Cheap and saddle honestly don’t feel right together in the same sentence. Why? Since quite plainly, you Will pick up what you pay for if you purchase an inexpensive saddle. And it’s not only that you’re going to be in discomfort, but it will not make your horse all that pleased either, and may very well injure him.

Ok you’ve tried low-cost and worked out that is not the route to go. You’ve tried expensive and, well, that worked, but good lord are the prices ever high. So here i will discuss some tips about how to buy your next saddle.

Saddles are usually priced from several hundred dollars to in excess of $9000, and specialty or vintage saddles can with no trouble range into the tens of thousands. You are not going to be spending that kind of cash, though you DO desire to pay enough to get something proper and something that correctly fits your horse. It would be best to hunt for value, fit, fit and fit. Yes that’s true, THE key point regarding your saddle is that it fits right. Look at it in this way, if you had a too small or too large pair of pants on you would definitely be downright restless. Why would you want to saddle you horse with something that doesn’t fit?

Till you go hunting, identify the type of saddle you want. Do not just possess a vague plan of what might suffice, keep in mind an image of precisely what you would like. Then hit the road and start hunting – for the right fit.

The saddle must fit you. Western or English, cutting or jumping, gaming or pleasure, you will need to be relaxed within the saddle all the period of time. You don’t want to be pondering your saddle when you’re riding. The appropriate fit makes your saddle seem like a natural extension of the backside.

If ever the saddle doesn’t fit your equine, despite how great the cost, it was too much to purchase. If you are looking at ready-made saddles, then you should definitely have the try it before you buy it opportunity. If they will not let you test it, don’t put yourself out – of course you won’t need to ride the horse anything more than a couple of minutes to determine fit. If you put a pad beneath it and handle it with care, you will not damage it.

If the saddle is a bespoke build, the saddle maker will require measurements of the pony so as to determine the appropriate gullet, tree, skirt lengths, and so forth. That is where you’ll be spending out decent money. Importance on the good, as what you receive will be precisely what you will want and what your pony deserves. Though of course, the cost must fit your financial plan. And simply because your budget is in short supply doesn’t mean you can’t discover a saddle with a suitable fit. It only means spending more time to locate it.

Give this a got: if you’re ordering a custom built saddle, inform the saddle maker the limit to the total you’ll shell out, after which you can let him plan to fit the budget. Saddle makers can be very creative and remain within the budget. Or try buying a used saddle that FITS, and is also eye-appealing. That can often be greater value than a brand new saddle. Just keep in mind the saddle you would like has to Fit!

If you are currently browsing for saddles, horses for sale or ponies for sale, check out The Horse and Pony Directory.

As human beings we’re conscious of the danger of staying within the sun too long. We all know that if we spend to much relaxing time in the sun we run the chance of turning a nice tan in to an unsightly burn. As well as being unappealing and tender we are also aware that sunburns often leads to skin cancer. We utilize all kinds of tricks from sunscreen to light weight covers to prevent our skin from frying.

Since they may be big and appear to be infallible (a trait that every horse owner knows is an illusion) we regularly forget about the affect that the sun has on our horses.

Equines, just as people, can burn. Sunburn is most frequently seen on horses with  a light coloured hair coat for example Appaloosa’s, Lipizzans, Paints, Pintos, Andalusian, and Grays. Horse owners who possess horses with pasty noses and most pale skin around the eyes often find themselves treating their horse partners for burns. A swift variation in hormones, like horses which have been bred, may cause a horse to pick up sunburn. Even though dark horses aren’t normally aggravated by sunburn the sunlight often bleaches the dark hair. In some cases harsh sunburn is believed to lead to some liver impairment.

Horse owners must also bear in mind that some medications might also set-off sunburn in horses. Tetracycline is one prescription that has been recognized to trigger sunburn in some horses.

Equine sunburn appears similar to human sunburn. The skin turns an angry colour of pink or even a violent red. If the skin is left raw long enough it begins to dry and crack. Horses that are suffering from severe sunburn will start to blister. Sunburn could cause hair loss.

Soothing burnt eyes is relatively straightforward. All an owner must do is obtain a fly mask for his or her equine. When using a fly mask it is very important to make sure that the fly mask is kept clean. Basically use a hosepipe and also a sprayer to wash the grime and eye goo from the mask. Following rinsing the fly mask suspend it within the sun to dry.

