Dieting Tips For an Overweight Horse

Just as with humans, horses should strive to maintain an ideal weight. As is also the case with humans, it is often necessary to put your horse on a diet to drop a few unwanted pounds. The principles behind equine weight loss are the same as with human weight loss: do so healthily, slowly, steadily, and without starving.

Horses face many of the same issues we face when we are overweight. Carrying even a few extra pounds can put the horse's total health in danger, and he or she can easily become more susceptible to breathing problems, hormone imbalances, injuries, and laminitis.

Starting The Diet

The first step to starting your horse on a diet is to determine the ideal weight for your animal. This number not only gives you a goal to strive for, it will also help you to figure how much food the horse should be fed on a daily basis.

Some simple guidelines for slow and steady weight loss are as follows: If the horse is still active and getting daily exercise, you should be feeding a minimum of one and a half percent of his or her current body weight, and as much as two percent of his or her ideal body weight in hay. If the horse is not getting regular exercise, or if he or she is confined to a stall or paddock area, you should feed anywhere from one to one and a half percent of his or her ideal body weight in hay.

Make sure you do not send your horse on a crash diet. If your horse is already on a reduced hay diet and not getting any grain, yet he or she is not losing any weight it can be tempting to reduce the food even further. You need to keep from doing this, as you could be affecting the animal's metabolic rate, thus causing the horse to become resistant to the effects of insulin and become dependent upon fat stores in their bodies to feed their cells. When this happens (referred to as fat mobilization) the results can be so severe that organ damage can occur and the blood can become milky.

When you find yourself in the situation of a reduced calorie diet with little weight loss, it is important to check for underlying problems. We have all been around overweight people who claim they cannot lose weight due to a "glandular problem". While most of us think "yeah right" when we hear this statement, the truth is it really could be the reason and the same could be true for your horse!

To determine if this is the case, take a bit of time and assess your horse for the following symptoms:

• Weight gain that began right after the horse reached maturity;

• Weight gain even on a diet that would not be sufficient to hold weight on a horse of a similar size;

• A fatty or hard crest on the neck that is present even if weight is lost elsewhere on the body;

• Other abnormal patches of fat in random patterns, sometimes appearing dimpled or resembling cellulite.

Other conditions such as insulin resistance and leptin resistance can be underlying causes of weight gain as well. If you suspect your horse may have any of these problems you should seek the advice of a veterinarian before starting any type of restricted diet.

What To Feed A Fat Horse

Hay should be your number feed for a horse that is overweight. That being said, it is extremely important that you choose the proper type of hay. Hay can vary a great deal in calories and sugar content. Bright green, tender cuts of hay, such as early alfalfa can really pack on the pounds. Coarser, or "stemmier", cuts generally contain fewer calories and lower amounts of sugar. The best types of hay for weight loss include: meadow hays, prairie hays, timothy, orchard grass, and mature or late cuttings of Bermuda grass.

When trying to accomplish weight loss, grain should be omitted from your horse's diet all together. You may be thinking that all of your horse's nutrition comes from grain; however, this is simply not true. Grain can contain high amounts of fat and calories and really serves no purpose in an overweight horse's daily diet. If you find your animal is in fact suffering from a metabolic problem, it is even more critical that you avoid feeding grain.

If you simply cannot stand the thought of only feeding your horse hay, or if he or she becomes unruly because others are getting grain, try feeding a healthier alternative. Beet pulp is low in calories, about the same amount as oats per pound; however since it needs to be soaked prior to feeding it can soak up about four times its dry measure. This means you can feed a good sized portion, while only providing a small amount of calories.

A great daily diet for a full sized horse is as follows: one pound (dry weight) of beet pulp divided into two feedings, mixed with two ounces of ground stabilized flax, and two ounces of rice bran. This makes for a diet that is well balanced, provides all the necessary nutrients, and provides enough fat (in the form of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids) to keep your horse happy. Adding the hay with a suitable mineral supplement is all you need to maintain optimal health.

Benefits of Following Professional Horse Trainers' Programs

Professional Horse Trainers who have arranged a program for you to purchase and follow, are a currently displaying a very useful tool to consider in your horse career or hobby. Some of the ideas are original, but most horse training methods that we see today have been slightly altered from knowledge that has been passed on by generations of previous horse trainers and various types of horse care givers. The more recent wave of gentle handling and training actually derives from understanding the horse language itself. The study of the magnificent horse within the herd, on a very technical level, will reveal the origination of our understanding of the most useful training and handling skills that are sold to consumers by the popular program professionals. Our popular trainers of today are making these previously hidden secrets of horse language readily available and easy to understand in step by step programs that you can purchase.

Their professionalism is then individualized by their unique signature moves, or a few choice techniques that they build a training foundation from. Each professional trainer will choose a few easy to follow progressions that they believe is the foundation of horse training, or that are easy enough to follow and provide results. Now, with all of this information at our fingertips and with a reasonable amount of our own time dedicated to practicing with our horse, we have the chance to be excellent horse handlers. Due to the fact that professional handling and training programs are selling compiled information from generations of tried and tested techniques, it is a great opportunity to become familiar with the horse training programs available today.

Just like most of the other costs of owning or providing care for horses, training programs are an important investment.. The most important investment is your time with your horse, so make sure that the results of training your horse, also includes you. Many professional trainers will present us with a miracle result in their presentation, in order to Wow you into buying their program. In order to actually get amazing results that you can use, it is important to stay involved and be the handler so that you and the horse can practice the skills safely. Above all, do not send your horse away to the trainer, and expect everything to be done without your involvement. Some professional horse training packages will offer particular horse tack that is recommended with their program, a monthly subscription to their magazine or newsletter, and an incentive to buy the next skill level or progression, or even feed supplements. Before getting too far into debt with all the 'stuff' you will be offered, most professional trainers will now have something available online to show their style of training and what you and your horses might get out of the program. A little homework before you buy, will give you the chance to make a choice according to what is offered for the money. Eventually, you may settle on a favorite trainer, techniques or program that you would like to use. This opportunity can be a great experience and offer a group setting or network of students, so that you are not alone in the training adventure with your horse.

