Archive for the ‘Horses’ Category
Wild Mustang Horses in the American West
It is natural to believe that wild horses have “always” roamed America’s Western States, but that simply is not the case. Horses were native to North America until the end of the last ice age, 10-12,000 years ago, and then they died out.
It took the joint actions of Christopher Columbus and Hernando Cortez, to bring horses back to North America. In 1493, Christopher Columbus brought horses from Spain to the West Indies, during his second voyage to the Americas. In 1519, the Spanish conquistador Cortez brought horses to the mainland, as the captain of the third Spanish expedition.
Horses arrived in North America, by way of Mexico and Florida, as a tool of the Spanish conquistadors and were used to great effect by Cortez in the defeat of the Aztec empire.
Many horses went wild after their riders were killed. Other horses escaped from their corrals, and many more horses were integrated into Native American societies. Within just a few decades, horses had migrated from Mexico and Florida and entered into the North American interior.
The History of American Horse Breeds
Nearly all of the horses currently running wild in the ranges of the Western United States hailed from the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, in a region defined by modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations suggests that there are 17 individual horse breeds that can be defined as “Iberian horses”. Three of the breeds hail from Portugal and the remaining 14 originated in Spain. Most of the Iberian horse breeds are considered to be Baroque horses, comprised mostly of horses of Andalusian, Arabian and Barb ancestry.
Many of the Native American tribes became master horse breeders, most importantly, the Comanche, the Shoshoni, and the Nez Perce nations. Through selective breeding by the Native American tribes, the first truly American horse breed was the Appaloosa.
The wild horses of the Western United States are actually more accurately referred to as horses that have gone “feral”, or horses that were once domesticated and now are wild. Just as there is a huge population of feral dogs near the big cities of America, most notably near Miami, Florida, there is also a substantial population of feral horses in America.
Free-Roaming Horses Eventually Required Protection From Congress
In 1900, it was estimated that there were as many as two million free-roaming horses in the United States. During the early years of the twentieth century, the free-roaming horse population was severely diminished through a combination of factors including the capture of horses for use in the military, and more revoltingly, by companies who killed the horses to make dog food.
By the 1970′s, the plight of wild horses in the United States had attracted the attention of the U.S. Federal Government. This newly focused attention eventually led to the passage of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971.
In recent years, it has been estimated by the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management that there are as many as 29,000 feral horses and burros on BLM-managed lands in ten western states. The ten Western U.S. states that have feral horses running wild includes: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming.
It is estimated that more than half of the wild horse population resides in Nevada, and Montana and Oregon are the other states with significant wild horse population numbers. There is another few hundred head of wild horses free-roaming in Alberta and British Columbia, in Canada.
Through the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, the Bureau of Land Management has the responsibility of managing the numbers of wild horses and burros, to ensure that healthy herds thrive on healthy rangelands. Within the mandate of the BLM, they are responsible to manage the herd numbers of wild horses and burros that roam the American West.
The BLM Wild Horse and Burro Adoption and Sale Program
Wild horses left to their own wits can literally double their population within four short years, provided that drought and wildfires do not diminish their numbers naturally. Horses do not have natural predators within the rangelands of North America, so their numbers will generally run unchecked without BLM intervention.
The beauty of the 1971 law is that as the BLM culls horses and burros from the wild population, those horses and burros will become available for adoption and sale through the BLM program to individuals and groups willing and able to provide humane, long-term care to these beautiful animals.
To learn more about the adoption of purchase of horses or burros, you can visit the Bureau of Land Management website at: blm.gov or give them a call at: (866) 4MUSTANGS. You can actually adopt and purchase feral horses through the BLM program in states on both sides of the Mississippi River. Sales are held yearly throughout the South, the West and even in Illinois.
If you are looking for domesticated mustang horses, you can also check local or internet horse classifieds.
Philipe Wiskell is a writer for HorseClicks.com, popular classifieds of horses for sale, horse trailers, farms for sale.
Author: Philip Wiskell
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Insulin Resistance in Performance Horses
Here’s a quick test. Ready?
* Does your horse sometimes seem sluggish, gain or lose weight easily, or lose muscle over his top line but maintain a cresty neck?
