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Posts Tagged ‘horse insurance’

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.

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.

Learning to ride a horse isn’t easy. There are so many things that you need to remember and they aren’t always related to the horse. Always ensure that you have the correct clothing and a helmet that fits properly before you start. Not performing simple checks from the beginning could not only put you in danger, but also potentially invalidate any claim you may have to make on your equestrian insurance policy. Now you are ready to continue with the rest.

How to correctly mount a horse

When the bridle and saddle have been correctly fitted and double-checked, stand to the left of the horse. Place your left foot in the stirrup, and grasp the withers (mane), not the saddle as this will cause it to slide. Then keeping both of your hands on the front of the horse or on the cantle (back) of the saddle, push up and swing your right leg over the back of the horse, being careful not to kick the horse, so that you seat yourself comfortably in the saddle. When comfortable, reassess your grip on the reigns and hang both your legs down near the stirrups. Make sure they are at the correct length by having the stirrup reach your ankle. Then you should be able to just slide your feet into the stirrup whilst your foot is raised a few inches. Remember that it important that you are balanced to the horse, not them to you.

Now you are sitting comfortably…

Keep your upper back straight and lower back relaxed. Sit tall in the saddle. Keep looking ahead for things which may spook your horse. Take one rein in each hand; left rein in the left hand, right rein in the right hand. Tuck the reins under all four fingers, with the reins going in under the little fingers. Always hold the reins in place with your thumbs against your forefingers with your thumbs up, palms down and each hand as wide apart as the neck of the horse with them just in front of the saddle and above of the horse. To let more rein in, slide it through by lifting your thumbs. Shorten by taking up excess using opposite hand.

Starting to ride your horse

To start the horse off with a slow walk – the first gait – squeeze your lower legs. After a few minutes stop and check the girth. If you can feel more than one hand under and between the girth and the horse, then you must tighten it. Carry on walking, keeping your heels down, back straight and chin up. You should be able to draw a straight line from the heel to the shoulders. Pull slightly on the reigns so as to turn the horses head enabling you to turn. When you need to stop, simply pull back on the reins and sit deep into the saddle; sometimes you may need to lean back, then relax the reigns and praise your horse. Always release the reins when you stop as this will praise and reward your horse; also they might pull if you don’t. Horses can jerk short reins out of your hands, so try to make them long. Practice these basic moves until you and the horse are comfortable with it all.

When you are both ready, try trotting – the second gait. Again, squeeze the horse with your legs and the horse will start to move faster. With a trot, you need to learn how to rise and sit with the trot of the horse. You will need to rise and sit with the movement of the horse without bumping. This takes a bit of getting used to, and you will be using muscles which you may not be used to using! Thinking “lift, sit, lift, sit” in time to the rhythm will help you with this. Try not to sit too heavily as you may unsteady the horse. When you wish to slow down, sit deep in the saddle and pull back slightly on the reins. Again practice this until you are comfortable with the movements. When you are happy, trying turning and stopping from a trot.

Cantering is the next step – the third gait. This is often only managed after weeks of trotting. To ask for canter, squeeze your outside leg while having it back a bit and then squeeze with your inside leg. It’s sometimes best to sit trot and then ask, so you are sitting ready for the canter. This means that you should sitting back slightly; when you feel you’re sitting back, you’re about right. When in the canter gait you should find yourself rocking forward to backward with your bottom just slightly off saddle. Again, keep on practicing this as this will take longer to grasp. Ensure you are wary of your posture and heels as you practice; back on your heels and rocked forward but straight with your body.

After mastering the canter, you can move on to a gallop – this is the fastest gait. Again squeeze your calves as you have before, but you must be in a canter. As with the canter you should be sitting slightly forward in the saddle, with bottom off the saddle. It is always advisable to ensure that you are fully confident and well-practiced with each gait before you move on to the faster gait.

When dismounting your horse, swing your right leg over to the back of the horse. Stay balanced with a good grip on the saddle so you don’t slip. Then lower yourself down from the left side, you should try to put both your legs down at the same time, keeping your knees slightly bent to absorb the weight.

Other helpful horse hints

Get to know your horse. Always ensure that you approach him carefully from the front or side; touching him and talking to him, thus avoiding spooking him and being hurt by a kick. Then move towards his shoulder, so he knows you’re coming closer.

If you are new to a horse, or riding, always make sure that you have had proper rider training before you attempt anything on your own. Try to avoid riding alone; never ride alone if you are a beginner.

Even though it will be a shock and could very possibly hurt when you fall off, try to get straight back on.

Never kneel or sit by a horse; if you are tending to them, always make sure that you are positioned so that you can jump aside quickly if need be.

Make sure that you are comfortable on the horse that you are riding; they will be nervous too if they sense that you are uneasy.

Never yank the bit, as this will hurt the horse and distress him. If you handle it carefully, he will be more relaxed and easier to ride.

For more tips and advice on caring for horses, horse riding and a brand new equine blog, visit the AFI Horse Community website just launched by AFI Horse Insurance- the UK’s only not-for-profit pet and equine insurance provider.