Hauling Your Horse - Safety and Caution Must Come First

Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of your first horse. It's time to either move your new responsibility to a boarding stable or to your own farm. There are many horsemen who will haul your horse for a reasonable price. However, although they may be slightly higher in price, there are also many hauling companies nationwide that usually have very large horse vans that may be better equipped to move your new family member. Either way, the best advice would be to spend a little more money for a reputable hauler as they usually provide very experienced drivers.

If you are looking to purchase your own trailer for hauling, you have many companies to choose from as well as many different types. There are two, three, four and six horse trailers and so on. You can get the standard trailer with horses walking straight into the trailer, or slant trailers where the horses are loaded on a slant, or vans that the horses can walk up into and are backed into the stall, and basically they are facing each other as they travel. Keep in mind that hauling this animal is probably the most unnatural thing you will do with your horse. If you find that your horse is not good with hauling, then you must approach this problem carefully. Having a trailer with a ramp instead of a step up trailer is to your advantage in this situation. Some horses love to go for a ride, and of course, some don't. Some horses will, with patience and a small amount of encouragement, enter a trailer fairly quickly. Some horses will be reluctant to leave their environment and their friends and will be much more difficult and sometimes become quite angry. In these cases, make sure you have an experienced horse person to help you. Sometimes it may be necessary to load another horse, who does not mind getting onto a trailer, temporarily, in order to convince the stubborn horse that it is alright to go on. As soon as the reluctant horse goes onto the trailer, you will have to unload the decoy horse quickly, lock and secure the ramps and doors immediately, and start on your way. Leaving a horse or horses standing in a trailer for more than a minute or two can be asking for trouble, especially with a horse who did not want to leave in the first place. This time frame goes both ways for getting them into the trailer, and getting them off as quickly as possible.

Some horses are claustrophobic and will be much more willing to load on a larger van. If you cannot get your horse loaded on a smaller type trailer, you may have to postpone your move to another day and consider a larger van as an option. Keeping in mind that a horse's body temperature is higher than ours, normally between 101 degrees to 102 degrees, as horses will start to sweat quickly once placed in the trailer. As you move off, the air passing through the open windows in the trailer will help to keep them cool. It is a good practice to put shipping bandages on your horse, but by an experienced horse person, as bandages too tight or too loose are dangerous. Learning to bandage the legs of a horse is fairly simple and with practice, under experienced instruction, can become an easy task.

Driving a trailer or van is a very big responsibility, not just because of the equipment being used, but also for the precious cargo that is depending on you to get them to their destination safely. TAKE YOUR TIME. Going too fast and having to stop suddenly could be a disaster. Going too fast around the turns can cause the horse to be thrown around in the trailer and step on themselves causing injury to their legs or coronet bands, especially if they have shoes on or if their legs are not protected by shipping bandages. You always want each and every hauling experience to be a pleasant one. Also, make sure you have quality hay for them to munch on during their journey, either in a hanging hay rack or the hay sacks provided in the trailer. If you and your horse are about to head out on a long journey, make sure you have a water bucket and a large amount of water in a container so you can offer your horse water at stops every few hours. Remember, dehydration can be deadly.

In the future, I will be coming back to articulate on different aspects of hauling vehicles and problem horses that refuse to load. Patience and understanding is priority when transporting horses.

Buying a Horse - Making the Dream Come True

Purchasing a horse can truly be "a dream come true."

Many folks love the idea of owning their own horse. Often, that is as far as it goes. Life's situations, finances, conflicts and limitations, can mean that the dream of owning your own horse stays just that, a dream. If that is what will best fit into your life, I suggest that you be satisfied with that reality, at least for the time being. Trying to make this dream a reality, in a life where it does not fit, will often cause real problems. Perhaps down the line, life's situations for you will change.

Some people are fortunate and life presents a situation where, fulfilling the dream of owning your own horse is feasible and you decide to take action. The purpose of this article is, to help those of you who decide to move forward with the purchase of your own horse and make the dream come true a happy event and not a nightmare.

On our web site we help folks develop strategies to save money on horse care and how to generate an additional income stream to help people afford their horses, without putting their regular finances at risk. We hope this information will prove helpful to you. Before you go out and start looking at prospective horses to buy, there are several items you need to consider.

Define what you want to do with your horse.
I recommend that you decide what activities or disciplines, would you like to pursue? Do you just want an equine friend that you can look at or visit in the pasture? Do you want to trail ride? Would you enjoy participating in local competitions or do you have the goal of competing at a higher level?

What discipline do you want to participate in?
Does competing in Pleasure Classes meet your goals? Do you thrive on the excitement and speed of Barrel Racing? Do you dream of clearing an Oxer in a Jumping Course? Is Reining, Dressage or Endurance Riding what you really enjoy?

I recommend you spend some time taking some lessons and trying different disciplines, if you are unsure as to the direction your horse journey will take. Although some horses are multi talented and can perform in a variety of disciplines, others horses are more suited to specific activities and although they could be used in another discipline, they are not suited to excel at it. Therefore it is to your advantage to have a pretty good idea as to what you want to do with your horse before you go out and buy one.

Where are you going to keep your horse?
You have two initial options. Do you want to, and do you have the land to keep your horse on your property or will you keep him somewhere else?

If you have the land to keep your horse on your own property, you have a number of decisions to make. What kind of fencing currently exists and is it safe? If you do not have current safe fencing, what kind will you use and who will install it? What will the cost of that be? Do you have a barn/stable? If not, will you build one? Will a run in shed meet your needs and those of your horses? Where will you store feed, hay, tack and other horse related supplies? Do you have an adequate water supply? What will you do with manure and soiled bedding? What will the cost be to prepare your place for your horse? Where will you purchase, hay, feed, bedding and at what cost?