* Does he stock up easily or sometimes seem prone to hoof soreness or abscesses?
If your horse displays any of these symptoms he could be insulin resistant (IR), a condition that has recently come to the attention of many professionals and owners in the horse industry.
Insulin is produced by your horse’s pancreas and is needed to move glucose out of the blood and into the cells where it can be used for energy. Some horses are genetically predisposed to develop a condition where their cells do not respond properly to insulin so glucose metabolism is impaired. However, not all horses that have this predisposition will develop insulin resistance. Triggers that can case this condition to manifest include high-carbohydrate or high-fat diets, mineral deficiencies, lack of exercise, obesity, and stress. Let’s look at each of these factors.
High-Carbohydrate Diets
Carbohydrate levels in feeds are best evaluated by looking at the non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) levels. Unfortunately, these levels are not listed on most feed bags but they can be obtained for most grains and hays at http://www.equi-analytical.com/. Some experts feel that a horse with IR should have a total diet that is less than 10% NSC. However, this low percentage is difficult to achieve as few feeds or hays have less than 11% NSC and they must be soaked to leach out the sugars to get levels this low. I feel most performance horses that are not showing serious symptoms, such as laminitis, and are still being worked regularly can handle NSC levels between 10% and 15%.
High-Fat Diets
IR horses vary greatly in the amount of fat they can handle. In general the longer the condition has been active the less fat the horse can metabolize. Long standing IR will cause damage to the horse’s liver as the body tries to store the extra circulating glucose in the liver. This causes a fatty liver syndrome and the liver will swell, which blocks the bile ducts. Bile is needed for fat digestion and if flow of bile into the small intestine is blocked, fat will not be digested. In addition, the presence of fat will interfere with the digestion and assimilation of other important nutrients. I often suggest the herb milk thistle be given to horses that have IR because it has a protective effect on the liver. It also contains certain minerals, such as selenium, which help some horses cope with the muscle soreness that can occur with IR. I suggest one tablespoon daily of freshly-ground milk thistle seeds.
Mineral Deficiencies or Imbalances
Many minerals are important for carbohydrate metabolism, including but not limited to magnesium, chromium, manganese, and zinc. Mineral imbalances can also cause relative deficiencies if too much of one mineral interferes with the absorption of another. For example, magnesium and calcium use the same pathway for absorption so an excess of calcium can cause a deficiency of magnesium, even if the minimum requirement for magnesium in the diet is being met. The only way to definitely determine the mineral levels in your horse’s diet is to test all of your horse’s feed and hay. While this can be difficult it is worth the effort if your horse might be insulin-resistant. The website http://www.equi-analytical.com will give you the information you need to send in the correct samples. For horses that are not showing serious symptoms I prefer to look at the typical levels of nutrients in regional hay and feed samples; make sure the diet is balanced for macro minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium; and then use a food source that contains easily assimilated minerals, like blue-green algae, as a supplement to provide the micro minerals.
Lack of Exercise
Lack of exercise can affect the horse in several ways. First, it creates stress in many horses. Second, it contributes to obesity. Most diets designed for performance horses are based on keeping the horse at the correct weight when he is in work. As soon as the horse goes off work, either because of an injury or bad weather, he will start gaining weight if his feed is not cut. Third, exercise increases the cells sensitivity to insulin, even in IR horses. This is why we are able to give feeds with slightly higher NSC levels to performance horse in work.
Obesity
Obesity is a major trigger for IR. It is a sign that the carbohydrate intake of the horse has been higher than his need for a period of time. Excessive carbohydrate intake will increase the production of insulin, and continued exposure to high insulin levels can decrease the cells’ sensitivity to it. Obese horses are also less likely to exercise on their own.
Stress
Last but certainly not least is stress. Horses are fight-or-flight prey animals and, as such, tend to release glucose quickly into the blood if frightened. In a natural environment, a frightened horse needs this glucose to either run away or fight. These activities quickly consume the glucose in the blood. Domestic horses under chronic stress have a similar fight-or-flight response and will experience the continued release of corticosteroids. This causes glucose levels to stay high and will keep triggering the release of insulin. The high levels of circulating insulin are the cause of many of the symptoms we see in constantly-stressed horses. To avoid this situation, get to know your horse and determine what stresses him. Avoid putting him in these situations whenever possible. If you simply can’t avoid a known stress, be there to support him. A horse that knows he is loved and appreciated can handle much more stress than one who is treated like a tool.
