365 Days in Horse Country –  Spooking   Spooking is one of the most often reported problems among horse owners, and it’s one of the more annoying equine behaviors.  It’s a rare horse who doesn’t do it. Spooking can be a hard behaviour to stop, probably because it is rooted in evolutionary history.  Horses are prey animals and are wired to react quickly to perceived danger.  Althoug ...

365 Days in Horse Country –  Misty of Chincoteague   If you have a horse-loving child or were one yourself, chances are you’ve heard of Misty of Chincoteague.  This famous pony was the subject of a 1947 book by Marguerite Henry and became a household name among animal-loving children throughout the world.  Based on a true story, “Misty of Chincoteague” is set on Chincoteague Island ...

365 Days in Horse Country –  Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS)  Humans aren’t the only ones who get stomach ulcers.  Horses are plagued by them, too.  Often the result of stress, frequent dosing with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and low-fiber diets, gastric ulcers in horses are unfortunately all too common.  In fact, one study showed that 90 percent of all performance ho ...

365 Days in Horse Country – The White Horse of Uffington Around 3,000 years ago, the figure of a white horse was carved into a chalk hillside in the British parish of Uffington, in the south of England, west of London.  This simple yet stylized horse, white against the dark background, is visible from nearby high hillsides and from the air.  It is also a subject of controversy today. ...

365 Days in Horse Country – Epona Epona was the Celtic goddess of horses, and she was responsible for caring for them, along with donkeys and mules.  She has become a popular icon for the horse in modern times. Although Epona is believed to have been born in Celtic mythology, she was integrated into Roman religion.  She was worshiped throughout the Roman Empire, mostly by people who ...

365 Days in Horse Country – Remembering Hightower One of the most-often-seen equine actors was a horse named Hightower.  This chestnut gelding appeared in so many films that nearly everyone who has ever gone to the movies has seen tis horse on the big screen. Hightower was a stunt horse who appeared in many films in his long career, but he also had some significant roles.  He played G ...

365 Days in Horse Country – Saddleseat Riding The English discipline of saddleseat riding has its roots in the Southern United States where it was first developed in the 1700s for its comfortable seat over long distances.  Based on the English park seat, saddle seat was most often used by plantation owners who relied on gaited horses to help the, oversee their land. Saddleseat differ ...

365 Days in Horse Country – Going Bareback Riders who spend a lot of time riding bareback develop a secure seat and a good sense of balance.  For this reason, some trainers insist their students take a few lessons without the security of the saddle. To help improve your seat and balance, it’s a good idea to ride your horse bareback once in a while.  Use a bareback pad if you don’t wa ...

365 Days in Horse Country – The History of Horseshoes Horses have been wearing shoes for thousands of years.  Experts can’t seem to agree on exactly when the first metal shoe was first fitted, but they are pretty certain that the Romans used a type of hoof boot to protect their horse’s hooves.  They also know that by the time of the Crusades, iron horseshoes were the norm. At some po ...

365 Days in Horse Country – Water Protection In the not too distant past, you could dispose of your horse’s manure by spreading it on your pasture or in your arena.  You didn’t have to worry about carting it away.  But because of increased governmental vigilance of the preservation of the water supply, more and more horse owners are required to follow strict rules when handling their ...