If you will board your horse you have a lot to consider:
How far away is a reasonable distance to keep your horse from your home? At first consideration a certain commute might seam reasonable, until you have done it for a while and then, going to see or ride your horse can become a chore.

Do you have a horse friend who has property and room for your horse? If so will their facility meet your needs? If you chose this option, make sure you have a clear understanding with the property owner as to financial and other responsibilities. Always better, as the boarder, to try to do a little extra and make sure the property owner knows you appreciate the opportunity given you. Do not make them wish they did not let you bring your horse on their property. You also do not want to lose a friendship over horse issues.

If you board at a stable
What characters are important to you at a boarding facility? Certainly you want to look for safe stalls and fencing. Are basic accommodations satisfactory to you, or do you want something nicer? Do you look for an enclosed arena to ride in. What about an indoor riding arena or access to trails? What is their feeding policy? How often are stalls cleaned? What are the pastures like and when are the horses turned out? Is pasture board available? What kind of folks board at the facility? What kind of riding activities do they participate in? Are there a lot of kids there? What are the owners, managers and employees like? Is a Trainer or Instructor available on site? What is the cost of the board? Is the facility run safely? Is this a place you will feel comfortable? There are many wonderful facilities out there and many others that you will not be comfortable at. Take your time to decide and visit each option a few times.

Once you have decided where you will keep your horse, line up an Equine Vet and a Ferrier. You may want to consider using ones that other boarders recommend or that a neighbor has had good experiences with.

What can you afford?
The cost of purchasing a horse can range from free to many thousands of dollars. You should do your homework and see what the price range and value in your area is. You will normally pay more for a better trained horse, one that is registered, one from successful breading lines, one that has been campaigned successfully or one that is an appealing color. Decide what attributes are important to you. Take your time.

The purchase of your horse is only the beginning of the financial challenges of owning a horse. Beyond that there is, the ongoing costs of hay, feed, bedding, barn maintenance or board at a stable. Then add to that tack, Vet bills, Ferrier bills, supplements you chose to use, trailer and truck if you chose to purchase them. Training for your horse or lessons for you might be needed. Cost of going to competitions and other equine events if you chose to participate in them. Make sure you have the funds available to meet these needs. We have compiled an extensive list of cost saving tips through our web site. These may help you keep your horse expenses at a reasonable level.

Define what your horse skill and knowledge levels are.
We all start the development of our horsemanship skills and knowledge where we are today. We have all had different backgrounds and experiences. You are encouraged to take an honest evaluation of your horsemanship skills and abilities. Where you are in your horsemanship journey should influence what horse you purchase. You should match your horse to your abilities. If you are new to horses and do not have advanced skills, you would be well served to select a horse with significant experience. One that is well trained and can help you learn and develop your horsemanship skills.

Have a Vet perform a pre-purchase exam and ask for a week trial period.
It is a very good investment to have an Equine Vet examine the horse you are looking to purchase. You can do this before you bring the horse home or you can ask for a week trial period and have your Vet perform the exam at your place during that week. This is a real good idea and will work well if you live near the seller. You do not want to purchase the horse and get him home only to then discover a problem that you did not know existed.

Where do you look to find your horse?
There are a lot of places where you can look to find the horse you are going to purchase. Equine Vets, Ferriers, Trainers, Instructors and other knowledgeable horse people are good to touch base with. There is an informal network of horse people in most areas the can really help you find the right horse if you take your time. Feed Stores and Tack Shops normally allow flyers noting horses for sale. Check their postings frequently. There are many sites on the internet that allow folks to advertise horses for sale.

Buyer Beware!
There are many very honest folks out there and I have had the fortune to have met many of them. On the other hand, there are others who are not so honest. I have met my share of those as well. Hopefully the seller you are dealing with honestly portrays the horse you are interested in. To help safeguard your purchase, I advise making multiple visits to see and evaluate the horse. See him at different times of the day. If you are able to show up without advanced notice, that would be helpful. As noted above, having an Equine Vet evaluate the horse and a week trial would be a real good safeguard

If the horse is portrayed as being well trained, ask for the owner or someone else to show you how the horse performs and then ask to ride the horse yourself if you feel comfortable with this. It is not recommended that folks new to horses purchase a horse at an auction. It can be very hard, even for experienced horse people to be sure of what they are buying at auction. New horse owners should also avoid purchasing a stallion. These animals require experienced handling and specific living accommodations.

By all means, take your time in the buying process. Educate yourself, evaluate the criteria noted above. Make sure you are comfortable with your purchase. Make sure you have the financial resources to not put the rest of your financial life in jeopardy. It is a really good idea to seek the help and guidance of an experience horse person. They can make a big difference as you try to sort this all out.

Visit our website for cost saving tips and a proven system to generate additional income that can fund your horse journey.

I truly wish your dream of owning your own horse comes true in a very satisfying way.

Achalteku zirgas is zirgyno salia Ashabado

Achaltekai -- jojamųjų arklių veislė. Viena seniausių pasaulyje.

Diesel- My Barrel Horse

Sorry about the shaky (sp?) video... My mom was videoing. Anyways... This is me and my horse Diesel!! Critiques are welcome :)

Attention Disclaimer- I do not own the music played with this video and I have no intention to make a profit off of this video

Gnocchi and Me, our second voyage ever since training

This is the second day of riding, having only been on him ten minutes the previous day. He loses some collection when I get him into a trot, but that's probably partially my fault as well.

Oh So at Rubicon Horse Trials 2010

Rubicon HT June 2010, training level. 33.2 in dressage, only 1.2 time penalties. We ended up 2nd by one point!

Horse Training Tips with Larry Trocha

Reining and cutting horse trainer, Larry Trocha demonstrates a training session with a horse he has for sale.

The horse's name is Miss Dualin Dulcey.

This 2006 AQHA filly is drop-dead gorgeous, has had a year of training (8 months on cattle) and is really well bred.

