7 Reasons Not to Shoe Your Horse

Last year, I had some trouble with our little Arab gelding. We purchased him late 2006 and brought him home from Arizona, where he had been living on the breeding farm with the brood mares and foals.

Up until then, the footing he was used to was very soft dirt with manure turned under and not too many rocks. All he had been doing so far, was hanging out with his friends and some round pen/turn out time every day. The good and lazy life!

When he came to live with us that changed over night. No, we didn't work him too hard the first few months. It was fall, soon winter and since we live at 4500 feet, it was pretty cold. But, he did go from soft dirt to decomposed granite and a pretty hard footing all around. During the winter and spring months, that wasn't too bad; except that he was a little crazy Arab who loved to 'cut' the fence, swing his but around and practically do a sliding stop every time he came to the end.

That was not so good for his hooves and they became visibly unbalanced. On top of that, we had him started under saddle and he was working 3 or 4 times a week instead of living the lazy life.

Okay, that being said, the problems began to show up the next spring. We had him shoed, since now my daughter was riding him and training him in dressage and the ground was harder than ever. Shortly after that, he started stumbling and falling flat on his face. Not a nice experience when you're on his back. It continued for a while and we decided to take him to the lameness specialist 3 hours away.

After a thorough lameness examination and x-rays, he told us he needed shoes with pads for 6 or 8 weeks, and just shoes thereafter. According to him every horse that is ridden twice a week or more, needs shoes and we should have shoed him a lot earlier. He needed hock injections as well; at age 7!

Upon coming home, one of my friends told me about natural hoof care, bare foot trimming and thrush. After spending $800 to the 'expert' I was not ready to listen. I knew she was right. Everything she told me and showed me made sense and seemed logical.

Here are the 7 reasons you should not shoe your horse:

1. Frog pressure - The frog needs to be healthy, and compressed with every step. The digital cushion pumps the blood and helps a healthy blood circulation, resulting in a healthy frog - shoes prevent this from happening.
2. Flexion - a hoof needs to be able to flex and retract with every step - a metal horse shoe prevents this from happening.
3. Shock absorption - as the hoof flexes and retracts the shock of the step is absorbed. This protects the joints - again metal shoes prevent this from happening.

4. Horses should not walk on their hoof walls; that is like having long fingernails and walking on them. Just pull your nail away from your finger; that is basically the same. Sure, the first week or so after new shoes, this doesn't happen, but we usually only have the farrier come out every 6-8 weeks. This puts extreme, unnecessary pressure on the lamina.
5. The bars are part of the hoof wall and should be treated as such. I know this is not a good point for bare foot trimming, but traditionally farriers allow the bars to fold over and that creates pressure.
6. Contraction of the hoof occurs when the frog is not allowed to have ground contact when the hoof is set down. This is typically the case in shoed horses since the shoe prevents this.
7. A 'Sinker' is created when the hoof wall is forced to carry the complete weight of the horse. If the frog and the sole had been allowed to carry the weight the way they are supposed to, it would not have happened. Luckily this is reversible.

I could give you many more reasons. We are starting to understand, that the main reason for the problems our horse has is the abrupt chance of footing and work load. Should we have shoed him earlier? Maybe, but maybe we could have prevented the problems with riding boots too.

Each horse is an individual, and each horse's circumstances are different. One can easily learn to do barefoot trimming by attending a weekend seminar and practice. It is something a horseman should at least look into.

How to Avoid Mistakes When Buying a Horse

When buying a horse you need to know the ins and outs so that you get the best horse for the price. All horses are negotiable on price and you should never let someone try to guilt you into buying a horse. It should be a decision that you make and feel comfortable with.


First you do not want to fall in love with the first horse you see. This will only get you into trouble because you will want him at any cost. You need to find a horse that is compatible with you and one that you feel comfortable on. It will take some time to find that perfect match.

Next know that buying a horse that is too young may not be a good idea. If you are not an experienced rider then the horse may feel uncomfortable with you on him and he may become unstable and buck. You want a horse that is a few years old so that he is at ease.

Avoid a horse dealer that tells you this horse is a one of a kind talent. They may try to persuade you that the horse you are looking at is a one of a kind and you will win many shows with him. This is usually a selling tactic. You do not want to fall into this trap because there are many horses to choose from.

