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!

When looking for a horse trailer, there are many features to take into account. One important aspect is whether the horse trailer will be bumper pull or gooseneck. There are many reasons why you could gain from either design. We’ll compare the two layouts to see which suits you best.

Bumper Pull Designs – Good and Bad Points – Bumper pull designs, also known as tag-along designs, are equestrian trailers that connect to a hitch on the hauling vehicle. The trailer then “tags along” following the hauling vehicle and therefore a part of the overall vehicle.

Good Points – There are a few plus points of bumper pull trailers. They generally cost less than a gooseneck horse trailer. It’s not required to use a pickup truck for pulling the trailer, because of this more people can haul this layout of horsebox with their current car. Normal turns are frequently more easily done because the tag-along design will go along with the direction of the towing vehicle. You don’t need a large amount of space for the trailer as needed for a gooseneck trailer. The trailer does not need to be classed as a “commercial” vehicle with regards to licences because the combined weight of both the horsebox and pulling vehicle is commonly under 10,001 lbs.

Disadvantages – There are several bad points as well. These style of trailers do not offer as much space for tack and clothing. Certain bumper pull horseboxes may not be adequate for transporting more than two horses as a result of the design of hitch necessary for the load of the trailer. Also, bumper pull designs are more likely to to weave on wavy roads, which can be hazardous.

Gooseneck Trailers – Good and Bad Points – Gooseneck trailers differ from bumper pull trailers in their hitch style. The gooseneck is joined inside the hauling truck’s load bed using a ball and coupler mating. The gooseneck trailer offers a number of benefits. It won’t wobble or fishtail like a bumper trailer often does, and towing is therefore more stable. They provide more area for living quarters, which can be convenient for camping and overnight trips. The gooseneck layout is more simple to reverse up to and align with the ball while hitching it to your pulling vehicle, as you can view it clearly from the rear window. The gooseneck style is more secure without the worry of the trailer becoming detached while driving on the highway.

Negative Points – There are also some negative points. Gooseneck layouts are more expensive and are regularly bigger so they have to be towed with a pickup that is powerful enough to tow it. The hitching application is also more pricey for a gooseneck design. A further negative point is that while attaching the trailer, you normally have to climb into the bed of the pickup to finish the attachment. Also, you will need to take off your load top from your pickup to pull a gooseneck trailer.

Find the Right Horse Trailer – Whether you’re considering a bumper pull or gooseneck design, you can search on the web to look at a number of styles of each. If you’re cash is limited, you can search for used horseboxes for sale and horse trailers for sale to find a bargain. Take into account the advantages and negative points of each design before buying. For more information and horses for sale, visit the Horse and Pony Directory

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.

Hoof maintenance is a vital part of ensuring your horses health. It’s advisable to check your horses hooves daily, and minimum two times per week.  You should become familiar with what is usual and what isn’t, and will be able to to spot any issues that may be beginning.

Following this simple guide might assist you in your grooming routine.

1. As you approach your horse be sure the symmetry is relatively close, they do not have to be exactly equal, but very similar to being the same size and form.

2. Carefully examine for faults in the hoof wall and coronary band.  Raise up the hoof, run your palm over the outside of the wall to feel for impairments.  Use the exact technique for the coronary band and then squeeze it softly. Applying these two techniques will also point out tender areas and moisture holding areas.

3. Examine the sole. Examine the colour of every hoof. They should be the same in colouration.  A well delineated dark spot will indicate a bruise or damage.

4. Look at and compare the frogs.  The front hooves should be similar in size and shape and the same with the hooves at the rear. You should gently push each frog using your hoof pick, mostly, with the exception of desert areas, they should be slightly spongy.

5. If your horse is shod, clasp the horseshoe and see if it moves. Look for missing clinches, if the shoe is loose you may opt to take off the shoe before your horse misplaces it by itself and perhaps removes a section of hoof with it.

If you regularly check each hoof, you should avoid a great deal of issues by catching the problem before it worsens.

We recommend you include into your hoof cleaning routine a few quick steps. Use your pick working from heel to toe.  If packed solid you will probably be required to loosen it up a touch before it can be removed. Once the material is removed, look at all the parts of the hoof and make sure that there is not a bad odour as this is normally a obvious indicator of thrush.  also make sure there aren’t any rocks or stones lodged anywhere, even underneath the shoe.

All hooves should exhibit a natural sheen on the hoof wall.

If you see a smooth uniform surface free of cracks, circles, depressions, flares and a concave sole which touches the horseshoe, then you can be positive that your horses hooves are in good condition.

For more horse information, horses for sale and more, 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

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

A horse with colic is a situation that worries any horse lover. So what exactly is colic in horses? What signs should you keep an eye out for?

Colic in horses refers to pain originating in the abdomen. Generally horses will not handle abdominal pain very well. So in the event of any disturbance of gut functioning they will usually display signs of discomfort.

Signs of irritation could be stretching, a stance as if to urinate, and hoofing the ground. If the pain is greater the horse will stand up and lie down, and try rolling to get more comfortable.