Her sire is Mister Dual Pep (one of the nations leading cutting & reining sires, $4000 stud fee).

Her dam is Dulcey Jo (NCHA money earner by Dulces Peppy).

This filly is 100% sound and the price is dirt-cheap, only $3500.

If you'd like to purchase this filly, contact Larry Trocha.
707-480-0507 between 7am and 7pm Pacific Time.

website: http://www.horsetrainingvideos.com/

Clicker Training a Horse to accept Fly Spray

Showing how to use targeting and clicker training to train a horse to stand still for flyspray.

Horse Care & Buying Tips : How to Groom a Horse

In order to groom a horse, start with a curtain comb and use it in a circular motion before switching to a soft brush. Groom a horse by starting off softly and avoiding sensitive areas with tips from an equestrian coach in this free video on horse care.

Expert: Mara Keith-Hunter
Contact: www.sycamore-stables.com
Bio: Mara Keith-Hunter is a lifelong equestrian and head coach for the Hampshire College equestrian team.
Filmmaker: David Pakman

hunter jumper horse jumping

This a video tribute to my awesome horse Breyer who was my 2nd horse but my 1st hunter/jumper. I owned him for a little over two years and we learned so much together. When we went to try him out and ride him he was in training to be a jumper. We first started out with eventing but I soon decided that wasn't the sport for me...after a lot of dedication and hard work we trained him to be a wonderful hunter and eq horse. Breyer took me all the way from being a beginning and timid jumper to jumping 3'8" at home and 3' at the shows. We won a lot championships and had lots of fun together. Then I sold him in Summer 2007... and I miss him all the time... but he has a great new home where I'm sure he will be very happy and successful!

Is Your Horse an Idiot Or Simply a Misunderstood Temperament Type?

"This horse is an idiot!"

I can't tell you how many times I have heard this statement about an equine only to find that when I handled the animal he gave me no trouble. To this unexpected good behavior, the owner usually says, "He must really like you!"

Well, I don't think horses particularly like me better than any other person, but because I understand horse temperament typing, I have learned how to appreciate all horses, no matter what temperament. I treat them according to their temperament, and they return the favor with good behavior.

When I work on a horse, I try not to have unrealistic expectations. For instance, I don't expect the competitive Wood equine to act like milk-toast, or look for the sensitive Fire horse to tolerate high levels of pain. Owners or trainers with unrealistic expectations cause many horses to be inappropriately handled and labeled.

Horse Behavior With and Without Temperament Tying

If you don't know a horse's Five-Element temperament type, you won't know how to approach him to get the best performance or behavior from him. But once you know his type, you can treat him in a way that causes him to respond positively. It can make a world of difference!

Here are some examples of descriptions of the same horse without and with an appreciation of horse temperament typing:

"This horse is a lazy dink!" versus "This is a nice, gentle Earth horse temperament who would be perfect for a beginner."

"This horse is crazy..." versus "This is an expressive Water horse temperament with lots of brilliance and animation in the show ring."

"This horse is a witch!" versus "This is a sensitive Fire horse temperament mare who loves to perform but can't handle being in pain."

"This horse is stupid..." versus "I love this Metal horse temperament. He always performs perfectly once he learns a task."

"This horse has a terrible attitude!" versus "This Wood horse temperament hates to be bored but loves to learn new things and take on challenging obstacles."

Do you see how one equine could easily be misunderstood by one person and yet be perfect for another? It all depends on whether you know his temperament type.

Five-Element Temperament Type Resources

Want to know more about the Five-Element temperament typing system?

Want to type you or your horse at no cost? Check out these resources below.

Madalyn Ward, DVM, is a recognized author and veterinarian in the field of holistic horsekeeping. For free tips on horse health, horse personality types, and horse nutrition, plus one-stop shopping on holistic horse products, visit http://www.BuyHolisticHorse.com.

Pet Wormers Are the Cure

Are you a Horse Lover? If you are,how do you take care of your horses? What are the precautions that you provide for your pets to prevent infections and diseases? When I first heard of Pet Wormers I do not have any idea with regards to its meaning or features that it offers but as I digest the importance of Pet Wormers to the healthcare of my horses I begun to panic and think for there safety. These are medications for your pet and often cost just as much or even more than a prescription for a person. Pets can not normally take over the counter medications like people do. Most vets stock the medicines your pet may need but there are places to get them cheaper. Are you aware that Pet wormers are the obvious cure? Pet wormers will make your horses live longer against parasitic worms.
I am fond of breeding quality horses at my farm and most of the time I encountered situations wherein I lost hope because of the spread out various diseases that affect my horses and caused them great weight loss, poor performance as well as contributing to colic and general debilitation. In this situation regular worming is strongly recommended throughout the grazing season. One of the major infestation that I have encountered with my horses are the roundworms for they live in the small intestine and grow to the thickness of a pencil and 20 to 25 centimeter long. They cause illness mainly in foals, mares are the main source of infection for foals. The Foals with heavy burdens will become an thrifty, weak and depressed and occasionally, obstructions and bowel ruptures will occur. Usually when these things happen we are quite dependent to our veterinarian but to tell you frankly Pet Wormers are the obvious cure for that.
Lice can be a problem also, especially in stabled horses during the winter time. Horses occasionally get lice, and as horse breeder I need to know what to look for and how to treat these irritating parasites. Lice are insects that can be seen with the naked eye. They are very host-specific and do not tend to leave their preferred animal. As what I have noticed my horses have scruffy, dry hair coat and hair loss occurs severely. In very heavy infestations of blood-sucking lice (biting), one may detect anemia in your animals and diagnosis can usually be accomplished with the naked eye. Pet wormers are the obvious cure for that problem it fights skin irritation, self mutilation and loss of condition of your animals. Pet Wormers cures my horses that are in poor condition due to susceptible effects of lice. Pet Wormers fights roundworms, tapeworms and even encysted larvae to ensure you that your animals are in good hands and great condition. Just follow the worming programmers that are used alternatively to minimize the risk of worm damage and the development of resistant worm populations.

