Hobby-horses were a children’s toy consisting of a stick topped with a horse’s head. What is considered a hobby horse? A hobby horse (or hobby-horse) is a child’s toy horse. Children played at riding a wooden hobby horse made of a straight stick with a small horse’s head (of wood Read more…
Earliest known rocking horse King Charles I of England, ‘one of Britain’s most equestrian kings’ was believed to have used this rocking horse to help him develop his walking and leg mobility during his early childhood development phase after he was born in 1600 (V&A Museum). What is a Victorian Read more…
Some online sources recommend providing a minimum space of 12’x12′ for each horse. Another source recommends 10’x10′. Yet another suggests space should be calculated as 60-80 square feet per 1000 pounds of horse. What is the ideal size for a horse stable? Stable sizes for horses All passageways should be Read more…
Mares and geldings also squeal – and for similar reasons. Squeals often occur when unfamiliar horses meet, or when one violates the space of another, especially when there’s an important resource at stake, such as food. Much like humans, horses sigh as a means of releasing tension. Why do horses Read more…
The good news is, soreness after horseshoeing will go away once their feet have time to heal. Generally, shoes are kept on for around six weeks; then, they are pulled off to let the hoof heal. This process can take anywhere from two to three months before your horse will Read more…
Yes, a horse can become lame in the upper body from improper shoeing. Of course a more common problem I often see is sole pressure. Can horse shoes cause lameness? Mitchell says that lameness caused by sheared heels most often will come on slowly, but can reach a point where Read more…
Beginner: A rider with limited experience, is unable to post the trot and does not canter. Novice: A rider who can mount and dismount unassisted, is capable of applying basic aids, is comfortable and in control at the walk, moderate length posting trots, and short canters. What makes a beginner Read more…
A saddle positioned too far back tends to sit on the “floating ribs”. This is the “bucking reflex point” – pressure on these unsupported ribs causes considerable discomfort, which can lead to bucking as the horse tries to alleviate the pressure. How far back should the saddle be on a Read more…
English Saddle Size Chart Your Measurement Saddle Size
The canter and gallop are variations on the fastest gait that can be performed by a horse or other equine. The canter is a controlled three-beat gait, while the gallop is a faster, four-beat variation of the same gait. It is a natural gait possessed by all horses, faster than Read more…