PetLvr.com - [The Blog]

You’ve undoubtedly noticed that your dog is much smaller than a horse. (Well, most are anyway.) Nevertheless, most horses are much more frightened of dogs than the reverse. That creates unique problems - for dog, horse and the person who has to govern both.

In this case, unlike other animal training areas, it helps very little to start the interaction out when both animals are young. Young horses are at least as skittish as older ones, and are often accompanied by a mare. Neither is naturally fond of nor curious about puppies. To a horse, nearly everything but their owners and a few other horses are threats - at least until they’re mature.

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If you want to have your horse pull a cart, a wagon or even a sleigh, you will need one important piece of tack, the harness. A harness connects your horse to the cart or other conveyance and gives you a way to control the horse. There are several harness models, from standard driving harnesses to harnesses for horses that compete in sulky races. Of course, just like with other types of tack, you can find leather or nylon harnesses.

Before you buy any type of driving harness, you should know how many hands high your horse stands. Usually, driving harnesses come in miniature horse, 12 hands to 13 hands, 14 hands to 15 hands, over 15 hands and draft horse sizes. You should also know which size of bit your horse uses with a traditional bridle, since bit sizing for harnesses is the same.

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Do you picture yourself riding barefoot on your galloping horse with the wind blowing through your hair? If so, you may want to reconsider your riding apparel. Although it may not be quite as comfortable and relaxed as going barefoot and hatless, some riding apparel is designed to keep riders safe so that they can continue to enjoy those refreshing morning gallops.

Whether you prefer to ride English or Western style, you should always be sure you wear boots. In fact, you should wear boots even if you are just going to feed and groom your horse, because having one of those heavy hooves come down on top of your foot when you are wearing sandals or sneakers can really hurt. Of course, although cowboy boots can be quite comfortable, English riding boots can be a bit stiff to walk around in. You may want to invest in a pair of barn boots or hiking books to use for stable work.

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If you buy a foal or a horse that is green broke, you will need to be prepared to train your horse. After all, a badly trained horse is not just unenjoyable. A horse is a big animal and can be downright dangerous if he is not properly trained.

Of course, it is not easy to train a horse if you are a novice to the world of horses. If you already have an untrained horse, you may want to look for a trainer who is willing to train both the horse and his rider. If you haven’t yet acquired the horse, you may want to consider buying a horse that is already trained, instead. However, if you are trying to train a foal, you can and should do some preliminary training before you ask a more experienced trainer to take over.

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So, you finally have a horse and now you need to buy grooming tools. However, the feed and tack store is crammed with tools and equipment, which of these tools do you need to buy to keep your horse looking and feeling great?

The first thing any horse owner or even someone who wants to ride horses regularly should shop for is a hoof pick. A hoof pick is used to clean dirt and debris out of the bottom part of the horse’s hoof. While you need to use a hoof pick as part of your horse’s daily grooming routine, you also need to carry one with you when you are exercising your horse so that you can quickly remove pebbles or foreign objects that become lodged in the horse’s hoof.

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When you are caring for your horse, one of your most important responsibilities will be feeding him properly. Overfeeding grain to a horse can lead to a serious case of gas colic, which is an illness caused by a horse’s inability to burp. Gases develop in the horse’s digestive tract and cause the horse to suffer from severe abdominal pain.

One of the most important ways to avoid colic is to feed your horse regularly. Horses should have three meals a day instead of one large meal. Each meal should include plenty of fiber, so plan to stock up on good quality hay. Also, plan to change the water bucket at each feeding. If your horse is very active or pregnant, you may also be feeding your horse grain or pelleted feed.

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It is possible to ride a horse that is uneasy around you, but it is much more enjoyable to ride a horse that trusts you completely. However, getting your horse to trust you is not always easy, especially if he has been abused in the past.

If you have a horse that is a bit shy and uneasy around you, but hasn’t been abused, it may take a bit of time to get him to trust you, but it is certainly not impossible. First, think about how you approach him. Make sure you don’t make sudden movements and be sure that you always approach your horse from the left. Show him anything in your hands, even if it is only a hoof pick, before you try to use it on him.

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The halter is the first piece of tack most horses ever wear and usually the only piece they still wear after they are retired to the pasture. Halters are important because they can help horse owners control their animals in any number of situations. All halters basically have the same style. However, you can find halters in a range of prices, from budget friendly nylon to the more expensive leather models.

Since halters are used so frequently, you should have at least two of them. This way, if a halter breaks or if your horse manages to remove his halter, you will be able to use your backup halter. Since most horses have a similar head size, you shouldn’t have a problem finding a halter to fit your horse. This is especially easy because a halter is designed to fit a horse more loosely than a bridle would. However, if the halter is practically falling off your horse’s head, then you should look for a smaller size.

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While almost any animal should be groomed to keep it looking sleek and glossy, grooming a horse is even more important. Grooming a horse regularly can prevent serious medical problems, especially those that are hoof related.

Since a horse is so big and powerful, it is important to have complete control over your animal, even if he is well trained. After all, even the most well behaved horse can become startled by a strange noise and attempt to bolt. This is why you should never groom your horse without first checking to be sure his halter is in place and that he is attached to both cross ties. If you don’t have cross ties in your stable, you may be tempted to simply groom your horse in his stall, but this could be dangerous, as he can move sideways and trap you against one of the walls. You should have cross ties installed immediately, instead.

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Riding a horse can be one of the most wonderful experiences that a person can have. However, no matter how long you’ve been riding, you need to be aware of what’s going on around you and you should always stay alert. After all, you never know what is coming around the corner that could be dangerous or frightening to your horse.

One of the most important things you should do when you are riding your horse is to hold the reins properly. If your horse is suddenly startled, you will be able to react quickly to get him under control before he panics and bolts. Never loop the reins around the saddle horn, no matter how placid and docile your horse is. Even the quietest, most boring horse in the world has the ability to run off with the bit between his teeth if he is scared enough.

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