Gaits of the horse

Most horses have 4 types of gaits. Walk, trot, canter and gallop. Some special breeds of horses have different gaits. For example, the Tennessee walking horse has a special gait called the running walk. Today I'm just going to tell you about the main four.

The Walk:
The walk is a four beat gait.  This means that the hooves hit the ground one hoof at a time. It is either:
Left hind leg, left front leg, right hind leg, right front leg
or
Right hind leg, right front leg, left hind leg left front leg

This order doesn't really matter.

Pic from: http://agreenhorse.blogspot.com.au/2009/08/natural-horse-gaits.html

The Trot:
The trot is a faster 2 beat gait. It is bouncier, so riders post or rise up and down to the horse's beat. You can also
sit to the trot, but it is harder.

 
Pic from: http://agreenhorse.blogspot.com.au/2009/08/natural-horse-gaits.html

The Canter:
The canter is faster than a trot or a walk, but is less bouncier than a trot. If you are not familiar with the canter, it 
is like a gallop, but slower, and the footfall is a bit different. It starts with one hind foot, then the other hind foot 
combined with it's diagonal pair. Then the other front foot.

Pics from: http://agreenhorse.blogspot.com.au/2009/08/natural-horse-gaits.html

The Gallop:
The gallop is the fastest gait. It is like a canter, but it is a faster, 4 beat gait. It starts like the canter: One hind foot.
But then, instead of the two diagonals together, only the other hind foot goes. Then the diagonal forefoot, then the final
forefoot. There is then a moment of suspension.

 Pics from: http://agreenhorse.blogspot.com.au/2009/08/natural-horse-gaits.html

What is your favorite gait?
Mine is the canter.
Ella :)



 

Competition Closed

Hi guys, thanks to all the entrants into our competition, but we just don't have enough entrants. The competition is now closed. Hopefully we will have enough entrants next time.

Ella

Competition

We still need more entrants for our comp! Check out the info below :)

Competition: Drawing contest!

It's time for our first competition! A drawing competition! Send in a pic of your drawings to:
competitionshorseloversguide@gmail.com

Rules:
The pic must be horse related!
It must be YOURS! NO copying!
The competition must have 15 or more participants- spread the word.
Please email your age, your drawing, your name (last name optional) and a picture I can use for the rider of the month if you win. (I would prefer a pic of a horse or something like that, not of you)
Please read the competition rules at the bottom of the competition page! It is important that you do.
Ask a parent/guardian first!
Have fun!
Spread the word- we need more participants!

The competition will end on the 10th of December (or later depending on participants)

You may start... now!

Ella :)

A horse of your own

How to take the plunge
So you want to own a horse? Honestly, we can't blame you! Owning a horse is a huge responsibility. We know you have probably heard it all before, but there a few things you will need to consider before taking the plunge!

Are you ready?
Pretty much all of us have heard it before. 'Horses are too expensive' 'They are too much work' 'You know we can't afford one'. So before you get a horse you will obviously need permission first. You need to make sure you have the money to manage one efficiently. It's obviously upsetting if you arent able to own a horse, but thats why I designed this website- you can never know everything about horses, so why not try learn as much as possible, so when you are able to own a horse, you are as prepared as possible!

You need to find a place for your horse to live, too. Somewhere comfortable that suits your horse and the convenience of transportation and is relatively well priced. You also need a source of food, water and supplies too. It's reccomended that you buy equipment like grooming brushes and riding clothing before you get your horse, so you have more time to focus on things like tack and rugs that fit, the type of food that your horse needs and more.
Here is a list of just some things needed to be checked/gotten:

Tack

Rugs

Halters

Grooming kit

First aid kit

Food

Water trough

Worming

Farrier/shoeing

Vet and vaccinations

Riding clothes

Safety gear

Equipment like jumps or cones if you want to use them

Paddock security and safety (make sure there are no poisonous plants!)

What do you want?
There are endless amounts of horses in the world, so you need to choose the right one for you! The horse needs to be close to where you live so transportation is easy. It needs to be the right height. Not to short but not too tall. If you are a beginner, something like a cob or a calm, caring horse would be perfect, so they can teach you how to take care of and ride a horse efficiently. Getting a hot blooded and high strung arabian or thoroughbred as your first horse can not only be dangerous, but it can also mean that you can learn as much as a more calm horse could teach you.

Where to look?
There are endless places to look for a horse! You can look online, or in some horse magazines.

