Dear Shaboom and Clyde,

            I am 12 years old and my parents have finally decided that I can have a horse.  I found a beautiful 5 year old black stallion for sale in a magazine but my parents refuse to buy him for me. They tell me I am too young, but I read about kids younger than me who ride stallions in books and they are in the movies all the time. Why can they do it and not me?   Lynn, British Columbia.

Lynn,

Your parents are absolutely right when they say that you are too young to have a stallion. The story of a young person and the untamed stallion has been written over and over again and it makes for a good story.  Movies like the Black Stallion make kids everywhere dream of having their very own “Black.” But these stories are fiction, in real life it doesn’t work like in the stories. In reality stallions should only be handled by an experienced professional.  Stallions are unpredictable and can in fact be dangerous. Even the gentlest stallion can become hard to handle when there are mares in season around. My advice to you is to learn all you can about horses and horsemanship. Then if you still wish to own a stallion, as an adult, you will be prepared for the challenge.

Did You Know

Fun Facts About Horses

Editor’s Note: We always appreciate input from our readers. Thanks for sharing your experience and opinion

Dear Shaboom & Clyde,

I was looking through the NW Horse Source when I came upon your fun facts about horses, ‘Hot bloods are easier to train than cold bloods.’ Well, before I owned cold blood horses, I thought that the cold blood horses were just big and lazy, just because of everything I read about them. In truth, since I now have several years of owning hot and cold blood horses,  the hot bloods are more sensitive in a negative way, they are also much more scatterbrained and many spook easily. Many of the cold bloods are far more intelligent, and seem to have logic. They are far easier to train and learn quicker. I have also found when crossing hot and cold breeds, the cross has the calmness and intelligence of the cold breed.

I hope someday you will be able to experience the difference.

Thank you,

Connie

Fisher Ranch Warmbloods & Sport Horses

Spring Conditioning

by Michelle Dempsey

Spring is here. Birds are out and the grass is turning green. Horses every where are shedding out and their owners are starting to look wistfully towards the trails. But before you saddle up for an all day ride remember that if you have not been riding you horse all winter you and he are both out of shape. The soreness and stiffness you feel after your first ride in the spring is felt not only by you but also by your horse. He has not had much more exercise than it takes to get from the feeder to the water trough and back.  So before you head for the backcountry, start slow. Ride for short periods every day from 30 minutes to an hour.  Work on limbering exercises for both you and your horse to prevent strained muscles.  After a few weeks start going out for several hours once or twice a week. You will notice after a while that your horse is not sweating up as quickly or as easily. This is a good indicator that your horse is starting to get in better shape. He will also be happier about going for a ride if he is in shape. By summer both you and your horse will be ready for those long all day trail rides or a 3-day show. Have fun!