Hold one end of a tape at the foal’s elbow and measure the distance to the ground. Double this measurement and you have an idea of how tall the mature horse will be. For a weanling that is four to six months old, measure from the elbow to a point Read more…
“Do I Need to Wrap my Horse’s Legs Before Trailering?” Almost always, yes. Whether you’re hauling to a rodeo, dressage test or a distant trail riding event, you should carefully wrap every leg that’s getting on that horse trailer. When should you wrap your horses legs? When you bandage a Read more…
The basics for feeding any horse are hay, salt and water with only as much grain as needed for the animal to maintain good body condition. Hay still is the basis for a good feeding program because it usually can satisfy daily maintenance requirements of energy, protein, fiber, vitamins and Read more…
You can ride an average, healthy and energetic horse for 25 and 35 miles (40 – 56.5 km) in one day in ideal conditions. However, most of them will successfully handle only 15 and 20 miles (24 – 32 km) a day with enough water, food, and rest. How long Read more…
Endurance saddles are used for riding horses in long distance and competitive trail rides. These saddles are offered in Western, English and Australian styles and feature ample D-rings for attachment of gear. Western endurance saddles typically have a minimal skirt and a pommel without a horn. What is an endurance Read more…
twelve hours. In addition, each distance race has a time limit. For example, a fifty-mile ride must be completed within twelve hours and the hundred mile ride competitors have twenty-four for completion credit. What is a good age for an endurance horse? Among endurance riders, the view is common that Read more…
By no means an exciting race in the same sense of the fast-paced Thoroughbred racing, the endurance race horse embodies the saying “slow and steady wins the race.” Far slower than the almost 40 mph reached during the Kentucky Derby, an endurance horse moves at a pace around 7 mph, Read more…
Be aware of the temperatures outside in case you need to adjust the circulation pattern. While on the road, I make sure to stop at least every 3 hours, to gas up and give the horses about ½ hour to rest. Is trailering stressful for horses? Resistance in the horse Read more…
Feed diets high in good-quality forage such as pasture, grass hay, or mixed grass/legume hay. These forage sources can be fed free choice to endurance horses. Horses have evolved to survive on forage, so it is the best possible feed for gut health. How do you condition a horse for Read more…
Your horse’s body contains a large amount of muscle, which makes up between 40 and 55 percent of their total body weight. How much of a horse is muscle? Skeletal muscle makes up 45 percent of your horse’s body weight, far more even than the bones. Are horses naturally Muscular? Read more…