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A little about the Andalusian horse...
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by Antonio Topete Diaz
The Andalusian horse is one of the oldest breeds in the world today, and has been known as the horse of kings. It is beleived that the breed, the Andalusian or Spanish horse dates back to the early 1400's, some believe it dates back as far as 900AD.. Some have the wrong idea that the horse was known world wide as the Carthusian horse, but according to historic documents of the Royal Registry of the Spanish Horse the, Carthusian monks, had only two mares, a foal, and a filly,"And then Garcia Gonzales, who knew the Carthusian monastery, registered two bay mares branded with the iron /0/ with a v-shaped addition. And a bay foal and a black filly about one year of age." (Historia y Origen del Caballo Espanol/History and Origin of the Spanish Horse, by Juan Carlos Altamirano). In 1572 Philip II ordered the purchase of 1200 mares with the satallions needed for live cover with them, in search of producing his ideal type of horse. But since the breed originated from several types of horses in the course of time it would prove dificult to have an exact type every time. This is the reason why we have different body types in the Andalusian breed at times, but keeping the overall look, temper and picture of what Philip II was in search for, "the perfect horse". William Cavendish Duke of Newcastle (1593-1676) said, "I have seen Spanish horses, and have had them in my own possession, which were proper to be painted after, fit for a king to mount on a public occasion; for they are not so tender as the Barbs, nor so ill-shaped as the Neapolitans, but between both." Cavendish also wrote that: " If well chosen it is the noblest horse in the world; the most beautiful that can be. He is of great spirit and of great courage and docile; has the proudest walk, the proudest trot...the loftiest gallop and is the lovingest and gentlest horse and fittest of all for a king in Day of Triumph." The famous Lippizan Stallions of the Spanish Riding School, are direct decendants of the Spanish horse, and it's blood is found also in other breeds such as the Friesian, and Connemara, Paso Fino of South America, and the Azteca, national horse of Mexico, amongst others. When crossed with certain breeds, the Andalusian produces pure blooded Sport Horses, that hold their own registry. Examples of the latter are, Arabian x Andalusian = Hispano-arabe, QH x Andalusian = Azteca, Thoroughbred or Warmblood x Andalusian = Iberian Warmblood, Percheron x Andalusian = Spanish Norman, Fresian x Andalusian = Warlander. Any cross can be registered as a Half-Andalusian with the International Andalusian Lusitano Horse Assosiantion, but the previous crosses can also be registered under their own breed. It is not allowed in Spain to cross the Pure Sapnish Horse to a Portuguese, Lusitano in the same way that it is not allowed in Portugal to breed a Puro Sangue Lusitano (Pure Portuguese Blood) to a Pura Raza Espanola (Pure Sapanish Breed). In the Americas however these two breeds are considered to be one and the same, just like the Paint and QH, and therefore when bred to each other it is a Spanish/Portuguese Andalusian (SP). The Andalusian horse is flashy, inteligent and noble, with great trainability, disposition and heart, still sought after by Royalty in Spain and Europe, as well as Western countries. Versatile enough to go to Western Pleasure or English Pleasure shows, Olimpic Dressage competitions or Reining, Grand Prix jumping to Mounted Bull Fighting (Rejoneo), trail riding, carriage driving and everything else that horses could ever or would ever be used for. |
The Seat
by Antonio Topete Diaz
Western, English, Dressage, Australian, Stock, Mexican, Spanish, Portuguese, Maremano, Gaucho etc. etc. These are just some of the riding saddles that are most popularly used today. But, does it really matter what kind of saddle is used for the training of a horse? And more importantly, does the kind of saddle matter in the ability of the rider to ride? The answer, is both yes and no. Why do I say this? Well, for the inexperienced, the kind of saddle does give the rider a sort of comfort and mental assurance that he/she will not fall off the horse. For the rider that has been riding correctly for some time, feeling safe on a horse's back will depend very little on the kind of saddle being used. On the other hand, a more comfortable saddle for the horse and for the rider will always make horseback riding a more pleasant experience. Some saddles that have knee rolls or something like it, gives the rider a sense of feel that if the horse takes off running or bucking, the saddle will keep the rider in place. For training, the saddle will depend on the kind of training that the horse will be put under, or on the kind of work that will be expected of the horse.
When we Speak of the seat, it does not mean we are talking about the seat of the saddle, but of the seat of the rider. The seat of the rider plays an important role in riding and in training horses. The rider that develops a strong seat, also known as an independent seat will be more apt to train a horse or to ride a schooled horse. For this reason at Spanish Riding School, the riding masters first teach their pupils how to develop a strong seat, and nothing else, the same was true at the Centaur Institute of Classical Equine Studies (CICES). This is done with a gentle horse on the lunge line under the eye of an instructor/s to assure that posture, relaxation and correctness are developed. Only in this way can the student develop the ability to use body weight, legs, and hands or seat,legs, and hands with greater ability.