A number of fly masks have an extension that protects the top of the nose from becoming sunburned. If you don’t own a fly mask that covers your equines nostril all you should do is rub your horses nose with sun tan lotion that you should buy at the local drugstore.

A quantity of horse owners, especially ones who are interested in showing, try to prevent the sun from damaging their horses coat by keeping them inside usually in the day time hours when the sun is the most destructive. Other owners choose to keep their horses covered with a light-weight weight turn out blanket or fly sheet to safeguard their horses hair coat. An example of the reasons some owners prefer a blanketed horse to 1 kept indoors is they feel that keeping a horse stalled and wholly freed from the sun can lead to despression symptoms.

If you are trawling the internet for horses for sale and ponies for sale, you could always try the Horse and Pony Directory.

Although you might think this is a straightforward thing to do – feed your horse – you would be shocked at the quantity of horse owners that do not appreciate the basics.  There is no real rule of thumb for feeding, as every horse’s dietary wants will differ depending on age, mass and amount of activity.

To start with, your horse naturally uses forage as a fundamental component of their diets. It is likely one of the Main requirements for a correctly functioning digestive system. When we speak of forage, we usually mean natural pasture and cut hay.

Mature horses ordinarily eat about 2 to 2.5 pct of their body mass in feed every day. So a one thousand pound horse will devour roughly 20 to 25 lbs of feed per day. Meaning quality feed, not low quality high fibre feed (that may interfere with correct digestion).

In a perfect pasture planet, your horse ought to eat no less than 1 percent of its body mass in hay/pasture forage every day. If your horse does not do much labour, they should do well on strictly forage, with no grain scattered in.  On the other hand, growing, in breed, or operational horses need dietary supplements in combination with forage – like grain or even a supplemental concentrate.  Visualize it this way, forages should supply at least one half or more of the full mass of the feed consumed daily for maximum growth and development.

Till you can feed a healthy “meal” to your horse, you need to be familiar with the nutrient content and quality of the forage. Once you know that, you can figure out the right quantities of each to fulfil nutrient requirements.

The very best resource, and the least expensive one for summer feed is your pasture.  And, in most cases good pasture by itself can offer every one of the nutritional needs your horse needs.  How can you determine how much pasture is necessary to provide for a horse?  Here’s a rough guideline to help you: (using a mass of 1,000 – 1,200 lbs)

Mare and foal 1.75 to 2 acres
Yearlings 1.5 to 2 acre
Weanlings 0.5 to 1 acre

Wintry weather feed needless to say will be cut hay, and again, high quality if you can provide it.  It needs to be cut early, be leafy and green in color and as free as achievable of dirt, moulds, weeds and stubble.  This feed is usually full of protein, minerals and vitamins.

Yes, you may want to use alfalfa hay, but be cautious about the higher protein contents should you be feeding to young developing horses, as it might contain an unnecessary amount of calcium in correlation to phosphorus.  Too much calcium isn’t good for rising horses.  If you are not sure about hay quality, have it checked.

If you are browsing for horses for sale or ponies for sale, please visit the Horse and Pony Directory.

When searching for horses for sale, there are a few factors which are worth thinking about in order to make the buying process easier, and to ensure you end up with your dream horse.

All horses have issues – just be sure that the one you buy has niggles that you can live with and that won’t affect your enjoyment.

Take an expert along, someone who is aware of your capabilities and strengths. Ideally take someone who is able to spot whether the horse is lame or any illnesses. Or even your instructor who will be able to tell if the chosen horse is suitable for the way you ride – your level of skill and confidence.

Check any relevant documents and passport.  A horse passport is not proof that the horse is owned by the seller so ask to see a receipt as proof of purchase. Remember it is against the law to sell or purchase horses minus a passport.

Ask if all innoculations are current. A course of innoculations can cost a lot of money and take many months to come into effect if you wish to compete.  You will not be popular if you move a horse to another horse if it is carrying an illness with it.

Once you have decided the horse is for you, engage a vet to perform out the highest check that you can buy. Don’t make a rush decision or be pressured into purchasing if you feel you need the horse examined by your vet.

