Wild Horses

Today, most horses considered to be wild horses are actually feral horses. Feral animals are those with domesticated ancestors but were born and continue to live in the wild themselves. Many times feral horses have been living in the wild for generations. There are also some truly wild horses whose original ancestors never have been domesticated.

The Forest Horse or Diluvial Horse is believed to have evolved into Equus ferus germanicus and may be a large contributor to the evolution of heavy work horses used in areas of Europe. There is also a theory that many proto horses developed with adaptations to their environments before domestication of any kind took place.

There are many competing theories about the initial domestication and development of various types of horses. In addition to the Forest Horse there are three other horse types thought to have developed long ago. These include:

• Small heavyset pony sized horses. These sturdy horses have heavy coats, arose in Europe and adapted to damp, cold climates. These are believed to have resembled and be connected to today’s Shetland pony.
• Sturdy, dun-colored horses the size of large ponies from the northern regions of Asia. These are predecessors to Przewalski’s and Tarpan horses.
• Taller, agile and slim horses that arose in western Asia. These horses adapted to dry, hot climates and are believed to be the predecessors of modern Arabian horses and Akhal-Teke.

Feral Horses

There are several types of feral horses in the western United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In the United States and Canada feral horse are often referred to as mustangs. In Australia feral horses are sometimes called brumbies. Many times feral horses are named after their location, such as Sable Island Horses from Nova Scotia, Canada.

North American Horse Racing

In the United States thoroughbred racing is the most popular type of horse racing and racing is done on flat surfaces consisting of either grass or dirt. Some horse racing tracks offer harness racing and quarter horse racing, while others provide a combination of all three types. There is also limited horse racing of rarer breads, such as Arabian horse racing.

In the United States, the pinnacle of horse racing has historically been the Kentucky Derby. Together with the Belmont Stakes and the Preakness Stakes, these three racing events make up what is known as the Triple Crown. More recently, Breeders’ Cup horse races have been becoming at least as popular as the Triple Crown.

In Canada, harness racing is more popular than thoroughbred racing and the Queen’s Plate, held at the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto is Canada’s most well known thoroughbred high stakes horse race.

Horse Racing In Europe

Ireland is known for its horse racing history and many extremely successful and popular thoroughbred horses hail from Ireland.

In the United Kingdom most horse races include various obstacles such as fences and hurdles that horses and riders must clear. There are also flat racing events like those in North America. Some of the greatest and most well known jockeys come from the United Kingdom.

Australian Horse Racing

The world renowned Melbourne Cup is held in Australia each year and is known as the race that stops a nation. This particular event draws the most international entries of all the top races around the world. Harness racing and flat surface racing are both popular forms of horseracing in Australia.

Stock Horse Trailers

Stock trailers are open horse trailers, generally with open slatted sides. These types of horse trailers can be used for several different types of hauling needs. It seems that horses tend to prefer stock trailers for the fresh air and openness, as well as proper space to stand the way they like to.

Though the openness of stock trailers can be perfectly suited for nice weather and shorter trips, they do not offer necessary protection from the elements in extreme weather conditions.

Straight Load Horse Trailers

Straight load horse trailers are the most common types of trailers used to haul horses. These kinds of horse trailers are often equipped with a hay manager. Straight load trailers get their name from the way the trailer’s tires follow directly in line with the truck’s wheels.

There is some concern with this type of horse trailer that the manager may restrict the horse’s front legs. In this type of position the horse is not able to brace itself to change positions and therefore may have trouble clearing their respiratory tracts.

Slant Load Horse Trailers

In a slant- load horse trailer the horse ride diagonally, which is positioning that many feel is most comfortable for the horses. Particularly with stopping and starting, the diagonal placement of the horses seems to decrease discomfort during these transitions.

Another advantage of slant loaders is that they offer more variety for storage areas. Slant loading horse trailers are typically shorter, but wider than other types of horse trailer.

One particular distinction between Western riding and other types comes from the cowboy’s use of a lasso or lariat. Cowboys must control the ridden horse with only one hand and then use the lasso with the other hand. Horse ridden in this manner must become accustomed to neck rein, which is the ability to respond to slight pressure changes and a slack rein against the horse’s neck.