The horse, even when young or green, will be able to move more relaxed and freely under a rider who does not depend on a death grip of his legs or of the reins to stay in the saddle. As the rider advances in his/her riding education, he/she will feel more relaxed and comforatable riding a horse in what ever discipline they are studying. As the rider gets more comfortable the horse too will become better schooled, given that it is prepared carefully and diligently. In time the rider will learn how to use his/her seat to turn, stop, reinback, and collect his/her horse. Only thru the proper use of seat, legs and hands can the rider ever accomplish high levels of horsemanship regardless of the riding sport in question.
"It takes time, riding takes a long long time." -Walter A. Zettl
Effectively Marketing Your Sale Horse
By Donna Sabatine
Copyright © 2010
In today's market there is a lot to be considered when placing your horse for sale. Of course, we all want to get a good price for our sale horses and typically we want them to find the best home possible. Both of these concerns can be a real challenge when faced with the plethora of low priced or sometimes, free horses available today.
The challenge of course, is to make your horse more desirable than all of the other sale horses out there. How do we do that you ask? Well, by presenting the horse so that he stands out in the crowd, and presenting the seller as someone prepared, honest, and as someone who potential buyers feel comfortable doing business.
Text Based Classified Ads vs. Picture Ads
By far the cheapest way to advertise your horse is with a simple text ad on any number of free classified sites. These sites usually allow you a certain number of words to describe your horse and are pretty user friendly. You supply things like age, sex, breed, training and sometimes pedigree and it formats an ad to be published on the site. The problem with text only ads is that they are dependent on what you write as a description for your horse. The potential buyer has to get a picture in their mind based on how you describe your animal. Write a description to spark interest in your horse by being descriptive, honest about quality..
One other thing to be careful of with text based ads is spelling and grammar. Yes, I know… really? Keep in mind that you are trying to generate credibility with a buyer, and misspelling words like "conformation" for example, is going to get you the wrong kind of attention. Abbreviations that are sometime seen like "¼ horse" are extremely distracting and lead to much guessing, "what is the other ¾ ?" Also, while it is generally ok to abbreviate breed associations like AQHA but if there is any doubt, spell it out as some acronyms could mean several different things. Again, be sure the association name is spelled out properly and without spelling errors. Google is your friend and is full of useful information on correct spellings for words.
Picture ads are also offered several places in print format as well as on the web. These ads allow you to add a picture, or a series of pictures for a small price. These can be used to highlight your horses training, disposition, good looks and attractiveness to a buyer. Pictures should include a clean horse that is well groomed and conditioned, with appropriate tack for their discipline and not show a horse grazing in a field, unless of course you are selling a pasture ornament. Tack included in the picture should be clean and fit the horse well, the rider should be dressed appropriately and while this doesn't mean they should be in show attire, it definitely would not hurt if you are marketing a show horse.
How the rider or handler is dressed is very important as well. Simple things like riders in shorts, flip flops and tank tops, while fun to wear on trail rides and swim in the lake, are not the best impression to make on would be buyers, Helmets are a personal choice, but if a junior rider is featured in the photograph then it is generally a better idea to include a helmet as again, impressions are made with this moment in time. I doubt you will find anyone to say they were ever turned off by a rider wearing a helmet on a horse, but you will definitely find those buyers that relate it to seller responsibility and make an impression based on it.
The background in pictures also gives buyers an impression of the type of environment where the horse is kept. Clutter and trash in the background of a picture is distracting and takes the focus of the picture off of the horse. Keep in mind that the buyer is making an impression of the horse and facilities from a picture and forming an opinion based on that picture. First impressions being what they are, your facilities and maintenance habits are reflected by the giant manure pile in the background, or the clutter of garbage left over from stable cleanup day the weekend before. Things like this we don't think of as owners because we are familiar with it, but to a potential buyer it's a forecast of the type of care the horse has received over the last few years with the now seller.
A background with a fence line works well generally in riding pictures, but be careful of the errant fence post giving your horse a "5th leg" appearance, or a fence line that needs repair. A tree line, open field or even in a paddock so long as the background is not cluttered and distracting, will go a long ways towards making your horse the star of the photo and draw interested buyers.
Video Footage
Today it is easier than ever to get good video footage of horses for sale. Small, hand held video cameras, digital cameras, even some cell phones take passable video footage that can be transferred onto a computer and edited. The same rules for photographs holds true for video and a clean horse, well fitting, clean tack and a nicely dressed rider are important.
Peruse any video on any of the popular video sites on the web and you will see dark, distorted, wobbly videos sometimes with voices in the background or a video maker that walks with the camera for better positions. Please edit these out in your sale video. It is preferable to use a tripod for your camera or a very steady hand to get steady video footage. Edit it ruthlessly so that your horse is presented at his very best.