Finally do not buy what you think is a stallion. You may get tricked into thinking that you can breed the horse and make a lot of money but this rarely happens unless the horse is a proven winner. Keep you eye on a good horse and take your time and you will be assured to find a real winner.

How to Truly Enjoy Camping with Your Horse

Camping as an activity is truly exciting. The recreational initiative is a rewarding and exhilarating adventure for people, who work so hard on weekdays.

If you are a horse owner and you have a few good horses in your stable, camping is also an activity that would test the overall endurance and reliability of your horse.

Camping with your horse would be a worthwhile experience and will provide a good bonding activity between you and the horse.

Horse camping can be done with you alone with the horse, or with you and some company, together with a few horses. The excitement would also be as fun if you resort to camping with your family or friends and the best loved horses from your stable.

But because horse camping is an outdoor activity and you will be out in the wilderness, there are a few reminders that will help make the activity fun, worthwhile, safe and rewarding, all at the same time.

Checklist before going to a horse camp

Before finally embarking to a horse camp, whether alone or with some company, you must first make sure that the horse, or horses, you take with you are healthy and vigorous enough to go outdoors and spend a few days and nights out in the cold wilderness at night and the scorching sun during the day.

You must make sure the horse is free from any medical complications and isn't suffering from any physical defect or shortcomings. This will ensure that the animal won't encounter problems when out on steep roads and courses or enduring long-distance travel.

This should be done especially when you are about to horse camp alone with the horse. Imagine, if the horse suddenly fell ill or died in the wilderness that is hundreds or thousands of miles away from home, how could you possibly go back home?

Check the horse shoes. Before going to the camp, make sure that the horse's nails and shoeing outfits are in good condition. Make sure also that you are knowledgeable of fixing loose horse shoes or are adept at replacing lost shoes in case of emergencies.

Remember that horse shoes will help assure the walking and running capability of the horse especially on abrasive terrains.

Next thing you should look at would be your familiarity with the campsite. You don't want to be lost in the wilderness for a few days, do you? It would also help if the horse is familiar with the area or the terrain.

The horse should be used to trekking terrains. Experts say that the horse should be used to taking abrasive and steep terrains. Previous experiences of the horse in taking such initiatives would help to make sure that animal wouldn't give up amid the camping activity.

When finally going to the camp, of course, you should check on the basic needs for both yourself and the horse. Water is on top of the list. Bring sufficient drinking water for yourself. You may not opt to bring water for your horse if you are 100% sure that there will be a nearby stream or river in the camping site where the horse can drink.

Since horses eat grass, there is also no need to pack food for the horse. But do pack food that is bound to last you a few days. Bring only the basic food supply.

The horse trail

If the camping activity will involve a group of people, it is advisable that you carry along a horse trail. The horse trail would serve as a mode of transportation for those who are unable to get going through tedious journey along the way.

For children and women, horse trails are also ideal to use to make sure they will be comfortable all throughout the camping duration.

When going to a horse camp with a horse trail, you could opt to buy one or rent for the event. There are good aluminum-made horse trails around that aren't too costly.

If you feel the horse trail wouldn't be useful to you in the future, then, it would be wise to just rent one for a particular occasion.

When looking for a horse trail, make sure it is spacious and is comfortable enough for those who would be on it. Aluminum horse trails are more advisable than those made of other materials because they are lighter in weight.

The horse wouldn't feel too much pressure when tagging the trail along in a journey.

Good luck on your horse camp and always be safe.

How to Make Life Beautiful for Your Horse – Simple Tips for Horse Care

Do you sometimes feel the need to return the pleasure, comfort, and convenience that you’re receiving from your horse? If so, here’s what you can do to make the life of your horse beautiful indeed.

THE SIMPLE PLEASURE OF FEEDING
Food is one of the simplest but greatest pleasures of horses so make sure that your horse always has all the food that it needs.

There are three types of food that your horse may eat. Pasture is the favorite meal of horses reaching adulthood and used for recreational purposes alone. Keep in mind however that the greenness of a field doesn’t automatically equate to richness in pasture.

Hay is another type of food for horses, but it’s typically fed to those used for domestic work. As hay is more affordable than other types of horse food, do make sure that you’re feeding the best quality of hay to your horses. Secondly, always store hay in a dry but well-ventilated area. Feeding your horse moldy hay can lead to various medical complications. Feeding your horse with hay alone isn't a sufficient diet so consider including another component in your horse’s diet to ensure that all its nutritional needs are met.