Horse Temperament Typing - Why Bother With It?

Have you ever marveled at how a good, professional horse trainer can get your equine to do all the things he will not do for you. Not only that, but they make it look so easy. It's maddening. Most professionals don't spend much time with horse temperament typing so we should we?
Well, even though a good, professional trainer may not have studied Five-Element typing they instinctively read equines and type them. A talented, professional trainer has worked with hundreds if not thousands of different horses. Relationship with individual horses is not so important because the equine understands what he is supposed to do and he gets consistent feedback from the professional trainer.
Amateur Owners and Temperament Typing
You and I, on the other hand, have our few horses to learn from and with. We will make lots of mistakes and without a strong relationship with our horse misunderstandings came escalate quickly to divorce proceedings!
Here are some tips for making up for our mistakes with each horse temperament type so we can stay in the relationship long enough to make progress in training:
The Fire Horse
The Fire horse temperament is all about relationship so spend lots of time grooming and hanging out with him. Never speak harsh words to a Fire horse even when they are behaving incorrectly. Keep asking for the desired behavior and praise even slight efforts.
The Earth Horse
The Earth horse temperament is all about food. He lacks ambition so you may need to get strong in your demands for extra effort. Once your horse has put forth some energy to do what you ask let him rest and take him to graze. He will look forward to this reward.
The Metal Horse
The Metal horse temperament will not work for someone he does not respect. You gain his respect by breaking down his lessons into steps he can master before moving on to the next lesson. The Metal horse learns slowly but never forgets something once it is learned. Use this to build his confidence through repetition. You may get bored but your Metal horse will respect you for staying with him until he is ready to move on.
The Water Horse
The Water horse temperament has to have trust. He will sense the confidence of a good, professional horse trainer but feed off any fear coming from an amateur. Never put your Water horse temperament to a fearful situation unless you have total control and can support him.
An example would be working at home with lots of obstacles and set up "scary" events to teach him to respond rather than react. Building his trust in you in his home area will prepare him for new environments. Go slowly with the Water horse temperament not because they learn slowly but to teach them to learn rather than react.
The Wood Horse
Last but not least, the Wood horse is often the most challenging for the amateur horse trainer. The reason, the Wood horse temperament wants to be challenged. Most amateurs don't have the skill level to keep the training interesting enough so the Wood horse temperament doesn't get bored. A bored Wood horse can progress from annoying behavior to downright dangerous. Never fight with this type horse because that is what they want. Instead, redirect their energy and make bad behavior uncomfortable so they choose good behavior themselves.
So, if you are a good, professional horse trainer you can enhance your current skills by learning horse temperament typing. If you are an amateur you can make up for your lack of experience as a horse trainer by building a solid relationship with your horse.

Steps in Grooming a Horse

Grooming horses is very important to a horse's health. Grooming promotes muscle tone and circulation. Just like us humans need a good rub and groom once in a while - it's the same for animals. You know that when you pet a friendly dog - they look up to you with those eyes and they just fall in love with you, well again, it's the same for horses. Grooming strengthens the bond between the horse and it's owner and also allows the owner to look over the horse to see if it has any injuries and such. Of course, the main reason one would groom a horse would be to basically make it look purty of course!!
The equipment you need to groom a horse are:
1) hoof pick
2) dandy brush
3) rubber curry comb - to clean the dandy brush after use
4) plastic curry comb
5) body Brush
6) metal curry comb
7) 2 used cold tea bags (optional)
8) stable rubber / tea towel
9) strapping pad
10) water brush
11) clean sponges
12) tale bandage
13) mane and tale conditioner
14) Hoof oil and a brush
Seems like a lot huh - well if done right, it should take you approximately 45 minutes to groom a horse correctly!
The first step is to start cleaning the hooves with the hoof pick. First tie up the horse outside and if the horse is fussy, give him a hay net to play with to distract him. Make sure you clean the hoof from heal to toe.
Next, take the dandy brush to remove any dirt on your horse. It's best to start at the neck and go down the body then down the legs.
Next, remove hair and promote circulation with the rubber curry comb. This is the part of the grooming that promotes circulation - your horse will be very happy when you are doing this!! Avoid the legs during this stage.
Next remove dirt with body brush and metal curry comb. Be firm during this act. Hold the metal curry comb in the other hand and scrape the dirt off so that you can continue cleaning the horse.
Next is the head - remove the head collar and hold the head with the hand you are not going to be grooming with. Use the body brush to clean the head.
Next brush the mane with either your fingers or the body brush. Go here to see some natural products to promote a shiny horse coat and mane. Keeping horses healthy the natural way is always best!!
Don't forget the tale, horse lovers!! Spray some condition and brush that pony tale, pardon the pun!! *** Be careful not to stand directly behind the horse in case the horse kicks**!!
Next, grab the dampened sponge and wipe around the eyes and nose of the horse. Use the tea bag to wipe down the eyes as well, but this is optional.
Next, (this will won't be your favorite part) - but take a different wet sponge and wipe around the horse's bottom area. told you you wouldn't like it! LOL!!
The tale bandage gets wrapped around the tail for a neater appearance when it is removed.
Use the strapping pad to strap the horse. This is a skilled process which I will discuss in later articles. Only if you feel comfortable, this is the time to strap the horse.
Lastly, take a damp towel and wipe down your horse. This will make your horse feel refreshed for sure!!
Actually, one more step - and that is to grease both the inside and outside of the hooves with oil.
That's it. Now you are happy that you have a clean horse and your horse is happy because he just got done with a massage!!

Debbie Drum - The All Natural Pet Helper

For Natural Horse Health.