More and more people are asking to see not only riding or showing video, but ground manners, views of legs and feet and a clear shot of the horse walking and trotting to and from the camera. These are not required of course, but are a nice touch that shows you have nothing to hide with your horse and are proud of how well he's been handled and the care he's been given. A descriptive title, appropriate music and ending on the video is always a nice tough and gives your video that air of professionalism that again, speaks of your credibility as a seller.
If you are advertising on a site that does not allow video uploads, be sure to include in your text description that video is available! A quick upload ahead of time to an online video hosting site such as YouTube will allow you to include the video footage in your ad, but be prepared to have it in DVD format so it can be mailed to those that cannot view these sites due to slow internet service or older computers.
The Horse Itself
The star of the show, so to speak, should be freshly bathed with their manes and tails groomed and clean. Decisions like braiding for a hunter, banding for a stock breed or leaving a long, full mane loose is entirely based on what discipline or niche you are marketing your horse. Feet should be neatly done and while it's not important to have them shod, it will present a more finished image if they are at least even and not due a trim. Clipping is another decision like braiding, that really depends on the individual horse. It is not always necessary to do a show clip, but if you are marketing a show horse it gives a more polished appearance.
Condition of the horse itself is important as well. Make sure they are fit and conditioned, with a shiny coat and good weight. Presenting a horse with a rough coat and that is underweight is not going to win you any admirers in the buyer market. It might earn interest, but probably not the kind of interest you want to attract. Also, it is always a better idea to take sale pictures during the months when the horse looks their best with a shorter coat. As the circumstances do not always lend themselves to spring or summer photos, and during the winter months it is not always feasible to do a body clip, the horses coat should at least be shiny and well groomed.
Honest Evaluations of Your Sale Horse
Let's talk for a moment about pricing your horse for sale. In today's economy it is truly a buyer's market with horses being sold far below their original purchase price due to job loss, family struggles and the need to downsize entire herds sometimes. Good, solid show horses and trail horses still have a fairly good market, but it is important that you don't price yourself out of this market by over inflating your horses true worth. Searching the internet for horses of like disciplines, training level, and breeding will help you determine a fair and honest price for your horse. A good equine appraiser will also help determine a fair market value for your horse if you are willing to pay to have this done. This will also help buyers locate insurance if desired for a new purchase.
The exception would be young horses of known, successful parentage with a strong potential for achieving the same or higher level of winning than their parents did. Knowledgeable buyers that are seeking out prospects will be the market niche for these young horses and the demand for these is good. The trick is getting them in front of the right people. Again, determining the correct market niche for your well bred youngster is important. Advertising a stock breed reining prospect in front of the hunter crowd is probably not going to get you the exposure and the interest that you want.
Family horses and young, untrained horses typically fall into a lesser category. That‘s not saying that the family horse or the untrained, older horse doesn‘t have any value, in fact they are worth their weight in gold to a buyer that is looking for a babysitter horse, or a reliable trail mount! Let's be honest though, they just won‘t have as much value to a buyer who wants to show as a show horse that is trained, fitted and conditioned for show with sometimes many months of professional training. Research again to determine what these types of horses are selling for in your area and price your horse accordingly. Again, it is important to get them in front of the right people and your ad headline and text should be geared towards getting the attention of the moms and dads out there that want a safe, reliable horse for their children or grandchildren.
Whatever your market niche is for your horse, the same principles apply as outlined above. Good pictures, good video, a healthy, well groomed horse and a good impression of the owner will do nothing but help in a very competitive sales market today.
Communication with Potential Buyers
So you've worked hard on your ad, you have your horse priced within market, he's clean, groomed well and healthy, you have good pictures which represent him well without background clutter. You have a good rider on him, or a good handler that can present him in photos and video in a manner that shows what makes your horse more desirable than any others out there. You check your phone or email box and you have your first inquires, now what?
Communication alone probably loses more sales for people before they even have a chance to discuss the horse, faster than any other item on the above list. Be prompt to respond by email or with a return call, keep in mind that especially in written text you are reflecting yourself and your credibility so avoid things like "script talk" where "itz not kewl 2 tlk same as u wud 4 ur bff". You are attempting to trade your horse to this buyer in return for several thousand dollars of their hard earned money, so be sure to present yourself in the best possible light as well. Be mindful of spelling and grammar, be to the point and brief without being short or appearing annoyed with their inquiry. Ask if there are any questions they have about the horse that you can help them with and if they would like to see further pictures, then have those pictures ready to go!
A buyer that has to wait days or weeks for more information, a return email or call, more pictures or video is the buyer that is still out there looking. They very well may come across another seller, also with a great horse, that has all these things ready to go and by the time you get back to them, the sale may have gone to someone better prepared.
