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At Shelby Ranch, we offer Western riding lessons and trail rides, but what does that mean, and how does this type of riding differ from English style? The divergence stems from Western riding’s origins in cattle ranching. In this post, we’ll outline the major differences between Western and English riding.  Tack and Clothing
One of the most obvious differences if you look at a person riding Western versus English is the gear that they use. The larger, heavier Western saddle distributes the rider’s weight over a greater area for safety and comfort even during a long ride. A Western saddle also has a horn traditionally used for attaching cattle. A Western saddle tends to contain strings for attaching equipment. The stirrups - the rings where a rider rests her feet - also tend to be larger to make it easier to mount and dismount. By contrast, an English saddle is smaller and lighter, allowing for closer contact with the horse’s back and more freedom of movement for the horse. Both Western and English saddles come in a range of designs to suit different sports and disciplines. Western riders often wear a more casual get-up, such as a cowboy hat, a long-sleeved shirt, jeans, and Western-style boots. An English rider, meanwhile, may wear a hunt cap or helmet, a dark-coloured fitted jacket, pale breeches, and tall boots with a low heel. Horses and Riding Style Although most horses can perform either Western or English riding, some animals are more suited for one style over the other. The horses used for Western riding tend to be compact and able to travel at a steady pace over long distances, with the occasional burst of speed. Horses for English riding are often taller and able to move at various speeds. Western riders hold both reins in one hand, leaving the other hand free for lassoing and other actions. An English rider, meanwhile, holds one rein in each hand. In general, Western horses move more smoothly and consistently, while English horses are expected to have more variety in their gaits. Western horses often move at a jog, which is a smooth gait slightly faster than walking. During bouncier English trotting, the rider often posts, or rises up and down to match the rhythm of the horse. When it comes to cantering, Western horses often stick to the lope, which is a slower canter. English horses, however, often need to perform various speeds of canter. Western and English riding also have different disciplines associated with them, such as barrel racing and roping for Western and dressage and jumping for English. They’re too numerous to explore in detail now, but keep an eye out for a future post! Is the distinction between Western and English riding clearer for you now? Let us know in the comments!
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It’s not only humans that need to visit the doctor and dentist. In this post, we’ll walk you through horses’ needs when it comes to both day-to-day care and regular medical check-ups and other procedures.  General Horse Care
Like other animals, horses have certain basic requirements for food, water, and shelter. They need to receive enough nutritious food and have access to clean water and somewhere to escape the heat or rain. Ideally, a horse enjoys the company of other horses and has enough space to walk and run around. As a minimum, it should receive daily exercise. Horses also require daily grooming. Besides making sure that the horse looks its best, this process is a chance to check its skin for damage and remove dirt, which can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Daily grooming should include picking the horse’s hooves to remove dirt and stones. During the winter and rainy periods, horses benefit from an antifungal solution every 1 to 2 weeks to prevent thrush. Regular Medical Care Horses should see a veterinarian for an exam at least once a year. If the animal is 20 years old or older, seeing a vet at least twice a year is a good idea. Horses require regular vaccines for diseases like tetanus and also, potentially, shots specific to their situation or region. It’s best to let a veterinarian or other trained individual give the vaccines. Interestingly, foals enjoy the benefits of their mother’s vaccinations for up to 6 months after birth. To obtain this protection against diseases, the foal must drink its mother’s antibody-rich colostrum milk within its first 6 hours of life. Horses should receive a dental check-up at least once a year, or more often if they’re young, elderly, or eat grain. Their teeth tend to wear down unevenly, leaving sharp edges that become uncomfortable unless a vet trims them. Other Routine Horse Care It’s not just a horse’s teeth that need trimming. Have a farrier or vet trim its hooves approximately every 6 weeks. Horseshoes may be a good idea if the animal will be walking on