http://www.thearticleplanet.com/ Articles at Free Article Directory - Free Content For Webmasters en-us http://www.thearticleplanet.com/animals-and-pets/horses/getting-a-rescue-horse.html http://www.thearticleplanet.com/animals-and-pets/horses/getting-a-rescue-horse.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 03:59:00 -0600
In addition to getting a horse very cheaply, you are also doing a good deed by adopting the horse. In so doing, you free up the rescue association's resources, allowing them to take on other animals.

Before they give a horse to a new owner, the association will need assurances that the horse will be well taken care of. You will need to show them that you have the facilities (e.g. stall, pasture) to take care of the horse, or that you will be renting adequate facilities (e.g. at a professional horse boarding business). They will also want to be assured that you have the time, money and commitment to take care of the horse long term.

On your side, you need to make sure that the horse does not have any unacceptable faults, either health wise or in terms of behavior. One should discuss the horse's current condition and its background. You should ask about the conclusions of any examinations (including veterinary) done for the association, as well as the general opinion of the staff who are taking care of the horse.

It is also useful to know why the horse was rescued and what condition it was in when rescued. If the reason was economic (e.g. owner in financial difficulty) or practical (owner moving house and will no longer have facilities) then there are no implications. However, in the case of horses which were neglected or abused, there may be long term health or behavioral issues. Knowing the horses background can identify potential issues which may otherwise not be apparent.

One also needs to think carefully about the horse's current capabilities in terms of what you will use it for. Many rescue horses are old; if you only want the horse as a companion horse then this is not a problem but if you want to ride it regularly then an elderly horse is likely unsuitable. If the local rescue organizations don't have a horse that meets your requirements, the best solution is to wait. Leave them your contact details and your requirements, after assuring them that you will provide a good home for the right horse. You may need to wait a few months, but with so many horses being rescued for a variety of reasons, there is a very good chance that one which meets your requirements will become available. ]]> http://www.thearticleplanet.com/animals-and-pets/horses/horse-agistment-how-to-choose-the-right-property.html http://www.thearticleplanet.com/animals-and-pets/horses/horse-agistment-how-to-choose-the-right-property.html Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:19:27 -0500
Many horse agistment properties offer excellent care and services for horse and rider, ranging in services from spelling agistment, riding agistment and small group agistment through to agistment with full care. When looking for somewhere to place your horse, you should be sure to consider the following: are the paddocks large enough to accommodate the number of horses, will your horse be kept on improved pastures that are weed free, regularly rotated, slashed, fertilised and irrigated where required. As an extra, are winter active grasses sown to ensure your horse has feed all year round saving you from expensive feed bills. Does every paddock have horse safe fencing that is either post and rail or post and plain wire fencing only and are all well sheltered with either natural windbreaks and shade trees or quality man made structures.

Keeping your horse worm free is another point to consider so some property owners offer this service as well as things like horse dentistry. It is these kinds of services that should help you in your decisions in order to make the process as hassle free as can be. A lot of horse agistment places will also offer the added bonus of organising riding days and social events where owners can bond with their horse, and with other horse owners, while getting the horse out and about and burning off some energy.

It is in your own best interests to actually go out to the places you are considering and do an inspection of your own. This way you can talk to the staff and find out if they are properly trained and qualified. Make sure they are passionate about what they do and you can be sure your horse is in good hands... and again, make sure there are plenty of places nearby like national parks and riding trails to actually take your horse out for a ride whenever you can.

So in conclusion, if you are looking into horse agistment, it does not matter which "side of the fence" you are on, there are plenty of things to discuss when it comes to drawing up the contracts. Unfortunately, these days, contracts are an essential for these kinds of things so make sure both parties are agreed on the responsibilities of each and that all costs, fees and pricing structures are double checked before signing. Not to mention things like contingency plans for natural disasters, like flooding and forest fires, all the way to things like procedures for unexpected illness, diseases and injuries of the animals in question. ]]> http://www.thearticleplanet.com/animals-and-pets/horses/advice-on-how-to-successfully-selling-your-horse-or-pony.html http://www.thearticleplanet.com/animals-and-pets/horses/advice-on-how-to-successfully-selling-your-horse-or-pony.html Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:31:44 -0500
The Equestrian Press is another superb source for disseminating information of your intent to sell. Ponies and horses of all kinds are listed in the classified portion of such equestrian magazines as; Horse & Hound in the UK, Horse Trader in New Zealand, and Horse & Rider in the USA. Online sites such as HorseQuest in the UK, Equine.Com in America, and Horse Deals in Australia, also now make available a resource to sell your horse.