Expectations of Advertising
As a seller, you are out there in competition with a myriad of other sellers that also have done their homework and have their horse prepared as well as a game plan for a good sale. Choosing your advertising site so that you get your horse out in front of the people that have an interest in what your horse has to offer is important. As is advertising on several different sites to get as much exposure as possible. You only have a few seconds to catch someone's attention as they flip through the various classified ads. Making sure your pictures are good, the ad text is well written and without spelling errors and that you have all the tools available to buyers that are looking at your horse for sale will help make your ad stand out among the thousands out there competing against yours for attention.
Today's market being what it is, even well prepared sellers are having problems at times moving a well trained and otherwise desirable horse. Don't get discouraged if it takes some time to sell your horse. Being open to offers and suggestions, such as a lease with a proper contract, can help get your horse in the right position for a sale. Many sellers will do terms or payments on a sale horse but these, like leases, should be well thought out and with a good, solid sales contract in place.
Believing in your horse and their abilities, and ultimately in their worth so long as they are priced within what their specific market niche can carry, will do nothing but help you in the sales process. Be firm in your beliefs, honest in your communication with potential buyers, flexible in your price to a point and with the correct tools at hand selling your horse will be a much easier process.
By Donna Sabatine
Copyright © 2010
In today's market there is a lot to be considered when placing your horse for sale. Of course, we all want to get a good price for our sale horses and typically we want them to find the best home possible. Both of these concerns can be a real challenge when faced with the plethora of low priced or sometimes, free horses available today.
The challenge of course, is to make your horse more desirable than all of the other sale horses out there. How do we do that you ask? Well, by presenting the horse so that he stands out in the crowd, and presenting the seller as someone prepared, honest, and as someone who potential buyers feel comfortable doing business.
Text Based Classified Ads vs. Picture Ads
By far the cheapest way to advertise your horse is with a simple text ad on any number of free classified sites. These sites usually allow you a certain number of words to describe your horse and are pretty user friendly. You supply things like age, sex, breed, training and sometimes pedigree and it formats an ad to be published on the site. The problem with text only ads is that they are dependent on what you write as a description for your horse. The potential buyer has to get a picture in their mind based on how you describe your animal. Write a description to spark interest in your horse by being descriptive, honest about quality..
One other thing to be careful of with text based ads is spelling and grammar. Yes, I know… really? Keep in mind that you are trying to generate credibility with a buyer, and misspelling words like "conformation" for example, is going to get you the wrong kind of attention. Abbreviations that are sometime seen like "¼ horse" are extremely distracting and lead to much guessing, "what is the other ¾ ?" Also, while it is generally ok to abbreviate breed associations like AQHA but if there is any doubt, spell it out as some acronyms could mean several different things. Again, be sure the association name is spelled out properly and without spelling errors. Google is your friend and is full of useful information on correct spellings for words.
Picture ads are also offered several places in print format as well as on the web. These ads allow you to add a picture, or a series of pictures for a small price. These can be used to highlight your horses training, disposition, good looks and attractiveness to a buyer. Pictures should include a clean horse that is well groomed and conditioned, with appropriate tack for their discipline and not show a horse grazing in a field, unless of course you are selling a pasture ornament. Tack included in the picture should be clean and fit the horse well, the rider should be dressed appropriately and while this doesn't mean they should be in show attire, it definitely would not hurt if you are marketing a show horse.
How the rider or handler is dressed is very important as well. Simple things like riders in shorts, flip flops and tank tops, while fun to wear on trail rides and swim in the lake, are not the best impression to make on would be buyers, Helmets are a personal choice, but if a junior rider is featured in the photograph then it is generally a better idea to include a helmet as again, impressions are made with this moment in time. I doubt you will find anyone to say they were ever turned off by a rider wearing a helmet on a horse, but you will definitely find those buyers that relate it to seller responsibility and make an impression based on it.
The background in pictures also gives buyers an impression of the type of environment where the horse is kept. Clutter and trash in the background of a picture is distracting and takes the focus of the picture off of the horse. Keep in mind that the buyer is making an impression of the horse and facilities from a picture and forming an opinion based on that picture. First impressions being what they are, your facilities and maintenance habits are reflected by the giant manure pile in the background, or the clutter of garbage left over from stable cleanup day the weekend before. Things like this we don't think of as owners because we are familiar with it, but to a potential buyer it's a forecast of the type of care the horse has received over the last few years with the now seller.
A background with a fence line works well generally in riding pictures, but be careful of the errant fence post giving your horse a "5th leg" appearance, or a fence line that needs repair. A tree line, open field or even in a paddock so long as the background is not cluttered and distracting, will go a long ways towards making your horse the star of the photo and draw interested buyers.
Video Footage
Today it is easier than ever to get good video footage of horses for sale. Small, hand held video cameras, digital cameras, even some cell phones take passable video footage that can be transferred onto a computer and edited. The same rules for photographs holds true for video and a clean horse, well fitting, clean tack and a nicely dressed rider are important.
