http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/things-to-consider-when-buying-a-horsethings-to-consider-when-buying-a-horse-3413389.html
Dec 232010
http://www.articlesbase.com/horse-racing-articles/how-to-properly-care-for-a-horse-when-the-temperatures-outside-drop-3890154.html
Some of the contributing factors that may cause your horse to buck when you ride it are: a change in environment, feeding, health conditions, equipment used, and your riding approach.
Horses normally buck when a stranger tries to mount it. However, if have been with the horse for a long period of time and have noticed sudden bucking behavior, then try to evaluate the changes that may have happened lately. Understanding the horse’s sudden change of behavior and knowing the factors that have contributed to those unexpected behavioral changes are key to riding your horse swafely. Carefully evaluate the given factors below to know the appropriate things to do so you can avoid horseback riding accidents:
Environment
Check if your horse has been ridden or brought outdoors recently. Note the number of hours that your horse spends outside and the number of hours the horse spends indoors. Having your horse stay indoors for a long period of time will affect its behavior. Horses love to stay outdoors where they can gallop freely. It is their exercise, and they love it. Keeping your horse in the stable for too long will make it anxious and irritable which results in bucking when being ridden.
Feeding
Feeding the horse with high quality hay is most important. A horse’s energy needs are similar to that of how humans need food to function. Humans cannot do anything very well if we don’t eat the right kinds and amounts of food. Horses, too, need nutrients in order for them to stay healthy and maintain their figure. The appropriate quality of food is also vital to the horse’s behavior and mood.
Health conditions
Checking the health of your horse is important, too. When you take the time to examine the horse’s overall health, you will know whether or not it is in a bad mood. Horses normally misbehave and buck the rider off when it is not feeling well. An irritating body pain, such as tooth decay, will distract the horse because it is very uncomfortable for the horse, especially when being ridden.
Equipment used
Check your saddle to see that it not hurting the horse. If it is uncomfortable for your horse, it will normally duck to express that it is unhappy with the equipment attached to it. Be sure that you check the saddle every time you insert your shoes into it so you can know it fits the horse correctly. The girth should not be tightened too much, as this will also tighten the saddle and the cinch, which is uncomfortable for the horse. Make sure that everything fits the horse well.
Riding approach
Horses normally don’t like to be ridden or driven, which makes bucking their common reaction. The horse will only get submissive and allow a person to ride it if it has already adapted to the riding capabilities of the rider. It is important for the rider to learn how to read the horse’s thoughts. The more you are around the horse the easier it will be to get a feel them for its instincts and know whether or not it is scared of something. Also, know and teach the horse how to turn according to your command. Train the horse to respond to your tapping signals so it can turn when you want it too.
Practicing and mastering your skills of riding a horse will eventually put you in control every time your horse misbehaves or bucks. Don’t forget to be sensitive and mindful to your horse’s nutritional needs as well.
You can purchase horse nutritional supplements to provide your horse the best nutritional care by visiting E3 Live for Horses
If you’re trying to train a horse you will find that there are as many ways and methods as there are professional trainers, and if you would rather read up on horse training books they can be found anywhere. However, there is some agreement on the basic methods on how to train a horse, and caring for the horse hoof problems that will face anyone who’s responsible for the animal. Are you going to have to train a new foal for riding? Then you can read the following approach on the basic way to train a horse for riding.
Fitting the halter
The first thing that will have to be introduced to the horse is the halter. Putting a halter on the horse’s head for the first time will not be easy since it’s not going to settle well with the horse.After you are successful with getting the horse comfortable with the halter you may want to introduce them to grooming and a riding blanket on their back. The next phase of training will be in the round pen.
Trotting
The round pen is a circular pen that is used to train horses basic maneuvering skills. Teaching a horse how to trot and stop on command is one of the training measures conducted in the round pen. More verbal commands are taught such as turning and stopping will also have to be mastered. Teaching the horse to start, stop, turn, and back up will have to continue until the horse begins to respond to the commands. When you have achieved the results, attaching a lunge line to the halter will be the next step. A lunge rope is about 25 feet long, and you will need to wear gloves when working with the horse. This phase in the training uses the lunge line to guide the horse with a rope, along with using verbal commands.
Preparing for the saddle
The driving lessons can begin if a bond of trust exists between the horse and the trainer at this time. For the driving lessons, two 25′ foot long ropes are attached to either side of the halter. This lesson prepares the horse for following the commands of the trainer who walks behind the horse, and helps guide the animal with the ropes. When you feel comfortable with the horse complying with your commands you can fine tune the maneuvers at the much larger corral.
Saddling
It will be time to saddle the horse when you are sure how the horse will behave to your commands. You will want to saddle the horse back at the round pen. Since the horse has never been saddled, don’t be surprised if the horse resists letting you saddle it.The horse may resist you by running away from you, or bucking to avoid letting you put the saddle on. The saddling of the horse will take patience, and you will need to calm down the horse to accomplish the task. The horse will eventually realize that the saddle posses no threat to them and they will let you place the saddle on their back.
