46 Articles

The Best Time to Feed Your Horse Before Competition

By Joe Pagan, Ph.D. - One of the most common questions asked about feeding the performance horse is when to feed before a competition. Theoretically, feeding should be timed so that all of the nutrients from a meal have been digested, absorbed, and stored before starting exercise, but not so long before exercise that the horse begins to mobilize fuels just to maintain its resting body functions.

pre-horse ride routine, horse rider psychology, develop horse riding schedule

Preparing yourself for a good ride may not be as difficult as you think. Developing a pre-ride routine is an easy and effective way to make sure your rides count. And as a bonus, you may just end up with a very thankful horse. Riding is a team sport. You are partnered with an animal in order to achieve certain goals.

BC appaloosa centre, howard jackson, marylin jackson, margaret evans, horses of Pech-Merle, niseans, appaloosa history, canadian-bred appaloosas, horse from palouse river, equine history

In British Columbia, Howard Jackson, who with his wife, Marylin, owns the BC Appaloosa Centre (BCAC) in Prince George, has enjoyed a lifelong relationship with Appaloosas. Jackson was born in 1948, and in 1955 his father acquired an aged Appaloosa stallion named White Chief #36 ApHCC in a horse trade.

cloning horses, przewalski horse cloned, chernobyl prezewalski horses, viagen equine cedar park texas, margaret evans horse

On August 6, 2020, a cloned Przewalski’s horse foal was born at the Texas veterinary facility, Timber Creek Veterinary, a long-time collaborator with ViaGen Equine in Cedar Park, Texas, a world leader in cloning services. To bring a cloned Przewalski’s foal into the world, they worked together with San Diego Zoo Global’s Frozen Zoo, and Revive & Restore, a conservation organization promoting biotechnology in conservation techniques.

how to correct a problem horse, allowing the horse to figure it out, will clinging horse training

There is always a reason when things go wrong, and we have to accept at least half of the responsibility. Remember it is we who are asking for certain acceptable behaviour; if we have not defined what is actually acceptable then the horse is right to be wrong.

town n' country tack, horse blanket, horse clipping, horse hair, horse coat, horse grooming, horses in cold

How do I determine the best winter blanket weight for my horse so he doesn’t get chilled or overheated? When choosing a winter blanket for your horse, a number of considerations can help you avoid under- or over-blanketing your horse, including climate, your horse’s hair coat, and his environment.

happy horse, horse wellbeing, alexa linton, equine sports therapist, how to respect my horse, understanding my horse

The conversation surrounding needs is interesting and complex in terms of our non-speaking horses, especially within a culture that has a historically tricky relationship with the expression of needs. For the purpose of this article, let’s define a need as either a base need required for survival, namely food, water, shelter, and movement, or a need required to thrive, such as friends, space, play, touch, connection, purpose, praise/affirmation, supplementation, and interesting activities. When it comes to our relationship with our horse, the combination of the perceived needs of the rider and the potential needs of their horse can be a space of connecting growth or disconnecting frustration, depending on our perspective and openness to collaborative solutions.

horse laminitis, horse campground ontario, horse campground canada, saugeen bluffs campground, horse vacation ontario, horseback riding canada

Ontario’s Horse Campground - Saugeen Bluffs is located in the heart of Bruce County in Southern Ontario. This is the third horse campground in the province, and it includes an entire area designated for horse camping enthusiasts with 42 spacious sites tucked in amongst towering hardwoods. In addition, there are three bunkies and two RVs available to rent.

Life as the Blue Creek Trail Riding/Packing Clinic instructor is always interesting, never boring, and often as much a learning experience as a teaching one. The personalities of humans and horses always make for a lively program, and this was especially evident this year when some guests brought their own horses.

how to stay calm while riding my horse, how to learn from my horse riding mistakes, annika mcgivern, enjoying my horse ride

Every equestrian knows the magic of our unique bond with our horses. It is a relationship that sits at the centre of our lives, supporting us and challenging us in equal measure. Every minute spent with our horses has a big impact on our well-being, which is an individual’s personal experience of good mental health and satisfaction with life. Research now supports what horsey folks have known for years: spending time with horses is good for us, so much so that horses are increasingly being used as a source of therapy. Studies have demonstrated that time spent interacting with horses increases positive emotions, decreasing depression and increasing social connection skills in children and adults alike.