Peruse any video on any of the popular video sites on the web and you will see dark, distorted, wobbly videos sometimes with voices in the background or a video maker that walks with the camera for better positions. Please edit these out in your sale video. It is preferable to use a tripod for your camera or a very steady hand to get steady video footage. Edit it ruthlessly so that your horse is presented at his very best.
More and more people are asking to see not only riding or showing video, but ground manners, views of legs and feet and a clear shot of the horse walking and trotting to and from the camera. These are not required of course, but are a nice touch that shows you have nothing to hide with your horse and are proud of how well he's been handled and the care he's been given. A descriptive title, appropriate music and ending on the video is always a nice tough and gives your video that air of professionalism that again, speaks of your credibility as a seller.
If you are advertising on a site that does not allow video uploads, be sure to include in your text description that video is available! A quick upload ahead of time to an online video hosting site such as YouTube will allow you to include the video footage in your ad, but be prepared to have it in DVD format so it can be mailed to those that cannot view these sites due to slow internet service or older computers.
The Horse Itself
The star of the show, so to speak, should be freshly bathed with their manes and tails groomed and clean. Decisions like braiding for a hunter, banding for a stock breed or leaving a long, full mane loose is entirely based on what discipline or niche you are marketing your horse. Feet should be neatly done and while it's not important to have them shod, it will present a more finished image if they are at least even and not due a trim. Clipping is another decision like braiding, that really depends on the individual horse. It is not always necessary to do a show clip, but if you are marketing a show horse it gives a more polished appearance.
Condition of the horse itself is important as well. Make sure they are fit and conditioned, with a shiny coat and good weight. Presenting a horse with a rough coat and that is underweight is not going to win you any admirers in the buyer market. It might earn interest, but probably not the kind of interest you want to attract. Also, it is always a better idea to take sale pictures during the months when the horse looks their best with a shorter coat. As the circumstances do not always lend themselves to spring or summer photos, and during the winter months it is not always feasible to do a body clip, the horses coat should at least be shiny and well groomed.
Honest Evaluations of Your Sale Horse
Let's talk for a moment about pricing your horse for sale. In today's economy it is truly a buyer's market with horses being sold far below their original purchase price due to job loss, family struggles and the need to downsize entire herds sometimes. Good, solid show horses and trail horses still have a fairly good market, but it is important that you don't price yourself out of this market by over inflating your horses true worth. Searching the internet for horses of like disciplines, training level, and breeding will help you determine a fair and honest price for your horse. A good equine appraiser will also help determine a fair market value for your horse if you are willing to pay to have this done. This will also help buyers locate insurance if desired for a new purchase.
The exception would be young horses of known, successful parentage with a strong potential for achieving the same or higher level of winning than their parents did. Knowledgeable buyers that are seeking out prospects will be the market niche for these young horses and the demand for these is good. The trick is getting them in front of the right people. Again, determining the correct market niche for your well bred youngster is important. Advertising a stock breed reining prospect in front of the hunter crowd is probably not going to get you the exposure and the interest that you want.
Family horses and young, untrained horses typically fall into a lesser category. That‘s not saying that the family horse or the untrained, older horse doesn‘t have any value, in fact they are worth their weight in gold to a buyer that is looking for a babysitter horse, or a reliable trail mount! Let's be honest though, they just won‘t have as much value to a buyer who wants to show as a show horse that is trained, fitted and conditioned for show with sometimes many months of professional training. Research again to determine what these types of horses are selling for in your area and price your horse accordingly. Again, it is important to get them in front of the right people and your ad headline and text should be geared towards getting the attention of the moms and dads out there that want a safe, reliable horse for their children or grandchildren.
Whatever your market niche is for your horse, the same principles apply as outlined above. Good pictures, good video, a healthy, well groomed horse and a good impression of the owner will do nothing but help in a very competitive sales market today.
Communication with Potential Buyers
So you've worked hard on your ad, you have your horse priced within market, he's clean, groomed well and healthy, you have good pictures which represent him well without background clutter. You have a good rider on him, or a good handler that can present him in photos and video in a manner that shows what makes your horse more desirable than any others out there. You check your phone or email box and you have your first inquires, now what?
Communication alone probably loses more sales for people before they even have a chance to discuss the horse, faster than any other item on the above list. Be prompt to respond by email or with a return call, keep in mind that especially in written text you are reflecting yourself and your credibility so avoid things like "script talk" where "itz not kewl 2 tlk same as u wud 4 ur bff". You are attempting to trade your horse to this buyer in return for several thousand dollars of their hard earned money, so be sure to present yourself in the best possible light as well. Be mindful of spelling and grammar, be to the point and brief without being short or appearing annoyed with their inquiry. Ask if there are any questions they have about the horse that you can help them with and if they would like to see further pictures, then have those pictures ready to go!
A buyer that has to wait days or weeks for more information, a return email or call, more pictures or video is the buyer that is still out there looking. They very well may come across another seller, also with a great horse, that has all these things ready to go and by the time you get back to them, the sale may have gone to someone better prepared.
