Clydesdales
May 6, 2009 by Gentle Giants
Filed under Clydesdale
Clydesdales featured in a Budweiser Commercial.
The Clydesdale horse is a draft horse bred and “developed” in Scotland.
Dail Chluaidh – Gaelic for Clydesdale is said to be the origin of this heavy horse breed. It is a district in the Strathclyde region in Southern Scotland.
This breed has been on the edge of extinction in the 1960 – 70, but thanks to dedicated horse breeders, its population is slowly and steadily increasing in numbers. It is classified as a rare breed. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust considers it as a “vulnerable” breed.
The Clydesdale horse in his modern appearance is slightly different compared to his ancestors from the 19th century: through well-planned and cautious use of new blood lines the hair coat contains now more white hair.
Clydesdale and Shire horse have been used to mutually improve some of each others breed characteristics:
The big Scott increased in size and got white hair on the whole length of the leg;
The Shire breed became finer, improved skin health of the fetlocks and would develop a silkier feathering.
The modern “Gentle Giant” has increased in height and his body is still well proportioned, showing quality.
Beside all this he preserves a kind and gentle temperament, which makes him a reliable and easy to handle horse.
These versatile horses are bred by farmers and horse enthusiasts who have to invest heavily into this kind of hobby and to ensure the survival of the breed.
The horse does not have to “earn” its living any more with hard farm work.
Exports of horses in the late 19th century to North America and strict breeding programs to maintain quality of the breed helped to increase the population considerably with now annually over 600 new registrations.
The Clydesdale Breeders of the USA are a respectable association with the sole aim to preserve and grow this breed of horses.
Modern use is for showing and advertising of breweries and other, various businesses by pulling brewery wagons and various and colorful types of tradesmen carts.
Also it gains more and more friends amongst horse back riders: show jumping, dressage, endurance rides, recreational riding and driving etc. Crossbreeds perform very well in various equestrian disciplines.
Some Scottish City Councils help to preserve the breed whilst using Clydesdale horses for PR reasons and for work within urban council departments.
This horse breed is gaining more and more interest from companies offering wedding carriage hire services to provide weddings with an impressive framework.
Like in continental Europe, where working horses in the forest industry have been re-established for a long time, the Clydesdale pays also its contribution to the protection of our environment: it is used during wood harvesting for pulling logs out of woods.
It has been proved that a horse does not cause devastating damage to trees and forest grounds.
Dr.med.vet. Ellen Schmidt
She is a veterinary surgeon living and working in Scotland, United Kingdom. Her passion are horses and horse driving for recreation. Visit her website and sign up for the free e-zine “The Cart Wheel” on http://www.discover-horse-carriage-driving.com. This is an “Infoport” for hobby drivers and horse lovers who would like to get expert information about most aspects of equine driving, horse care and horse health issues.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellen_Schmidt
Horse Grooming
February 27, 2009 by Gentle Giants
Filed under Horse Grooming
Start with your horse secured in crossties that are attached to the halter. This ensures that the horse cannot move suddenly one way or the other, plus it frees up both of your hands to work with the grooming. If you are trying to both groom and hold the horse, you are likely going to find this much more difficult and there is a greater chance of injury. With the horse secured, start either on the grooming or on the hooves, whichever you prefer.
Many owners prefer to start by cleaning the hooves, then the horse can relax and enjoy the rest of the routine. To correctly position yourself, stand next to the horses left front shoulder, just to the front of the body. Run your hand, the hand you don’t normally hold the pick in, down the front of the leg until you reach the hoof. Most horses that have had their feet cleaned will pick up their foot, but if they don’t gently press your shoulder and upper body against the outside of the shoulder, which will slightly move the horse off balance and he or she will shift weight to the other front foot. When this happens pick the left foot up, bending the leg as it would naturally bend back towards the center of the horse’s body. Hold the hoof firmly in your hand and use the pick to remove all the debris. Be very careful not to dig into the frog, the soft, triangular shaped center part of the hoof as this can be very sensitive. Repeat this process with the other feet until completed. Be sure to give a treat to the horse between feet to let him know he is doing a great job.
When grooming you can either start with the mane and tail or end with them, whichever suits you and your grooming style best. If the horse is dirty, muddy or has a winter coat, start with the curry comb and groom the entire body using gentle, circular shaped motions that follow the direction of hair growth. Work from the neck to the chest, over the shoulders, down the back along the sides and down the legs. Remember the curry comb is not flexible so be very gentle on the sides and down the legs. If your horse is flinching and twitching away, switch to the dandy brush over the sensitive areas. After the curry comb, follow with the same pattern with the dandy brush, this will flick away all the dust and dead hair. Follow up with the body brush for that shiny, sleek look, and also use the body brush on the face, but not near the eyes. A soft cloth that has been moistened with warm, clear water or a piece of sponge can be used to clean around the eyes and inside the nostrils.
Susanne Malloy is an avid equestrian and an editor for http://www.EnglishSaddleShop.com, your complete resource for new and used English saddles, riding apparel, and tack.
More About Horse Care…
February 23, 2009 by Gentle Giants
Filed under Horse Care
FEED.
Bad weather puts a tremendous demand on a horse’s body to continue producing heat. For each decrease of 1-degree Fahrenheit below critical temperature (from 60 to 30 degrees, depending on hair coat), the horse’s digestible energy requirements increase by 1% to maintain body temperature.1 Ask your veterinarian to guide you on how much more to feed your outdoor horses, especially if cold spells in your area generally last extended periods of time. Remember, you cannot suddenly adjust the amount of grain ration without increasing the risk of colic and laminitis (founder). Unfortunately, most horses experience loss of body condition during extended periods of freezing temperatures, no matter how well they are fed. Start the early winter season by getting your horse into good condition.