Lastly, there are grains or feeds which are specifically produced to provide nourishment for horses. If your horses subsist mainly from hay, make sure that you mix either a small or moderate amount of concentrates with it to give your horse the benefit of a complete meal. Feeding your horse with concentrates is especially important when they expend lots of energy everyday because of working or racing, or when they’re in a pregnant or nursing stage.

Abundant food will keep your horse healthy and happy and personally feeding your horse will strengthen the bond between you and your pet. As such, the act of feeding doesn’t only nourish your horse’s body but his heart as well!

WATER AS THE SOURCE OF LIFE
Horses are always thirsty, and they can consume up to 10 gallons of water everyday. As such, it’s important that you have a ready supply of water for your horses. During the winter, make sure that you place the water in heated buckets to prevent it from freezing.

SALT, MINERALS, AND SUGAR CUBES
Salt and minerals are also important factors in your horse’s diet. Consult your veterinarian as to what your horse should take to consume the necessary vitamins and minerals. Salt blocks and sugar cubes can be purchased from pet food stores. Feed your horses sugar cubes only as a reward because too much of this may cause your horse to suffer from diabetes.

EXERCISING YOUR HORSE
The amount of exercise your horse needs depends primarily on its role in life. If you are using it for competitive riding, you or your coach should determine what type of exercises it needs and how many times it should exercise every week. As for all other types of horses, daily exercise is encouraged to allow horses’ muscles to strengthen and not become affected by arthritis when they reach old age.

CARING FOR YOUR HORSES’ HOOVES
Beginners are usually ignorant of what to do to take proper care their horses’ hooves. A horse’s hooves will strengthen and develop naturally if it gets sufficient exercise. For those that don’t, however, their hooves must be trimmed at least every two months. Secondly, use shoes for your horses only if necessary as various hoof problems are directly or indirectly linked to the use of shoes. Remember that just as it is with our feet, the hooves of horses are also the most abused part of their body so it’s important for us to give them the best care we can afford.

CARING FOR YOUR HORSES’ TEETH
Unlike human teeth, there is no end to periodontal growth for horses. As such, uneven use of their teeth can lead to the development of sharply pointed teeth which may cause chewing troubles. To prevent this from happening, make sure that you have your veterinarian check your horses’ teeth annually.

GROOMING FOR YOUR HORSE
Allow your horses to enjoy baths regularly. Afterwards, remember to brush their coat slowly, carefully, and thoroughly. Make sure that you use grooming products that are specifically designed for horses.

Above all thing else, the best way to make your horse’s life beautiful is by doing your best to make your horse feel beautiful by showering them with love!

Clothing The Horseman

When riding horses, the rider usually uses an array of garments and accessories intended only for horse riding. Through the times, these clothes, foot wear and head wear have developed to suit the needs and styles of different people, practices and beliefs.

The horse rider’s apparel is composed normally of the coat, shirt, vest, pants or trousers, boots, hat or helmet and gloves. For dressage or horse training, the spur is a special wear. Accompanying the rider’s apparel is a whip.

To protect the head of the rider, a certain head gear or a hat is used. Falls during horse riding or even being kicked by a frightened horse do sometimes happen so to be able to protect the head and avoid death or head injuries, a helmet must be used. The classic riding helmet is made of black velvet with a brim. Even during trainings, the rider must wear the helmet. Since hats have become a mark in fashion, there are actually many styles to choose from.

Aside from the helmet, the horseman may also use as a headgear the cowboy hat which is highly rugged. This is commonly made of felt or straw with a large brim that is as wide as four inches or more. This is useful in protecting the eyes from the sun. Compared to the helmet, the cowboy hat is much more fashionable.

The coat used as an outer garment is used for warmth and fashion. Coats have long sleeves and are open in front but may be closed through buttons or fasteners or belt. The coat for the horseman usually is longer than the hip of the rider. The shirt is the inner garment under the coat.

The vest is part of the rider’s clothes worn as an outer garment that has been associated with working class men. This has been worn in other outdoor activities such as hunting or fishing and has outside pockets.  The vest for the horseman must have useable shock absorbing and impact resistant pads or panels.