Once a cowboy has successfully lassoed a cow, the lasso is tied to the snub of the saddle. With roping calves, horses learn to pull back against the resistance of the calf. The calf then falls to the ground and the dismounted cowboy ties the calf’s feet together for medical treatment, branding or other such activities.

Typically, western riding for ranch work requires different tack. These differences include a curb bit, Roman or long split reins and a heavier saddle that is better suited for work.

Though there are some differences between Western and English riding as mentioned above, there are technically not that many differences between the general riding styles.

Another difference in terms of style between English and Western riding is the different types of dressage worn by horseback riders. In Western riding riders wear jeans, cowboy boots, long sleeved shirts and a cowboy hat. Optional Western riding wear includes such items as bolo ties, chaps, belt buckles and shiny spurs.

The Horse Saddle Shop not only sells tack racks, they sell the horse tack to put on them. They sell everything from saddles to stirrups and reins to bits. The saddles that they carry are all really very nice.

I have seen all kinds of horse tack on the internet. By far the cutest thing I’ve ever seen is a ride behind child tandem saddle. This is great for the parent that is an equestrian before their child is able to ride alone. The tandem saddle was only sixty dollars.

Horse tack is big business. A saddle can run up to three thousand dollars from some places. For around five hundred dollars, you can get a great saddle from the clearance area of The Horse Saddle Shop.

If you go to eBay looking for horse tack, you can find custom-tide rope horse hobbles. The seller that had that item listed had all manner of custom horse tack in his eBay store. They had custom horse halters and whip gear that was custom braided for rodeo barrel racing.

E-Horse Lovers Gifts had a really nice horse tack trunk for sale. It is really roomy and can hold a lot of horse tack. This would be a great purchase for someone that needs to haul a lot of horse tack around for horse shows and rodeos.

There seems to be different intended customers for horse tack. I found a great many items that have been made extra flashy or detailed for people that show horses or take them to judged events.

I also see a lot of horse tack that is sold online to what must be ordinary people that own horses. Most horse tack is actually utilitarian by its very definition and the market does not bear too many frills.

For people on a budget that want to have fancy show horse tack, there are kits available with all of the hardware to do-it-yourself. The twelve-piece set that I found on eBay was a full set of engraved silver to enhance any saddle for a show.

Some of the reasons for using a horse trainer like Frank Bell for horse training can be that your horse is spooking and shying. He offers solutions for those and other problems like trailer loader, proper mounting and bridge crossing. He is a proponent of Natural Horsemanship as a concept and practice.

You do not need to hire a horse trainer to have successful experience horse training. There are all kinds of videos available on the market that covers just about every type of handler and horse. Videos come in both handy problem specific editions and also as comprehensive courses.

Books are available on the topic of horse training. Some really good ones include Horses Never Lie: The Heart of Passive Leadership. That was a wonderful book about horse training. He teaches how to be a passive leader in your relationship with your horse.

The best book about horse training is hotly debated, but The Elements of Dressage: A Guide to Training the Young Horse is a clear favorite. The author’s love of his subject shows through the pages.

Natural Horsemanship is a style of horsemanship that allows the horse to lead the learning experience. It shows horses that they are valued and heard. This style of horse training is gaining more followers every year.

The Traditional line of Breyer has the most asked for Breyer horse since 1950. These horses are hand painted and have accurate details. The Breyer website currently returns 117 items in a search of Traditional Breyer horses.

No collection of Breyer horses would be complete without some accessories. Breyer makes a single stall wood barn for your Breyer horse, as well as figurines like a veterinarian, a cowboy and even a dressage rider.

In 2004, a film was made that included a pinto Mustang named Hidalgo. There has been a Breyer horse made in Hidalgo’s image. There are also play sets for Hidalgo and a plush version of him as well.

There is another Breyer horse made in the image of a movie horse. That horse is Seabiscuit. Breyer has made several items in Seabiscuit’s likeness. There is a Breyer horse that is a Bay Thoroughbred like Seabiscuit and a Brown Thoroughbred that represents War Admiral.