hard surfaces or has tender feet or other hoof issues or is lame. Horses, especially young ones, often have issues with intestinal parasites like worms that they pick up while grazing or licking their body. It’s important to apply a deworming paste to a horse every 4 to 8 weeks or give it daily dewormer in its feed. Flies and ticks can also bother a horse and even cause infections. Checking for nuisance insects is part of routine horse care. Thankfully, a variety of lotions and sprays are on the market to protect horses against these pests. Did you get a better sense of the necessary steps for looking after a horse? Let us know in the comments! If you picture a horse, your mind probably calls up an image of an animal of a certain size with typical features like a flowing mane and perky ears. Although most horses conform to these standards, a few have wacky characteristics that make them stand out from the herd. Join us as we explore unusual horse breeds. You may not find these types of horses at the ranch, but it’s always fascinating to learn about the diversity within the horse species, and this knowledge deepens your appreciation for these noble animals. American Bashkir Curly  As its name suggests, this breed has distinctive curly hair. Some of these horses only have a curly mane and tail, while others display curls on their whole body. These friendly, patient horses are also notable for being hypoallergenic, making them an excellent option for people who are allergic to horses. Akhal Teke Horse The national horse of Turkmenistan is famous for having hair with a metallic gleam, perhaps serving as a form of camouflage. It’s a strong, fast horse with long endurance, in addition to possessing delicate features. Its roots stretch back about 3000 years, but, today, this breed is endangered. Marwari Horse  The unusual feature of the Marwari horse is that its ears curve inward, even meeting at the tips. This equine has been bred in India since the 12th century. Besides its ears that point toward each other, it’s known for its speed, stamina, and hardiness. Gypsy Vanner What strikes the eye immediately about the Gypsy Vanner is the feathering from its knees down to its hooves. These calm, friendly, strong horses have straight manes, tails, and feathers. Romanichal people in the United Kingdom have used them to pull their vardoes, or wagons. Fjord Horse  This dun horse from Norway has an erect cream-coloured mane with a dark stripe down the middle. Owners normally keep the mane short to emphasize the contrast between the 2 colours. Fjord horses belong to one of the oldest horse breeds on the planet and are typically used on farms. Falabella Horse This miniature horse is one of the smallest breeds, only reaching up to about 80 centimetres at its withers. This long-lived breed started in Argentina in the mid-1800s. These horses are strong despite their size and are used to pull carts and give rides to tiny children, besides competing in shows and acting as guide animals. Knabstrupper  This amazing breed, of Danish origin, has spots like a Dalmatian or leopard. In fact, its genes give it what is known as a leopard complex, which mainly affects its coat pattern. These horses vary in size, being sometimes as small as a pony, and in function, being suitable for dressage, show jumping, and general riding.
Did any of these unusual horse breeds surprise you? Let us know in the comments! Although horses make some sounds to communicate, such as neighs, body language is their main way of getting their message across. As prey animals, it’s safest for them to be able to communicate without making any noise. In this post, we’ll teach you about horses’ movements and what they mean. Ears  Horses’ ears can rotate nearly all the way around. Ears that point forward indicate alertness or interest, while those turned toward the back are listening to a noise from behind. Rapid swivelling means that the horse is frightened about a specific noise or overwhelmed by too many stimuli. If a horse’s ears are fully pinned back, it’s angry and likely about to bite or kick. On the other hand, if its ears are turned toward the side, chances are it’s relaxing or taking a doze. Eyes A horse’s gaze also lets you know its mood or the focus of its attention. Tense facial muscles or darting eyes can both indicate fear or stress. If the whites of a horse’s eyes are showing, the animal is alarmed and likely very upset. A horse with a fixed stare may be feeling ill. If its eyes are half-closed, that could be a sign that it’s in a good mood. Head  A horse’s head movements give you more clues about its thoughts. While a lowered head suggests relaxation and a raised one tells you that the horse is focused on something interesting in the distance, a head swinging from side to side signals dissatisfaction or even aggression. Flared nostrils can also be a sign of nervousness.
