Raintree Equestrian Center

To tack up a horse means getting it ready for the ride by putting on the saddle pad, saddle and bridle. Equipping the horse with the right tack and ensuring the comfort of the horse by tacking correctly is imperative to ensure your safety and comfort in the English riding style.

English horse riding is different than Western riding style. Although the tack (horse riding and maintenance equipment) used might appear similar to a novice, an experienced equestrian knows better. Both styles use tacks such as saddle, saddle pads, stirrups, bridles, reins and more, but on a closer look you could find a major difference in the tacks “” from size to functionality. However, the correct tacking of your horse is crucial in both English and Western styles.

To tack up a horse prior to riding it casually or for competitions means to get the horse ready for the ride by dressing it with the tack equipment. English riding tack typically consists of saddle blanket, a saddle, bridle, girth, bit, reins, martingale and so on. The saddle for English riding is smaller and lighter than the Western one, however, each saddle types has further designs specific for particular sports and activities. Also, in English riding, you are in direct contact with the horse’s mouth using the reins. The reins are also held by both hands (one rein in each hand) and used as an aid, just like the seat and the legs are used to control the speed and direction of the horse.

Since, there are more factors and coordination required while riding English style, equipping the horse with the right tack and ensuring the comfort of the horse by tacking correctly is imperative to your ride. Experts often prescribe a step-wise procedure while tacking for English riding. Here’s a list:

* First, tie the horse before you start.
* The next step is to groom the horse, either where the tack will be placed or you can also do a full grooming and ensure the horse is clean and fit. Remember to pick the hoofs as well.
* After you’ve groomed the horse, put the saddle pad first, the horse’s withers is the correct spot.
* Then place the saddle on the addle pad (right in the middle). Here, it is important to ensure that the girth is strapped not too loosely or tightly. If it is too tight, you will make the horse uncomfortable. A correct way of putting the saddle is from the left side.
* Now you can put on the boots or polo wraps , if necessary.
* You can now undo the cross ties and put the reins over the horse’s neck.
* Take the bit and put it in the horse’s mouth, be gentle and careful with your fingers while doing this, avoid hitting the teeth and warm the bit in cold weathers. If the horse is shy to the bit, you can apply honey or peppermint oil etc. to it.
* Then slide the bridle’s crown gently over the horse’s ear.
* Do the throat latch and the chinstrap, buckle it loose enough to fit four fingers between the horse’s throat and the latch, the chinstrap should be buckled with a finger or two’s space in between.

It is recommended that you do not tack a horse alone if you are doing it for the first time. Watch an experienced equestrian do it, and assist him/her from time to time so that you can get used to treating the horse in the right way. For best approach and results, you can take lessons from a qualified instructor, this way you can learn everything from tacking to riding to grooming and maintaining the horse and stable. Also, ensure that you use the right tack and wear appropriate equestrian apparel for English style riding, and treat the horse with love and care.

About the Author:
The writer of this article is associated with Anytime Tack, an online store for premium English riding apparel and tack.

Technorati Tags: braiding your horses mane and tail, horse braiding, horse grooming, mane braiding, tail braiding

If you are a keen rider, then owning your own horse is sure to be your dream. However, there are a number of things that you need to take into consideration when buying a horse. Owning a horse not only requires lots of your time but can also be very expensive.

Before you go ahead and buy your first horse, you will need to consider the following:

Cost

Owning a horse is not cheap. It is vital that you are in a position to be able to make a financial commitment in order to provide your horse with good care and a proper home. Not only will you need to think about the cost of equipment such as tack, food, grooming equipment etc but also the cost of caring for the horse long-term. Horses require regular care and this includes check-ups from vets and treatment such as vaccinations and grooming.
In recent years, many horse owners have struggled financially, resulting in horses not being provided with proper treatment. It is important that you think carefully before you buy. Rather than opting for your dream horse, stick to something that suits your budget.

Time

Before you buy your first horse, you will need to think carefully about how much time you will be able to dedicate to looking after it. Horses need regular care, so it is vital that you are able to fit this into your daily routine. Working out a routine that suits your schedule will enable you to provide your horse with regular care.
If your daily routine happens to change because of your job or as a result of going on holiday, then you will need to place your horse in the care of someone trustworthy who has good knowledge of how to look after it properly.