Discovering Whether Your Horse is IR
To find out if your horse is IR you can have a simple blood test done that measures glucose and insulin levels, and then takes a ratio of glucose mg/dL divided by insulin mU/L. If this number comes out over 10 then you have nothing to worry about. If the number falls between 4.5 and 10 your horse is IR but is still compensating. If your horse falls in this category, you need to change his management (in terms of the factors discussed above) to prevent his condition from worsening. If the number is less than 4.5 then your horse is already compromised. If you do not immediately change his management, he could be at risk for laminitis.
For this test to be accurate the blood that is collected must be centrifuged to separate the serum within 30 minutes to one hour, and then the serum should be chilled and sent promptly to a lab. If the blood is not handled appropriately it will give a falsely low glucose reading. In many cases the glucose and insulin reading may be within the normal range but the ratio will still show IR. The trick is not to wait for your horse’s lab readings to go outside the normal ranges before making changes in the way you manage your horse.
Luckily, performance horses with IR tend to respond well to dietary changes. The main thing is to get the NSC levels down. Most sweet feeds contain 60% NSC so it is almost impossible to get the levels low enough. Oats are 50% NSC, making it a challenge to feed but it can be used in very small amounts if combined with grass hay plus alfalfa hay to bring the energy up. A diet of 3 pounds of oats, 3 pounds of alfalfa and, 12 pounds of grass hay would still have a NSC level of 18%, which is too high.
A better diet would be 2 pounds of rice bran, 4 pounds of alfalfa, and 12 pounds of grass hay, which offers enough calories for a horse in light work and still has a NSC level of around 14%. This diet also has a 3.5% fat content, so it is not likely trigger any digestive upsets. Some feed companies are now recognizing IR and listing the NSC ratios of their feeds. If you want to simplify your math you can get one of these feeds and then test just your hay. If you don’t buy large amounts of hay you may be able to ask your supplier to test his loads as they come in and let you know the NSC levels of the hay you are buying. If you are not able to test your hay you can soak it for 30 minutes in hot water or one hour in cold to lower the sugar levels. This may seem like a lot of work but could make a big difference in your horse’s health!
About the Author
Madalyn Ward, DVM, owns Bear Creek Veterinary Clinic in Austin, Texas. She is certified in Veterinary Homeopathy and Equine Osteopathy. Memberships include American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, Texas Veterinay Medical Association and the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy. She has authored several books and publishes the monthly newsletter, “Holistic Horsekeeping.”
Contact
Madalyn Ward DVM
11608 FM 1826
Austin, TX 78737
303-575-1170
http://www.holistichorsekeeping.com
http://www.horseharmony.com
http://www.yourhorsebook.com
Author: Madalyn Ward, DVM
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Which Arabian Horse is Right for You? Tips to Choosing Your New Horse
After years of admiring the gallant Arabian horse from afar – or enjoying one from a local stable – you’ve finally decided to take the plunge and become an Arabian owner yourself. Congratulations! There’s nothing quite like the exhilaration of mounting your very own regal Arabian horse and heading off for a ride – just you and your new companion.
But, finding the right horse to meet your needs, interest and personality can be quite daunting, not to mention time consuming. There are a lot of things to consider when choosing the right Arabian horse, but most experts agree, a horse’s conformation, condition, training, temperament and personality are the most important things to be considered.
Conformation- Arabian horses are known for their physical attributes: those wide-set eyes: short arched back: and high tail carriage. But don’t be fooled by this horse’s beauty. It’s important when selecting an individual horse to look at its overall body structure and the way it’s balanced. At the most basic level, you want to look for an athletic body structure. Next, you’ll want to carefully study each part of the horse’s conformation to determine how well it will be able to perform the tasks it’s asked to. When considering any Arabian for purchase, it’s important to check the following:
Forehead – should be broad, full and flat Head – should feature well proportioned ears: eyes that are located correctly and are short and soft. This usually signifies intelligence and a good demeanor.
