses.

Horses and humans share a long and storied past. This list includes quotes from Abraham Lincoln, John Steinbeck, William Shakespeare, Winston Churchill and other historical horse lovers.

We are winding down the season at our farm and preparing for our last farm show of the year this coming weekend. Our shows are a little different than a typical show since all the students share the lesson horses, but it is still a great learning experience. Here is some first-time showing advice.

The floor in a stock/horse trailer does not last forever. It must be replaced before it rots. When the wood floor rots it can break through at any time when weight is applied to it.

Amazing quotes about horses from famous people and celebrities, including Benjamin Disraeli, J.D. Salinger, Jonathan Swift, Mark Twain, Rudyard Kipling, W. C. Fields, and many more.

The article offers horse training tips for calming a nervous horse, along with tips for preventing a hot horse. Discount calming supplements for sale, too. Videos included.

Do you have a horse that is prone to buck? This little setup might just do the trick to make him stop, or reduce the buck in him.

Both purebreds and draft crossbreds such as the Sport horse are susceptible to certain health issues not so common in light horse breeds.

This article contains tips for selecting the safest horseback riding hat for American and British equestrians and serious riders from around the world. If you love riding, keep with it for a lifetime by taking the necessary precautions to protect your head from injury.

Many riders deal with the frustration of their horse dropping its inside shoulder around turns and cutting in. Here are some exercises I use with my horses and students to correct this common problem.

Where is the line between appropriate discipline of a horse and abuse? Some thoughts on the matter.

Here's a seven-day plan for horse-crazy kids to help them convince Mom and Dad to sign them up for lessons (from the perspective of a horse-crazy kid that never left the horse-crazy stage in life).

I know many horse-loving kids who dream of a career with horses. Here is my advice for those who think they want to follow that path. It is not an easy path, but most certainly not impossible for those who are dedicated and hard working.

Horses are magnificent animals that deserve a good name no matter what they are used for. Give your beloved pet a name that others won't soon forget, even if they don't compete in the Kentucky Derby.

How many different kinds of horse whip are there? The answer is . . . quite a few, all of them designed for different disciplines and purposes.

Superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries are a substantial source of lameness and diminished athleticism within the equine athletic industry. Mesenchymal stem cells have become a topic of interest for use in the therapy of orthopedic injuries in athletic horses.

With the beautiful fall weather setting in around the country, I bet a lot of riders are thinking about getting out of the ring and onto the trail. There is no better place to view fall foliage than from the back of a horse. If you are a new rider and considering trail riding, here is some advice!

Get insider information from an American Quarter horse owner, two trainers, and a vet about why the AQH makes an awesome pet.

Explore some safety tips for ensuring child safety with horses and horseback riding. Horse pictures and horse riding videos are included!

Anyone who has had an overdue mare can easily recognize these eight stages of foaling—in themselves, that is. After nearly a year of waiting for the foal's arrival, we do get a bit impatient!

Tips for preparing your property before bringing a horse home. Do you have good fencing? What kind of barn should you build? Be ready and don't get caught without the proper structures for a happy horse.

Are we doing the horse a favor putting a jacket on him when it is cold outside? I should think not. It is quite the opposite.

Tips and tricks for working with extremely tough-minded and dominant horses.

What is the best way to clean, disinfect, and treat your wounded horse? Learn basic first aid and correct treatment methods so that you can help in the event that a veterinarian cannot be reached.

After training and showing dressage for most of my horse life in high school with an occasional trail ride maybe once or twice a year, I accepted a position as a trail ride guide at a national park for a summer seasonal job. It was the best move I could have made for my horsemanship!

This article explains how to train a horse for barrel racing. Video included.

Suggestions to keep you and your horse happy and healthy for summer riding!

What is the right way to take care of a rescue horse? What health and behavioral problems should you expect? How should they be fed, should they be quarantined, and why?

Are you looking for a name for your beloved horse? Perhaps you have a Thoroughbred, an Arabian, an American Paint, or a beautiful grade horse—here are 350+ perfect names for your beautiful companion.

Horses, like most species of ungulates, are social animals with complex social structures and hierarchies. This article will discuss the basics of equine social behaviors within the herd, and how factors such as age, gender, and the environment play a role.

Finding a horse to buy is the most important part of owning a horse because you make a commitment to the horse financially and emotionally. With a sometimes overwhelming amount of online horse sale sites, here are several ways (including websites) to find horses for sale.

This is the story of how I saved a starving yearling Peruvian Paso who has now become my best friend for life.

Being a therapy horse is hard work. Does your horse have what it takes to keep special riders safe, happy, and learning?

Few horses run faster or farther than the majestic, hot-blooded Arabian horse. Discover interesting facts about Arabian horses that may surprise you.

The following names from mythology and literature all feature strong, powerful horses for you to name your foal, mare, stallion, or gelding. Some names are great for a chestnut, black, bay, or grey horse, while others work for any large horse.

Learn how to use your lesson horses appropriately and communicate your plan to your riders and families well to encourage successful riding.

The benefits of planning a show for your students is great. It gives them a safe, low-pressure, first-time show experience, and it gives them a goal to work towards.

Make learning fun in your lessons by spicing them up with mounted games! They are fun and good practice for steering and control as well. Everyone benefits from a fun lesson every once in a while!

Horses are one of the most majestic creatures to ever run on this planet, and they deserve a name as magnificent as they are!

In my opinion, these are the main differences between a good rider and a great rider. Trust me, these small things make a big difference.

Horses bite? Sadly, they can and do. How do you keep from getting bitten? Read on to discover ways to handle a horse that is prone to nipping.

Warm spring days make it tempting to bathe our horses. We need to make sure it is warm enough for them before we go ahead and do it, though! Here's some advice to help you decide whether to bathe or just groom our horses.

Posting on the correct diagonal can be a frustrating thing for new riders to learn. It doesn't have to be though! Hopefully, my article will provide some insight to help it go more smoothly for both students and instructors.

Miniature horses! You can't ride them unless you are a miniature person, so for most driving is the way to go. In this article, we will look at the most common vehicle for minis: the Easy Entry cart.

When it comes to horses and other equines, few people understand the true definitions of sensitive topics such as neglect, abuse, or cruelty. Much less often do individuals know how to identify the warning signs of mistreatment or which steps to take next.

While the advantages of owning a horse in the eyes of a horse lover can be various, the disadvantages often will be hidden under a veil of idealization. Here's a list of things you should know about before you get a horse.