On a more positive note, a drooping lip reveals that the horse is relaxed or asleep. Chewing when it has no food in its mouth, meanwhile, suggests a relaxed, pensive state. Legs If you think about a horse’s front legs, maybe you picture a stallion pawing at the ground. This behaviour means that the animal is bored, impatient, stressed, or angry. Raising a hind leg or stomping can also be a sign of irritation. A cocked back leg, with the edge of the hoof resting on the ground, may be the stance of a relaxed horse, but shifting between legs could also indicate discomfort. Riders are often concerned that a horse will kick with its hind legs. Watch out for swinging hindquarters or other signs of anger. Tail Although a horse’s tail may seem nearly inanimate, this part of a horse is actually quite expressive. Especially among Arabians, a raised tail indicates excitement, while, among all breeds, a tail clamped between the legs tells you that the horse is nervous or stressed. A slow swishing is nothing to be concerned about - the horse is likely trying to chase away flies. A rapidly swishing tail, however, can be an expression of irritation or anger. Do you now have a better idea what a horse is trying to tell you when it swings its head or cocks its hind leg? Let us know in the comments! Given that humans have been interacting with horses for thousands of years, it’s not surprising that we’ve developed some funny ideas about them. No matter your level of involvement with horses, there are surely some details that you didn’t know about these awe-inspiring, mysterious creatures. In this post, we’ll bust 7 common myths about horses. 1. Horses only sleep standing up.  It’s true that, unlike humans, horses often sleep standing up. Since it takes them a long time to get moving once they’re lying down, standing enables them to run away quickly if there’s any danger. However, in the wild, some horses will often take the opportunity to lie down while a couple stand on the alert. Lying down allows horses to enter deep REM sleep, which is essential for their health and performance. 2. Horses are colour-blind. This statement is another one that’s not completely wrong. Unlike humans, horses can’t see all 4 primary colours (blue, green, red, and yellow), let alone all the intermediate hues. Horses can only perceive blue and green, meaning that any other colours appear as either white, grey, or a desaturated blue or green. 3. Horses’ hooves are solid. Although horses’ hooves may look hard, they’re actually a mixture of bone, tissue, and keratin, a protein that’s also present in human hair and fingernails. The 3 bones in a horse’s hoof are surrounded by laminae, or sensitive tissue that carries blood. The hoof also contains a digital cushion, or rubber-like shock absorber. 4. Horses cannot drink cold water. If you think about it, in the wild, horses drink from streams and rivers that are often cold. The only caveat is that, as warm-blooded animals, horses may prefer not to drink cold water right after working out. 5. Cold-blooded horses have a different body temperature than hot-blooded ones. Although you can be forgiven for assuming that cold-blooded horses have cooler blood than hot-blooded ones, this description does not refer to the temperature of the liquid running through their circulatory system. Rather, these adjectives describe a horse’s body and personality type. As we noted in our post about horse breeds, hot-blooded horses are spirited and energetic. Cold-blooded equines, meanwhile, tend to be calmer. 6. When a horse shows its teeth or curls its lips, it’s smiling or laughing.  Unfortunately, the horse is not showing its amusement at the joke that you just told. In fact, it’s taking a sniff, in what is known as the flehmen response. A horse’s olfactory glands are buried deep in its nasal passage, so it needs to make a funny face to smell things.
7. The only way that horses can communicate is via neighing or whinnying. Horses are generally not very vocal, so it would be challenging for them if neighs and whinnies were their only way of communicating. In fact, these animals also use body language to get their point across. Do you know any other myths about horses? Let us know in the comments! Have you ever been curious about horses’ life span or stages of growth? You may have observed or heard that these amazing animals’ life cycle is rather different than our own. For example, foals can stand and walk within a few minutes of birth. In this post, we’ll explore horses’ development from the womb right through to old age. Pregnancy and Birth
A mare is pregnant, on average, for 340 days, or a little over 11 months. Mares give birth on their own, with even the umbilical cord breaking by itself. Labour normally lasts for 1 hour before they lie down to give birth. Foals Baby horses start nursing within 2 hours of their birth and are considered foals until they stop nursing after about 6 months. Foals drink up to a quarter of their body weight in milk every day. Thankfully for their mothers, baby horses often start to find solid food interesting after 10 to 14 days and can start to eat foal feed after a couple of months. Weanlings From the time that they wean, or stop nursing, to their first birthday, young horses are called weanlings. During this period, they gain a significant portion of their height and body weight. They need regular exercise to encourage muscle development. Yearlings Yearlings are horses between 1 and 2 years of age. They have growth spurts that leave them looking off balance with their hind, or rear end, higher than their withers, or the area between their shoulder bones. Over the course of the year that they spend in this stage, horses grow into their bodies, particularly their long legs. Adolescents In this puberty period, when horses are between 2 and 3 years of age, their growth rate slows as they approach their mature height and weight. Adolescence is an excellent time to start horses on training as they are quite curious, and the growth plates in their bones have normally closed, allowing them to be ridden. Adults By the time that it turns 4, a horse is considered a full adult. Adult horses have stabilized their height and weight and normally eat the equivalent of about 2 percent of their body weight daily. People often start breeding horses when they are about 3 years old. Seniors Horses start to show signs of aging, like a sagging back, by the time that they’re in their early 20s, although many are still ridden for several years. For the sake of comparison, a 20-year-old horse is like a human of 60 years of age. Elderly horses need to be checked regularly since they can suffer from health problems like joint pain and kidney and liver disease, and have difficulty regulating their body temperature and weight. Did you gain a deeper understanding of horses’ life cycle? Let us know in the comments! You might associate horses most with riding, but humans have used them for a wide variety of activities over the past several thousand years. Horses have been used in war and agriculture, for the transportation of people and goods, and even as a source of meat and milk. In this post, we’ll walk you through some of the most important developments in humans’ relationship with horses. Early Horses The history of the horse begins long before their domestication. In North America, over 50 million years ago, there lived a funny little creature called Hyracotherium or Eohippus. This leaf-eating horse ancestor was about the size of a small dog.  Eohippus’s several toes worked fine when it was living in swamps or the tropical rainforest, but, as North America dried out, a change was necessary. The toes transitioned into 1 toe then into a hoof. Horses’ ancestors also gradually became larger and developed more powerful legs that enabled them to run through the prairies.