Throat – the throat should be of average thickness with no muscle buildup on the underside of the neck. Look for a nice natural roundness on the top side of the neck.
Nostrils – Arabian horses are known for their flared nostrils, which help them take in more oxygen. Be sure they feature wide dilation.
Muzzle – Check for firm lips, with no sagging of the lower one.
Chest – watch for a narrow chest which can cause interference with the front legs.
Forearm – should extend from the elbow to the knee and be well-muscled.
Condition- Arabian horses are known for being a sound breed. Their strong resilient legs and dense compact bone makes them free from most lameness. Of course, any horse can have physical ailments that may go unnoticed by the untrained eye. That’s why it’s important to carefully study the horse’s conformation closely to give you a good idea of its overall condition. As a potential horse owner, it’s also important to understand the purpose of owning your horse in order to determine what condition is acceptable. If you’re planning on showing your newly acquired Arabian horse, than you’ll need to consider its overall look more closely to be sure that it meets showing requirements, as opposed to horse’s purchased for recreational riding only. Never sign any sales agreement without first having a prospective horse carefully examined by a veterinarian of your choice to be certain that it is indeed strong and healthy. Once you’ve received a good health report, you can check it out for these other important features:
Training- While young horses have more energy, they can also be harder to train. Unless you have experience training horses – or are willing to pay for someone who does – it is generally better to stay away from horses under six years of age. Unless you are a horse trainer /or hire a trainer, they can be overly excitable, nervous and even hard to control. However, older horses too may take a bit of work, since they often come with bad habits or poor training and structure.
Temperament & Personality- Loved for their disposition and loyalty, Arabian horses are a wonderful choice for just about any horse lover who wants a true companion for years to come. The best recreational mount is one which is gentle to handle, and sports an attitude that is willing to please. Be sure to visit prospective horses several times to get a true feel for its temperament and personality before making any purchasing decisions. A horse may appear to be perfect in every way, but if your personalities clash, you’ll regret your purchase in no time! Avoid any sellers who aren’t willing to give you the time and space to really get to know the animal. They may be trying to hide a physical flaw or uncomely personality trait. While a horse’s conformation, condition, training, personality and temperament are the most important factors when choosing the right Arabian for you, there are a few other factors to consider:
Your Experience. How much experience you have with horses can make a big difference in the one you ultimately choose to call your own. Arabians are beautiful horses that can be easily picked out of a crowd, making them very appealing to many horse lovers. They are strong and loyal and are well suited for many purposes including showcasing: endurance rides of 50 to 100 miles: harsh weather conditions and of course, recreational riding. Alert and curious, the Arabian is quick and intelligent, making it a wonderful companion.
However, they can also be flighty and high-strung, making them hard to control for the less experienced rider. As is the case with most horse breeds, the Arabian stallion can be difficult to control, while mares are often calmer, and showcase better dispositions. They are more expensive though, which often makes the more mild-tempered gelding (or neutered male), the best choice for many horse buyers who aren’t interested in breeding. The size of the horse is also important. Since Arabian horse can be slightly smaller than some other breeds, you may need to consider your size in relation to the horse before settling on one specific animal.
Choose one that is large enough and strong enough to handle your height and weight to avoid unnecessary injury in the future. While it’s important to pay particular attention to the factors explained above when choosing your next Arabian horse, the most important factor to buying any type of horse – including an Arabian horse – is taking your time. Pick one that best suits your own personality, style and experience and you can’t go wrong.
Marvin David
Owned and lived with the Arabian horses for 50 years.
Author: Marvin David
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Feeding Your Horse – Some Basic Rules
You are what you eat, and this goes for horses as well. Keeping your horse in optimal shape means knowing what to feed, how much to feed, and when to feed. To keep your horse at his healthiest and ensure that his nutritional needs are being met, follow these simple rules.
1.)Weigh your horse. You can’t feed your horse correctly unless you know his weight. But before you bring him into your bathroom and attempt to load him on your scale, you should know that there is an easier, more sensible method. To estimate your horse’s weight, measure his heart girth with a horse weight tape.