Horse Training Tips - 3 Minute Guide to Training Your Horse

Many people do not know that a horse can be a best friend, almost just as much as domestic dogs. Horses are rather obedient and usually pretty friendly if you they're trained correctly. Still, horses can't be perfect all the time and sometimes their bad behavior can lead to dangerous situations if the horse if left untrained.
For some, training a horse might be a good hobby, but a trainer will benefit financially as well. There are many people willing to spend large amounts of money to have trainers care for their horses. If you can't pay a trainer for their services, then this article is for you.
For starters, you will need to proclaim yourself as the leader. You must be strict, to a certain extent, about discipline. If your it's not paying attention to you, you need to command the horse gently, but firmly, and retrain their focus on you. One way to do this when training a horse is to bump them with the rope to keep their attention on you and your commands.
Your first commands should only be single words until you start getting the right reactions. Be firm and clear when you speak your commands. Repeat yourself as much as possible until the command is clearly being understood.
You also need to concentrate on building companionship with your horse. This won't always be easy, but you're going to have to try your best. Some good ways to do this are brushing or touching your horses mane, talking to it, or patting the horse on the back. You want to build a trusting relationship with the horse.
When training a horse you should make sure the horse is relaxed, and always remember you should never hit your horse no matter how bad their behavior is. You can tell a horse is relaxed when it has it's head down. IF something alerts the horse, it will hold it's head high up to determine if they're being threatened.
The best way to keep a horse relaxed is to just talk to your horse and try to get it to be calm while your are training your horse.

Training a horse is not just a hobby, it can be very expensive to hire a trainer. However, you can train your horse on your own, you just need the know how and guidance.

Clydesdale Horses

This variety or breed of horse has been developed in between 18th to 19th century in Scotland. These Clydesdale horses reached to Canada first with the Scottish people who started to reside there. This animal possesses some specific characteristics which make it different from the other horses.
Features and Characteristics:
The Clydesdale possesses large hooves and marvelous legs feathers. The majority of the Clydesdale horses possesses different colors of the body with white face and legs. The colors of Clydesdale would be black, brown and bay with roan markings and spots. Some of them also possess white stocking legs and hard colors. Clydesdale is primarily developed for agriculture and business purposes, however; now-a-days it is used for riding, driving and sports. One of the important features of Clydesdale is the long silky hair that grows up to the back of each leg. These hairs not only give the beauty to the horse but also provide safety.
Requirements of horses:
The food requirement of this horse is surprisingly less as compared to the other horses having same build and body. They are huge although but their nutritional requirement is not too much. Therefore feeding the Clydesdale horse is much easier.
Uses and Benefits:
This horse is a marvelous variety of horses which is used for multiple purposes now-a-days. These horses are used for commercial purposes, like to advertise the brewing houses and on the farms for agriculture.
Diseases and Illnesses:
There are few diseases that can be acquired by Clydesdale horse, like itch on the skin near feathers and the sun burns due to fair white colors near eyes. These problems should be addressed promptly. Although the Clydesdale horse is a stronger one but still it needs care for more performance and use.
Conclusion:
Among different types of horses, Clydesdale horse possesses a reputable position due to their beauty and type of work that could be obtained from it.

Nuno Ricardo
http://www.horsestall.org/artigos/clydesdale-horse

Horse Clicker Training - Bribery or Reinforcer?

When are you going to stop bribing that horse with treats?
With my treat pouches packed full of low calorie treats, and usually a few tasty mints as well, I head out to the barn to play with the horses. My horses see the full pouches and recognise their cue that it's training time. They are already eager to show me what new things they want to offer today. Am I bribing them to perform for me, or are they working because they enjoy the learning the process (the mental stimulation)?
A few years ago a horse clicker trainer, whom I hold in very high regard, said to me; 'go to people for opinions and the horses for answers'. That sounded so innocent and simple to me at the time and as time has gone by, and as I hear her say it more often and in more situations, it has turned in to a bigger and bigger concept to me. So what did she mean?
Each of us will interpret her statement slightly differently, what it meant to me was; we can surmise what the horse thinks of something, we think we can see if they are happy or not and we can make educated guesses about what it is in a new movement they might be struggling with however, only the horse can tell us what they really think of what we bring to them. So when I arrive at the barn with my treat pouches and my horse comes over to stand with me and offers me behaviours that have earned him treats in the past, I have to wonder if he is staying with me because I have treats or because he is enjoying the learning he is doing. Horse, do you think I bring you good things; do you enjoy spending time with me?
When the horses see me arrive and come trotting up the field, or when they are in the middle of eating dinner and they chooses to leave dinner to come and play with me to earn treats (that are not nearly as tasty as dinner!), or they work in collection at liberty right next to me as I walk casually, are they telling me they are enjoying the process or not. They could leave if they wanted, but they choose to stay. If they weren't enjoying what I bring to them, they would not leave their dinner (free food) to come and work to earn treats from me.
Who owns the behaviour?
A really interesting phenomenon has come out of the clicker training process that is sometimes a hard concept to grasp. However, it is what makes clicker training unique for me; the horses own the behaviours they learn. Let me see if I can explain what I mean.
If I were to bribe the horse, I own the behaviour and there is no learning going on with the horse. Will the horse perform that behaviour again? Not when they are bribed. If they have been reinforced for the behaviour (given a reward for doing the behaviour) then they are more likely to repeat the behaviour again.
When I watch traditionally trained horses I don't see them use the movements and the behaviours they have been taught any other time than when the handler or rider is asking for them. Is this because they are not going through the learning process to understand how the behaviour was put together?
With clicker training, I break things down into small pieces. I reward approximations towards the end goal that I want, so the horse is learning the process of how to get to the end goal. They are learning how to problem solve. It's a bit like setting a math challenge for a child. We could set them the task of 1473 x 381. Will they get the right answer? If this is the first time they have encountered this sort of problem, without some guidance through the calculation process they will never get the right answer. However, if we teach them the process of problem solving for math equations they will not only be able to solve this problem themselves, but they also have the math problem solving tools to apply to other equations as well.
What we do with clicker training is teach the horses the process of problem solving. One of my horses is taught to work in collection at liberty. I only had to teach this at walk, he used his problem solving abilities to apply this behaviour to his trot and canter as well. "Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime", simply this means; provide him with the problem solving tools rather than just giving him the right answer.
As a result of understanding the process, I see some spectacular things from clicker trained horses. They practice the behaviours I have taught them, on their own, when they think no-one is watching! What!? It's hard to believe, but true. My favourite example of this was when I bought a new field-shelter. It is one of the arch style ones that have a plastic cover over it that can make quite a bit of noise in the wind. So I had to teach the horse about this new shelter and how to use it.
We built this up slowly and in approximations to the point where we could walk in to the shelter, stop, the horse would touch the side wall with his nose and we would walk out the other side. It only took us about 20 mins to get to this point, but I needed to re-stock my treats. I went back to the barn and left the horses out in the field and re-stocked my treat pouches. When I came back out, my jaw dropped as I saw my stallion on his own, no-one there (just his field-mates), walk through the field-shelter, stop, touch the side wall with his nose and walk out the other end. Coincidence? No! He walked right back round and repeated it again!
This is what I mean by; clicker trained animals own the behaviour. They understand the process, the meaning, how to apply it, they make it their own.
Karen Pryor tells a wonderful story of a pod of dolphins that some researchers came across. They saw a number of the dolphins perform a behaviour that was never seen in the wild before. So they researched this. They discovered that this was a behaviour that was taught in captivity for displays, so how did a pod of wild dolphins learn this? It turns out that one of the male dolphins had been released from an aquarium, he had been taught the behaviour as part of a show he used to do. When he teamed up with his new wild family he taught them this fun behaviour; he owned that behaviour well enough to not only perform it without guidance, but to teach it to others as well. Amazing!

