Choosing the perfect name for your horse can be an enjoyable and meaningful process. Here are some steps and tips to help you pick a name that suits your equine companion: Remember that the name you choose will be a part of your horse’s identity, so take your time and …
Horses have been an integral part of human history for thousands of years, serving as reliable work partners and skilled athletes. Being closely linked with humans has affected how modern horses are. While I’m not suggesting we’ve significantly altered their evolutionary make-up, horses have been bred for all kinds of …
Horses are herbivores, meaning that they eat plants. They eat grass, hay and haylage. Salt, supplements, concentrates, vegetables and fruits enhance their diets, depending on their energy requirements and amount of work they do. Your horse has an extremely long — and sensitive! — digestive tract that requires him to …
Working with horses can be a rewarding experience for those who are passionate about these magnificent animals. Horse enthusiasts can pursue a range of career options that allow them to interact with horses on a daily basis, from caring for their basic needs to training and competing with them in …
If you’re considering donating your horse, one option to consider is donating them to a veterinary school. Veterinary schools use donated horses for a variety of purposes, including teaching students and conducting research. Horses are an important part of veterinary education because they are large, complex animals with unique healthcare …
In the realm of things we do with our horses, there is a practise that we must stop: the shaving of our horses’ sensory hairs. Your horse has special tactile sensory hairs, known as whiskers. Her whiskers play an important part in her awareness of the world around her, filling …
Tying is a crucial skill that every horse should learn. Tying is an essential skill for grooming, tacking up, and when the vet, physiotherapist or farrier come to work on your horse. Tying your horse refers to the act of securing your horse to a stationary object, such as a …
The horseshoe is a device that has been used for centuries to protect horses’ hooves from wear and tear caused by rough terrain. The invention of the horseshoe stems from working horses being exposed to harsh conditions on a daily basis that led to excessive wear and damage to their …
Horses evolved to run. That’s why your horse has the legs of a runner. To survive, they needed to run fast, and this was the driving force of their evolution. Your modern horse walks on just one digit (toe), where her ancestors walked on as many as four toes. If …
The average life span of a domestic horse is 20-30 years. This varies from breed to breed, and the horse’s personal history and current care also affect longevity. Ponies tend to be longer-lived than horses and you can find some great schoolmasters among older ponies to be the perfect first …
Horses are prey animals that now live with one of their old nemeses: us. As recently as 10,000 years ago, humans were one of the predators that hunted and killed wild horses. Scientists are certain that humans actively hunted horses for food before domesticating them. And why wouldn’t they have? …
Light massage, when done regularly, works as a form of physical maintenance for your horse. It’s the best and cheapest way to prevent muscle damage, too. Calling your equine physiotherapist out for a session every now and again is great, but doesn’t qualify as regular maintenance. And having a professional …
