Sure, horses have a language of their own, and alas several of us aren’t as tuned in to it as we should always be.  It’s a huge mistake to not know their language, as it could signify problems for us in the long run.  Every swivel of the ear(s), hip movement, tail flick and face expression signifies something.  This is certainly the language horses use to communicate to other horses, also to us - if only we would pay attention. 

We need to know very well what OUR body language says to them first before we are able to comprehend them.  Swinging arms whilst attempting to get the halter on will trigger apprehension. Running at them inside of a paddock rather than walking up to them coolly can make them assume -  danger chasing me. We’ve all heard about bombproof horses - sorry, there isn’t any such thing.  Something, some time will frighten your horse, or any horse for that matter.
For the time being, keep your body language subtle, leisurely, uncomplicated and calm.  When you are calm, this makes your horse remain calm.  

Horses communicate to us with all body parts and that includes the front and back end.  Both ends could cause us unthinkable grief if we do not take note of what they’re saying.  For example, most of us know that every time a horse has both ears pinned back flat something is basically amiss.  Chances are they are either wary or angry.  In most cases it is anger.  So look after the front and back especially carefully.  Caution is best even when you think that the horse could be being attentive to something behind them or bored.  When you really know your horse well, you might be aware what the ears are saying. 

Ears perked up and forward denote they’re focusing their thought on something and are either up to some mischief or they really are on high alert about something they notice, hear or smell.  Remind your horse you would like his attention, especially if you are riding and the ears fold to the fore.

Combing and caring to your horse is THE main bonding experience connecting people and equines.  Don’t ever underestimate how strongly you’re talking to your horse about YOU while you comb it.

If you’re searching for horses for sale or ponies for sale you should pay a visit to The Horse and Pony Directory.

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When you care for your horse, it is important to make arrangements for the winter months. Horses should be able to tolerate the winter climate and remain as healthy as possible. During the winter horses will have special requirements which you as the owner will have to tackle. It is imperative to plan for winter ahead of time.

Horses are generally tolerant to cold conditions. In fact, horses cope with frosty weather a lot better than warm weather. Regardless of this, there are some basic things horse owners will want to do to ensure their horses stay in good health. You will want to make sure the horse doesn’t have any lice, and has been vaccinated up to date. The expenses for doing these things will significantly pay off in the winter, as the outlay of feeding the horse will be reduced.

You may also want to work with your vet in planning up a health plan to care for your horses. Preparing your horse for cold weather will help it lower the requirement to eat larger amounts of food in order to maintain its weight. Your horse shouldn’t lose any weight during the colder months. Permitting your horse to gain a slight amount of weight will help them in the colder months, as the superfluous fat will work as a cushion to supply the horse with energy if it becomes stressed. Through the winter you will want to provide your horse with some additional calories.

The best protection for a horse in the winter is its natural winter coat. If allowed to grow, it will act as a warm jumper which will lessen the loss of heat that the horse experiences in winter environments. A horse’s coat is also smooth and will help brush off off snow and ice. If your horses are kept outside, you will want to ensure their coats grow enough before the temperature drops for winter.

To monitor the state of your horse, you will need to rub its ribs. A longer coat may indeed hide the fact that your horse has lost weight Your horse should weigh enough that you are not able to see the ribs but can feel them when touching the horse. You should also feel your horses ears. Are they cold? If so it’s a good indication that your horse is cold.

Like all animals which are warm-blooded, horses must maintain their body temperature in order to survive. It is vital that they retain heat through the winter, so you should ensure they’re prepared for the frost.

Visit the Horse and Pony Directory for more information and horses for sale

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Surviving the credit crunch is never easy, but when you have ponies and horses who rely on you for nurishment, shelter and medical attention, every small amount saved helps.

It’s tremendously sad that too many horses and ponies are abandoned every week, as owners struggle to cope with the economy as it is, because of this there are presently many horses for sale.

Sara Tuppen founder of the Horse Refuge in Wittersham Kent, knows all about looking after horses when money is scarce, and relies solely on donations to keep more than 40 rescued horses in good health. She believes there are a few points which could help make keeping a horses on a budget a little easier:

1. Many horses can live quite happily outside for the majority of the year, providing there’s nurishment, water and shelter available. Providing this is a suitable option for your horse, it could reduce your stabling prices by a large amount.

2. Removing shoes is an easy way to reduce outlay. If not ridden regularly, and not ridden on rough surfaces, many horses will not need shoes.

3. Sharing your horse is a great way to severely reduce costs, and helps to provide a cheaper introduction to horse riding for another person.

4. In many cases you can get free stabling and perhaps even hay and straw in return for chores. Helping to muck out, grooming, yard and paddock maintenance etc. are all ways which could save you money for a little work!

5. Vets bills are an unknown quantity but still have to be allowed for. If money’s a little tight, you may sometimes discover a lot of Vets will allow you to spread the cost.

6. Most of us can also make lifestyle adaptations! It’s not just finding ways to keep your horse more cheaply, you can do it too!

7. If achievable, horse owners can often join forces to buy feed and straw in bigger numbers, reducing the overall price and passing on savings to all.

8. Finally, you can look into placing your horse in a foster home, even as a family friend.

If you’re in a position to share, or even buy a horse or pony, there are still many horses for sale and ponies for sale available.

