365 Days in Horse Country – Halter Classes    The closest thing to a beauty contest for horses is the halter class.  It is an event that shows off a horse’s conformation to a judge that is well versed in the breed being judged.  The judge compares the horse to the breed standard, which is maintained by the breed’s club.  The judge places the horse in the class according to which ones ...

365 Days in Horse Country – The Chariot    When you think of the chariot, you probably envision ancient wild races, with Roman drivers pushing their horses on as they try to beat several other teams. Chariots were simple two or four wheeled open carts with nothing more than a floor wit a waist-high semicircular guard in front.  They were used for racing in ancient Rome, but they als ...

365 Days in Horse Country – Planning Vaccinations    When it comes to protecting your horse’s health, vaccinations should be at the top of your list.  A number of very contagious and debilitating diseases regularly circulate throughout the equine population.  Vaccines are the best way to stop the spread of these diseases and to prevent your horses from contracting them. The best wa ...

365 Days in Horse Country – The Shetland Pony  The most famous of all children’s mounts is the Shetland Pony, that diminutive equine who is responsible for giving most kids their first ride. The Shetland pony got its start on the Shetland Isles, off the coast of Scotland.  Breed aficionados say the Shetland first appeared on these islands at least 2,000 years ago, maybe earlier.  Their ...

365 Days in Horse Country – Poker Rides   If you belong to a local equestrian group of live in a horsy community, you have probably heard of a poker ride.  Poker rides have become popular ways for organizations to make money while getting members together to ride. A poker ride is essentially a trail ride where riders play a horseback version of poker.  Each rider gets five cards thr ...

365 Days in Horse Country – The Colossal Clydesdale    The Clydesdale is one of the most dramatic looking equines in the world.  These massive horses with their white “feathered” legs and solid muscling are among the most well known of all the horse breeds. Descending from the warhorse of the Middle Ages, the Clydesdale has been working the fields of Scotland for centuries.  The breed ...

365 Days in Horse Country – The Magnificent Morgan    One of the oldest American horse breeds is the Morgan, a small animal with a powerful history. The story begins in 1789 when a two year old colt, born in Springfield Massachusetts, became the property of a Vermont farmer and music teacher named Justin Morgan.  Morgan named the horse Figure and used him for riding and farm work.  T ...

365 Days in Horse Country –  The Horses of World War I    Images of World War I often show soldiers in trenches, but what most people don’t realize is that many horses gave their lives in this conflict. In fact, it is estimated that six million horses were used during World War I, most of which were killed in battle. Many of the horses that fought on the battlefields of Europe came ...

365 Days in Horse Country –  Heritage Class  One of the most interesting aspects of the many different horse breeds in the world is their varied histories.  Whatever a breed’s background, the story is often a fascinating one. Some breed associations have decided to honour their breed’s history with a heritage class at horse shows.  These classes require exhibitors to show their horses ...

365 Days in Horse Country –  The Vaqueros    Watch any western, and you’ll see blond-haired, blue eyed cowboys, rustling cattle and mending fences.  In reality, one of every three cowboys in the West was a Vaquero.  The work of the Vaqueros was well documented in the American painting of the mid-to-late nineteenth century, especially in the works of Frederic Remington and Charles Russe ...