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The Different Characteristics of Stocky Horse Breeds

Stocky horse breeds have become very popular because of their ability to navigate difficult terrain and to ride for long distances. People who live in areas where riding can be difficult navigate towards these types of horses because their natural power enables them to cover the terrain with ease. However, stocky horses are prevalent in many other forums as well and you will regularly see them running around the race track, performing in rodeos and winning horse shows.

Quarter horses have their roots in American and are very athletic and competitive. In racing, their events have become some of the more popular events to see at local tracks. To watch a quarter horse event is something totally unique. Where a regular race will start out at a very slow pace, these little balls of energy will go full speed from gate to wire. It is extremely exciting and one of the more popular forms of horse racing on the West Coast.

This stocky horse breed is ideal for “Cowboying” as they are very agile and easy to handle in the various competitions. For this very reason, they are not only used on ranches in the Western United States, they are also one of the more popular horses seen in the rodeo. Their agility makes them the ride of choice in many of the skill events and because of their competitive nature, they never give up and are always up for the challenge.

The Albania breed is typical of stocky horse breeds. Having origins that trace back the Balkan Peninsula, the horse is perfect for long distance riding or endurance. These horses have long been known to be popular in transportation and are often used for wagons and carriages. These horses are also extremely popular for farming as their stout frame allows them to work all day with great production. This is actually something that continues to be developed with this breed.

Another very popular stocky horse is the Criollo. This stocky horse breed is legendary for its endurance capabilities and became famous for a ride that was done by Aim Tschiffely. Traveling from Buenos Aires to New York, two Criollo horses made the journey in fine form. Looking back, both of these horses were about 15 years old and lived into their forties. Today, Criollo horses are still used in endurance competitions and are used in South America on a regular basis for events that cover hundreds of miles.

While not a horse breed that comes up in many horse conversations, the Shetland Pony is another breed of horse that is known for its stocky characteristics. This stocky horse breed was specifically intended for use in the incredibly harsh Shetland Isles. One of the more notable features of the Shetland pony is the long and thick manes and tails that they have. They were bread this way in order to be able to handle the very hard winters that are experienced in the Shetland Isles.

Another stocky horse breed that can handle the harsh conditions is the Icelandic horse. These are very unique looking animals that tend to be smaller in size, but are very powerful. The chest of the horse is massive and allows it to plow through the conditions that it faces in Iceland. These horses have been round for centuries and are mentioned quite often in Norse Mythology. To this day, these horses are used in various farming activities, racing and as show horses.

One of the most powerful stocky horse breeds that you will find is the Belgian horse. This is just flat out a powerful animal that was made for pulling massive amounts of weight. One unfortunate characteristic of this horse is that they are very susceptible to JEB or Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa. Foals that have this often have to be put down because of abnormalities. A better known characteristic of these horses is their strength. In power competitions, these horses are legendary and few if any other breeds stand a chance when it comes to the sheer driving power that Belgian horses are able to generate.

Stocky horse breeds are some of the most incredible horses around. They are easy to spot because of their massive chests and what seems to be fire in their eyes. It is almost as if they know how strong they are and it leads them to be competitive in just about everything that they do. From the moment these horses realize that they are being depended on for anything, it is as though they sense it and immediately step up to give it the best effort that they are capable of. These horses will simply not give up in anything that they do and it is the characteristics of agility, power and will that continue to make them popular today.

Filed Under: Basics Tagged With: characteristics of stocky horse breeds, stocky horse, stocky horse breed, stocky horse breeds, stocky horses

What to Look For When Searching for Horse Sales

Even with the declining economy, or because of it, many people are taking advantage and making the larger purchases that they would not normally make.  This is because of the lower prices that are being offered for high ticket items.  A horse can be considered a high ticket item and the cost of the horse and the items needed for caring for a horse can add up to a good deal of money.

This investment is going to require a monetary output for years to come so it is important, even when getting a great deal, to know what to look fore when searching for horse sales.  It is also good to know what is going to be needed to take care of and transport the horse as well.  This can make it much easier to budget and see if a new horse is a good idea for you and your family and if the numbers say that it is affordable.

Not only are you going to need to look for horse sales, but you are going to need to find horse trailers for sale. If a new horse trailer is not in your budget, then it is going to be important to find used horse trailers for sale.  Some horse sales can include the trailer in the price.  This is because many who have made the painful decision to sell their horse can not afford it anymore.  They are going to offer a deal that is going to include the horse along with the trailer which can save the buyer a good deal of money.  This is great for those who are looking for a package deal.

