Pat, Cat & Dog

Posts Tagged ‘equestrian’

A non-existent horse plays an important part in one well-known film! ‘ A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!’ is Richard III’s cry when he desperately needs a horse to escape from those who would kill him on Bosworth Field.The horses in these movies are, however, a far cry from Shakespeare’s evil Richard and the horse – any horse – he so desperately needed. While life in Richard III’s time may have been bloodier and generally a great deal more perilous, at least they didn’t have to worry about the necessities of veterinary bills or horse insurance!

The Black Stallion
Produced in 1979 – some 400 years after Shakespeare – this film deservedly won many awards.The unfolding relationship between Alec and a vigorous Arabian stallion forms the basis of this movie. It includes a shipwreck, the rescue of the drowning Alec by the horse, and a period of slowly developing mutual trust on a desert island. Soon this trust is so complete that they can’t exist without each other. It’s a wonderful portrayal of the deep bonds that can exist between man (well,’boy’) and horse. In case you haven’t seen the film I’ll say no more. Suffice it to say that it was described as possibly ‘ the greatest children’s movie ever made.However, you can still enjoy the film even though you are not a child.

Black Beauty
Why do so many horses have to be black?. I suppose ‘Piebald Beauty’ doesn’t have quite the same ring to it. Anyway, it’s through Black Beauty’s eyes and voice that the plot in this 1994 film develops. The obviously human nature and attitude of this voice is a serious defect. This isn’t to say that it doesn’t make the sort of horsey sounds that would rapidly empty any cinema. No, it’s the manner, tone, and content of what’s said that is so obviously not that of a horse. Regrettably the horse comes over as an especially priggish and self-righteous human. However hard you try, you cannot fail to find Black Beauty’s human attitudes and voice clumsy and ineffective. If you can ignore what a critic called ‘soppiness’, you can certainly enjoy the great scenes of Montana and of Black Beauty’s athleticism.

The Horse Whisperer
This is a more recent film – 1998. We see how young Grace and the horse she loves, Pilgrim, regain their physical and psychological health after suffering a shocking accident. Following this accident, Grace’s mother, Annie, takes daughter and horse to the wide open spaces of Montana to seek the help of a man, Tom, who’s renowned for his ability to empathize with troubled horses. It is not only with horses that Tom can form close bonds; it’s with troubled women as well. Tom soon has both Annie and Pilgrim doting on him. The contrast between Annie’s previous sophisticated city life and that of the country is a theme that is developed alongside the story of Grace and Pilgrim’s recovery and the growing love between Annie and Tom. Annie must choose between her high-flying sophisticated lawyer husband and the more down-to-earth and homely horse whisperer. No problem in guessing which she’ll choose!

These horse movies will provide you with plenty of moving horses –  trotting, cantering and galloping, as well as moving moments. Though you may consider some of the ‘moving’ moments mawkish and laughable, you will find many of the purely visual scenes to be extremely delightful. But in each movie you will get more than mere equine movement: the horses carry not only a rider but also a message. You will have to make up your mind as to what this message is and whether or not its conveyance is a burden to the horse. To form your own opinion you’ll have to get in touch with your local DVD store!

This article has been published for the millions of horse enthusiasts all over the world by Animal Friends Equine Insurance – the UK’s only not-for-profit horse insurance provider. You can buy horse rider insurance today online or by phone, and all net profits go towards helping animals in crisis around the globe. You can read more about the many charities helped by Animal Friends on the charity support pages of their ethical pet insurance website.

Fossil records show that horses have been around at least since the last ice age. Horses are beautiful animals and seem to have a spiritual presence. They are extraordinarily sensitive creatures which have this almost mystical ability to pick up on human emotions and moods. Perhaps this is why horses throughout the ages have been a focal point of many myths and legends.

The Magical Unicorn.

One of the most well known mythical horses is the Unicorn, which has long captured the heart of the young and the old. Different cultures have different names and legends that pertain to the unicorn. In China over 5,000 years ago a unicorn named Ki Lin was responsible for showing the emperor Fu His the Chinese written language. The story goes that the unicorn was covered in symbols and the emperor traced them in the dirt on the ground. This was the beginning of the Chinese written language.