2.) Figure out how many pounds of hay your horse needs. A good equine diets consists of a high percentage of bulk, and a low percentage of grain. It is very, very important that you don’t feed your horse too much grain! As a rule of thumb, your horse should be fed 1.5 pound of hay daily per 100 pounds of body weight. If you feed your horse twice a day, split the number you arrive at in half. Don’t just measure your horse flakes of hay. Be sure to weight each flake. You would be surprised, but flakes of hay can vary quite a bit in weight!
3.) Figure out how much grain your horse needs. First of all, you should know that not all horses need grain in their diets. Young, growing horses, lactating broodmares, and horses in heavy work need grain. Other horses can probably do without. Grain should be fed by weight, and not by volume. If you plan on feeding your horse scoops of grain, make sure you know how much each scoop weighs. Each type of grain will have its own weight. Bran, for example, is much lighter than corn. If you need help figuring out how much grain to feed your horse, ask your veterinarian.
4.) Be sure not to overfeed your horses. They say the best way to a horse’s heart is through his stomach. As true as that might be, overfeeding your horse can cause a wide variety of health problems, specifically founder or colic. Be sure your horse doesn’t overeat accidentally by keeping all grain and feed in a locked bin. A horse who gets into grain will eat and eat until he becomes sick!
5.) Be sure not to underfeed your horse. Underfeeding is just as dangerous as overfeeding. Underfed horses are at risk for illness. If your horse is thin and weak, and lacks energy, it’s possible he’s not getting enough food.
6.) Supplement your horse’s diet. Free choice trace mineralized salt is a great way to balance your horse’s diet. These blocks contain good things like salt, iodine, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, and cobalt. A calcium and phosphorous mineral block is another good way to ensure your horse is getting all the nutrients he needs. Depending upon the type of hay you are feeding, your horse will have different mineral needs. It’s always a good idea to ask your vet what minerals will balance out your horse’s diet.
7.) Make sure your horse always has fresh water. Good quality, free-choice water is absolutely imperative to keep your horse in good health. Horses who don’t get enough water can become sick, lose their appetites, and suffer from colic. If you live in a winter climate, it is especially important that you do something to ensure that your horse’s water sources aren’t frozen. Breaking the surface of natural water bodies, or providing a heating element to keep water from freezing, is necessary to keeping your horse well-hydrated.
For more great discussions on horse feed and bedding, stop on by our equine enthusiasts forum by clicking this link http://www.horsechitchat.com/equineforums . I will tell them to leave the door open.
Ron Petracek is the current article director for a rapidly growing equine social network community. He was raised in Southern Idaho with a beautiful jet black morgan as his adventure companion, and the Snake River within a easy ride. Horses and the outdoors are a solid part of his life. For more great information and FREE equine classfieds! Everything from horses to trailers & tack please visit. http://www.EquineMiniMart.com [http://www.EquineMiniMart.com/network.php]
If you would like to help other learn more about horses than visit our beautiful and friendly equine forum http://www.horsechitchat.com
Author: Ron Petracek
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Dream Horses and Women’s Psyches
Horses Come to Visit
In a guided visualization, a friend recently saw numerous horses in her imagination. First came her beloved horse Skipper from childhood. The family’s roan mare with a white blaze appeared next. The mare had died traumatically. As my friend’s father was riding the mare, she broke her neck coming down from a jump. Then, my friend suddenly sensed the presence of a herd of wild horses inviting her to live passionately and boldly. She experienced herself running freely, while enjoying the companionship of the other wild horses. The experience helped her make decisions about her future path.
Another woman I know unaccountably found herself making sculptures, paintings, and drawings of horses as she was going through a traumatic and devastating divorce. She poured her soul into the artwork, and it gave her the strength to stand up for her daughter and confront her controlling ex-husband. The horses that came to her artwork helped give her the strength to leave her comfortable suburban home behind. She moved to the countryside where she now has five horses and pursues her art.
I recently devoted four years of my life researching women and horses, even though to this day I have never owned a horse and have rarely ridden them. Horses have, however, visited me throughout my adult life in my dreams and visionary experiences. The experience that led to my research happened during meditation. A vivid image of a stallion evoked in me an experience of an ancient time when women and horses were sacred, sensual, and free.