Trying out
Go to visit the horse you are interested in. If you are planning to put your horse in a paddock, ask the owner if you could catch it from the field when you arrive. This is so you dont find that your horse is alot of trouble to catch! Remember to ask to tack up/groom the horse yourself, so you can test the horse's behaviour, and see how it accepts the bit and girth etc. Don't be afraid to ride the horse, too! If possible, bring an experienced horse person or vet along with you, to check the horse's health and confirmation etc.

Questions to ask
There are so many things to ask the owner of a horse you are interested in. Here are only some of them:

When was the horse last vaccinated/wormed?
Are there any vices or special horse problems the horse has?
What is their medical history?
Do they come with registration papers?
Do they need to be shoed?
Do they need to be rugged?
What do they eat?
Do they come with tack?
What is ther rug/tack size?
How old are they?
How tall are they?
And many more!

Buying
When the decision is made, make sure you have a fair price! It's time to buy your horse!

Taking it home
Make sure you have a safe way to transport your horse by float or horse truck. Dont forget to put on travelling boots and rugs etc.

Have fun!

Ella

Competition Guidelines

Hi guys! Within the next week or so our competition will be ready to go! So, I thought some guidelines would be handy. Sadly, I am not able to send out prizes, but I do have a prize that would be just as good! You would be featured as rider of the month. Of course there will be some rules for our competitions:

1. Please ask permission from a parent or guardian before entering our competitions.
2. When you send in your entry, send it in to: competitionshorseloverguide@gmail.com
3. Please send your name (last name is optional)
4. Please include a photo that we can use if you win. We would prefer if you used a pic of your horse, or your fave horse or you riding rather than a picture of you.
5. Have fun!
6. We must have 15 or more people entered in the competition to make it fair, so spread the word!

Just a quick piece of news: In the near future I will be posting tests on horses to boost your horsey knowledge! If you get the questions right, you recieve a certifiate by email! This should be a fun extra activity on ths website. And remember- no cheating! The point of these tests are to learn!

Ella

Contact us!

If you have any questions, have a competition entry or need some help you can always contact us!
Our emails are:

competitionshorseloversguide@gmail.com
For all your competition entries!

ellahorseloversguide@gmail.com
You can contact me here

Our YouTube channel is:
HorseLoversGuide1

Hopefully we can post youtube videos sometime soon!

Thanks,
Ella

All the (horse) colours of the rainbow!

All horses have a beautiful coloured coat made up of hair. There is a very wide range of colours that coats come in, so here I am today to show you some of the many types! Lets start with the most common colours.

Chestnut:
Chestnut is a brown-reddish colour, and it is one of the most common horse colours.

(from: riverleafranch.webs.com)






Bay:
Bay is a brown body colour with a bay mane, tail and points (ears, muzzle and legs). Here is a very lovely example                              





(from www.equusite.com)





Black:
A black horse is a horse with black all over his coat. It has to be black all over.






(from www.puzzlehouse.com)




Brown:
A brown horse is brown all over. People often mix up brown horses with chestnut and bay horses.






(from graceysfreestock.blogspot.com)







Seal brown:
A seal brown horse is a dark brown horse with a few light brown markings here and there.







(from en.wikipedia.org)






Red dun:
A red dun horse is a dun horse with reddish shade to it.





(from bridlepath.wordpress.com)







Grullo/Grulla:
A grullo or grulla horse has a dirty mousey-greyish coat.




(from www.examiner.com)





Dun/buckskin:
Dun and buckskin horses are very similar. They both are made up of different genes. Dun horses are know to have dorsal stripes on their back (a black stripe running along their spine on their back) and horizontal stripes on their legs. They both have creamy yellow coats and black legs, manes and tails.
This is a dun horse:

See his stripy legs and his stripe on his back?

(from www.americanspanishsulphur.org)



This is a close up of the legs:




(from: www.theequinest.com )






This is a buckskin horse:



(from: www.about-horses.net)







Palomino:
A palomino horse has a creamish yellow coat and a silvery white mane and tail.




(from: www.ultimatehorsesite.com)






Cremello:
A cremello horse has pink skin and white hairs. It is a rare colour because this horse is a truly white horse, with blue eyes. Grey horses are often called white, but they are not, as they have black skin.






(from:  moonrocksporthorses.com)






Perlino:
A perlino horse is like a cremello horse, but they have a smokier-coloured coat. They usually have blue eyes.






(from www.texas-paint-horses-for-sale.com)







Gold Champagne:
A gold champagne horse is a horse with a very light, goldish coat. The horse in this picture has light green eyes!





(from www.homozygous-horses.com)





Classic Champagne:
A classic champagne horse is like a grullo or grulla horse but it is darker, and browner.