During this period, some of these early horses were crossing the Bering Land Bridge to Asia and onward to Europe. For reasons that are not entirely clear, all horse ancestors disappeared from the Americas 10,000 years ago. The Domestication of the Horse Humans’ first interactions with horses probably involved raising them for meat and milk. It’s difficult to determine an exact timeline for horses’ domestication, but experts locate it between 4000 and 3000 BCE in the steppes north of the Black Sea. Humans likely used horses to pull plows and chariots before they tried to mount them. Fossils of horse teeth dating back to about 3000 BCE reveal that humans had started using riding bits. The earliest available records of horse training are from about 1350 BCE by a member of the Mitanni people, who lived around ancient Mesopotamia. What’s certain is that, by the final centuries before the Common Era, horseback riding had become well established. The Chinese developed the first good harness around 200 BCE. They also dreamt up the stirrup not long afterward. The stirrup meant that warriors had their hands free to use weapons like spears and bows and arrows. The Return of the Horse to North America Spanish settlers brought horses to New Mexico in the late 17th century. Indigenous groups living on the plains could use horses to hunt buffalo and to travel much farther and faster than they had previously. These beautiful animals quickly became status symbols and an important component of indigenous trading. During the 1680 Santa Fe Rebellion, hundreds of horses were captured or escaped. They would go on to form a mustang population of several million animals roaming around the Great Plains. Today, in many parts of the world, people use horses more for leisure than for work. It’s interesting to think, however, about all of the essential roles that they have held over the years. Did you learn something new about the history of riding? Let us know in the comments! Have you ever wondered what horses need to eat to make sure that they have enough energy and nutrients to take you for a ride? Maybe you picture a mare grazing in a field or reaching out to take a bite from an apple or carrot.
Horses are herbivores, so these are all good guesses. In this post, we’ll enter into horses’ diet in more detail, then we’ll finish by discussing how often to feed horses. What Horses Eat Grass is horses’ natural food source and passes smoothly through their digestive system. It also contains silica, which is essential for their dental health. Wild horses can nibble on grass for up to 17 hours a day. Since it’s often not practical to leave horses out in a pasture all the time or for the whole year, hay or haylage is another option for meeting horses’ dietary requirements. Hay consists of completely dried grass that’s stored in bales. Haylage is semi-dried grass that’s wrapped in layers of plastic and conserves more nutrients than hay. In their diet, horses need a balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. Most carbohydrates should come from grass or hay, but it’s possible to supplement horses’ diet with grains like oats, either plain or mixed up as concentrates. Combining grains with other ingredients is a way to add extra vitamins and minerals. It’s okay to feed horses a treat, such as an apple or carrot, every once in a while. Horses also enjoy licking salt blocks, especially in the summer. A salt-vitamin-mineral mix helps meet horses’ nutritional requirements while satisfying their salt craving. There are certain foods that you should not feed to a horse, including sugary foods, bread, meat, and brans like wheat bran. Members of the cabbage family, such as turnips and broccoli, cause horses discomfort, while potatoes and tomatoes can be toxic for them. On average, an adult horse should eat enough dry matter daily to be equivalent to about 1.5 to 3 percent of its body weight. The quantity of food and water that a horse requires varies depending on its age, mass, activity level, and metabolism. Good doer or easy keeper horses easily maintain, and even gain, weight. Hard keeper horses, on the other hand, struggle to maintain an adequate weight. How Often to Feed Horses Horses like to eat small amounts of food frequently. They’re happy to just keep grazing all day. Ideally, they have constant access to grass or hay, as well as water. If they’re inside a stable and that’s not possible, horses should be fed 2 to 3 times a day, with a maximum gap of 8 hours between every feeding. Horses prefer receiving food at the same time every day. Horses need approximately 5 to 15 gallons of clean water per day. If they don’t have a steady supply available, they should be given water at least twice a day. What did you learn about horses’ diet? Let us know in the comments! Did you know that there are approximately 350 registered horse breeds, plus about 100 pony breeds? In this post, we’ll explore ways to classify horses then some of the most popular breeds.