Your experience

Before you buy a horse, you will need to think about your abilities. Not only will you need to be able to care for your horse properly but you will also need to think about your riding skills. If you have an interest in horses and riding but little experience, then it is vital that you are able to receive help from someone who is able to provide you with the proper training.

When owning a horse, you will need to be able to recognise any signs of diseases or illnesses such as laminitis. Some illnesses need to be treated quickly and properly, so it is vital that you are able to recognise any signs and symptoms in order to take appropriate action.

Owning a horse also requires plenty of patience. You will need to be able to handle your horse properly and be aware of what actions to take should any changes in your horses behaviour take place. Inexperience with handling a horse can sometimes result in serious accidents so it is important that you think about your capabilities before you buy a horse.

Type of horse

As buying a horse for the first time is exciting, you may be tempted to select the first horse you come across. It is important that you take the time to find a horse that is right for you. Think about what you will be using your horse for. You may perhaps wish to buy a competition horse or you may simply be looking for the perfect companion.

There are a number of factors your will need to consider when it comes to selecting your first horse. Think about what breed, colour, age, height and sex you are looking for. If you require a competition horse, then you will need to select a horse that has the right abilities. Be sure to check what previous training the horse has with your seller.

Taking the time to find out as much as you can about the horse you are interested in will enable you to make the right choice.

About the Author:
To know more about Horses for sale please visit http://www.horsetraderonline.co.uk/

Technorati Tags: braiding your horses mane and tail, horse braiding, horse grooming, mane braiding, tail braiding

5 Essential Horse Manners You Can’t Go Without

Ever wondered what manners are essential for horses?

Just like with humans, manners are essential for horses. Acceptable manners make the animal more manageable and prevent frustrations for the owner / trainer and the horse.

Almost every time we interact with horses, we are teaching them. There are no timeouts for them as they do not recognize between training time from recess. Every encounter the horse gets to experience with you is a time for learning. As one of the more intelligent creatures in the animal kingdom, they absorb every experience and conditioning like a sponge. Things that are done consistently will be eventually planted in their consciousness and become their core behavior toward certain things.

Good manners should be consistently reinforced especially in the most important aspects of handling or managing your horse. Feeding and ground manners are just two of the most important manners that your horse should learn. It will make your life with the animal significantly better. Some manners should be taught, particularly the ones that you can’t go without.

Here Are 5 Horse Manners That Must Be Taught!

Ground manners are very important. They are basically how a horse behaves around you, whether you are working with him, riding him, or standing next to him on the ground. They are fundamental aspects of training a horse. A horse with acceptable ground manners defer to their handler. Therefore, the horse is less likely to do things that could endanger or hurt the person. A horse that lacks manners, on the other hand, can be extremely dangerous to handle or be around humans, especially in situations where the horse is likely to spook or panic.

1. The horse must be led quietly in hand

The horse should just walk beside you quietly and without qualms. It should pay attention to you and be aware of your cues and commands. The animal should promptly do what you want it too. It should be aware of your cues and signals. Additionally, the horse shouldn’t pull or push you. Training the horse to lead well is the basis for almost every other aspect of good manners.

2. The horse should allow you to touch any part of its body

Cleaning the animal is essential to its health and hygiene. If the horse panics when being touched or handled, you will have lots of trouble managing it especially in grooming!

3. The horse should let you put things inside his mouth with no trouble

Parasite control is usually administered orally. Your horse should allow you to put oral medications without any hitch. It is vital for the horse.

4. The horse should stand quietly to be tied

The horse needs to be tied often, either for feeding, grooming, or training. You must teach your horse to stand quietly while being tied without fussing or pulling. Some horses may lead quietly but when they know that they are going to be tied, they become fussy.

5. The horse should be feet-handled easily

Unlike other animals, horses require frequent and periodic hoof care. They should stand quietly while their hooves are being cleaned and handled.

About the Author:
If you’d a free DVD showing you how to teach <a href=”http://www.easyhorsetraining.com/horse-manners&quot;>horse manners</a> come visit us over at EasyHorseTraining and you’ll discover everything you need to learn for <a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_c9vA3yLHw&quot;>ground manners for horses</a>.