The Karkadaan is the name by which the unicorn is referred to in Arabia. It is a ferocious war like creature that can appear in different forms. The unicorn makes its first appearance in 416 BC in written accounts from India. They were described as being white in colour, with dark blue eyes, a dark red head and a horn on their forehead that was about a foot and a half long.

According to folk legend, the European unicorn is similar to a horse, yet smaller, only weighing around one hundred pounds and standing about three feet high. The unicorn of Northern Europe is described as being either white or cream. In Southern Europe they are described as being nearly black to a golden colour. Their horn is said to have magical healing powers.

The modern unicorn is described as similar to the European unicorn, except it is bigger and resembles a horse more closely. Unicorns are commonly depicted as being identical to a horse, with the exception of a long horn on his forehead. It is usually depicted as being pure white, however it has even been described as being colours like pink, purple and blue.

The mythical American version of the unicorn is still very popular today with people all ages, but especially with children. Many books, films, stories and even kids’ toys feature a mythical beast which we call the unicorn. In reality unicorns do not exist, however, in our hearts and minds they will always have a special place.

The Magical Flying Horse.

Another horse type creature that has been written about in mythology and other stories is Pegasus.Offspring of Poseidon and Medusa, the mystical winged horse Pegasus was ridden by Bellerophon, hero of Greek mythology. Zeus gave Pegasus the honoured task of carrying his thunderbolts. Euippe became Pegasus’s mate and they had two offspring named Melanippe and Celeris. Zeus bestowed honour upon Pegasus by transforming him into a constellation, so the mythology states.

A Good Luck Symbol.

In many countries and to many people the horseshoe is a symbol of good luck. How exactly this came to be is unclear, yet it is one of the most famous superstitions relating to horses. Some say it is because it is crescent shaped and that shape is suppose to be symbolic of protection. Another belief states that it is lucky by virtue of having been worn by a horse which embues it with such. Blacksmiths were once believed to have supernatural powers; magicians to be able to work with iron, whch was said to have magical powers of its own. Witches and demons could thus be kept at bay by the hanging of an iron horseshoe above the doorway.

The horseshoe could also be considered lucky by virtue of the seven nail holes in each. In some cultures the number seven is considered a lucky number. One belief held that a horse wearing shoes fashioned from the sword which had spilled the blood of a warrior would be speedy and never tire.

Horses and donkeys seem to have attracted more than their fair share of superstitions and old wives tales over the course of time. Below are listed some bizarre and peculiar beliefs surrounding horses throughout various points in history.

•  A horse would become crippled if it stepped in a wolf paw print.
•  If you change a horse’s name it will bring you bad luck.
•  If you wanted to cure whooping cough, the patient should inhale the breath of a horse.
•  Both toothache and snakebites can apparently be cured by riding backwards on a donkey.
•  To change the bad luck associated with breaking a mirror you would lead a horse through your house.
•  By carrying a rowan wood whip you could prevent a witch from casting a spell on your horse.
•  Circling a wart with horse hair would cure it.
•  Wearing the tail hair of a black stallion is supposed to protect you from witches.
•  If you put pennies in your water tank this can prevent a mare becoming irritable or grumpy.
•  To improve the tone of a piano a horse’s skull was put underneath the floor where the piano was.

Horses do often appear to have this magical quality which continues to draw us to them. Most people who spend time around horses talk of their special awe-inspiring qualities. Perhaps this is why they have become such an intricate part of the history of so many varying cultures and civilisations. As such an integral part of our folklore and legend, horses have and always will be part of the stories we tell our children.

This article has been published for the millions of horse enthusiasts all over the world by Animal Friends Equine Insurance – the UK’s only not-for-profit horse insurance provider. You can buy horse rider insurance today online or by phone, and all net profits go towards helping animals in crisis around the globe.

Horses thrived and survived in numerous regions and climates. Each area designed distinct breeds with qualities that were being essential to the people of that area. In many ways, horses changed the lives on the folks they served.  Desert Nomads and Horses

During the desert and grasslands, camels are additional practical because they can survive prolonged periods not having foodstuff and water, unlike horses. Due to this fact few legitimate desert bred horses exist right now, so they may be rarely seen in display rings, remaining mostly for breeding. Other desert style horses evolved, but none have been ever regarded through the Bedouins for their Arabians.