BLANKETS.
Horses that live outdoors should be allowed to grow a long winter hair coat. This furry covering is more insulating than a blanket. A heavy hair coat traps the body heat against the skin. Additionally, leave the hair within the ears and around the fetlocks; this is additional protection. However, a thick hair coat can camouflage body condition, so be sure to assess the horse’s condition frequently by feeling the area over the ribs. To tell if a horse is cold, feel its ears–if they are cold, the horse is cold.
If the horse has been clipped, or recently moved from a warm climate to a colder one, a blanket should be used. If the horse doesn’t usually wear a blanket, check frequently to see that the animal is not sweating under the blanket. Remove the blanket immediately if the horse’s body is damp, then dry the haircoat.
Choose the appropriate blanket depending on the amount of protection needed, and make sure it fits properly. Too tight, and the blanket will chafe the skin; too large, the blanket can slip down under the belly, with the potential for the legs to get tangled. Make it a practice not to share blankets between horses. Ringworm, fungus, and other infections can be easily spread on blankets and sheets.
FEET.
No Foot, No Horse. Absolutely true, and more so in winter. If your riding horse is shod, pull the shoes unless you are riding indoors on a regular basis; if you ride outdoors, have your farrier add shoes with borium or steel studs to grip the ice. Horses kept outdoors should be unshod. Ice can pack into the hoof area surrounded by the shoe, and this increases the possibility of slipping on snow or ice. Keep your hoof maintenance program running through the winter. Trim every six to eight weeks to prevent cracking and breakage of brittle hoof walls impacting frozen ground. Don’t trim too close, or your horse can suffer from bruised feet, which can lead to laminitis.
In Depth : Horse Training
February 16, 2009 by Gentle Giants
Filed under Horse Training
Horse training are a variety of practices for teaching horses to perform certain behaviors when asked to do so by humans. Training of your horse will take some time and patience. In the beginning it will be more trail and error to find out at what distance and type of surface he performs better on.
Training of your horse is important if you want to work together on achieving anything. Whether it is for basic riding or more complicated events such as dressage, eventing or cutting. Training of your horse will go much more smoothly if your horse trusts you.
When training your horse, you need to take on the role of the heard leader. Instead of using scaring or forceful tactics you should rather use positive encouragement. When training to overcome fears, it will also encourage your confidence as a rider.
Training of your horse, requires understanding of how your horse reacts to it’s surroundings. Each horse is an individual and one cannot say exactly how long every training session should last, but everything from fifteen to twenty minutes twice daily should be sufficient. As time goes on and training progresses the sessions will become more formalized, with more specific goals in mind as well.
By teaching good ground manners from the start will make your horse a joy to own , while keeping yourself as safe as possible as well. Remember if training a young horse, that they can only learn a few steps at a time so try and focus on one thing at a time which will make it more successful in the long run.
The internet has unlocked many doors and no longer is it crucial to have a horse whisper or trainer employed. There are some great guides one could consider to get rid of some unwanted horse behavior and advise on how to go about the training of your horse and which mistakes to avoid.
I have over the years used several methods by well known trainers. However I am very impressed with this very informative set of guides that I am sure will answer your horse training http://tinyurl.com/d6blub
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathalie_K
Horse Training
February 9, 2009 by Gentle Giants
Filed under Horse Training
Successful training can make the difference between your horse improving it’s behavior or even worsening it. That is why the right horse training is essential.The way that a horse acts can be based on several different aspects:
Horse behaviors through genetics: There is no doubt that genetics do play a role in how a horse acts, regardless of the environment the horse is in or who the owner is.
Horse behaviors and personality: Certain breeds tend to have certain personalities that is why you’ll often hear the term “hot blooded breed” when referred to different types of breeds. One must remember though that each individual horse does have his own distinct personality like human beings.
Horse behaviors and the owner: A horse sometimes tend to take on the owners temperament. A owner which talks loudly and acts nervous will usually have a nervous horse whereas a owner who is confident and calm can expect the same from their horse.
Horse behaviors and the environment: When in a load, noisy and unfamiliar place like a show for example a horse would act more nervous than being in the training ring or stall. Some horses have been trained so well that they are so use to and not even aware of the noise anymore.
Horse behaviors and training: Training is very important as good training can greatly improve your horse’s behavior while bad training can exaggerate a bad trait that already exists.
Although the relationship between horse and man are thousands of years old, we still keep on learning new things every day. By taking time to learn a little bit more about horse behavior and what the different types mean, you can have a better relationship with your horse.
Irish Wolfhound Health
February 6, 2009 by Gentle Giants
Filed under Day to Day Chat
If you have an Irish Wolfhound in your home playing with the kids, remember that most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Irish Wolfhound is no exception. Be on the look out for canine hip dysplasia (genetic based looseness in the hip joint that can lead to arthritis pain and lameness), heart problems (cardiomyopathy), bone cancer, bloat (Gastric Dilation-Volvulus, the second leading killer of dogs, can kill within the hour, this space is too limited for a complete explanation but you should read up on this). Feeding more then once a day and avoiding exercise right after meals may help guard against bloat, and Von Willebrands disease (a problem with blood clotting). This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.
She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets. I shall be adding more specific content later on as my aim is for you to enjoy the company of your Irish Wolfhound and more importantly DO NOT feed commerical dog feed to your friend. I never fed Catriona any she was always fed her own home cooked casserole and I would like you to check out this website. http://tinyurl.com/aj4cwf However, be warned it is very detailed