Horse Facts - Tips And Tricks For You And Your Equine Love
Filed under: Recreation and Sports
Horses have long been among the most economically important domesticated animals; although their importance has declined with mechanization, they are still found worldwide, fitting into human lives in various ways. As prey animals, they have very large eyes (only the whale has a larger eye), with excellent day and night vision, though they may have a limited range of color vision. Horses also are used for historical reenactment of specific periods of history, to preserve cultural resources, or for ceremonial purposes. Around the world, horses play a role within human economies, for leisure, sport and working purposes. But today the term “warmblood” usually refers to a group of sport horse breeds that have dominated the Olympic Games and World Equestrian Games in Dressage and Show Jumping since the 1950s. Horses require annual vaccinations to protect against various diseases, need routine hoof care by a farrier, and regular dental examinations from a veterinarian or a specialized equine dentist.
Horses or ponies should be shod (hoof maintenance) every 4-6 weeks, depending on the horse and the weather. A horse that is not ridden daily or subjected to other stressors can maintain adequate nutrition on pasture or hay alone, with adequate water (10-12 gallons per day minimum) and free access to a salt block or loose salt. It should also have some form of regular exercise whether it is being ridden, lunged or turned out in a spacious field. Horses that are fed improperly may develop colic or laminitis or “founder,” particularly if fed spoiled feed or subjected to excessive feed or a too-abrupt change of feed. Bran should be fed with care as it is high in Phytates that bind dietry Calcium, Iron and Zinc preventing their absorption into the blood stream
A hackamore is a type of bitless bridle usually used to train young horses, or to go easy on an older horse’s mouth. German martingale: This design consists of a split fork that comes up from the chest, runs through the rings of the bit and attaches to the reins of the bridle between the bit and the rider’s hand. Some western saddles will also have a second strap known as a flank or back cinch that fastens at the rear of the saddle and goes around the widest part of the horse’s belly. Saddles, stirrups, bridles, halters, reins, bits, harnesses, martingales, and breastplates are all forms of horse tack.
Andy McMellan writes for the bi-monthly newsletter American Horse Care. It contains useful information on horses and horseback riding.
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