Technorati Tags: braiding your horses mane and tail, horse braiding, horse grooming, mane braiding, tail braiding

So, who bets on virtual horses? Do you use virtual money, and if a virtual horse falls and breaks a leg, does it simply get deleted instead of being shot (as in days of western movies)? To answer seriously, there seems to be several type of games inside the virtual horse racing world.

There are those that serve as simply another way to weigh up the odds, place your bet and sit back and cheer on your chosen steed for the day and hope they do you proud. Others take a much more in-depth approach and take you into the world of a horse racing trainer. You may have seen this type of thing with other sports, where you become the coach, train and build your virtual team, then go to play virtual matches against all manner of computer generated teams.

Well this is the same thing, only you get to be a race horse owner and carefully build your stable of runners, taking great effort to train them properly before choosing which races and meetings you will enter. Many sites are now set up for this with the advancement of software technology providing a 3D experience of seeing your own horse strive for first place as it pounds down the final furlong.

If this gets your juices flowing, then you are certainly not alone. The sheer number of sites offering this chance to manage your digital mares and stallions is increasing all the time. You can even breed your own foals, trace the bloodlines and send your old horses out to stud when their racing careers are over. No detail is too small or complicated to leave out as you develop and train your virtual thoroughbreds until the proud day comes when you can take them to a 3D race track for their first-ever race!

The real draw of this virtual world to the would-be owners and breeders who know they will never get a ‘real’ shot at the races, is the fact that it is not real money that changes hands at the end of the day.

So, if the thought of virtually grooming your one-year-old thoroughbred and calling it by your favorite name is something you feel your life has been missing, then check out the online virtual horse racing world. It may not completely eplace the smell and sweat of real competition in the great outdoors, but it comes very close and you stand a chance of winning and even a chance of winning real prizes!

About the Author:
An ardent fan of horse racing for years, I am extremely passionate about writing articles on adventurous topics on the lines of new developments in sports, online games as well as other fields. You can find articles regarding Horse racing industries and interesting facts about the understanding of virtual horse games. To know more about horse racing games online and related information log on to www.horseracegame.com.

Technorati Tags: braiding your horses mane and tail, horse braiding, horse grooming, mane braiding, tail braiding

Your horses need a lot of care and often its just plain common sense with which you can diagnose that your horse is suffering from back ache. A horses back problems can be very disabling. These could vary from just ordinary soreness with a little sensitivity to pressure to something thats serious, spinal and pelvic misalignments. In the worst case your horse could be suffering from an injury. You can recognize back problems by your horses reactions to grooming and when you are saddling him or applying manual pressure. Among the common causes of back problems could be injury and saddling problems.

Besides, shoeing problems and an incorrect rug fit or an unsuitable numnah design can also affect the back of your horse. A sudden and uncoordinated movement that the horse might have took while running or maybe he had hurt his back by falling or skidding. So in such a case, it is obvious that you want to give more comfort to your horse. Apart from adequate medical attentions, it is necessary to offer the creature such accessories that will make the job a bit easier for it. As we know, saddle pads and half numnahs play an important role in this regard, thus, buying the best quality products which are designed and fabricated well will add to the comforts of your horse.

You must saddle your horse very carefully and ride him sympathetically. Carry out static spinal exercises and ensure that his shoeing is proper and the numnahs, half numnahs and Saddlepads have been designed well so that he gets the maximum comfort whenever you ride him. The saddle pads that you need to use should be the ones that fit very well with the wool that will ensure the best protection to your horse. There are some that have been designed for use when the horse has to be ridden for a long time or if he has a sensitive back. There are different kinds of saddle pads or numnahs depending upon the style and size and colour. While the styles are the GP and DR or dressage and Working Hunter or WH the sizes are small, medium, large and extra large. The saddle pads come in various colour option including white or black, grey and brown.

The half numnahs have wool on both the sides. This ensures that there is good leg contact and the cushioning is proper over the pressure points. There are high withered single wool half numnahs that may be used either on their own or along with a pad in case required.