When choosing a horse at a horse sale, it is important to know if there is any training that is wanted in the horse.  There are many types of horses that are trained in different styles.  If you want to train up a horse on your own, this may not be an issue.  On the other hand, if a trained horse is wanted, then the training of the horse should be known before hand.  Dressage is a common training style.  All this does is take the horses natural inclinations and abilities and train these actions according to the rider’s commands.  This is so popular that it is even an Olympic sport.  If this is the type of horse that is desired, then dressage horses for sale should be looked at.

It is important that you see the horse run through its paces before a dressage horse for sale is purchased.  Unfortunately there are people who may claim that the horse has been trained in dressage, when in actuality it has not.  A good horse person who is selling this type of horse is going to interview you as intensely as you interview them.  They are going to want to know the experience of the rider and they may want to run the horse through the paces so the rider can understand the commands that the horse follows.

Those who are looking for a horse that they can breed with mares in their stables may want to look at Arabian horses for sale.  These studs can breed some fine race horses and are a great investment.  Of course the cost of a young Arabian stud can be quite high so be prepared for this cost.  It is important to get the entire pedigree on any horse that is going to be used for breeding.  You do not want to mate a pedigreed mare to a stud that has no certifiable Arabian breed line.

A horse sale can be a fun way for the family to get together and go looking for a new family pet or investment.  Most horse sales are going to offer a variety of horses that can be purchased.  Breeds and trained horses as mentioned above are going to be offered.  Most sales are also going to have draft horses for sale for those who want a working horse as opposed to a riding horse.  A draft horse is typically used for pulling wagons, carts or sleighs in the winter time.

Before purchasing a horse, it is vital to find either a new or used horse trailer for sale that is in good condition.  You are going to need to find a way to transport the horse to your home.  Unless you only live a couple a blocks from where the horse is being stalled, then no one is going to be able to ride it to your home.  This is also not a very good policy as it is important for the horse to become comfortable with the new rider before they jump on the horse and go away with it.  Having a horse trailer can give the horse time to get you know you before you begin interacting with it.

Filed Under: Basics Tagged With: arabian horses for sale, draft horses for sale, dressage horse for sale, dressage horses for sale, horse sale, horse trailer for sale, horse trailers for sale, used horse trailers for sale

Why it is Important to Check the Stifle before Purchasing a Horse

The stifle is the rear joints in a horse or other four legged animal that is akin to the knee in a human.  If this joint is damaged, the horse is not considered in fit condition.  Many times a horse stifle injury can mean having to put the horse down if it is severe enough.  If you do not know how to check this area of a horse, you are going to want to contact a veterinarian who can do this for you.  They can tell you whether or not there are any issues with the horse that can make the horse basically worthless for riding.

An injury to the horse stifle can be as detrimental to the horse as a knee injury can be to a human.  This is the area that takes all of the weight on a horse or other quadrupeds.  While a human who gets a knee injury can prop up their leg until the knee heals, a horse cannot do this.  That is why stifle problems in horses can mean that the horse should not be ridden.  The weight can be too much for the injured joint and it can cause many more problems for the horse down the road.

In many cases, stifle injuries in horses can mean that the horse is no longer able to walk.  There is no cheap way to fix this type of injury.  For that reason, and for the horses benefit, the horse may be put down because of this injury.  This is usually a last resort.  When one can afford it, there are now surgeries that can be performed, at great expense, to help strengthen or even replace the stifle.  This is the same type of surgery that is used on humans who have injured their knee to the point that they need to have surgery and a replacement knee fitted.

While a horse with stifle problems is not completely useless, they cannot do the things that a healthy horse with sound horse stifles can do.  One thing that the horse can do is breed.  The horses stifle problem is not going to keep it from mounting a mare in heat.  Studs that have this problem are not going to pass this on to their offspring unless it is a genetic condition.  This is a rare occurrence though as most horses that are born with this condition are not going to be bred at all.  The stifle problems are going to be bred out eventually.

A stifle injury in horses should be disclosed before a person purchases it. Many who are selling horses are not the most ethical or honest people.  This can be said about sales in any aspect as well.  That is why it is important to bring a veterinarian who can check the horse out thoroughly to make sure that there are not any health problems or physical problems with the horse.  The best way to determine if there are any problems with the horse stifle joints is by extending the leg while it is flexed.  He is also going to have the horse run in a straight line to determine if there is any noticeable limp while being ridden.