Expectations of Advertising
As a seller, you are out there in competition with a myriad of other sellers that also have done their homework and have their horse prepared as well as a game plan for a good sale. Choosing your advertising site so that you get your horse out in front of the people that have an interest in what your horse has to offer is important. As is advertising on several different sites to get as much exposure as possible. You only have a few seconds to catch someone's attention as they flip through the various classified ads. Making sure your pictures are good, the ad text is well written and without spelling errors and that you have all the tools available to buyers that are looking at your horse for sale will help make your ad stand out among the thousands out there competing against yours for attention.
Today's market being what it is, even well prepared sellers are having problems at times moving a well trained and otherwise desirable horse. Don't get discouraged if it takes some time to sell your horse. Being open to offers and suggestions, such as a lease with a proper contract, can help get your horse in the right position for a sale. Many sellers will do terms or payments on a sale horse but these, like leases, should be well thought out and with a good, solid sales contract in place.
Believing in your horse and their abilities, and ultimately in their worth so long as they are priced within what their specific market niche can carry, will do nothing but help you in the sales process. Be firm in your beliefs, honest in your communication with potential buyers, flexible in your price to a point and with the correct tools at hand selling your horse will be a much easier process.
5 Tips to Ensure Horse Riding Safety
There is almost nothing as good, as the marvellous feeling of freedom that riding a horse provides, the reconnection with nature, the speed, or the calmness, the smell of fresh air, and the partnership with such a majestic animal, make horse riding an amazing experience. But, if you don't take the necessary measures to ensure horse riding safety you can be in a lot of trouble.
The following five tips can help you to avoid unnecessary problems and accidents when horse riding.
1. Check your horse's saddle/horse tack before leaving the stables. Check for tearing, make sure the horse is comfortable, that everything fits, and that everything is where it should be. A happy horse is the best way to horse riding safety.
2. Check your own clothing, don't even try to go out riding without the proper helmet, or equipment. And check the good state of these as well, because a cracking helmet won't be of help if you were to fall.
3. Emergency and first aid kit, if something was to happen make sure you have some first aid kit with you, for both you and the horse. Also phone numbers, not just your doctors, but also the veterinarian's.
4. Don't try tricks you don't know when out on a horse, just relax and do what you can do, even if it means just sitting and letting the horse walk. Don't rush a horse if you don't know how to control it yet. And in this case don't go out riding on your own, because horses can be unpredictable creatures especially if ridden by inexperience riders.
5. Know your surroundings, don't adventure into an unknown area with your horse, believe it or not, they also get scared and are very sensitive to their environment. So explore the place you want to go to without the horse first, and don't force the horse to terrains that are to new for it.
These simple tips, along with other basic rules, like only riding a well rested and calm horse, are the golden rules of horse riding safety. You and your horse can enjoy a great riding day if you take proper precautions and know what you are doing.
Just remember that you are the only one who can take care of yourself both before the ride, and once on the horse you will have to trust each other, which reminds me, don't ever ride an animal you don't trust, because it won't trust you either.
Various stable supplies are essential to the safety of you and your horse including equestrian boots and riding helmets, buy them online to make sure that you are safe when riding.
The following five tips can help you to avoid unnecessary problems and accidents when horse riding.
1. Check your horse's saddle/horse tack before leaving the stables. Check for tearing, make sure the horse is comfortable, that everything fits, and that everything is where it should be. A happy horse is the best way to horse riding safety.
2. Check your own clothing, don't even try to go out riding without the proper helmet, or equipment. And check the good state of these as well, because a cracking helmet won't be of help if you were to fall.
3. Emergency and first aid kit, if something was to happen make sure you have some first aid kit with you, for both you and the horse. Also phone numbers, not just your doctors, but also the veterinarian's.
4. Don't try tricks you don't know when out on a horse, just relax and do what you can do, even if it means just sitting and letting the horse walk. Don't rush a horse if you don't know how to control it yet. And in this case don't go out riding on your own, because horses can be unpredictable creatures especially if ridden by inexperience riders.
5. Know your surroundings, don't adventure into an unknown area with your horse, believe it or not, they also get scared and are very sensitive to their environment. So explore the place you want to go to without the horse first, and don't force the horse to terrains that are to new for it.
These simple tips, along with other basic rules, like only riding a well rested and calm horse, are the golden rules of horse riding safety. You and your horse can enjoy a great riding day if you take proper precautions and know what you are doing.
Just remember that you are the only one who can take care of yourself both before the ride, and once on the horse you will have to trust each other, which reminds me, don't ever ride an animal you don't trust, because it won't trust you either.
Various stable supplies are essential to the safety of you and your horse including equestrian boots and riding helmets, buy them online to make sure that you are safe when riding.
Colic! An equine emergency, arm yourself with knowledge | Posted: Nov 30, 2010 |
Colic
The term colic refers to abdominal pain in horses. Every horse owner or person handling horses should not only be aware of the signs and symptoms of colic but also the causes, potential risks and ways to reduce risk.