The Breyer horse Christmas ornaments that look like Seabiscuit and War Admiral are nice and would be appreciated by horse lovers. Breyer has also made stick horses for their Seabiscuit line.

A realistic Breyer horse can be introduced to a three to five year old in the form of their Ponies line of horses. These even come with removable horse tack to facilitate imaginative play.

Breyer has a big line of seasonal items for horse loving people. There are a lot of things to choose from for the Christmas season. The seasonal item I liked best was not just a Breyer horse; it was a whole setup that included a carriage decorated for Halloween and a wolf to recreate a haunted hayride.

Oak Hill Farm is another one of the horse farms for sale in North Carolina. Not many horse farms have mountain views, but this one does. The estate has a stream-fed pond and a barn. Horse farms don’t often have room for expansion but this one does.

The peaceful Green Creek area of Polk County in North Carolina is home to some lovely horse farms. Among those is the Far Side Farm which is currently for sale. Horse farms in Polk County are known for their beauty and this one is no exception. Every one of the 49 acres of land is magnificent.

Asheville, North Carolina’s horse farms number less than they used to. There has been a big population increase and tourism has increased as well. The Asheville Equestrian Estate is on the market right now. This is one of the horse farms with the smallest amount of attached land. This property boasts six beautiful acres and a grand view.

Horse farms are for sale all over the country, not just in North Carolina. All you need to find property for sale is to look on the internet. There is a wealth of information out there for the taking. If you have an interest, you can find the horse farms for sale that you want.

The Old Time Slick Fork Saddle is a horse saddle made in the style of the late 1800’s. It was originally created as a movie prop when the film needed period authentic saddles.

Also for sale on the Sharp’s Saddlery website is a horse saddle made for kids. It is made for a girl and has a tooled star and heart on the seat. This leather horse saddle has brass hardware and stirrups.

Some people prefer a lightweight horse saddle. Sharp’s Saddlery sells a horse saddle called Sharp’s Lightweight Wade Ladies’ Trail Saddle. This horse saddle is strong and functional and weighs only thirty six pounds.

There is another horse saddle that Clay Sharp makes for Sharp’s Saddlery that is quite a sight to behold. The horse saddle is called Modified Association with Wood Post Horn and Matching Western Canteen. This horse saddle has semi-square skirts.

The Modified Association horse saddle has floral tooling in the corner and on the border. It also has a burgundy padded seat and cheyenne roll. The post horn is wood and latigo wrapped. This horse saddle also boasts endurance stirrups.

I do believe that the western canteen is something else with the matching breast collar. This is just quite the horse saddle. Any cowboy would be proud to ride on this custom horse saddle or any saddle made by Sharp’s Saddlery.

The most lightweight horse saddle that Clay Sharp makes is also the most durable. The twenty four pound Endurance-style tree is very handsome. It does not have all of the fancy tool work that a Sharp’s Saddlery horse saddle usually has, but it has a simplicity that is really very beautiful.

Horse Lovers United, Inc. (http://www.horseloversunited.com) is a nonprofit organization of horse lovers that work to find lifetime homes for horses that have been displaced due to various reasons. Horse Lovers United has successfully placed more than 110 horses in new, loving homes.

In addition to finding homes for displaced horses, members gather to celebrate their shared interest in horses and horse riding activities. From trail riding, parade riding, pleasure riding, sleigh rides and more, Horse Lovers United is all about enjoying horses and helping them to have nice home where they are loved.

For a nice collection of information all about horses and their care, visit the Horse Hackers website found at http://www.horsehackers.com. It’s chock full of all kinds of horse and equestrian links and articles. There is even a vet questions area where you can find out more about horse related health issues.

If you’d like to access a discussion forum for talking about horse racing and horse training topics, check out http://www.equinepost.com and see the horse forum section. You can read the latest horse lover posts or post your own question or topics.

For a nice collection of horse related website links that are well organized, visit Horse Lovers Central at http://www.horseloverscentral.com. They have categories ranging from advertising and store sites related to horses, to information about horse racing, breeds and horse history.