A great horseback rider is someone who truly believes in themselves, as well as in their horse. Any great rider needs a good deal of confidence to ride, train, and compete with their horse. Entering a show ring can be a sobering experience, and even just climbing into the saddle Read more…
Yes, some vegans ride horses (and that’s okay). The ethics of horse riding are highly debatable and somewhat controversial. Can vegans own horses? Yes, horse riding is vegan – it doesn’t necessarily involve exploitation. Riding a horse does not necessarily abuse or exploit that animal. Many riders love horses, and Read more…
When your horse does something good while under saddle, you can say “Good boy,” or “Good girl.” Another way to let your horse know that you’re pleased with them is by giving a pat after a job well done. Finally, most horses absolutely adore treats. Do horses understand good boy? Read more…
Cooling Off. Whether by instinct or experience, when the temperatures soar or your horse has exerted himself in play or while being ridden, he understands that water cools him off. Why do horses play in the water? In natural waterways, horses paw to test the water’s depth and riverbed bottom Read more…
Never walk behind a horse, ever. Though the horse may never kick under normal circumstances, you could startle him, so always let your presence be known. When walking behind a horse, you literally are safest walking as close as possible or as far away as possible, at least out of Read more…
While horse riding cannot be classed as vegan, many vegans ride horses. They claim that the sport is not exploitative of the animal if it doesn’t cause pain and suffering. Even though horses cannot consent to being ridden, if they are treated with respect and kindness it can become an Read more…
Whilst it is a very personal decision, the Vegan Society’s stance on the matter is that they should not. They say, “Vegans choose not to support animal exploitation in any form and so avoid visiting zoos or aquariums, or taking part in dog or horse racing. Is horse racing vegan Read more…
While you can’t ride a yearling horse, you can establish a solid foundation for a long and successful riding career in the future. The early years provide a great opportunity to teach things like ground manners, grooming, leading, tying, lunging, trailering, and even in-hand trail obstacles. Can you put a Read more…
It really hurts to be kicked by a horse, and you can expect a broken bone or serious contusions. The real danger of a kick is the blunt force trauma of the horse’s hooves that can severely and even fatally damage the human body. How painful is a kick from Read more…
Sometimes horses kick out of simple playfulness. You’ll often see horses frolicking in a field, galloping, bucking and kicking as they go. It’s a way to burn off steam and stretch their limbs. This type of kicking isn’t intended to cause harm but may do so by accident. What does Read more…