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Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.
Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Nov 18
Horse Show Checklist & Stall Card
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Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Nov 17
Really helpful diagram
This helped me understand more about how weight distribution looks!
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Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Nov 17
Equids - all types
I learned what a hinny was today!
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Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Nov 12
Horse Dental Care
Horses need their teeth checked on a regular basis. For some horses that may be every two years, some every year and others every 6 months. Horses need to have even bites and can have the same issues as humans like periodontal disease, infected teeth, broken teeth, etc. In some cases the horse ma...
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Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Nov 12
Body language
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Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Nov 10
English saddle parts diagram
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Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Nov 06
English snaffle bits explained
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Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Oct 27
Not sure about the vet?
Check out this THQ blog on finding a great vet for your horse!
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Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Oct 24
The nose net...
If you've ever seen a horse wearing one of these and wondered what on earth it was, you're not alone! Horses wear "nose nets" for a variety of reasons. They can help with flies, dust, pollen & respiratory allergies. They can also help with or minimize "head shaking" for some horses. They are inexp...
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Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Oct 24
What the heck is a “coggins”?
A Coggins test is a blood test that checks to see if a horse has Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) - a serious, contagious, and potentially deadly viral disease.
Here’s the simple breakdown:
- What it does: The test looks for antibodies that show whether a horse has been exposed to the EIA virus.
- Why it matters: There’s no cure or vaccine for EIA. Horses who test positive must be permanently quarantined or euthanized to prevent spreading the disease.
- When it’s needed: You usually need a negative Coggins to travel with your horse, go to shows, sales, or even move barns. It’s typically required once a year.
- What it looks like: You’ll get a paper or digital certificate showing your horse’s photo or markings and the negative test result.
In short, a Coggins is your horse’s proof of good health and disease-free status, kind of like a passport for safe travel and public events! make sure to schedule one annually with your veterinarian to make sure your horse has up to date paperwork.
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Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Oct 24
When a horse chokes:
This was a super helpful read for me when I was learning about choke in horses:
It is good to know the warning signs!
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Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Oct 23
What is that foal doing with its mouth??
If you’ve ever seen a young horse rapidly chomping its mouth (see video), you’ve witnessed foal clacking!
This funny-looking behavior is a sign of respect and submission. Foals and young horses “clack” their teeth to tell older horses, “I’m just a baby, please don’t hurt me!” It’s their way of showing they mean no challenge or threat.
Most youngsters grow out of it as they mature and learn their place in the herd, but it’s a fascinating glimpse into how horses communicate long before they ever learn words from us.
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Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Oct 23
Breed of the Week: Connemara Pony
Did you know there's a breed of pony that's native to Ireland?
Connemara ponies can trace their lineage back to the rugged region of Connemara in the west of Ireland. Archaeological excavations in Loughrea, County Galway have uncovered bones and artifacts providing evidence that small horses have existed in the area for centuries.
Legend and fable suggest that the Vikings originally brought Scandinavian ponies to Ireland, which the Celts then developed into the Connemara pony. It is also said that Spanish horses contributed to the breed after the sinking of the Spanish Armada in the 16th century, when shipwrecked Andalusian horses interbred with the native ponies.
In the 17th century, efforts were made to improve the breed by introducing new bloodlines that would enhance their height and speed. Thoroughbreds, such as Thistlelton, were used to cover native mares, while Arab stallions were imported by Irish landowners. Additionally, the Welsh pony breed made its mark on the Connemara lineage, with the chestnut Welsh stallion Prince Llewellyn siring Dynamite, who went on to produce the famous Cannon Ball, the first stallion registered in the Connemara stud book in 1904.
Early Irish farmers, facing the challenge of feeding large families, often caught and tamed Connemara ponies from wild herds. Mares were kept to sell their offspring for much-needed income, and even while pregnant, they were expected to perform tasks such as plowing or pulling carts. Any pony that couldn't meet these daily demands was replaced. This demanding lifestyle contributed to the Connemara's stamina and adaptability.
During the 18th century, Connemara ponies were primarily used for agricultural work, requiring strength and endurance to plow the land and pull carts filled with seaweed, turf, and rocks. As the 19th and 20th centuries arrived, the Connemara pony transitioned more into a mode of transportation and leisure.
However, during times of hardship throughout history, such as food shortages, war, and famine, the ponies were released back into the wilds of Connemara, endangering the breed's survival. Excessive crossbreeding also began to dilute the pony bloodlines. These factors prompted the establishment of the Connemara Pony Breeders' Society in Galway in 1923, with the goal of improving the breed. They carefully selected the best mares and stallions as foundation stock, resulting in the exceptional Connemara ponies we see today.
Have you ever ridden a Connemara?
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Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Oct 23
Did You Know: Gray isn't really a color.
Grey is a unique "color" in horses in that it isn't really a color at all! The gene responsible for turning a horse gray is actually a modifier gene, one that acts to slowly de-pigment the horse over time. The grey modifier isn’t a color, rather it's actually responsible for the loss of color.
Grey horses are all born another color (in Arthos's case, he was born black) and progressively lose pigment throughout their lifetimes, while still retaining their dark skin color. A grey horse can be born with any coat color or pattern.
Greying happens due to the presence of a dominant gene (known in equine genetics as "G") on the twenty-fifth chromosome. Grey is epistatic, which means the grey gene overrides normal coat color: if a horse has a grey gene, it WILL eventually be grey. A grey horse must have at least one grey parent, as the gene is not recessive and cannot "hide" or skip generations.
Horses that possess the grey modifier gene will eventually look white all over. As they age and each coat sheds out, they will become lighter and lighter. The speed with which a horse's coat goes fully white is extremely variable - some horses are light at a very young age, while others may take a decade or more.
Additionally, during the depigmentation process, some horses will retain small flecks of pigmented hairs and have a "flea‐bitten" appearance, while others will retain pigmented hairs outlining lighter-colored areas and have a "dappled" appearance. Some horses go through both stages while others go through neither... the greying process varies widely from horse to horse.
Of note, grey horses are prone to a type of melanoma in which tumors grow all over the body, most commonly in mucosa (mouth, rectum/anus, sheath), but can be found anywhere in the body. They typically pose no threat unless the tumors block major blood vessels, grow on vital organs, or otherwise inte...
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Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Oct 21
Getting started in the show ring:
I found this helpful article that talks about getting back into/starting out in horse shows! Let me know what you think or if you have any other tips.
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Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Oct 20
Signs of Stress in Your Horse
Helpful hints for reading your horse's body language!
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Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Oct 19
Colic Prevention
What you need to know.
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Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Oct 16
New horse owner?
Here are some great tips! 🐴🙂
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Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Oct 10
Something does not look right….
Always proofread your graphics. Can you see what's wrong with this picture?
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Posted in Horse 101 - For those new to the herd.Oct 07
Helpful saddle fit visual:
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