The nomadic individuals had been the 1st to domesticate horses. They encouraged together pacing along with other flying gaits which could carry their tribes extended distances not having tiring the horses. The extreme climate needed the nomads to share food and water, and sometimes even their tents with their horses.

Furthermore, with the nomadic nature of the Gypsy peoples, their horses had to be adaptable to different climates, terrains and living problems. The effect of this culling has led on the Gypsy Vanner Horse becoming an individual in the most docile horses during the society.

Icelandic Horses

Centuries of isolation in Iceland has created an incredibly certain footed horse who is agile on tough terrain and shows excellent reserves of stamina. The Icelandic Horse may be capable to preserve it is due on the purity on the breed, being the only breed in Iceland. On the most fascinationg attribute of the Icelandic horse is it really is severe genetic purity. The hardships they survived have granted a horse that is not afraid to encounter the world. Both horse and folks have had to face cold and starvation on in excess of 1 occasion in Iceland. The horse carried it truly is owners more than the difficult terrain of Iceland which includes lava fields, mountains, and several rivers. It truly is undoubtedly not an ideal setting for the horse.

Vikings and Horses

The Vikings acknowledged the benefit and political strength of their horses and gave them a position of excellent honor in their background and culture. To them, the horse was a lot more than a war horse or perhaps a signifies of travel. So, when the initial Vikings set sail to explore Northern oceans, together with them went the powerful minor horses.

American Indians and Horses

Indians of that era had in no way seen horses and to them the horse and rider team were being a godlike getting. Quite a few religious ceremonies were being determined by the horse and its contribution towards lifetime on the Indian. To look at and hold this belief, it was illegal for some many years for an Indian to ride a horse much a reduced amount of unique 1. The acquisition on the horse completely changed the Plains Indian’s way of life, transforming them from plodding pedestrians to nomadic hunters and warriors.

Animals are susceptible to different diseases. Some of these may possibly leave permanent damage although others are fatal. 1 example, which could go either way, is equine colic.  This comes about when the horse experiences pain inside abdomen and points can get worse if medical interest will not be administered  right away.

If your medical doctor has not arrived yet, those can do certain issues, which might help inside treatment. This involves getting the temperature and monitoring the heart rate, recalling what kind of foods was given the previous handful of days as nicely because the drinking water consumption and  checking the colour on the gums.

The veterinarian may possibly be on call elsewhere so till support arrives, no foods should be given to the horse. It is going to also be a good idea to walk the animal so it’ll not consider about the pain. If your creature would not need to get up but it really however continues to roll for the ground, all people should support out and transfer the horse elsewhere so it does not inflict any harm to itself or others.

The general practitioner will commonly give the horse some antibiotics. This may guide ease the ache and it can be a wait and see game after that to determine if you will find any improvements. Some horses recover easily whilst you can find people that don’t so this really depends for the animal.

You will find other specialists who have a  organic therapy formulation to cure equine colic. As a substitute of employing drug treatments, herbs are used as a substitute. Some examples of those are cape aloe leaf, ginger root, fennel, wild yam root and cayenne powder. This is mixed collectively with water or some alcoholic formula after which given on the horse.

Prevention naturally is still the finest way against any ailment. This can be since the price of medicine and the specialist fees of the doctor are quite expensive. In this article are a few points that horse owners must do to avoid equine colic.

1. Very first, the person will need to watch the meals being served to the horse. Processed grains from a reliable supplier are suitable when raising such a magnificent animal. Some individuals think that hay is ok but it really may have bugs or other foreign objects, which could result in difficulties. This must be checked just before this can be provided.

2. Other than looking at for foreign objects in the hay, the individual will need to also possess a parasite handle system. This can make certain the stable is clear in any way periods even if this is washed thoroughly several situations a week.

3. Horses will need lots of exercising to stay fit. A short ride or easily jogging with it for the handful of minutes everyday can assist strengthen its immune procedure. It will eventually also have to have sufficient rest. There have to be time provided to the horse to just roam all-around or just lie nevertheless within the stable.

