Category: Horses

There are many different competitive events and disciplines available for horses and their riders. One of these many disciplines is english riding. While english may be used in reference to saddle horses and other gaited horses, this article refers to english as activities ridden in the hunt seat or hunter disciplines.

There are several english activities. These include:

• Dressage
• Eventing
• Hunter Jumping
• Show Jumping

Dressage

Dressage is a competition which evaluates the horse’s training, responsiveness and obedience to the rider. …

While the age of horse-drawn plows and carriages have passed, many horses are still used today for work purposes. Horses can be found working with people and for people in a variety of places.

Therapy Horses

Riding for people with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities in the United States was established in the early 70s. The movement of riding a horse mimics the three-dimensional motion of actually walking for people who are unable to do so. Riding enhances muscle development …

Horse ownership continues to increase in popularity. While horses are still used for some agriculture enterprises, most horses are used for pleasure riding, breeding or competition such as showing or racing. The horse has played an important part in America’s heritage. The horse continues to play an integral part in providing a recreational outlet and creating income for individuals interested in professional employment with horses. Most horse owners will testify that their passion and love for the horse is why …

Gaits such as the running walk, slow gait, pace and rack are considered artificial gaits, however they are very natural to specific breeds of horses.

Download this video! Artificial Gaits of Horses (23 MB)

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Navicular disease is an injury of the navicular bone of the front foot. Conformational faults or injury are the most common causes of navicular disease. A straight pastern and shoulder or small hoof will increase the concussion on the navicular bone, causing increased friction between it and the flexor tendon, resulting in injury.

Horses worked on hard surfaces are at greater risk to acquire navicular disease, which usually affects horses in their prime working years (ages 6 to 10). A …

When a horse backs naturally without interference from the rider they perform a two beat diagonal gait. The back has a similar hoof pattern to that of the trot, only backwards. The footfall pattern of the back might be the right front moves with the left hind and the left front moves with the right hind.

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