About the Author:
The article is an effort of the webmaster at www.nuumed.com We specialize in manufacturing British made numnahs, half numnahs, Corrective pads, seatsavers, dressage, saddlepads and horse accessories meeting to a wide range of specifications.

Technorati Tags: braiding your horses mane and tail, horse braiding, horse grooming, mane braiding, tail braiding

To tack up a horse means getting it ready for the ride by putting on the saddle pad, saddle and bridle. Equipping the horse with the right tack and ensuring the comfort of the horse by tacking correctly is imperative to ensure your safety and comfort in the English riding style.

English horse riding is different than Western riding style. Although the tack (horse riding and maintenance equipment) used might appear similar to a novice, an experienced equestrian knows better. Both styles use tacks such as saddle, saddle pads, stirrups, bridles, reins and more, but on a closer look you could find a major difference in the tacks from size to functionality. However, the correct tacking of your horse is crucial in both English and Western styles.

To tack up a horse prior to riding it casually or for competitions means to get the horse ready for the ride by dressing it with the tack equipment. English riding tack typically consists of saddle blanket, a saddle, bridle, girth, bit, reins, martingale and so on. The saddle for English riding is smaller and lighter than the Western one, however, each saddle types has further designs specific for particular sports and activities. Also, in English riding, you are in direct contact with the horse’s mouth using the reins. The reins are also held by both hands (one rein in each hand) and used as an aid, just like the seat and the legs are used to control the speed and direction of the horse.

Since, there are more factors and coordination required while riding English style, equipping the horse with the right tack and ensuring the comfort of the horse by tacking correctly is imperative to your ride. Experts often prescribe a step-wise procedure while tacking for English riding. Here’s a list:

* First, tie the horse before you start.
* The next step is to groom the horse, either where the tack will be placed or you can also do a full grooming and ensure the horse is clean and fit. Remember to pick the hoofs as well.
* After you’ve groomed the horse, put the saddle pad first, the horse’s withers is the correct spot.
* Then place the saddle on the addle pad (right in the middle). Here, it is important to ensure that the girth is strapped not too loosely or tightly. If it is too tight, you will make the horse uncomfortable. A correct way of putting the saddle is from the left side.
* Now you can put on the boots or polo wraps , if necessary.
* You can now undo the cross ties and put the reins over the horse’s neck.
* Take the bit and put it in the horse’s mouth, be gentle and careful with your fingers while doing this, avoid hitting the teeth and warm the bit in cold weathers. If the horse is shy to the bit, you can apply honey or peppermint oil etc. to it.
* Then slide the bridle’s crown gently over the horse’s ear.
* Do the throat latch and the chinstrap, buckle it loose enough to fit four fingers between the horse’s throat and the latch, the chinstrap should be buckled with a finger or two’s space in between.

It is recommended that you do not tack a horse alone if you are doing it for the first time. Watch an experienced equestrian do it, and assist him/her from time to time so that you can get used to treating the horse in the right way. For best approach and results, you can take lessons from a qualified instructor, this way you can learn everything from tacking to riding to grooming and maintaining the horse and stable. Also, ensure that you use the right tack and wear appropriate equestrian apparel for English style riding, and treat the horse with love and care.

About the Author:
The writer of this article is associated with Anytime Tack, an online store for premium English riding apparel and tack.

Technorati Tags: braiding your horses mane and tail, horse braiding, horse grooming, mane braiding, tail braiding

With summer fast approaching, it won’t be long before the children break up from school, and own-a pony days at their local riding school can be a great way of keeping them active and entertained, but still out of your hair during the six week break. Here is a quick look at what to send them with so that they are ready for their exciting day, and don’t have to miss out on anything due to having the wrong equipment.

If it is your children’s first experience with horses, they may not have a full set of horse riding clothing. In this case, don’t worry, quite often tight-fitting jogging bottoms, and wellingtons with a slight heel will be sufficient for the riding part of the day. Ask at the riding centre for full details, they may be able to hire you out a riding hat as well. If they are starting to enjoy the riding, you might consider investing in a pair of children’s jodhpurs and riding boots. Make sure they are really serious about carrying on their riding before you do this! If your child is a seasoned rider already, they may have the necessary horse riding clothing, just remind them to take their riding hat, gloves and crop if necessary.