There are many horse training books that can aid you with more methods to training your new horse if you run into any problems. When you have learned how to train a horse you’ll need to learn how to deal with the everyday problems such as horse hoof problems and ways to correct it.
Jane Garth is a mom to 3 lovely kids who enjoys writing on her spare time. She writes about love and relationships, diet and weight loss and many more. She likes to bake and cook for her family.
Any prospective horse owner should know that your horse equipment is a necessity when you decide to buy a horse. Ask someone who already owns a horse and they’ll probably make it seem like owning a horse is quick and easy. Well, it can be if you start with the proper horse equipment.
First you’ll need to remember that a horse blanket is a useful item to have, not to mention a necessity should you also buy a western saddle.
Well, what’s the big deal about adding a saddle to your list of horse equipment? A saddle comes in all shapes and sizes and functions. Yes, a saddle should fit the occasion. If you only plan to pleasure ride, you won’t need a barrel racer’s saddle. If you won’t be racing your horse professionally, you won’t need a saddle fit for a horse jockey.
The proper horse equipment can make your horse like you and want to stick around or be difficult from the first day! Some horses, mind you, do have a more aggressive temperament and can be stubborn no matter how much you try to please them. They are, in this way, like some people who come to mind who are better off not mentioned! But for the most part, horse ownership can be a welcome adventure.
So can the process of getting the perfect horse equipment. Again–don’t forget the horse blanket! Horses don’t require much clothing, as anyone knows. But a horse blanket could be considered their clothing and is an essential piece to add to the list of equipment. Even little puppies like to have their own blankies! Besides the possibility of becoming a mental security blanket, the horse blanket has several more important uses, and you may even want to purchase one for yourself.
When you choose your horse equipment, or even your horse blanket, seek the aid of an experienced horseman. You may want advice from both someone who is new to the field, to avoid the same mistakes as them, and someone who has been a horse owner for several years who can share with you which pieces you’ll want to make sure are quality choices and where to find them. Even the horse blanket should be a quality piece of work.
Mentioned earlier was the necessity of buying a horse blanket for use with the western saddle. This type saddle is not padded and can be a source of discomfort for the horse when used alone. A horse blanket must be placed underneath the saddle to prevent blisters, raw patches caused by sweat and rubbing, and muscle soreness. A thoughtful rider gains better results from the animal. If you want your horse to respect you, you must respect your horse.
As there are different types and sizes of saddles, different types and sizes of blankets are available. Sometimes no blanket is necessary. Whatever the case may be, please understand the importance of having the right equipment for the right situation. The horse will thank you by way of affection and performance, not to mention good health and form.
For a free report on “How to Improve Your Riding” see Theresa’s Horse Aficianado blog at http://www.horseridingblankets.com/blog or become a fan of Horse Aficianado at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Horse-Aficianado/274542565087?ref=mf and have fun with other horse lovers.
Any prospective horse owner should know that your horse equipment is a necessity when you decide to buy a horse. Ask someone who already owns a horse and they’ll probably make it seem like owning a horse is quick and easy. Well, it can be if you start with the proper horse equipment.
First you’ll need to remember that a horse blanket is a useful item to have, not to mention a necessity should you also buy a western saddle.
Well, what’s the big deal about adding a saddle to your list of horse equipment? A saddle comes in all shapes and sizes and functions. Yes, a saddle should fit the occasion. If you only plan to pleasure ride, you won’t need a barrel racer’s saddle. If you won’t be racing your horse professionally, you won’t need a saddle fit for a horse jockey.
The proper horse equipment can make your horse like you and want to stick around or be difficult from the first day! Some horses, mind you, do have a more aggressive temperament and can be stubborn no matter how much you try to please them. They are, in this way, like some people who come to mind who are better off not mentioned! But for the most part, horse ownership can be a welcome adventure.
So can the process of getting the perfect horse equipment. Again–don’t forget the horse blanket! Horses don’t require much clothing, as anyone knows. But a horse blanket could be considered their clothing and is an essential piece to add to the list of equipment. Even little puppies like to have their own blankies! Besides the possibility of becoming a mental security blanket, the horse blanket has several more important uses, and you may even want to purchase one for yourself.
When you choose your horse equipment, or even your horse blanket, seek the aid of an experienced horseman. You may want advice from both someone who is new to the field, to avoid the same mistakes as them, and someone who has been a horse owner for several years who can share with you which pieces you’ll want to make sure are quality choices and where to find them. Even the horse blanket should be a quality piece of work.
Mentioned earlier was the necessity of buying a horse blanket for use with the western saddle. This type saddle is not padded and can be a source of discomfort for the horse when used alone. A horse blanket must be placed underneath the saddle to prevent blisters, raw patches caused by sweat and rubbing, and muscle soreness. A thoughtful rider gains better results from the animal. If you want your horse to respect you, you must respect your horse.