If possible view the horse or pony demonstrating the trials you would like it to do. Having to reschool a horse adds considerably to the cost if you aren’t in a position to do this on your own.

Try to negotiate a trial loan in which the horse can be sent back if it is not suitable.

Be realistic when buying a young horse, ask yourself if you have the required knowledge to bring it on. Another thought is that, an older horse may just have the stability and experience to give you confidence and help you learn you the basics.

Don’t feel pressured to buy the first one you see and don’t be pursuaded by the many other people just waiting to purchase the horse if you don’t – very often this is just a ploy to push you into an impulse buy. Take your time when buying a horse.

As soon as the sale is agreed make sure you insure the horse before you transport it.  The majority of injuries happen in transit or whilst introducing a new horse into a new yard with other horses.

Trust your instinct – if you believe the vendor is hiding something from you then they probably will be.

Remember that your horse is a major investment of both time and money – be sure you have considered a budget for all the expenses that you will incur.

Finally, enjoy your new addition and look forward to many hours of horse riding fun! Click here to find horses for sale online!

Origins of the Thoroughbred:
This breed of horse was formerly bred in England as a result of the English horsemens want to own a quick 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.

Every one of these stallions were brought to the UK from the Mediterranean Middle Eastduring 1670 and 1710. The outcome was an animal that could hold weight with sustained speed over extensive distances. Approximately 9/10 of new thoroughbreds have come from Eclipse whose grandsire was Darley Arabian, who never lost in eighteen races. This began a very selective breeding procedure which has been going on for nearly 250 years, producing the finest race horses, giving them superiority and brilliance on the race track.

About the turn of the 1700’s, breeding records for Thoroughbred horses were sparse and frequently imperfect, and on any occasions, they would not refer to a horse until the juvenile horse had proven themself creditable.

A gentleman called James Weatherby, through his own research and relentless work, and by the collection of his own privately held pedigree records published the foremost volume of the General Stud Book. He achieved this in 1791. The foremost book listed 387 mares, each of which could be traced back to Eclipse. The General Studbook is still published in England by Weatherby and Sons. Numerous years afterward, as thoroughbred racing became popular in North America the necessity for a pedigree registry for American Bred Thoroughbreds, comparable to the General Stud Book became clear.

In 1873, the earliest American Stud Book was printed by Colonel Sanders D. Bruce. This gentleman spent almost a lifetime studying the pedigrees of American Throughbred horses. He continued the example of the General Stud Book creating six volumes of the register until 1896 when the project was carried on by The Jockey Club.

The accuracy of the American Stud Book is the flagstone on which all Thoroughbred racing in North America depends. The earliest edition of the American Stud Book by The Jockey Club had a foal crop of approximately 3,000. In 1986 in had grown to an amazing 51,000. In the present day The Jockey Club runs a powerful new computer system to meet the registration challenges posed by the extremely large amount of yearly registrations.

The Jockey Club owns and runs one of the most sophisticated computer systems in the world at present, with its record holding more than 1.8 million horses on a main pedigree record, with names that can be traced back to the 1800’s. In addition to bloodlines, this computer also handles daily racing results of all Thoroughbred race in North America, not including the capability to process electronically submitted pedigree and racing data from the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and other primary Thoroughbred districts.

An extra descendant of Darley Arabian is Diomed; who won the earliest running of the Kentucky Derby in 1780. At 21 years of age he was brought over to America where he created the male line via his son, Sir Archie.

Thoroughbreds are the preferred 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. Throughout their initial year of development, they are increasing size and muscle with the youth starting his training as a yearling. Throughbred horses learn to take a bridle and a saddle and shortly after a rider on its back to break 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.

When you care for your horse, it is vital to make provision for the winter months. Horses need to be able to tolerate the chilly weather and stay as healthy as possible. During the winter horses will have special requirements which you as the owner will have to address. It is crucial to get ready for winter ahead of time.

Horses are naturally tolerant to cool weather. In fact, horses cope with frosty weather a good deal better than hot weather. Regardless of this, there are some rudimentary things owners will need to do to make sure their horses remain healthy. You should make sure the horse doesn’t have any parasites, and has been fully vaccinated. The expenditure for doing these things will greatly pay off during the winter months, as the expenses of feeding your horse will be less.