Whilst the riding is always “the best bit”, unfortunately there is always mucking out to be done and turning horses out in muddy paddocks, so you will need to send them with a spare pair of jodhpurs, or jogging bottoms to change into. (Especially if they think they’re getting into your car covered in it!) Also you may want to encourage them to take some alternative footwear. If your children’s riding boots are fairly robust, they may well be fine to muck out in, however you don’t really want them to ruin a nice pair of leather boots, so try to persuade them to take a pair of wellies, or yard/walking boots if they have any. When buying children’s riding boots, especially if you know they will be helping out at the yard as well, it is often a good idea to buy steel toe capped ones, as these can help to prevent against crushing injuries from naughty ponies!

Despite it being summer, the weather can sometimes be unpredictable, so plenty of extra horse riding clothing will not go amiss! A thin summer waterproof blouson or coat may be ideal in case of rain, as may a thin pair of waterproof over trousers to protect your children’s jodhpurs. You may as well pop some sun cream in as well- you just never know!

If your children have a grooming kit, it might be worth putting that in, there’s guaranteed to be plenty of pony brushing involved. If not, grooming brushes make a nice inexpensive birthday present for a horse-obsessed child.

Finally, as well as all the horse riding clothing, don’t forget to pack your children some lunch! You could always get them to do this bit themselves, but they will need some sustainable energy – days at the yard can be a long slog, even if they do love the ponies to bits. And the very last thing: plan some “me” time for yourself and make the most of it! It just never lasts long enough.

About the Author:
The Equine Store stocks a wide variety of quality rugs for horses and ponies, from turnout rugs to exercise sheets. Visit the store at http://www.equine-store.com/

Technorati Tags: braiding your horses mane and tail, horse braiding, horse grooming, mane braiding, tail braiding

For those who have owned a horse or a few will know that always keeping a horse clean can be tiring and it is a full effort job. Horses are recognized to roll around in dirt or sand to relieve themselves off from itch or to extend and realign their bones and muscles. If you are looking to buy a horse for yourself or your kids, you should know a bit about horse grooming to prevent any horse problems.

Some horse owners would inform you to avoid buying white horses as washing them up could be a nightmare. Nevertheless, if you look at a horse and you feel a bond, it’s impossible to tell you what colour of horse you should buy. If you do have a white horse, there are safe whiteners that will help you to get rid of the marks from the grass or dust the horse has rolled in.

Just be sure to not use household bleachers or laundry detergents since these liquids can be harmful to your horse. One useful tip to keep your horse tidy at all times is to clean their coat using a stiff brush. This helps ease the dirt and when that is done, groom the horse with a very soft bristled brush. By doing this, you’ll avoid any grooming horse problems.

Sometimes you will encounter horse problems including shedding of coat. In case your horse is shedding and its particular coat is full of mud at the same time, it is best to use the kind of shedding blade that comes with a saw tooth edge and gently run this shedding blade over your horse’s coat to eliminate the dead hair out. Next, use your stiff brush to get rid of the rest of the dirt off.

The grooming of your horse with a stiff brush. This need to be done before you seat on your horse. You don’t want any shavings in your horse’s coat before you put your saddle on. When your riding session is done, you will observe a lot of sweat when the saddle used to be and where the girth was, after the sweat dries off, it can be very itchy for the horse and will also lead to fungal skin conditions. To prevent that, fill a bucket with warm water and along with a cloth or sponge, wash your horse’s back and girth area just after you finished riding. This will certainly make your horse very happy and your horse will not be irritated with any kind of itch.

Once you are done grooming your horse, use a lightweight piece of linen that suits your horse so that you can cover your horse with it when he is put into the stall. The sheet will keep him warm after the bath and fresh if he chooses to roll around in the stall. Proper grooming is one of those incredible things you do to your horse to bond with him. It is also a great way to spot any sore or tender areas on your horse’s back to enable you to see if he has any horse problems.

About the Author:
Evade the painful blunder of acquiring unreliable services for horse problems. Stop by equiscan.co.uk right now for the most appropriate selection of horse health services to choose from at genuinely affordable prices.