As there are different types and sizes of saddles, different types and sizes of blankets are available. Sometimes no blanket is necessary. Whatever the case may be, please understand the importance of having the right equipment for the right situation. The horse will thank you by way of affection and performance, not to mention good health and form.
For a free report on “How to Improve Your Riding” see Theresa’s Horse Aficianado blog at http://www.horseridingblankets.com/blog or become a fan of Horse Aficianado at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Horse-Aficianado/274542565087?ref=mf and have fun with other horse lovers.
Jun 152010
For animal lovers there is nothing more satisfying than knowing that an animal has a good home. This fact applies to wild animals and domestic animals. Domestic animals have an easier time finding families because there are people who love having these different animals as pets. One type of animal that some people want to own is that of a horse. The horse adoption process is different from that of cats or dogs.
Since these pets are small it is easy to find a good home for them. A horse on the other hand is a large creature that needs lots of space. This space is required for the horse to run and play. These are important factors that should be kept in mind when you are thinking about horse adoptions.
The best way to have a healthy and happy horse is to find a place where you can house your horse and where the horse will be in its natural habitat. Therefore you should look for horse boarding stables that have many different stables for lots of horses, paddocks where the horse can run free and employees at these places who will make sure that your horse is well cared for when you are not at the stables.
As a new owner of a horse you will have to understand what type of food is good for your new horse’s health and well being. In general horses are plant eating creatures. They prefer eating foods like fruits, sugar lumps, bran mash, carrots and other types of food. You can ask a veterinarian what foods you should buy for your horse before you begin the horse adoption.
Since horses are sociable creatures you should make sure that when you adopt a horse there will be other horses in the boarding stable premises so that when you are not present your horse has company. Sometimes the company of other horse will help settle your horse if something occurs and your horse begins to become excited.
When you are planning on a horse adoption there are many considerations that you should look into. The main item that you need to think about is if you are ready for the task of looking after a horse. Also you will need to see if you are financially capable of providing your horse with the many items that are required for a healthy and happy horse
You should think about a horse adoption only if you are prepared for the various matters that comes with being a horse owner. When you have thought about all of these and you are still sure that you want to have own a horse you may want to look at the other types of horse adoption procedures that are available.
Muna wa Wanjiru is a web administrator and has been researching and reporting on internet marketing for years. For more information on horse adoption, visit his site at HORSE ADOPTION
If you have been riding for any length of time, you will have seen it. A rider is struggling with her headstrong horse, and the coach steps up and suggests trying a stronger bit. The coach comes out with a twisted snaffle, or even a kimberwick, and soon the rider is back to work, hauling away on the poor horse’s mouth. Certainly the horse starts to listen a bit more, but it is clear that he is unhappy with his situation.
Of course, there are situations where a horse needs a stronger bit. But how do you know when it is time to upgrade, or whether instead you need to go back to square one?
Most of the time riders decide to upgrade their bit because their horse won’t listen to them. They are tired of hauling away on his face, and would rather make it easier on themselves by stepping things up a notch. Unfortunately this does not solve the problem, and soon the horse becomes dead to the new bit, and once again needs an upgrade.
If you have gotten stuck in this pattern of bit abuse, don’t despair. It can still be fixed. A hard-mouthed horse is very much the product of its rider, but given time, the problems can be retrained. You need to drop back to a mild bit, and start from square one, teaching your horse the basics of listening to your aids.
But sometimes the problem is not a lack of training, or a rider who has hard hands. Sometimes a well trained horse becomes strong in the bridle and will not listen to the rider, no matter what he is told.
In situations like this, an upgrade may be the right solution. But what kind of upgrade do you need? Sometimes the solution is not to move to a harsher bit, but to a bit that acts differently that what you have been using. Perhaps you need to catch your horse’s attention, and get his mind back on work.
If you have been riding with a snaffle, perhaps it is time to try a Pelham. In the right hands, a Pelham can be a gentle bit. Using two sets of reins, the curb can be barely touched at all, leaving the majority of the action mild. For a well trained horse with a skilled rider, a Pelham can become power steering and power brakes.
Sometimes it helps to add some leverage. Gag bits and elevator bits do just that. Both can be quite severe if abused, but with a light touch, each has its benefits.
Other horses just need a break from a bit, and do better with a hackamore. While the action is very different, hackamores offer a new way to communicate with your horse while riding.
So, if your horse is getting too wound up to listen well, despite a good track record and excellent training, try playing with a few different types of bits to see what works best. You might find that he will work well on the flat with nothing more than his usual snaffle, but needs the gag when out on a hack. Or perhaps he just won’t take that bent line without the power steering from a Pelham.
Upgrading your bit is an advanced training move, not a solution to a pulling problem. If a coach blindly suggests bitting up, consider that you just might need to do a bit more basic training first. Upgrading your bit without a solid foundation is a recipe for disaster, not a quick fix.
Lydia K Kelly is a writer for HorseClicks, classifieds of horses for sale, trailers for sale, saddles for sale, and she is a featured author at www.ArticleKing.com