Still think clicker training is bribery?

The S.M.A.A.R.T. Horse Company Limited - http://www.smaarthorses.co.uk

Work Smarter - Tips to Decrease Horse Stall Maintenance Time

Anyone who has horses knows that cleaning stalls takes the longest out of any barn chore to complete. Are you looking to cut down your hours of cleaning and increase your quality time with your pet? Here are a few tips to decrease horse stall maintenance time!
Set your box up to where it is most convenient to keep disinfected. One of the best ways to do this is to install rubber mats. This is great whether you have a concrete or dirt or clay base. A mat is porous, provides great traction, is durable, and really cuts down on the labor involved in going through stalls. They are also great for your horse's legs if he is in a lot, and is extremely cost-effective.
Your choice of bedding is also important. Certain materials are more likely to soak up urine and are more simple to pick through. For instance, shavings are great because they absorb wetness well, but are still easy to sift through. Pellets and sawdust are both also good choices in terms of making the area easier to keep maintained while also doing its job well for your equine.
Obviously when you go into your facility to do chores, you want it to go by quickly. This means having the right tools as much as having the right stall design! Use picks that have the prongs spaced out properly for the type of horses you have. Pony-sized picks are available so you can grab their smaller-sized poop with ease! Have lightweight wheelbarrows that are easier to maneuver. If you use muck tubs, buy a cart for them so you can get them around easier. The smallest things add up in determining how long you are working!
Keeping a box sanitary is also extremely important to your equine friend's health. Standing in a built-up space can have very adverse effects. Respiratory, leg, and skin problems can arise quickly. In addition, it becomes a breeding ground for both flies and mosquitoes. Definitely something you want to avoid!
One of the biggest detriments to not keeping a proper sanitized area is the increased likelihood of thrush in your horses! This is a terrible fungal infection that eats away at the foot, and it is caused by too much trapped moisture. It creates a horrible stench and is very uncomfortable for your mount. If left untreated, you could be looking at a lame animal. Avoid this altogether by keeping his stall clean. Use the tips mentioned to cut down on your effort spent doing that, this way you are more likely to do it right!
Finally, employing some of this knowledge to your barn will save you a lot in the end. You are looking at less cost to maintain. It can drastically lessen either your own time and effort or that of your hired labor, which also puts more money back in your pocket! After all, in the horse world, extra cash is never bad!
There you go! Start using a few of these tips to decrease horse stall maintenance time today! Spend less time working and more time riding!

A reliable source of high-quality rubber mats is a great investment to make. Stall mats can not only help your horses' health, but rubber mats are also more convenient in terms of maintenance.