You may also wish to consult your vet in setting up a health plan for your horse. Helping your horse prepare for winter will help it reduce the requirement to eat large amounts of food in order to sustain its weight. Your horse should never lose weight during the winter. Permitting your horse to gain a slight amount of weight will aid them through the colder months, as the additional fat will work as a cushion to supply the horse with energy if it becomes stressed. During the winter you will want to give your horse some additional calories.

The best protection for a horse throughout the winter is its actual winter coat. When it is allowed to grow, it will act as a warm blanket which will reduce the heat loss that the horse experiences in winter scenarios. Your horse’s coat is also smooth and will help brush off off snow and ice. If kept outside, you will want to ensure their coats grow long enough before winter.

To confirm the state of your horse, you will want to rub its ribs. A large winter coat can easily hide the fact the horse may be losing weight. Your horse should be lean enough so that you can feel the ribs, but not so lean that you can see them. Feel your horses ears. Do they feel cold? If so, this is a sign that the horse is cold.

As is the case with every warm blooded animal, your horse must maintain its body temperature to stay fit and well. It is crucial that they conserve heat through the winter, so you should make sure they’re prepared for the frost.

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

Living through the credit crunch is never easy, but when you have ponies and horses who rely on you for nourishment, shelter and medicine, every small amount saved helps.

It’s a well known fact that dozens of horses and ponies are abandoned every week, as owners struggle financially with the economy as it is, because of this there are currently many horses for sale.

Sara Tuppen founder of the Horse Refuge in Wittersham Kent, is well aware of looking after horses on a tight budget, and relies purely on donations to help keep over 40 rescued horses in good condition. According to her there are many ways which could help make owning a horse on a tight budget a little easier:

1. Many horses can live comfortably outside for the majority of the year, providing there’s nurishment, water and shelter available. If this is an acceptable option for your horse, it could reduce the cost of stabling considerably.

2. Removing shoes can be 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 cut (even halve!) costs, and helps to provide a cheaper introduction to horse ownership for someone else.

4. In many cases it is possible to get free stabling and occasionally hay and straw in return for chores. Mucking out, grooming, 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 considered. If you’re budget is low, you may sometimes discover a lot of Vets will allow you to pay in instalments.

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

7. If achievable, horse owners can often club together to buy feed and straw in bulk, 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 fortunate enough to be in a position to share, or even purchase a horse or pony, there are still many horses for sale and ponies for sale available.

Friesian horses as a breed comes from the Netherlands, in a province named Friesland, and are believed to be descendants from the primitive Forest horses. Known for there grace and agility despite being the size of small draft horse or shire. History tells us that they were highly regarded war horses used in Europe in the Middle Ages and later, as their size and agility could seat an armour-clad knight whilst remaining fast and strong. More recently, Friesians are are trained as harness horses, and even in the Dressage circle.

Characteristics of Friesians
Most noticeably, Friesians are black, though there are other distinguishing features. They are also know for their long, thick-haired, almost crimped mane with a similarly long and dense tail, and also distinctive long hair on their lower legs (also know as feathers).

Height wise, geldings and mares have to be over 15.2hh to be considered pedigree, whilst Stallions come in at 17hh at the withers.

Many people have heard of the term ‘Baroque’ with regards to Friesian horses, this refers to the more classical, stocky Friesian build. Typically Spanish looking heads with short ears, they have a long arched neckline and carry great definition. Body wise they are a powerful looking breed, with muscular bodies and somewhat stunted legs with a low tail.

Friesian horses are known not only for their agility, energy and high-stepping trot, but also for being a gentle, affectionate breed.

Friesian Uses Today
Increasingly nowadays, Friesian horses are being crossbred to produce Friesian Sporthorses, which are less heavy, however there is still huge demand for purebred Friesian horses.

Friesians are still a popular choice for any harness or carriage work, utilising their high-stepping trot, agility, pace and power, however you’re just as likely to see a Friesian Horse in the Dresage circle due to their temperament, willingness to learn and distinctive look. It is this temperament that lends Friesians to becoming a popular choice for pleasure (bomb-proof) horses.

So if you’re in the market for a safe, characteristic looking horse for anything from pleasure riding, to harness or carriage activities to competing in dressage, Friesians are a popular choice.