(from www.horsegroomingsupplies.com)






Amber champagne:
A red taffy horse had a reddish coat and a white mane and tail. This model horse is a perfect example:





(from s277.photobucket.com)






Chocolate flax:
A chocolate flax horse has a chocolate coloured body and a white or very light brownish mane.





(from www.equinenow.com)






Silver dapple black:
A silver dapple black horse has a black coat and a silvery white mane.






(from www.mulberrylanefarms.com)






Silver dapple bay:
A silver dapple bay horse has a brown coat and a silvery mane.






(from www.miniatureequine.com)







Silver dapple:
A silver dapple horse has a dapple grey coat with a silvery mane. This colour is one of my personal favourites!





(from www.amha.org)





Flaxen chestnut:
A flaxen chestnut horse has a chestnut body and a light chestnut mane.






(from www.horse-genetics.com)







Red/strawberry roan:
A red roan horse has chestnut and white hairs mixed together.







(from www.equine-world.org)






Black/Blue roan:
A blue roan horse has white and black hairs mixed together.







(from www.goodreads.com)






Bay roan:
A bay roan horse has brown and white hairs mixed together with a black mane and tail.







(from www.roanhorsepony.com)






Flea-bitten grey:
A flea-bitten grey horse has a light grey coat and small, darker grey spots.







(from www.horse-genetics.com)






Dapple grey:
A dapple grey horse is a dark grey with darker rings and spots.

(from www.horseforum.com)





More colours will be posted often! Check back soon!

Our Newest member!

Hi there horse lovers!

I would like to introduce you to my newest Co- Blogger! Georgia will be posting information on horses too! So keep your eyes peeled for some new amazing posts!

Ella :)

Want to know something?

Desperate to know something about horses? Comment here and I will see what I can do!

Ella

How horses evolved

So, I thought we should start off with how it all began. Horses weren't always the way they are now! They evolved, and, like every other living thing, are still evolving now. Becoming taller, faster and even more beautiful1! But what were they like in the past? Well it all starts around 50 million years ago! So come on! Hop in the time nachine and we'll take it for a spin!

Okay, here we are in the early Eocene age, which is around 50 million years ago! Come on out, mind the step, and please, no touching anything!  If you look closely, you can see the Hyracotherium, a dog like creature standing at a mere 0.4 metres. (Roughly the height of your knee). The Hyracotherium lived in forests, but as time moved on, their diet switched from foliage to grass. This odd animal, also had an odd number of toes! One at the back, and four at the front! It means they are part of an order called Perissodactyla, along with many other animals such as tapirs and rhinos! That goes to show why this picture of a Hyracotherium looks so much like a tapir! The hyracotherium is also known as the Eohippus, which means dawn horse. Lets move on to our next destination!

Hyracotherium: 








Tapir:

Here we are! We are still approximately 50 million years ago, in the early-middle Eocene age. We are here to visit the Orrohippus! The orrohippus is still very similar to the Hyracotherium, with only one significant change. The teeth of the Orrohippus were stronger and better at eating tough materials. The horse after Orrohippus was the Epihippus, (47 million years ago) but there were not many specific chances. So, lets move on to the Mesophippus.

The Mesophippus was from the late Eocene age (40 million years ago) The mesophippus' legs and neck were noticeably longer and it's brain was developing. Not long after, came the miohippus, then at 23 million years ago came the Parrahippus and the Mercychippus. At 15 million years ago, was the Philohippus, then 5 million years later, the Astrohippus.

The dinohippus was from about 12 million years ago. 12 million years later, here we are with the Equus (or, as we more commonly know them, Horses) It is incredible how horses have evolved from a tiny dog like creature to the beautiful creatures we know today. Who knows what the horse will be like in 5 million years or more? Maybe we will have to just wait and see.

Ella

Resources:
www.talkorigins.org/faqs/horses/horse_evol.html

Introduction

Welcome! So, you like horses, hey? Why didn't you say so! We do too! Well, you've come to the right place! Here, we post reliable information on horses, useful whether you own one or not!  Not only do we post information on caring for your horse, but we post info on handling horses, riding, and getting involved with horses. We post interviews, reviews, and hopefully we will hold some fun competitions down the track!

I am Ella, the creator of the Horse Lover's Guide to Horses and Georgia is the co-owner! We are both dedicated to horses and while we don't have our own, we are absolutely horse crazy. We hope you can jump on the horse lover train with us. Next stop? Horse crazy station!

If you have any questions or comments, please post a comment on one of my posts, and we will reply ASAP!

Well, that's all for now. Keep horsing around!
Ella and Georgia