The horse will start to sweat. In more severe cases it will get up and down and roll constantly.

What Should You Do?
Should you believe your horse is suffering from colic, you should call an equine vet immediately. The vet will be in a position to supply rapid pain relief and make a decision whether additional action is appropriate.

What should you do while you wait for the vet to arrive? Leading your horse for a walk sometimes helps. It may encourage his guts to work normally and surpress any pain. It could also prevent your horse lying down to roll. If he is lying on the floor quietly then you should let him stay lying down.

It was thought that horses could cause a twisted gut by rolling. That has been proven to be probably not true. Though it is best to prevent him rolling around if you can. That way you can prevent your horse harming himself by banging itself on the stable walls. Of course take care that you don’t get injured yourself. Horses often lose all their manners if in pain.

There are several differing reasons as to why horses get colic. But often the signs look the same regardless of the cause.

What will the vet do to look into the issue? He or she will have a listen to the abdomen with a stethoscope which will show them whether there is more or less activity in the gut than normal.

Monitoring the heart rate provides a good idea of the seriousness of the discomfort and the seriousness of the problem. Usually a horse with a regular heart rate does not have a sever problem. However higher heart rates are not such a promising sign.

A really useful area of the examination is the examination of the rectum. By physically feeling the gut, the vet may be able to find the cause of the problem. Of course this is a highly skilled procedure, that is potentially dangerous for both parties. But for an experienced equine vet the feedback it gives is invaluable in concluding the nature of the issue. It may reveal an obstruction, or a swollen gut loop as a result of a twist or other intestinal issue.

It’s likely that in all but the simple cases the vet may inset a tube through the nose into the stomach. This may sound unpleasant but often may make your horse comfortable by releasing the built up pressure from the stomach. This process can also give the vet detailed feedback as to whether the stomach is emptying correctly.

On occasion the horse is in so much pain that it is impossible for the vet to examine him fully without first applying a dose of pain killer.

Only by collecting all of the information provided by a detailed examination is the vet able to make a tentative diagnosis. Even then it may not be possible to tell exactly what is going on.

Sometimes, after the first inspection, the horse needs surgery. Though more usually the vet will choose to treat the horse with a fast-acting painkiller and review his condition after a couple of hours. Most examples show a quick improvement. But others will show no response to the treatment, or they will respond initially, then start displaying signs of discomfort again later.

Rather than having to bring the vet out multiple times, it is usually better to move these cases to a specialist equine practice so they can be monitored closely and surgery can be performed if necessary.

Conclusion
Fortunately the vast majority of cases respond quickly to medical treatment. However if surgery is necessary – it is vital to operate as soon as possible. The chance of a successful outcome is far greater if the operation is performed before too much damage has occurred.

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

As implied by the name. This breeds roots can be traced from Belgium. Back in the medieval times, the center of Western Europe became well-known for the large black horses known as “Flemish”. These horses are the ones which carried the armour-clad knights to war. Only the fittest, largest and most powerful were selected and trained as “chargers” and “destriers”. It is from this stock that other draft breeds drew for genetic material.  At the heart of this area, Belgium was established as a country. The stallions of the region, in order to meet the demand for larger horses were exported to many parts of Europe to work in agricultural and industrial settings.

Because Belgium was the supply upon which other countries relied for such large stock animals, all that was left was for the country to establish the breed and increase the strength of the genetic material already at hand. The breed was refined by the Belgiun government who set up a national show, the winners of which would compete in the National Show in Brussels. The country’s inspection committee selected from the national the finest stallions for public services. These efforts resulted in the speedy improvement of the fixed breed type and the Belgian horse was then establised as a national treasure.

When the Belgian was first brought into the States, they were slated for being “too thick, too low-headed, straight shouldered, and round-boned”. However, the Belgian horse soon settled in with American farmers due to their good dispositions, willingness to work hard and the fact that they were easy to maintain. So the Belgian remained, and American breeders set out to keep what was right and fix what was “wrong”. This outcome is considered to be one of the most influential successes in the animal breeding world. American Belgian’s possess strong feet, a solid middle, good muscle as well as a good temperament. The breed is a hard worker, ships well and is easy to maintain. American breeders very simply developed a horse with cleaner lines, more slope in the shoulders and pasterns, and a more elegant look around the head and neck.

Description
As far as color, whilst the initial Belgians to be brought into to the States were a wide mix, about half were bay and bay-brown. However, there was really no particular color which was a defining characteristic. Through breeding, shown by American preference, the ideal for a Belgian in America today is a chestnut or sorrel with a snow-white mane and tail, a white stripe on the face, and four white socks. You can, in other areas of the world find a large variety of different colours.

With regards to height, Belgian horses are usually 16 hands (162.5 centimeters, or 64 inches) at the shoulder, but can exceed 18 hands (183 cm or 72 inches) to the shoulder. US Belgian horses are more often seen with a noticeably large head, larger hind-quarters and compact, muscular legs.

The average weight is 1600 to 2000 pounds (113.6 to 142 stones), but stallions can be in excess of 2400 pounds (170.4 stones).

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