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Origins of the Thoroughbred:
This breed of horse was originally bred in England as a result of the English horsemens want to have a fast horse. There are three that founded this bloodline which are: Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin Arabian, named after their owners, Thomas Darley, Lord Godolphin and Captain Robert Byerley. Each and every one of these stallions were imported to England from the Mediterranean Middle East between 1670 and 1710. The conclusion was a breed that could carry weight with consistent speeds over extended distances. Approximately 9/10 of present thoroughbreds have derived from Eclipse the grandsire of whom was Darley Arabian, who was never beaten in eighteen races. This started a very refined breeding practice which has been going on for all but 250 years, producing the greatest race horses, giving them authorityand brilliance on the race track.

About the turn of the 1700’s, breeding reports for Thoroughbreds were meager and regularly incomplete, and on any occasions, they would not refer to a horse until the young horse had proven themself commendable. A gentleman called James Weatherby, through his own inquiries and hard work, and by the consolidation of his personal privately owned pedigree accounts published the earliest volume of the General Stud Book. He achieved this in 1791. The initial book listed 387 mares, every one of which could be traced back to Eclipse. The General Studbook is still published in the UK by Weatherby and Sons. Many years afterward, as thoroughbred racing became popular in North America the requirement for a pedigree registry for American Bred Thoroughbreds, comparable to the General Stud Book became clear.

In 1873, the first American Stud Book was published by Colonel Sanders D. Bruce. This man used up almost a lifetime studying the pedigrees of American Throughbred horses. He continued the example of the General Stud Book producing six volumes of the register up until 1896 when the project was carried on by The Jockey Club. The integrity of the American Stud Book is the foundation on which all Thoroughbred racing in North America depends. The first edition of the American Stud Book released by The Jockey Club had a foal amount of approximately 3,000. In 1986 in had grown to an astonishing 51,000. Nowadays The Jockey Club uses a complicated new computer system to counter the registration issues presented by the massive quantity of annual registrations. The Jockey Club owns and operates one of the most complicated computer operations in the world at the moment, with its record holding in excess of 1.8 million thouroughbreds on a main pedigree store, with names that can be tracked back to the 1800’s. Including bloodlines, this computer database also deals with daily racing results of all Thoroughbred race in North America, not forgetting the ability to handle digitally sent pedigree and racing data from the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and other principal Thoroughbred countries. An additional progeny of Darley Arabian is Diomed; who won the principal running of the Kentucky Derby in 1780. At just 21 years old he was brought to the United States where he started the male line through his son, Sir Archie.

Thoroughbred horses are the first choice for track racing. Most thoroughbreds are born somewhere between January and April, however their certified date of birth is January 1 of the present year. In their first year of growth, they are developing bulk and muscle with the youngster commencing his training as a yearling. The horse learns to accept a bridle and a saddle and a short while after a rider on its back to break in the horse and prepare him for the starting gate and the run around the track.

For more information and horses for sale, please visit the Horse and Pony Directory.

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When purchasing a horse trailer, there are numerous features to consider. One significant feature is whether the horse trailer will have a gooseneck or bumper pull design. There are numerous reasons why you could gain from either design. Below we will look at the two designs and explain a little further.

Bumper Pull Designs - Good and Bad Points
Bumper pull trailers, also known as tag-along trailers, are horse trailers that connect to a hitch on the towing vehicle. The trailer simply “tags along” behind the towing vehicle and is not a part of the complete vehicle.

Plus Points
There are many plus points of bumper pull horse trailers. They normally cost less than a gooseneck trailer. It’s not required to own a 4×4 pickup for hauling the trailer, because of this more people can haul this layout of trailer with their normal car. Manouverability is frequently easier because the horsebox will keep to the path of your tow vehicle. You won’t need as much storage space for the horsebox as you would for a gooseneck trailer. Lastly, the trailer does not need to be classified as a “commercial” vehicle when it comes to licences because the combined weight of both the horsebox and towing vehicle is usually below 10,001 lbs.

Bad Points
There are several disadvantages as well. These style of trailers do not offer as much room for clothing and tack. Some bumper pull horseboxes may not be adequate for hauling over two horses as a result of the style of hitch needed for the load of the trailer. Also, bumper pull trailers have a tendency to snake on wavy roads, which can be risky.

Gooseneck Trailers - Advantages and Disadvantages
Gooseneck trailers are different from bumper pull trailers in their style of hitch. The hitch is joined from within the hauling 4×4’s load bed with a ball and coupler joint. This layout offers a number of benefits. It doesn’t wobble or fishtail like a bumper trailer is likely to, and towing is more stable. It provides more room for living quarters, which can be suitable for camping and long trips. The gooseneck layout is also more easy to back up to and align with the ball whilst joining it to your hauling vehicle, because you can view it without problem from the rear window. The gooseneck design is safer without the fear of the load becoming unhitched while driving anywhere.

Disadvantages
There are also a few issues. Gooseneck trailers normally cost more and are as a rule larger so they must be pulled with a 4×4 that is powerful enough to tow it. The hitching design is also more expensive for a gooseneck design. A further negative point is that while hitching the trailer, you normally have to climb into the bed of the 4×4 to finish the process. Also, you will need to detach your load cover from your pickup to tow a gooseneck trailer.

Choosing the Right Style
Whether you’re thinking of a bumper pull or gooseneck layout, you can search on the internet to check out various features of each. If you’re on a tight budget, you can find many used horseboxes for sale and horse trailers for sale to find a bargain. Think about the plus points and disadvantages of both designs before handing over any money. For more information and horses for sale, visit the Horse and Pony Directory

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