Classifying Horses When horse lovers mention the temperature of a horse’s blood, they’re describing its temperament, features, and bloodline. Cold-blooded horses are known for being calm and steady. Hot-blooded horses, by contrast, are energetic and excitable. Warm-blooded horses are middle of the road in terms of weight and personality. They’re tall and powerful but not too high-strung. You may hear about purebred, crossbreed, and grade horses. A purebred, as you would imagine, has a pure bloodline without any influence from other breeds. Crossbreeds are intentional combinations of two breeds, while grade horses are unplanned crosses. Draft horses are your typical work horse, like the Clydesdale. These calm, cold-blooded creatures have been used for centuries to haul loads ranging from farm equipment to soldiers weighed down with heavy armour. They can briefly pull loads of over twice their weight. With their thin legs and small bones, light horses are fast and great for any type of riding. Their weight and appearance vary, from the patchy pinto to hot-blooded Arabians. Gaited horses, like the Tennessee Walking Horse, are light horses that move particularly smoothly. These horses used to be known as “gentleman’s horses” because wealthy men enjoyed riding them. Today, you might experience a stepping pace or fox trot if you ride one of these beauties, but the one thing that you’re unlikely to do is fall off. Some people are confused about how ponies relate to horses. Ponies are basically small horses, always measuring less than 14.2 hands. They’re smart and stocky, with duties ranging from pulling loads to giving children their first rides. Specific Horse Breeds The Spanish brought splotchy American Paint Horses with them to the United States. Paint horses are good all-around horses for different types of English and Western riding. American Quarter Horses are some of the most popular mounts for both beginner riders and professionals. These animals are both sporty and gentle. Their colour varies enormously, and some animals have white markings on their head and legs. You can recognize an Appaloosa right away because of its distinctive spotted coat. If you look more closely, you’ll notice that it has striped hooves. This breed is hardy and an excellent choice for long-distance trail riding and herding. Arabians are one of the oldest breeds in the world. All light horse breeds have their origin in the Arabian. These gorgeous solid-coloured horses are spirited and powerful but loyal. Thoroughbreds are best known for their success in horse racing. With their lean bodies and long, flat muscles, they can reach speeds of over 60 kilometres per hour. We hope you enjoyed our overview of horse breeds. Is there anything that you would like to know about horses? Let us know in the comments! You're new to the horse world, and some of the words that you hear around the stable make you stop and wonder what people are talking about! Your first step into your horse world journey is to know the terms and what they mean. Adult Horses: Mare - Adult female horse (3 years and older) Gelding - Castrated adult male horse (3 years and older) Stallion - Uncastrated adult male horse (3 years and older) Pony - A full-grown small horse (14.2 hh and under) Young Horses: Foal - A newborn baby horse (before weaning) Weanling - A colt or filly who is 6 to 12 months old Yearling - A horse who is between 1 and 2 years old Colt - Male horse (3 years and under) Filly - Female horse (3 years and under) The Horse's Body: Conformation - The shape of a horse's body. A horse with good conformation is stronger and more likely to stay sound than one with weak conformation. When judging a horse's conformation, you take into consideration features like the length of their back and the angles of their legs and hooves. Hand - Yeah, you're right, horses have hooves, not hands! Did you know that we use hands to indicate how tall a horse is? One hand is equivalent to 4 inches. Lame - Nope, we are not talking about popularity here! We are telling you that your horse is sore. If your horse is "lame," it has an injury that is causing it to walk with a limp. Sound - Check check 1, 2, 3, can you hear me? Just joking! A sound horse does not have any injuries that would interfere with its gait and movement. Points - This word is used when describing the color of a horse. His "points" are his mane, tail, and lower legs, and the tips of his ears. Gait - The different speeds that a horse can travel: walking, jogging, loping, and galloping.  |
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