If the horse is listing to one side, there may be issues with the stifle.  After doing a thorough examination, the vet is going to give you their conclusions on the soundness of the horse.  If he says that the horse is not to be ridden, then you should not purchase the horse if that is your intent.  Even if you love the horse and have saved up for it, you should listen to your vet.  They know better than you what makes a good horse and what a lame horse can mean to the buyer.

If the stifle is sound, it is important to protect your new horse from any injuries to it by making sure that the area where it is going to be ridden is free from deep holes that can catch the leg and break it.  This can also injure a stifle and then the sound horse that you first purchased is going to become a pet instead of the animal that was wanted for riding.  There is going to be more money spent on vet bills that you may not have planned on.

The area that was chosen as the corral should be checked thoroughly to make sure that there are not any large or deep holes that can catch the horse’s leg.  This is going to be a protection for the horse and its stifle.  Horses do not come cheap and this is why all this work and preparation is needed to make sure that they stay sound and healthy while you own, ride and love it.

Filed Under: Basics, Disease and Illness, Horse Care Tagged With: horse stifle, horse stifle injury, horse stifle joint, horse stifle problems, horse stifles, horses stifle, stifle in horses, stifle injuries in horses, stifle injury in horses, stifle problems in horses

What is the definition of a Horse Equestrian?

Many people have heard the word equestrian when combined with horse.  But what is a horse equestrian?  Anyone who is proficient in the riding of horses is known as an equestrian.  Many who love horses also refer to themselves in that term but this is not accurate.  It is the act of riding that determines the use of the word.  Not only does one have to be a rider, but they have to be very good at it to be considered an equestrian.  It does not matter whether the horse is being ridden for work purposes or for show, anyone who is good at riding is known as a horse equestrian.

Starting with the basics, a person who can take a wild horse and break them into an animal that does not mind having a person on their back is also considered an equestrian.  They cull wild horses from overly populated wild herds and teach them to be ridden by humans.  This is a dangerous as well as rewarding time for the horse riding equestrian.  The horse first learns the scent of the person who is working with it.  This can take a few minutes to a few days depending on how easy the horse is to work with.

Once the horse has become used to the human smell, they are then gentled.  This is a long and complicated process.  Typically, the horse is introduced to a bit.  This is an unfamiliar feeling for the horse and they are going to fight it.  After the horse is used to the bit, the equestrian is going to attempt to get on the back of the horse.  This is where it can get really dangerous for the horse equestrian.  The horse is not going to be used to having this weight on their back and are going to fight it.

They are going to buck off the rider.  The rider is going to continue to get on the back of the horse until the horse gets used to the rider being there.  While this is going on, the horse equestrian is going to speak softly to the horse and is going to encourage it to accept them.  Once the horse is used to the weight as well as the bit, a saddle is going to be placed on the horse.  This is the final step in breaking them.  Breaking may seem to be a harsh word, but it is the common term when training a wild horse.

Breaking a horse is not the only way a horse riding equestrian earns that term.  Those who love riding horses in the mountains face their own issues when riding.  A mountain horse equestrian needs to know how to seat the horse while going up and down hills.  It is easy to stay on a horse back when the horse is on level ground.  It is another to maintain the same seat when there are steep hills to go up and down.  This is why they are considered experts at horse riding and why they have earned that title.

Some riders prefer not to use a saddle or to ride bareback.  These people are known as the horseback equestrian.  This is because it is more difficult to ride a horse without a saddle than it is to ride with equestrian horse tack.  There is more leg strength that is required in the rider to maintain the right balance on the horse when there are no stirrups or a saddle to hold on to.  While this riding style can be more difficult, those who practice it say it is a way to become closer to the animal they are riding.

Historically, an equestrian was known as a member of the Calvary.  These were men, women were not allowed in the military hundreds of years ago, who worked and fought solely from horseback.  They could be just as deadly from horseback as the modern day soldier is from a tank.  There was special armor that was created to protect the horse as well as the rider.  This armor started out as leather wrappings which changed to metal as the technology was advanced.  Today, not many military outfits use the Calvary that was known back then.  While there are still equestrian units found in most military branches, most of them are used only in parades and formal functions.  The Calvary is known reserved to helicopter units.

In answering the question of what is a horse equestrian, the bottom line is that it is anyone who has proficiency in the riding and caring for horses.  Those who want to become an equestrian should learn all they can about horses.  Once they have started riding horses and are good at it can be considered an equestrian of horses in their own right.

Filed Under: Basics Tagged With: equestrian horse tack, horse riding equestrian, horseback equestrian, horses equestrian, mountain horse equestrian