Monday, July 30, 2012

Horse Breeds: Appaloosa

The Spanish first brought spotted horses to what we now call Mexico in the early 1500s, but there are cave paintings in Europe, Asia, and norther Africa depicting spotted horses that are thousands of years old. But even though these horses existed, it wasn't until the 1700s, when the strange spotted horse first arrived in Northwest America, that the spotted horse gained any kind of recognition. This was mostly due to the Nez Perce tribe of aborginal people. They were originally a fishing people, but the spotted horse gave them mobility. Suddenly they were renowned for their hunting and craftsmanship as they rode astride their spotted horses. Nearby settlers began referring to these horses by names that were associated with the River Palouse: "a Polouse Horse," "Palousey," and "Appalousey" were all common names. Eventually, the name Appaloosa stuck.

During the Nez Perce war of 1877, the herds of Appaloosa were scattered and may have been lost if they hadn't been striking enough to attract the attention of the public. They were popular enough with the settlers of the west that they eventually spread out east as well. The Appaloosa Horse Club was created in 1938 to preserve, protect, and improve these magnificent beasts. In 1975, the Appaloosa was named the official state horse of Idaho. This breed is popular at gaming events, horse shows, and as a trail horse.

You can't talk about the Appaloosa without addressing their most unique physical charactersists. The coat is attractive and can be found in a variety of colors. Base colors include bay, brown, buckskin, black, dun, grulla, palaoino, cremello, chestnut, bay roan, blue roan, and red roan. The pattern on the coat varies among five popular patterns: frost, leopard, snowflake, blanket, and marbelized. And let's not forget the trademark white sclera and striped hooves. The typical Appaloosa stands from 14.2 to 16 hands high and is a beauty to behold.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Horse Breeds: Andalusian

Thought to be from the Iberian Peninsula, the Andalusian (also called Pura Raza Espanola or Pure Spanish Race) is named for the Province of Andalucia. The Andalusian is truly an ancient breed. Cave paintings thought to be 20,000 years old show a horse remarkably similar to this stunning breed and even Homer mentions them in the Illiad (which was written in approximately 1100 BCE). In 711 CE (Common Era or AD), during the Moorish invasion, the Andalusian was bred to the Spanish Barb.

The Andalusian is the foundation for many of the most graceful breeds around the world, including the well-known Lipizzaner and the Peruvian Paso. Their natural grace, elegance, and beauty make them perfect for dressage and traditional Spanish equestrian sports. They are also heavily utilized for bull fights and ranching.

With a strange and, in all honesty, creepy ability to bring his haunches far underneath his body to elevate the forehand, the Andalusian can perform many of the complex movements of dressage such as airs-above-the-ground, passage, and piaffe with relative ease. This breed moves with a distinctive trot and canter full of upright steps and elegance. Most Andalusians are grey in color (they are NOT white even if they appear so), though you can also find black, dun, bay, and palamino. The typical Andalusian stands 15 to 16.2 hands high.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Horse Breeds: American Saddlebred

Originating in North America, the American Saddlebred is typically an exhibition horse. They are seen frequently in English saddleseat exhibitions but can also be found in driving and Western classes.

When America was still young, Galloway and Hobbie horses from Britian were brought over to the new world by ship. These horses were bred to create the Narragansett Pacer. This horse was crossed to the Thoroughbred in the 1700s, producing the beautiful and elegant American Horse. This new breed was used for both driving and riding. A little later, the American Horse was crossed to horses of Arabian and Morgan blood to create the American Saddlebred. The American Saddlebred is a show horse, no doubt about it. They can be found in shows throughout the world, though they are most commonly found in saddleseat exhibitions.

The American Saddlebred is one of the most elegant of horses. They are either three-gaited or five-gaited, and this includes the standard gaits, the slow gait, and the rack. The hooves hit the ground individually in both gaits, but the rack is much faster. All gaits are animated and a joy to watch. A true American Saddlebred is elegant in appearance with bright facial features, a long arched neck, and a high-stepping movement. All colors are acceptable in the American Saddlebred Horse Association, including pinto and some rather unusual colors. The size of the American Saddlebred is fairly consistent, with horses usualy standing from 15 to 17 hands high.