Symptoms:
- The horse is restless, of particular relevance if the other horses around continue to remain relaxed,
- The horse is unusually quiet,
- The horse has left it's food,
- The horse is lying down, either lying still or rolling,
- The horse may pass fewer droppings,
- The horse may appear as though he/she wishes to urinate however the penis may not protrude of tail lifted which happens for regular urination,
in severe cases
- The horse may sweat, especially behind the elbows and on the flanks,
- The rolling may become violent or frequent,
- The horse becomes less oblivious to its environment,
- The abdomen is obviously distended,
- Rapid breathing even when the horse is not moving,
- A change in the colour of the horse's gums from salmon pink to a grey or purple, or
- The horse's pulse rate becomes rapid – over 70bpm and becomes weaker.
Causes
Being that colic refers only to abdominal pain there are many causes for and different severities of colic. Cause for mild colic (medical colic) may be;
- A dramatic and sudden change in diet or feeding a high amount of starchy cereal grains (Sutton, 2006),
- Spasm of the intestinal wall,
- Lack of water (Davies, 2009),
- Recent worming,
- Distension of the stomach – after the horse feeds on large amounts of unsoaked sugar beets or grass cuttings.
Some causes for sever colic (surgical colic) may be;
- Torsion of the bowel along its length,
- Entrapment of a portion of the intestine through an internal opening, the entrapped section swells and blood flow is cut off,
- A large intact of sand with feed, which stores and has to be surgically removed (Rush, 2009),
- Strangulation of the intestine,
- in essence twisted or trapped intestines.
Treatment and Prognosis
If a handler suspects their horses is suffering from colic then veterinary attention should be sought immediately. There are various things that the handler can do whilst waiting for the vet to arrive, these include; remove any food or water from the environment, if the horse is laying down but not rolling then cautiously provide generous bedding and remove other items from the area, if the horse is rolling in a small stable then allowing it a greater space where it can be supervised and roll without injuring itself can assist (O'Brien, 2007). If a horse is presenting unaware of his or her surroundings, as with severe colic the handler should not enter the environment due to a high risk of being kicked or trampled. Collecting information for the vet will also be beneficial, such as working schedule, recent changes in diet, resting and healthy heart and breath rate. Veterinary treatment is required as only a vet can check for the severity of the condition. The older practice of walking horses presenting with colic is now viewed as more dangerous, being that if the horse has a surgical colic walking will likely increase the pain or problem (Rush, 2008).
Approximately 90% of colics respond well to medical treatment and 10% will require surgery (Rush, 2008). This 10% requiring surgery will have a better prognosis if detected early and surgical intervention is attended to early, hence the initial requirement to contact the vet at the initial concerns of colic. Medical colic can involve the vet treating the horse with pain killers (Davies, 2009), and possibly something to relieve cramps (Rush, 2009). Of course treatment will only be offered after a complete medical examination including respiratory rate, gut sounds, circulation, heart rate and hydration and may include a rectal examination (O'Brien, 2007) or passing a stomach tube through the nostril (Rush, 2009). Should the vet determine that the colic is severe and due to an obstruction of blood flow then the vet may suggest immediate surgery, this is considered a veterinary emergency as horses may quickly go into endotoxaemic shock (Davies, 2009) and horses may die within several hours if not treated. Surgery should only be considered on otherwise healthy horses. The surgical procedure may or may not include the removal of a portion of the gut (Davies, 2009). Post surgical care involves restricting dietary and water intake, a maintanence ration of quality fibre and water should follow with vitamin suppliments. Cereal grains may only be included in the horse's diet after several weeks (Davies, 2009). Post colic care if treated medically and not surgically, diet can return to normal at a low level initially in case the cause of the colic was in fact that food regime in the first place (Davies, 2009).
Prevention of colic includes monitoring food intake and reducing rapid changes, reducing starch in the diet, increasing dry forage, adding live yeast culture to feeds to increase the bacteria in the hint gut and promote increased fermentation and maintaining a good working regime (Huntington, Myers & Owens, 2004).
References
Auty, I. (2005). The BHS Complete Manual of Stable Management. Kenilworth Press: Great Britain.
Davies, Z. (2009). Introduction to horse nutrition. Wiley-Blackwell, UK.
Huntington, P., Myers, J. & Owens, E. (2004). Horse Sense, 2nd Edition. Landlinks Press: Victoria.
O'Brien, K. (2007). Essential Horse Health. David and Charles Limited: UK.
Pavord, T. & Pavord, M. (2007) Complete Equine Veterinary Manual. David and Charles Limited: UK.
Rush, A. (2008). You Horse's Health First Aid. David and Charles Limited: UK.
Sutton, A. (2006). The Injury Free Horse. David and Charles Limited: UK.