4. All multivitamins or medicines that is going to be presented towards the horse must first be examined through the vet. That is due to the fact some may well make the animal sick especially if it includes a sensitive digestive program.

Five. The individual must also be sure the horse practices suitable hygiene. This means offering it a bath and brushing its teeth considering that deposits may perhaps quickly turn into infections that could get worse if practically nothing is completed to deal with it.

In this article I describe some basic groundwork exercises which you can perform during horse training. Such exercises are the foundation of familiarity and trust between you and your horse. Future training success is dependant on good groundwork. The importance of safety and maintaining your personal space bubble should not be taken lightly.

Patience, persistence and positive reinforcement will be necessary if you hope to be successful in training your horse. These are the 3 P’s of basic horse training that will serve you well no matter what level you are training or what you might be training for in the future.

1. Groom your horse. Grooming represents more than just a perfect first exercise for you and your horse. You’ll get to know each other. Brush his neck and back as you stand beside him. A horse will often turn to give you a little love bit at this time. He must not be allowed to do this to humans, even though horses do it to each other. Discourage this by simply waving a hand, or by pushing his head back straight. It must be made clear from the beginning that this is not acceptable – particularly as a horse’s teeth are so big. It’s important to stay calm and be patient. He’ll get the idea and will cooperate. Nothing will be gained from smacking, shouting or getting angry with your horse. This will only set you back with your trust levels.

2. Lead your horse. Walk on the left side of your horse, holding the lead rope just below his chin in your right hand. Walk forward with a slow step. The horse should stay at your right and not try to step ahead. If he does, walk around to your left in a circle. You may need to do this a few times to get the point across. Demonstrate persistence. Use the circular movement to stay just ahead of him, where you should be. If, on the other hand, your horse doesn’t want to walk with you, stand slightly behind at his shoulder facing the same direction. Push forward while holding the rope close to his chin. When he takes a little step, praise and positive reinforcement is in order. When he starts to walk willingly, take your place slightly ahead of him and walk on. Never wrap the lead rope around any part of yourself – this is for your own safety. If the horse should suddenly bolt he will drag you along too and you will almost certainly be injured.

3. Lunge your horse.This exercise is fantastic and is used by every trainer and most horse owners I’ve ever known no matter what the horse’s function is. Many of the skills, commands and cues that your horse will require for saddle work can be taught by performing lunging exercises.

In a large open area (an arena works, too, if you don’t have a round enclosure) clip your horse to a lunge lead specifically for lunging. This rope will be a lot longer than the one you use for leading – about ten metres is normal. Clip the lead to the horse’s left halter side and hold the lead in your left hand. Face your horse’s left side to begin, whilst holding the lunge rope. Hold a lunge whip in your right hand which you’ll use to guide him along. Now step to your right sideways toward the rear of the horse while holding the whip out behind him. The horse’s natural reaction will be to step forward. Now let out the rope as you follow behind the horse to the left side, making a kissing sound as you do so. He’ll begin to associate that sound with “move forward”. As you’re turning and the horse moves in a circle around you, hold the whip slightly behind his hindquarters. The whip is not for hitting. You will use it to get the horse’s attention by waving it about a little.

Now, as he moves forward, you should move yourself slowly backwards, so that you come to the centre of your training circle. With the lunge lead fully extended, stand in the middle and turn as the horse walks around you in a circle. Watch your horse’s hip area as he’s going round.

Here you can teach him the “whoa” command. Say the word “whoooaaa” in a low and calm voice. At the same time, step toward your horse’s head and repeat the word. When he stops, give him lots of praise and a little neck rub. Your horse needs this positive reinforcement if he is to remember what he needs to do.

Change your position now so that you are lunging in an anti-clockwise direction. It’s done in the same way, but with the lead clipped to the right side of the halter and the lunge whip in the left hand.

These few exercises are just the very basics to help you get started with training your horse. Consider the sheer size and strength of this beautiful creature at all times. This alone should be enough to remind you to have adequate horse insurance in place should either you or your equine be injured. Your success with training and all future activities depends both on safety and trust. As well as a loyal friend, your horse is also an investment, so remember to protect that investment against theft, accident or misadventure by making sure you compare horse insurance policies to ensure you are getting the best level of cover for both of your needs.