Each of the panels must have a grid of discrete pockets with shock absorbing elements. The grid lines are placed in an overlapping fashion making the vest very flexible and form fitting. This gives the horseman significant protection.

The horseman’s pair of pants is a garment worn on the lower part of the body covering the two legs separately. This is a tight fitting but flexible garment that clings to the legs. This is made often with cotton or lycra. The horseman’s pants is comparable to the leggings.

Boots are foot wear essential for riders. This is a type of shoe that covers the foot and the ankle and can extend up to the knee. Boots sometimes have a high heel. Other features of the boots includes reinforced insteps and toe caps with a slim-cut leg. It has also a removable foot bed for added cushioning and insulation.

Other boots can have what is called a kick-rim which allows riders to kick boots off without any damage. Others may have an Achilles protector made of rubber to protect the ankle from blows. There are also boots that have anti-shock heels and linings with moisture-control that offer comfort and good foot health.

A glove is the type of garment that covers the hand. Gloves have openings and sheaths for each of the fingers. Usual gloves used for horse riding are made of leather. This is important to protect the hands whenever it holds or grips the rope or reins of the horse. Without the gloves, the hand can obtain cuts and bruises made by the friction with the rope or rein.

The spur is an attachment to the rider’s boot used to back up the rider’s leg aids. This is useful in giving a sharp jab on horses that are reluctant to move forward. Spurs shouldn't be used if they aren't necessary. They must not be used to the point of wounding the horse.

The whip is a long flexible rod that has a lash at its end. This is used to back up the rider’s leg aids. This can also be used as a training tool to tap the horse to perform some movements.

If you plan to ride a horse, make sure you have prepared your riding gear. Horse riding gear shouldn't only be fashionable, but also comfortable.

Horses and the Different Equestrian Events

In ancient times, horses were regarded as one of the most useful animals. That is because the beasts served as modes of transportation during those times when automobiles weren't as popular as they are today.

As time goes by, cars have become important transportation. Because transport loads have become considerably greater, horses were left unable to carry the heavy loads demanded by modern industries.

Indeed, machines like cars, trucks and trains have displaced horses as transportation modes. Now, it is very rare that people use horses for transport.

More often, you see horses nowadays being used as luxury animals. Those who use the animals for transport are doing it for hobby, while some consider riding horses a form of extreme adventure.

Otherwise, horses are now being used for different purposes. Often, the animals are being used as objects for gambling and recreation.

Equestrian activities

You probably are aware of the different equestrian activities that are popular all over the world. You might have taken note that equestrian events are a form of recreation and sports at the same time.

The dictionary defines the word 'equestrian' as a term referring to the skill or talent in riding, driving and manipulating horses for practical, sports and driving purposes.

Nowadays, the most practical and popular function of horses is for competitive sports. There are many horse owners and riders who are investing a significant amount of money and time to breed and raise horses.

The animals are fed and trained to run as speedily as they can. Part of the training is the ability to run over many different obstacles.

The horse riders are at the same time undergoing vigorous training for horse riding. You know how dangerous the activity can get. Horses can tend to become very rowdy. That is why sufficient training and practice is needed before a horse rider is allowed to ride horses for competition.

There are several businessmen and ranch owners who are spending money to raise horses and subject the animals to training and preparation for sporting events. This they do either for gambling purposes or simply for recreation.

Modern people are very eager and longing to see different equestrian events because they feel the activity is somehow a link that would remind modern people the old ways of transport and recreation.

Different equestrian events

There are a number of equestrian events that are popular all over the world. You would be surprised at how numerous these events are, meaning, people are really hooked on horse sports and recreation activities.

One of the most popular of these events is the horse shows. Horse shows are exhibition activities that are like a parade to flaunt the posture of horses and the unique riding talents of riders.

Rodeos are very popular in Canada and in rural America. Rodeos are horse shows that can sometimes turn violent as the event show how seasoned riders and horse raisers' extraordinary skill to tame wild-acting horses.

Distance riding is the root of the modern horse-racing events, while gymkhanas primarily involve very young horse riders, which somehow becomes the viewing attraction for audience.

Cross country jumping is very amusing because horses and riders are subjected to different and difficult obstacles like log piles and steep courses.

Polo is a horseback sport that involves a small ball. It's like a combination of hockey and golf, only that players have to be at the back of horses before they are allowed to hit the ball into target holes.