When composing your advertisement, it is important not to exaggerate your pet's strengths or expected promise. Do not sell your horse as an Olympic dressage champion if his true calling is something much more mundane. It is important to choose the right people when attempting to sell your horse, or this can become a much more challenging, lengthened process. All significant information should be placed in your ad including your horse or pony's age, height, it's level of training, and the amount you are asking for. Bloodline particulars are generally useful when your horse is of good breeding. A high quality photo of your petshowing detail is paramount.

Be sure to showcase your animal in the best light, when you have a prospective buyer.

As if taking him or her to a show, always bathe and groom your horse with care. It is beneficial for your horse to be in pristine condition.

Present your horse in the stable or field so that the buyer will be able to observe your horse's behavior when caught and tacked up.

The next thing your prospective buyer will want to observe is a riding demonstration. This abbreviated ride should include allowing your horse to walk, trot, and canter. If your horse has the experience, showing several jumps is also appropriate.

It will also be helpful to demonstrate how your horse will behave when taken out into|handled out in the open, through the countryside and on roads.

Your buyer will probably ask to take a short ride to see for themselves how the animal behaves.

It will probably be difficult to finally break the attachment with your beloved pet. Be sure that your goodbyes are said prior to the new owner arriving to pick up the horse and focus on the reality that your horse will be loved and cared for. In the event that you will be purchasing a new horse friend, you have many new occasions to look forward to. ]]> http://www.thearticleplanet.com/animals-and-pets/horses/a-few-interesting-horse-facts.html http://www.thearticleplanet.com/animals-and-pets/horses/a-few-interesting-horse-facts.html Mon, 31 Aug 2009 03:28:37 -0500
A hand is the unit of measure for telling how tall a horse is. A hand is four inches, and horses are measured from the ground to the withers, which is the point where their neck joins their shoulder. Most riding horses are between 15 and 16 hands tall. Drafters can be 18 hands tall. Ponies can be 13-14 hands or shorter.

A Pony is not a small horse, it's a separate breed. Baby horses are called foals when they are born. If the foal is a boy, it's a colt. If it's a girl, it's a filly. Once a male is castrated, he is called a gelding. When foals are three years old, the female will be called a mare and the male will be called either a stallion (uncastrated) or a gelding.

Ponies generally only grow to about 13-14 hands, although they can be as tall as 14.3 hands, measured at the withers. Ponies tend to be hardier than their larger counterparts, with more solid hooves. There are different breeds of ponies, just as there are in horses. Some are larger and more sturdy, while others are dainty, and may be more fragile of limb.

Before a horse or pony can be ridden he must be "started", a process that used to be called "breaking". You don't often see cowboys breaking bucking broncos anymore. Nowadays, most horses are started by lungeing around their handler in a circle, on a line called a lunge line or longe line. Gradually, tack or weight is added to his back, and he gets used to the feel of weight on his back. After a good deal of ground work, the first rider of the horse will mount up and let the horse walk around while he becomes accustomed to having someone atop him. Some horses never do get used to this, however - then you might see the cowboy/bronco riding show after all.

After the horse is "broken", he learns the different cues and/or verbal commands that will be used when he is under saddle. Walk, trot, canter and whoa are the most important verbal cues. These are reinforced by the rider's legs on the horse's sides, and his hands connected to the horse's mouth by means of a bit and reins.

Horses spend a good deal of time under saddle before they are taught more advanced maneuvers like dressage moves or jumping. In dressage, the horse is trained to become supple, and very attentive to his rider's cues. In jumping, the trainer will start the horse out with ground poles to develop rhythm, and gradually move the horse along until he can jump small fences. It's wise not to over-fence a young or "green" horse, as it may make them nervous and cause them to stop at the fence, or try to run around it. Neither one of these puts the rider anywhere he wants to be. ]]>