Monday, July 9, 2012

How to Treat Hoof Cracks in Horses

Hoof cracks in horses can be incredibly painful and dangerous, leading to possible injury and infection if not treated. To keep a horse with hoof cracks healthy and safe, cracks in the hooves must be treated immediately and properly. Luckily, properly treating hoof crack is simple and easy, if a little time consuming.

Any horse with hoof cracks should see a vet immediately. Sometimes, hoof crack is caused by a disease called Laminitis, which causes the hooves to break down. If this is the cause, only the veterinarian can treat the horse effectively. Follow his or her directions very carefully if the horse suffers from Laminitis.

Once the veterinarian has seen the horse and determined that Laminitis is not the cause, the responsibility for the care and treatment of hoof cracks falls to the owner. The hooves should be checked each day and any stones or debris removed; this needs to be done gently to avoid further injuring the horse. Any shoes or studs should be examined for signs of wear, and discarded if they are not in good condition. If the cracks are located around the shoe, the shoe should be removed and not replaced until the hoof cracks are healed.

The diet of the horse in question might need to be changed, and this should be discussed with the veterinarian. Different breeds of horses require different foods, but generally a diet with a biotin supplement added will be useful. These supplements are available at many horse supply stores, or from most veterinarians.

While the hooves are tender and healing, the horse should be kept in a stable environment. Temperature fluctuations should be kept to a minimum, and it is important to keep the horse from standing in muddy or wet areas. Try to avoid transporting the horse, but if it’s necessary, protect the feet. Cover the hoof, but be sure to leave the heel free.

To help speed healing, rub down the hooves with vitamin E oil two or three times a week. A lotion could also be used, provided it is high enough in vitamin E. Do not sock the hooves until healing is complete. If at all possible, avoid walking the horse on any hard surfaces, and this could worsen the condition of the hooves.

Hoof cracks should be dealt with immediately to speed healing and prevent further damage. Seek the advice of a veterinarian for additional tips concerning a particular horse, as each horse is unique and requires individual care.

Monday, July 2, 2012

How to Teach a Horse Voice Commands

Many people are surprised at the idea that a horse can be taught to respond to voice commands in short order. Some people just don’t seem to realize that most horses are fully intelligent enough to understand a multitude of verbal commands. Teaching horses to follow voice commands is a fairly simple process, but one that takes patience and repetition.

Horses hear very well, but not all humans speak in a way that a horse will understand. To ensure the horse understands all verbal commands, emphasize each syllable and enunciate well. This will assist the horse in clarifying the different commands as they are issued, and will make the learning process far more pleasant for both horse and rider.

To begin, start with a simple command, such as ‘whoa’. Using a lead rope, lead the horse forward a few steps, say ‘whoa’ and stop. Use the lead rope to stop the horse if necessary. After a few repetitions, the horse will start to respond to just the word, with little or no physical reinforcement. This may take a few days, so be prepared to repeat this exercise several times.

After the horse has mastered the ‘whoa’ command, try adding the word ‘walk’. Start walking forward while saying the word ‘walk’ and see if the horse will follow this command. Continue to repeat until the horse understands the ‘walk’ command.

The ‘trot’ command is similarly easy to teach. At first, this should also be done with a lead rope. Working under the saddle should not begin until ‘whoa’, ‘walk’, and ‘trot’ have all been mastered on the lead rope. Once it is time to work under the saddle, have the horse respond to the same three commands. It might be helpful to reward the horse with a small treat every time it responds correctly. Never punish a horse for not responding properly, or for not responding quickly enough.

Once the three basic commands are mastered under the saddle, additional commands can be added. Remember to only add one command at a time to simplify matters, but don’t worry that the horse won’t understand. Horses are highly intelligent and capable of learning many different commands.

Most horses will be able to learn additional commands such as ‘left’, ‘right’, ‘back’, and even ‘canter’ with little difficulty. However, it will likely take a few weeks for any horse to fully understand all these varied verbal commands. Try not to work on these commands for more than approximately twenty minutes a day, and remember to be patient.