Surviving a recession is never easy, but when you have ponies and horses which completely rely on you for nourishment, shelter and medical attention, every small amount saved helps.

It’s tremendously sad that too many horses and ponies are given up every week, as owners struggle financially with the economy as it is, because of this there are currently many horses for sale.

Sara Tuppen from the Horse Refuge in Wittersham Kent, knows all about looking after horses when money is scarce, having to rely purely on donations to keep over 40 rescued horses in good health. She believes there are many ways which could help make owning a horse during a recession a little easier:

1. A lot of horses can live quite happily outside for most of the year, as long as there’s nurishment, water and a place to shelter available. If this is an acceptable option for your horse, it could reduce the cost of stabling considerably.

2. Removing shoes is an easy way to reduce outlay. If not ridden regularly, and not ridden on rough surfaces, many horses will be happy without shoes.

3. Sharing your horse is a great way to severely reduce costs, and helps to provide a cheaper introduction to horse ownership for someone else.

4. Quite often it is possible to receive free stabling and occasionally hay and bedding in return for helping out around the yard. Mucking out, grooming the horses, yard and paddock maintenance etc. are all ways which could save you money for a little hard work!

5. Visits to the vets 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. Many people can make lifestyle changes! It’s not just finding ways to keep your horse for less, see if you can do it for yourself!

7. Wherever possible, horse owners can often join forces to purchase feed and straw in bigger numbers, reducing the entire cost and passing on savings to all.

8. As a last resort, you can look into getting your horse 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.

The needs of horses leads to equipment for grooming all the way to food supplements. But, there is an elemental horse supply that you should not leave your shelter, or your saddlebag without and that’s your horse first aid kit.

Having a horse first aid pack could be actually save your horse’s life. You should understand from experience that it doesn’t matter how well planned an expedition might be, there are just some things that go awry. It’s not just paranoia, it is being prepared. Prior preparation may well help prevent your ride from becoming into a serious situation.

The first aid kit should be kept in a container or bag that can stop water and muck out because these further the progression of bacteria. You would run the risk of exacerbating the infection if you were to use contaminated dressings. Places that sell horse supplies hold things such as a plastic zipper bag. Aside from keeping tools, or grooming gear, these are also useful for holding first aid objects. Supermarkets sell plastic food containers in a number of sizes. Apart from keeping possible contaminants out, you could also select one that could fit in your saddlebag.

Among the items that you should incorporate in your horse first aid kit, a sterilizer almost certainly is the most helpful in most injuries. From minor grazes and abrasions to injuries, disinfectants are crucial cleansers. Just follow the manufacturers’ advice especially when using industrial grades as excessive use could dry your horse’s skin. Sterile scrubs and wipes become useful for disinfecting cuts in the nonexistence of water. These are excellent substitutes for disinfectants since they clean cuts with equal efficiency, but without the need for water.

Creams or injury powders are also worthwhile additions to your gear. They can stop the entry of fresh bacteria inside the injury and hurry up the healing procedure. However, make sure to use ointments, powders, and creams that have been approved by your equine vet.

A fly spray applied or sprayed on the injury reduces the chance of additional infection or contamination risks considerably. Wound coverings come in sterile individual packs and they are useful for covering wounds and promoting healing. There should be a stock of bandages in your kit, or at the very least two with a broad span. They are excellent for stabilizing fractures, splints, and securing pads over lacerations. With regards to bleeding, cotton wool and gauze are crucial for slowing excess bleeding. Salts are useful for soaking unhealthy hooves and feet.

Aside from these medications, there are various supplies which you can obtain from equine shops and conventional pharmacies. Petroleum jellies are beneficial for rubbing, secondary burns, and skin irritations.

A thermometer is an investment to add to your horse equipment. Skilled riders advise to keep your thermometers attached to your horses tail to avoid loss. Scissors, tweezers, and forceps are tools you shouldn’t disregard in your equine forst aid pack. Aside from cutting bandages, they are also handy for removing splinters and stones caught in horses’ hooves.

Lastly, keep in mind these first aid packs are just for giving your horse initial assistance in emergencies before the vet arrives. These are just for precautionary measures, it is still essential to call a vet after providing first aid.

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