Fun Facts about Horses
- Although a foal's body is relatively small, its legs are almost the same length as its mother's. The long legs enable the foal to run quickly so that it can keep up with the herd and escape from any potential danger.
- As a horse grows older, he slows down and finds it harder to do the tasks he used to be able to do easily. During old age a horse needs more care and attention from his owner to make sure he's comfortable.
- Yearlings are three-quarters of their adult height. They haven't quite filled out yet so they look rather lanky.
- Treat your horse to sweet tidbits every now and then. But try not to give him too many because he'll expect them all the time and it may make him bad mannered.
- When startled by a strange or unusual noise a horse often prepares for flight. He pricks up his ears, points them toward the sound, tries to identify it and then decides whether or not he needs to take flight.
Letters to the mascots
Dear Shaboom and Clyde,
I am seven and I just got my first horse. My Mom said they have to nail shoes to his feet. Why does he have to have shoes and will it hurt him?
Aleah from Wenatchee, WA.
Dear Aleah,
Shoes can be very important for your horses well being. If he is ridden in the rocks or on hard ground a lot it can wear his feet down and make him sore if he does not wear shoes. He may also have foot problems that can only be corrected with shoes. If it is done correctly getting shoes will not hurt your horse at all and should be a relatively stress free experience for him.
Have fun with your new horse.
How much is too much?
By Michelle Dempsey
Do horses get bored? Can they get fed up with the same old thing day after day? I believe they do. Have you ever seen a barrel horse refuse to enter the arena, or an English pleasure horse shy at something non-existent?
Why do horses do these things? Many people believe that there is such a thing as too much practice. Like people, horses need new stimulus from time to time to keep their minds active. Think about it, if you did the same thing everyday, ate at the same places, watched the same movie, hung out with the same people, you would likely get bored and start looking for a distraction. Horses are not complex thinkers like people are, but they do get bored with repetition. Many arena and show horses have mental breakdowns or become arena sour because they never do anything else. They don't get the needed stimulation that something new can give them.
So how can you keep your horse from becoming bored? Simple, get him out of the arena. Go for trail rides, go on a cattle drive, do something different. This can even work for a horse already arena sour. For a sour horse get them completely out of the arena. Allow them to relax and enjoy being a saddle horse for a time. Ride with friends and do group gatherings. Don’t ride solo the first few times out, as your horse may be a bit spooky. But you will most likely find that your horse will soon enjoy these outings. Once you get your horse relaxed start reintroducing him to the arena. Start slow and just ride without actually training your horse. Only do this once or twice a week to begin with and gradually start practicing as your horse becomes more comfortable in the arena environment. Be sure to take him out for trail rides at least once or twice a week after you have him back in an arena training/practice regime. This will help him to keep his new-found mental stability.
Remember that all work and no play leads to boredom and boredom leads to problems. Play with your horse and you will find that both of you will have more fun in the long run.
