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 ...

365 Days in Horse Country – The Canadian…… eh? In 1665, when Canada was still a French colony, Luis the XIV sent the struggling settlers a shipload of sixteen horses.  In 1670, he sent another shipment.  The French horses that arrived on Canadian soil were of Norman, Breton, Arab, Barn, and Andalusian breeding. Life was harsh in colonial Canada, known as New France at the time, and t ...

365 Days in Horse Country – Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) In the 1990s, a disease caused by an organism called sarcocystis neurona began gaining some attention among horse owners.  Called equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), the disease caused severe neurological damage in horses that oftentimes became permanent.  It is the most common neurological disease in horses tod ...

365 Days in Horse Country – The Mighty War HorsePay a visit to a history museum, and you’ll see them in paintings, sculptures, and tapestry.  The war horses of the Middle Ages have been preserved for all time in these forms of art. Who were these magnificent beasts who bravely carried men wearing heavy armor into battle?  Equine historians say these horses were called destriers, and th ...

365 Days in Horse Country – Cribbing Cribbing is one of the most distasteful of equine behaviours, and horses with this habit are often ruled out when prospective owners are looking for a horse to buy. When a horse cribs, it gasps its front teeth on a horizontal object, tightens its neck muscles, and sucks in air with a grunt.  A horse that cribs will usually do it anywhere, and on an ...

365 Days in Horse Country – Alexander’s Horse Alexander The Great, the ancient Greek king of Macedonia lived from 356 to 323 BC.  He was a great warrior and leader, but he was also a famous horseman.  His black stallion, Bucephalus, is credited by some to have inspired Alexander to his role as conqueror. Alexander met Bucephalus when the horse was three years old and Alexander was jus ...

365 Days in Horse Country – The Appaloosa (Idaho State Horse)  The Appaloosa first originated as an American breed in Idaho.  Spotted horses were among the mounts of the Nez Perce tribe of the Pacific Northwest when Lewis and Clark made their famous journey to the Oregon coast.  In the 1940s, a group of American horsemen who appreciated the rugged nature and beautiful coat patterns of ...