Horse Ulcers - Nutrition For Horses Who Have Had Ulcers in the Past

Horse health care is one thing. Caring for a horse who has a history of ulcers is something else altogether. Owners of horses who have had ulcers in the past are super-sensitive to any signs of possible new ulcers forming, whether it be a horse leaving his feed or experiencing a mild colic.
These owners all want to know: "What should I do if I think my horse is possibly developing another ulcer?"
Luckily, the answer is simple and cost-effective:
Prevention
Treating Possible Horse Ulcers with Prevention
Once a horse has fully recovered from an ulcer, the best way to prevent the formation of new ulcers is to put him on a nutritional maintenance program that will keep him healthy.
The simplest and most effective nutritional supplement I have found to keep ulcer-prone horses healthy is the Essentials from Simplexity Health. The Essentials are convenient daily packs of supplements that include:
· 2 forms of blue-green algae (with and without the cell wall)
· acidophilus
· bifidus
· enzymes
When fed on a daily basis, this balanced mix of supplements keeps a horse's gut healthy. The probiotics (acidophilus and bifidus) keep the population of "good bacteria," or gut flora, in the horse's small and large intestines flourishing. This is important because healthy gut flora prevents foreign invaders from taking over and causing ulcers. Probiotics also play a big role in healthy digestion.
The enzymes also play a crucial role in digestion, especially for horses who have trouble assimilating nutrients or have inherently poor digestion. Finally, the two forms of blue-green algae provide a nutrient-dense supply of vitamins, minerals, and trace minerals. These nutrients help to heal horse ulcers as soon as they start to form.
In short, the Essentials provide your horse's body with everything it needs to maintain a healthy gut, and repair any ulcers that may begin to form. For maintenance, I recommend 1-2 packets of Simplexity Essentials daily, depending on the horse's temperament.
Preventing Horse Ulcers When a Horse is Stressed
Feeding the Simplexity Essentials is an excellent way to prevent horse ulcers when a horse is in his normal routine. However, if a horse with a history of ulcers is going to be stressed, I recommend feeding additional supplements to prevent the formation of new ulcers.
Horses can be stressed by any number of factors, including travel, horse shows, heavy training, a new environment, or an abrupt change in weather. As a horse owner, you know best which factors stress your horse. If you know that you horse is going to be stressed, you can prevent him from developing new ulcers by supplementing his feed with ulcer-preventive substances beforehand.
For instance, if you know that your horse is stressed by long trips, in addition to feeding the Essentials, you might add green clay, Stomach Soother, SUCCEED, or KLPP and UF to his diet a day or two before you leave. The key is to feed him whatever nutritional supplement helped him heal from his original ulcer.
Depending on what kind of ulcers your horse is prone to, the supplement of choice could range from slippery elm and aloe to green clay or Stomach Soother. Not all horse ulcers are the same, so they can't all be treated the same way.
Treating Different Types of Horse Ulcers
Because you know your horse best, you know which kinds of ulcers he is most prone to and what supplements work best for him. Keep these supplements on hand to feed before you stress him, or at the first sign of a newly developing ulcer. If, for example, your horse has a mild colic because of a weather change, and he responds well to Stomach Soother, add that to his diet for a few days until his symptoms subside. When paired with the Essentials, the Stomach Soother will prevent the formation of new ulcers... and save you a big vet bill in the process.
Prevention Really is the Best Medicine
I've compared case studies of horse ulcers treated with conventional medicine and holistic care. Over and over again, I see that the horses who are treated with holistic care, which focuses on a solid nutritional program and preventative care, are not only happier and healthier over all, but cost their owners less money in the long run.
A solid nutritional program that is designed specifically for your horse's nutritional and temperamental needs is definitely a form of prevention against horse ulcers and all kinds of other acute and chronic health conditions. While the ongoing monthly costs of this kind of program may seem a bit higher than a "no frills grass hay" diet, ultimately a nutritional program like this will save you money and heartache.
++++ Order Essentials and Ulcer Supplements Online ++++
We are proud to be a one-stop online shop for horse owners interested in holistic care. If you have an ulcer-prone horse, we invite you to visit our online store, designed with your horse in mind.

Madalyn Ward, DVM, is a recognized author and veterinarian in the field of holistic horsekeeping. For free tips on horse health, horse personality types, and horse nutrition, plus one-stop shopping on holistic horse products, visit http://www.BuyHolisticHorse.com.

Tips How to Ride a Horse Like a Pro

Riding a horse is really fun but challenging! However, few people can ride a horse. Some of them are afraid to get started with riding this strong animal. In fact, to ride a horse is not like a piece of cake. You have to know exactly the tips and techniques so that you will master it in a flash.
Many people get failed and do not want to ride a horse anymore. They get traumatic experiences when they fall down from this animal, and need a long healing period. Actually, it will not be like that if you can handle this strong animal and you can control your body movement.
I will give you smart and simple tips how to ride a horse without falling down action.
Get up on horse carefully, hold the cantle, and make sure that you are in a balance position. Do not ever kick this animal strongly if you do not want to make it run fast. You need to treat a horse softly. It is important to make sure that this animal will make you safe.
See your surrounding! See the straight, left and right before you want to ride. Why you should do this thing? It is important to avoid obstacles that probably bother your learning to ride this animal. Remember, you have to make sure that everything is set perfectly. Sit comfortably on horse back.
Prepare your mental! Do not allow your scare and fear come to you. Stay away from those feeling. You will never get the best riding experience if you still covered with fear and scare. Ensure yourself to be brave. It will be your positive point to start. Just stay in cool and comfort!
Practice frequently! You need to practice your skill to make you are smarter day after day. Take your time to read magazine how to understand and control this animal to support your ability to ride this strong animal.

Know more tips how to ride a horse like a pro in Horseback Riding, or you can visit our website http://www.db-dp.com/opohorseback-riding-the-complete-beginners-guide.

Questions to Ask About Buying a Horse

When looking over potential horses, personal perceptions about attractiveness play a subtle role that may sway you to look at one horse above another. But instead of making a decision on appearances alone, it's important to garner some expert advice on the horse and rider match.

If you are in the presence of a trainer or reputable breeder or stallion service provider, you'll be able to gain answers to some important questions regarding the horse's temperament. Consider these questions:


Is the animal responsive to bit and bridle?
Does he/she have a temper?
How spirited is the animal?
How does the horse interact with its rider?

Many trainers turned horse-brokers can be especially helpful when it comes to choosing a great animal that suits you. In most instances, a trainer with a horse for sale is either acting on behalf of its owner, or has acquired the horse because someone couldn't afford to pay for their services. Thus, they will be willing to let you ride the horse and try it out and should welcome an examination and the opinion of a veterinarian.

When to back away...

Horse auctions and community selling events are sometimes the perfect arena for purebreds, but may be less suitable for a person who is seeking to purchase a horse for pleasure-riding purposes. Watch out for some sellers that have been known to sedate the most spirited animals in an effort to present a docile and cooperative animal. Best take along an expert and reputable veterinarian to assess the true nature of the creature.

Walking away with your new horse...

Once the purchase is complete, count on allowing a period of time for your horse to adjust to its new environment. Spend some time getting to know your new friend before you start riding. Before long, you'll find yourself quite attached to the animal and you will both come to enjoy and love the time that you spend together.

Take the confusion when you are looking for a stallion service by knowing the questions to ask. By ensuring your animal is healthy and well trained - you'll be able to really experience the pleasure of pleasure of riding. Horseback riding is more than just an enjoyable hobby or past time.