This blog is all about horse facts,horse riding and all about horses like food, health and much more.
Sunday, 20 June 2010
Hack with my fave horse!
ME horseriding on Thursday in my lesson.
Monday, 14 June 2010
How to groom a horse!!!
Horse Grooming.
Reasons for grooming.
grooming is an important part of horse care, and proper grooming is essential for horses that are used in competition or other events.
The main reasons for daily grooming include:
improved health of the skin and coat
decreases the chance of various health problems such as thrush, scratches, and other skin problems
cleans the horse, so chafing does not occur under areas of tack
gives the groom a chance to check the horse's health, such as looking for cuts, heat, swelling, lameness, a change in temperament (such as depression) which could indicate the horse is sick, and look to see if the horse has loose or missing horseshoes
helps to form a relationship between horse and handler, which can carry over to other handling duties and riding.
Some tools used for grooming.
currycomb or curry.
metal currycomb
dandy brush or hard-bristled brush
body brush or soft brush
hood pick
grooming towel
mane brush or comb
shedding blade
Sponges.
Sunday, 13 June 2010
poisonous plants for horses.
Acorns
Alder Buckthorn
Black Bryony
Black Nightshade
Box
Bracken
Broom
Buckthorn
Buttercup
Celandine - Greater
Charlock
Cherry Laurel
Chickweed
Clover
Columbine
Corncrockle
Cowbane
Cuckoo Pint
Darnel
Deadly Nightshade
Foxglove
Ground Ivy
Groundsel
Hellebore
Hemlock
Hemlock Water-Dropwort
Hemp Nettle
Henbane
Herb Paris
Horse Radish
Horsetail
Iris
Laburnum
Larkspur
Lily of the Valley
Linseed
Lupin
Marsh Marigold
Meadow Saffron
Melilot
Mercury
Monk's Hood
Oak
Pimpernel
Poppy
Potato
Privet
Ragwort
Rhubarb
Rododendron
Rush
St Johns Wort
Sorrel
Spurge
Thorn Apple
White Bryony
Woody Nightshade
Yew
Colic,lameness and minor wounds.
Lameness- When they hurt there legs they need help from you to help them nurse them better because them can't. The main signs of lameness are limping,or refusing to put the whole weight on one of there legs the sound of the hooves on the ground, the lenght of the horse's stride.
Minor wounds- Most small wounds can be dealt with on the spot and provided there is no complications these can be treated easliy.
- Firstly, stop the bleeding-a little loss of blood from a wound is ok as this is just our way of cleaning the area and most simple bleeding will stop after about twenty minute. To slow down the bleeding aply pressure directly to the wound with a sterile pad or similar material firmly on the cut.
- Then clean the wound. You must do this so that no dirt gets in the cut and causes an infection.
- Next dress the wound with something that would worl like a plasoter does on a human.
- Finally just keep the cut clean you must protect the wound.
What are the signs of a healthy horse?
You can tell a horse's health not only by looking at him and touching him, but also by observing. A healty horse will eat and drink willingly. (They don't have to drain the bucket, but they should be drinking.) If he shows no interest in what's going on around him, he may be sick.
One of the best ways to tell if a horse is sick is to remember how he acts usually (eg., how much he drinks, how energetic he is, ect.) and then compare it to how he is acting on any particular day. These are some other signs.
- your horse looks alert,with ears pricking.
- The coat is glossy and lying flat.
- The horses skin is loose and supple.
- No signs of sweating when having a rest.
- Eyes open and birght.
- That there limbs and joints don't have any swelling or heat.
- That they stand evenly on all of their 4 legs.
- Breathing at rest should be easy not noisy or laboured.
- Temperature should be 38.5c
- Eating and chewing normally.
So that's some of the things of a healthy horse/pony if some of theses things are happening to happend to your horse/pony i would get a vet check to look at your horse/pony.
Saturday, 12 June 2010
What is horse tack?
Saddle.
Buying your first horse/pony part 2.
Allow plenty of time for your search. You will learn a lot about horses and yourself in the process and find a more suitable horse in the end. In the beginning, temperament and soundness are the most important considerations. Your ideal horse might be a gelding or a mare of any breed or colour.
Six steps to horse ownership.
1.Learn and practice horse skills.
2.Decide what you are looking for
3.Line up prospects.
4.Interview potential candidates
5.Get a second opinion.
6.Arrange a trial period if possible
Decide what horse/pony you're looking for.
Next make a list of the characteristics of your ideal horse, including price. Bear in mind who will be riding and what kind of horse activities they'll be pursuing. Ask your instructor for advice. As you advance in your riding career, you'll become more specialized in your interests, but at this stage, you're probably looking for a horse you can enjoy on the trail, take some lessons on, and perhaps enter local open horse shows when you are ready.
Line up prospects.
Once you have your horse's job description and qualifications, you can start looking. Ask around about horses for sale, starting with your instructor. Check the classifieds. Read bulletin boards at tack stores and stables. Don't go to auctions. If a horse sounds promising, interview the owner on the phone. Make sure they know what kind of horse you're looking for. If the horse passes the phone test, round up a horse friend and go and have a look in person and maybe when you go see it they owner might let you have a test ride and they might ask your things too.
Interview prospective candidates.
First, does the horse look healthy and well cared for? Then remember that you're looking at temperament, training and soundness. Watch the owner catch him, groom him, tack him up and ride him. Then ride him yourself if you feel confident. If you're nervous about riding this horse, walk away. Don't expect the horse to behave any better when you own him than he does right now. For your first few months together, he'll probably be worse.
Get a second opinion.
If you like what you see, and at first you may fall in love with every horse, arrange a second visit. Take your instructor or another knowledgeable, objective horseperson with you and listen to their advice. If you decide to buy the horse, negotiate a trial period if at all possible. In any case, have a veterinarian check the horse for soundness before you hand over the check.
When you're ready for horse ownership, finding the right horse will make the difference between a long, happy relationship and frustration and possible injury. Enjoy the search, take your time and get professional advice.
Buying your first horse or pony.
The first step.
The first thing is to leaning how to ride but if you don't do riding lesson's or nothing like and you don't know how to look after them or anything not a good idea to buy a horse. If you do horse riding lesson's and know how to take care of horse then you have to think if you are ready for a horse? When you have ridden enough to feel comfortable and under control at walk, trot and canter, and to know this really is how you want to spend a good chunk of your leisure time, then is time enough to think about a horse of your own. Ask your instructor whether they think you are ready. If it’s your child or yourself who wants a horse then that's fine.Right so listen your taking lesson's and you can afford a horse but The first thing to realize is that the purchase price is only the beginning and no, your first horse is not an investment. He/she has to eat 365 days a year. He/she need a farrier to trim his/her feet every six to eight weeks, and depending on his/her feet and what kind of work he’s doing, possibly shoes which really add to the cost. He/she need deworming every couple of months, yearly innoculations, and probably annual dental care. If he gets sick or injured, you’ll have extra vet bills as well. Then you’ll need to buy tack and equipment for your horse and proper riding clothes for yourself. So its a lot to think about and the livery which is keeping the horse in a stable or a field and picking the right stables too. If your buying a horse/pony make sure that you get paper work on the horse/pony just incase something goes wrong and you need the vet the vet will nee all that infomashion and whatever stables it goes to the stables will have it too if something goes wrong when you are not there.