Criticism for equestrian events

Animal right advocates are very much against any form of equestrian events. That is because they see the activities as violating the animal rights of horses.

Some say that horses are subjected to cruel training and disciplinary actions just to prepare them for competitive events. There are also horses which are injected with several drugs that make them more vigorous for training and actual events.

Ethical groups for animal rights argue that horses are subjected to pain, trauma and injury during trainings for activities. Moreover, during the equestrian events, the horses are often severely injured, and in some cases, even killed.

Watching equestrian events is a truly fascinating activity. But taking a sneak peek at what happens behind the scenes, during training and preparation, you might conclude that the events are cruel forms of entertainment at the expense of the poor horse.

The History of Horses

Want facts about horses? Here are some:

• Approximately 75 million horses abound our world today.

• The height of a horse can be measured using hands. 1 hand is equivalent to 4 inches.

• Horses have a sharp sense of hearing, direction and smell. The skin is very sensitive and it will respond quickly with the slightest touch.

• Popular horses are Marengo, Moifaa, Bucephalus, Justin Morgan, etc. these are hall of famers.

•  There are several markings on the horse’s body like a star, white face, stripe, white muzzle, blaze, etc.

Facts aren't useful without the historical information. Horses like any other creatures were used long ago. The Bible, specifically the book of Job states that horses and horse riders used them in hunting ostriches. Horses’ drawings existed about 3000 BC. Drawings of chariots being pulled by horses can be seen in caves during the Bronze Age. A tomb in Egypt presented horse riding on 16000BC; this is the earliest records that can be traced in Egypt.

It was during 1400 BC when the first written text regarding horses was produced. The text states training of horses for chariots. The Art of Horsemanship was written by Xenophon about 360 BC and therein stated horseback riding, psychology and care for horses. Information on the said book is still relevant and being utilized today.    

During Ice Age, horses roamed every continent excluding Antarctica. Horses vanished mysteriously during this era; a theory stated that the disappearance was due to migration of these animals towards the west through land bridges on Siberia.  

After Charlemagne time and around 4th century, horses with stirrups and saddles were very visible. This is an Asiatic invention; it was believed that Asians were the first who tamed and rode horses. It paved the way of the mounted knights’ development. Around 1519 AD these animals reappeared in Northern America and were brought by Spanish conquerors to Mexico     

Even with these historical reviews, there are other historical facts being presented by other countries. It is known that Persians, Chinese and Assyrians were skillful horse riders. 

• Brahmans of India claimed themselves as the first horse riders. Chinese where believed to be the true horsemen; way back in 4000 BC, they started harnessing their horses. As early as 1000 BC, Chinese were also involved in selective conformation and breeding of horses.  

• Hittites of the Mediterranean were using horses for wars around 1,600 BC

• Assyrians were the first race among eastern Mediterranean to have used horses with a load; this resembles the saddle of today.

• Egyptians used chariot horses to expand their empire; this is way back 1650 BC. The kinds of horses used in Egypt are much different from the Arabian horses.

• Greeks mythology presented horses as sea creatures ruled by their god Posiedon. Posiedon’s winged horse named Pegasus is also written about in mythology.

• Long ago, horses which ventured in Kenya unfortunately died because of a horse disease known as Trypanosomiasis.  Ponies which had reached the clean and disease free part of Kenya survived and became the first horses in East Africa.

Though horses become domesticated long ago, a lot of misconceptions appear about their history. Quoting B. MacFadden from University of Florida, he presents some records from his journal “Science”:

• Around 20 million years ago, horses changed in size. Some got larger and others minimized to sizes of dogs. These animals didn't simply evolve bigger. 

•  Prehistoric horses weren’t leaf eaters. They adapted to eating both leafy materials and grasses.

• The horse’s fossils in North America went extinct about 55 to 10,000 million years ago. These were the first horses and not those which were brought by settlers in Europe.

MacFadden further stated that a clear knowledge of the records of horses’ fossils is vital to illustrate their evolution.

Horses have been visible throughout the history and have been used for various purposes. One vital purpose of these animals is a means of transportation. They have also been used in agriculture and wars. Nowadays, the gracefulness, agility, speed and strength of horses are employed for pleasure and competitions. Similar to other animals, horses have rich history worthy of studying and comparing.