Technorati Tags: braiding your horses mane and tail, horse braiding, horse grooming, mane braiding, tail braiding

Whippets originated in England in the 18th century and were used by peasants for hunting rabbits and small game. Later, they used them for racing as they realized Whippets would chase anything even a waving rag. These races became known as the poor mans horse race. After 1888 they finally because recognized as companion animals and today serve as wonderful loving companions for many families.

Whippets are sized between the Italian Greyhound and the Greyhound. They stand between 18 inches and 22 inches tall and weigh between 20 pounds and 40 pounds. They have a lot of the same physical and emotional characteristics of the Italian Greyhound and the Greyhound. They are calm when indoors, spending most of their time snuggled up under blankets or next to their people. They can be more energetic outdoors, sometimes racing around a yard or dog park at an alarming rate. They do not have much fat on their bodies, so they love warm weather and are averse to cold weather. They need to wear coats or sweaters when outside during colder weather, and require warm bedding and blankets for nap times and at night.

Of the three sizes, they have the reputation of being the most affectionate. They are gentle and easy with children and get along well with other pets.

They are prone to a couple pet health concerns, including deafness and eye defects. Because of their thin legs, they also may break their legs more easily than other breeds. Pet insurance can help offset the costs associated with treating these conditions and others. Pet insurance gives pet owners the financial freedom to make decisions based on what is medically necessary, not how much money they have available.

Whippets have a smooth short coat that comes in a variety of colors, including white, fawn, blue, and brindle. Because the coat is so short, they do not have a lot of grooming requirements and only need an occasionally brushing to get rid of dead hair follicles. They also dont leave a lot of shed hair around a home.

Whippets live to be between twelve and fifteen years old.

About the Author:
Heather Rey is a pet lover and internet journalist that strives to provide the best care possible for her pets. For pet-related information, visit this pet insurance site.

Technorati Tags: braiding your horses mane and tail, horse braiding, horse grooming, mane braiding, tail braiding

Born out of the sheer love of horses, Angkors Happy Ranch Horse Farm is the brain child of Sary Pann, who first established the venue in 2002. Renowned as the sole western type ranch of its kind in all of Southeast Asia, this quaint farm just 2km from the heart of Siem Reap enjoys an international following among riding enthusiasts of all ages. Occupying a scenic landscape in the captivating Cambodian countryside, the ranch spreads out over an area of 10 hectares, surrounding a charming lake. Boasting a collection of 42 horses, the ranch is famed for its retinue of pure Cambodian breeds, who are the offspring of Mongolian wild horse varieties and Prejwalskis.

Constructed according to international standards and specifications, the premises is fully equipped with more than 40 spacious stable stalls, a circular shaped pen, a 20x40m dressage hall and a grooming and preparation region as well. Having imported a majority of its saddles from Europe and western countries, the stable also provides safe riding helmets for all riding requirements.

Tailor made for those who wish to explore the Khmer countryside on a leisurely horseback ride, the farm offers guests a plethora of riding trails and packages to choose from. Riders can opt for a breezy one hour ride or go in for an invigorating half a day or 4 hour excursion that crisscrosses local villages, paddy fields and ancient temple ruins. Exploring these often overlooked corners of rural Cambodia, guests can expect to get a real sense of Cambodian country life and the breathtaking landscapes of the rice cultivating surroundings.

Riding lessons are also available for the convenience of novice riders, who wish to try their hand at this relaxing past time for the first time. Those travelling in large groups have the option of taking a cart ride across the pastoral environs on board the Happy Ranchs cosy carriages. Venturing throughout the countryside the seven hand-crafted carts at the venue can accommodate up to four passengers at a time and are ideal for families as well. The cart rides also last from 1 hour to 4 hour trips that cover Siem Reap, Angkor and its lesser known attractions.

Tourists in search of a luxury Siem Reap hotel should look no further than the stylish Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor. Conveniently located within walking distance of the central market and 8km from the airport, this is one hotel Siem Reap counts among its finest accommodation providers.

About the Author:
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

Technorati Tags: braiding your horses mane and tail, horse braiding, horse grooming, mane braiding, tail braiding