The term colic refers to abdominal pain in horses. Every horse owner or person handling horses should not only be aware of the signs and symptoms of colic but also the causes, potential risks and ways to reduce risk.
Symptoms:
- The horse is restless, of particular relevance if the other horses around continue to remain relaxed,
- The horse is unusually quiet,
- The horse has left it's food,
- The horse is lying down, either lying still or rolling,
- The horse may pass fewer droppings,
- The horse may appear as though he/she wishes to urinate however the penis may not protrude of tail lifted which happens for regular urination,
in severe cases
- The horse may sweat, especially behind the elbows and on the flanks,
- The rolling may become violent or frequent,
- The horse becomes less oblivious to its environment,
- The abdomen is obviously distended,
- Rapid breathing even when the horse is not moving,
- A change in the colour of the horse's gums from salmon pink to a grey or purple, or
- The horse's pulse rate becomes rapid – over 70bpm and becomes weaker.
Causes
Being that colic refers only to abdominal pain there are many causes for and different severities of colic. Cause for mild colic (medical colic) may be;
- A dramatic and sudden change in diet or feeding a high amount of starchy cereal grains (Sutton, 2006),
- Spasm of the intestinal wall,
- Lack of water (Davies, 2009),
- Recent worming,
- Distension of the stomach – after the horse feeds on large amounts of unsoaked sugar beets or grass cuttings.
Some causes for sever colic (surgical colic) may be;
- Torsion of the bowel along its length,
- Entrapment of a portion of the intestine through an internal opening, the entrapped section swells and blood flow is cut off,
- A large intact of sand with feed, which stores and has to be surgically removed (Rush, 2009),
- Strangulation of the intestine,
- in essence twisted or trapped intestines.
Treatment and Prognosis
If a handler suspects their horses is suffering from colic then veterinary attention should be sought immediately. There are various things that the handler can do whilst waiting for the vet to arrive, these include; remove any food or water from the environment, if the horse is laying down but not rolling then cautiously provide generous bedding and remove other items from the area, if the horse is rolling in a small stable then allowing it a greater space where it can be supervised and roll without injuring itself can assist (O'Brien, 2007). If a horse is presenting unaware of his or her surroundings, as with severe colic the handler should not enter the environment due to a high risk of being kicked or trampled. Collecting information for the vet will also be beneficial, such as working schedule, recent changes in diet, resting and healthy heart and breath rate. Veterinary treatment is required as only a vet can check for the severity of the condition. The older practice of walking horses presenting with colic is now viewed as more dangerous, being that if the horse has a surgical colic walking will likely increase the pain or problem (Rush, 2008).
Approximately 90% of colics respond well to medical treatment and 10% will require surgery (Rush, 2008). This 10% requiring surgery will have a better prognosis if detected early and surgical intervention is attended to early, hence the initial requirement to contact the vet at the initial concerns of colic. Medical colic can involve the vet treating the horse with pain killers (Davies, 2009), and possibly something to relieve cramps (Rush, 2009). Of course treatment will only be offered after a complete medical examination including respiratory rate, gut sounds, circulation, heart rate and hydration and may include a rectal examination (O'Brien, 2007) or passing a stomach tube through the nostril (Rush, 2009). Should the vet determine that the colic is severe and due to an obstruction of blood flow then the vet may suggest immediate surgery, this is considered a veterinary emergency as horses may quickly go into endotoxaemic shock (Davies, 2009) and horses may die within several hours if not treated. Surgery should only be considered on otherwise healthy horses. The surgical procedure may or may not include the removal of a portion of the gut (Davies, 2009). Post surgical care involves restricting dietary and water intake, a maintanence ration of quality fibre and water should follow with vitamin suppliments. Cereal grains may only be included in the horse's diet after several weeks (Davies, 2009). Post colic care if treated medically and not surgically, diet can return to normal at a low level initially in case the cause of the colic was in fact that food regime in the first place (Davies, 2009).
Prevention of colic includes monitoring food intake and reducing rapid changes, reducing starch in the diet, increasing dry forage, adding live yeast culture to feeds to increase the bacteria in the hint gut and promote increased fermentation and maintaining a good working regime (Huntington, Myers & Owens, 2004).
References
Auty, I. (2005). The BHS Complete Manual of Stable Management. Kenilworth Press: Great Britain.
Davies, Z. (2009). Introduction to horse nutrition. Wiley-Blackwell, UK.
Huntington, P., Myers, J. & Owens, E. (2004). Horse Sense, 2nd Edition. Landlinks Press: Victoria.
O'Brien, K. (2007). Essential Horse Health. David and Charles Limited: UK.
Pavord, T. & Pavord, M. (2007) Complete Equine Veterinary Manual. David and Charles Limited: UK.
Rush, A. (2008). You Horse's Health First Aid. David and Charles Limited: UK.
Sutton, A. (2006). The Injury Free Horse. David and Charles Limited: UK.