During the course of my research, I was visited by other horses in dreams and artwork–a white mare, and a herd of wild horses that I named the Horse Ancestors. A few weeks ago, I was visited by the presence of Brownie, a Shetland pony (See The Horse that Got Away Part III: Working with a Core Wound.)
Our experiences, while memorable, are not unusual. Bestselling author Linda Kohanov writes about the Horse Ancestors. Two experts on women’s dreams, Karen Signell and Clarissa Pinkola Estés, both have found that horses are a common motif.
These are the horses I call Dream Horses–the horses that live in our dreams, memories, artwork, and imaginations. Who are these other-worldly horses that come to women’s psyches at critical times in their lives? Why do they come? Are they real or spirit? Are they a figment of our unconscious? Are they part of our personal unconscious, or of a wider collective unconscious?
Alice Walker said, “The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for whites or women for men.”
In just the same way, dream horses exist for their own reasons. We speak of dreams as if they are our dreams, as if they are possessions. This kind of possessive thinking is just enough to chase dream figures away and discourage any kind of meaningful dialogue. Psychologist Carl G. Jung railed against people that would create dream dictionaries in their misguided attempt to pin down the meaning of different symbols.
Imaginal Figures and Experiences
Dream horses and other dream figures are also called imaginal figures. Imaginal is a word coined by depth psychologists in an attempt to find some language that honors the experiences of dreams and myth. In our western rationalistic and scientific culture, an imaginary experience is one that did not happen, so it is devalued. If we can not see it or measure it, then it must not exist.
Imaginal experience, on the other hand, is quite real. When we are in the midst of a vivid dream, there is no question that what we experience is real. As our dream experiences fade upon waking, however, they can be easy to dismiss. Honoring imaginal experiences through art making, journaling, dream drama, dialogue and other forms of creative expression are vital for a healthy relationship with the psyche.
So What Does It Mean?
The few examples mentioned do share some common characteristics for women who have experienced Dream Horses visitations:
o Transition: Dream Horses want to help us and tend to come at times of change–they appear as guides, just as sure-footed horses can find their way in the dark.
o Power: Just as we measure cars in horsepower, Dream Horses often lend their strength and energy to women.
o Authentic Self: Encounters with Dream Horses often encourage women to follow their soul callings and passions.
o The Herd: Visitations by multiple horses can bring a sense of belonging and dispel a sense of isolation.
Dream Horse Exercise:
If you would like a Dream Horse visitation, try the following exercise:
1. Go to a quiet, safe place where you will not be disturbed, such as your bedroom.
2. Light a candle to invite the presence of the Divine.
3. Close your eyes while sitting in a comfortable position. Imagine you are outside, among a herd of friendly horses. One catches your eye. With your mind, invite it to come to you. In your mind’s eye, observe as many details as you can: color, size, age, personality, smell of the horse, the time of day, season and location.
4. Thank your new friend for coming to you and be patient. See what happens. Perhaps you can “talk” together and you can ask questions. Maybe you will receive an impression or felt sensation. Some people, for example, just feel a sense of acceptance. Accept your experience without judgment. This is the start of a relationship, and relationships take time to build.
5. Journal about your experience. Try drawing a picture and see what happens.
6. Try this exercise more than once. You may get the same horse, or a different one. Trust your experience.
Finally, enjoy your Dream Horse experiences. They can be an unexpected blessing, especially during difficult times.
For more information on women and horses, I invite you to visit http://www.dreamhorsewomen.com
Author: Catherine Held, PhD
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Buying a Pony or Horse: Tips to Help You Make the Best Choice
So, your little girl has been taking riding lessons for a year now and
(surprise) she wants her own pony. Here’s how to begin.
First, talk to your child’s trainer. He or she may have an experienced
lesson horse they would be willing to lease to you. That’s a good way to
get your feet wet before you commit to the full-time obligation of caring
for your own pony. Leasing arrangements vary, but usually you pay a
monthly fee for riding privileges any time you want, as if it were your
pony. You can ride, train and show the pony. You may also have to pay
for farrier services (usually a hoof trim and/or reset shoes every six
weeks), periodic de-worming and veterinary services.
If you can’t find a suitable leasing arrangement and are still interested in
owning a pony, here are some tips and things to consider along the
way.