crooked flying change dressage, straight flying change dressage, flying change dressage, dressage change lead, flying lead change, balance flying change, rhythm flying change, uphill flying change, Sandra Verda

“In a straight horse, the hind hoof steps into or over the track of the front hoof on the same side, whether on a straight line, circle, or curve,” says dressage trainer, coach, and FEI rider Sandra Verda-Zanatta. “The shoulders of the horse should be in line with his hips.

valentino by laura hesse, really good horse books, new horse books

An Inspiring Story of Triumph & Survival - Amid the crashing surf, a yellow Labrador in a bright pink life jacket dragged a semi-conscious girl onto the beach. The dog’s tail hung limply between its hind legs. It circled once, and then twice, before settling down beside the girl, and resting its head and a paw across her chest. The dog closed its eyes against the sting of the icy rain. Eventually, exhaustion overtook it and it fell into a peaceful slumber despite the storm that raged around it.

quarter horse genome

The Quarter Horse is renowned for its agility, speed over short distances, and calm disposition. Not only are they enormously valued as working animals on ranches and farms, Quarter Horses excel in competition where their nimbleness and responsiveness are the skills that put them on top, especially in events like reining, cutting, barrel racing, and calf roping. So where do these skills come from?

how to fit a horse's bit, how wide should my horse's bit be, horse bit length

The horse's bit is a critical piece of equipment in regards to horse riding and training which has the potential to damage the horses’ mouth if it is not fitted properly. Bits are designed to contact specific areas of the mouth in order to be effective. Your horses’ mouth will need to be sized correctly to allow you to make the appropriate selection. The following steps will guide you through this process.

Hay Testing with NIRS, By Shelagh Niblock, PAS, hay forage analysis, overweight horse, equine metabolic conditions, cushing's disease horses, wet chemistry hay testing

Does It Make Sense for You This Year? Accurate laboratory analysis is the backbone of efficient ration planning for many horse owners today. Whether you have an elite competition horse or a senior who is essentially a pet, horse owners are becoming increasingly aware that informed forage buying decisions can make a significant difference in the health and performance of their horse.

hunter patterns for horses, equitation patterns, showmanship patterns for horses, lindsay grice

Each of us memorizes material in a different way. Knowing your learning style is helpful. Try a number of memorization styles in each of these categories and see what works.

Sidonia McIntyre, Equine Massage Instructor, equine hyperflexion, equine rollkur, equine flexion, Equine Soft Tissue Damage

The International Equestrian Federation (Fédération Equestre Internationale or FEI) made a formal statement regarding its viewpoint on the controversial training technique of rollkur or hyperflexion of the neck. This issue was debated at the FEI round-table conference at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Headquarters and the consensus of the group was that any head and neck position achieved through aggressive force is not acceptable

karen pavicic training riding forward dressage impulsion, power dressage fei trainer dressage engage hind

With Karen Pavicic - Impulsion is best defined as the channelling and controlled release of the energy in the horse's body which is created by the engagement of the hind legs. A horse that moves with impulsion gives the impression of contained power, with steps that can be described as lively and expressive, while maintaining total relaxation and softness through the body for overall elasticity.

annika mcgivern, rider athlete, mental health horse people

Finding and Owning the Equestrian Athlete Identity - At its core, equestrian sport is a partnership between horse and human. This relationship is unique, and it affects both the culture of the sport and our identity as athletes. Today, we are going to look closely at our equestrian athlete identity.

Animal Behaviour Expert Dr. Temple Grandin, Temple Grandin, livestock handling, animal fear vs animal aggression, understanding equine behaviour, Animal Sciences at Colorado State University, Teresa van Bryce, Grandin autism, Grandin animal behaviour, horse psychology

A professor of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University, Dr. Temple Grandin is a world famous expert in animal behaviour and livestock handling. While renowned for her innovations in the design of handling facilities and improving animal welfare in the livestock industry, Dr. Grandin is perhaps best known for overcoming her personal struggles with autism. She continues to teach and pursue her research while lecturing around the world on autism and livestock handling.

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