1. What age do you want your pony or horse? An ideal age for a
beginner rider horse is 10. You can go a little younger, if you want, but a
well-trained 10-year-old horse has already experienced a lot of life. He
probably won’t be as frisky as a younger horse and will be less likely to
spook or act unpredictably. You are looking for a “bomb-proof” horse,
especially for your child’s first mount. Ten years old is great, as well,
because as your child grows, the horse will have many healthy years
ahead of him for riding and showing.
2. What gender should your pony be? Common experience tells us that
geldings are the best beginner mount, however, some mares can be
excellent babysitters as well. The main drawback to a mare is that some
get moody during their monthly cycles, and can even nip or kick. The
other consideration is if you are ever going to have additional horses
and plan to turn them out in a pasture together, it’s better not to have
one mare and several geldings. Even though they are gelded, the males
will still want to fight over the mare. You can avoid that headache by
sticking with geldings. However, if you plan to always keep your horse in
a stall in a stable with individual turnout, a mare can work out fine. Of
course, a first-time owner should never buy a stallion.
3. Do you want a horse or pony? A small horse may be a better option
than a pony for several reasons. First, your little one is going to grow up
and may be faced in the future with having to sell her beloved pony
because she’s outgrown him or her.
Second, horses are a little easier to care for. Ponies are famous for
foundering, a condition that occurs especially when a pony overeats rich
grass. The safest bet for a pony is to never let him eat grass. Feed hay, a
little grain and turn him out on dirt. Horses can founder as well, but not
as easily as ponies.
If you have a pasture-only boarding situation, opt for a horse, not a pony.
Some stables, however, have many ponies they turn out together on dirt.
If your barn is set up to care properly for a pony, go ahead, if not, stick
with a horse.
3. Look in the newspaper, on the internet, ask around at horse shows or
call other trainers. Many trainers will help you find the perfect horse for a
finder’s fee. It can be more expensive, but well worth it in the long run to
have professional assistance. Taking along a trainer to look at a horse
with you can give you confidence as well as an expert set of eyes and
ears in the situation.
4. Once you have a prospect located, find out as much as you can about
the horse or pony. What is its training or background? Has it showed
and where? Does it have any bad habits or fears? Is it friendly toward
other horses? Does it load in a trailer and can I do it myself? Does it or
has it ever had any health problems? Why are you selling now?
5. Get a veterinarian check before you buy. This can cost up to $200, if it
includes x-rays, but it can be well worth the expense and trouble.
Coming home with a horse that immediately is lame can be a big
disappointment. Consider the possibility, too, that the current owner may
be giving the horse bute (horse aspirin) to hide lameness when you are
looking at the horse.
6. Check out the horse unannounced. Show up at the horse’s stables or
pasture when you are not expected. Ask to take the horse for a ride or to
trot him on the lead rope to check for problems. Unfortunately, some
people drug their horses to make them appear more calm than they
really are. Arriving unannounced helps you see the pony as he really is.
7. Get ready for expenses. Make sure you understand and budget for all
the expenses associated with owning a horse or pony. There are
monthly boarding bills, which include food and care. You may also want
to supplement your horse or pony with a hoof, coat or joint supplement.
Your horse needs its hooves trimmed or shoes reset every six weeks.
You also need an annual check from the veterinarian, which at least will
include shots, teeth floating and a coggins test. Many owners give their
horses twice yearly shots, as well as de-worming at least four times a
year.
Of course, now there are expenses for saddles, blankets, bridles, bits,
riding clothes, lessons, helmets, riding lessons and showing fees. If your
trainer will transport your horse for you, great, if not, add a horse trailer
to the list.
Finding the right horse or pony can be a long adventure. Don’t be
tempted to pick one out of the paper and surprise your child with it at a
birthday party. Considering the investment on your part, you want your
child to fall in love with this animal, so his or her opinion needs to count
as well. Finding the right equine companion for your child can begin a
relationship that will last for years.
Diane Samson is a writer with The Lieurance Group, a freelance writers’ cooperative in Kansas City, Missouri. Samson can provide writing, reporting and editing services for magazines, newspapers, corporate communications and especially animal publications. Find out more about her writing services at http://www.lieurancegroup.blogspot.com or email her at dianesamson@birch.net
Author: Diane Samson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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