Western Wear: Different Styles for Different Decades

Western wear began its decent into history during the 19th century in the American wild west. The apparel was worn by famous cowboys such as Billy the Kid and Wyatt Earp. Their style was much different than the western wear worn now, but it laid an important foundation for how western wear is worn today.

Western wear began with plain origins. Simple trousers had canvas tucked in them to keep their legs from chaffing and their pants from wearing down. They also wore cotton shirts that were simple, with no collar so they could easily slide the shirts on and off.

Bandannas were an important accessory. They kept cowboys safe from the elements. It protected their necks from the sun, and protected their wind pipes from dust storms while out on the plains.

Another important accessory to the cowboys were their hats. Cowboy hats were useful for multiple things. It provided protection from the sun reaching their face, kept them from getting overheated during while working out doors, and provided a way to drink water easily when they came upon streams.

These simple styles of clothing were overemphasized a little when Hollywood began producing Western movies. Popular western movie stars, such as John Wayne, made cowboys popular once more. The western style and cowboy hats became even more recognizable.

In the 1960's western style clothes became popular to the general public. Cowboy hats, cowboy boots, cowboy jeans, and flannel collared shirts were making their way into clothing stores. Even the Beatles were seen wearing cowboy boots from time to time.

Then Nashville music came to the scene. The western style clothing industry changed again to more sporting styles. Distressed leather, casual dress, and different styled cowboy boots and cowboy hats were introduced.

Currently there are hundreds of different styles of western attire available. You can choose to buy replicas of authentic cowboy attire from the pioneer days, or more trendy styles like Nashville country music stars wear. With so many options available, you are much more likely to find something that fits your taste and style.

For over 50 years AA Callisters has been selling Cowboy Boots, Cowboy Hats, and Western Wear. They are Utah's leading Western Retailer with 2 store locations as well as their online store. Visit their online store for a great selection of western products or their specials page for discounts and coupons.

Understanding Horses

Okay, horses have a language of their own, and unfortunately several folks aren't as conscious of it as we should be.  It is a gigantic mistake to not be familiar with their language, because it could mean issues for us in the long run.  Every twist of the ear(s), hip movement, tail flick and face expression means something.  This is the language horses use to speak to other horses, also to us - if only we would listen.

We have to be aware what OUR body language says to them initially before we can understand them.  Flapping limbs whilst trying to fit the halter on will cause alarm. Running at them in a meadow rather than walking up to them in a calm manner can make them think -  predator chasing me. We have all heard about bombproof horses - unfortunately, there is no such thing.  Something, somewhere will spook your horse, any horse.
In the time being, keep your body language hushed, slow, simple and calm.  Should you be calm, this helps your horse remain calm. 

Horses communicate to us with all body parts and this includes the front and rear end.  Both ends may cause us untold grief if we do not take note of what they are saying.  As an illustration, the majority of us know that every time a horse has both ears pinned back flat something is absolutely amiss.  Chances are they are either wary or incensed.  In most cases it will be anger.  So keep an eye on the front and back incredibly carefully.  Caution is best regardless of whether you think that the horse may be taking note of something behind them or bored.  Once you really know your horse well, you might know what the ears are saying.

Ears perked up and frontward signify they are focusing their concentration on something and are either up to some monkey business or they are on high alert about something they notice, hear or smell.  Remind your horse you require his attention, especially if you're riding and the ears fold to the fore.

Combing and caring for your horse is THE main bonding experience concerning people and equines.  Don't ever underestimate how strongly you're communicating to your horse concerning YOU when you comb him.

If you're searching for horses for sale or ponies for sale you should visit The Horse and Pony Directory.

Horse Nutrition – Where to Begin

While you may think this is a easy thing to achieve - feed your horse - you'd be surprised at the quantity of horse owners that don't comprehend the fundamentals.  There is no real rule of thumb for feeding, as every horse's dietary wants will vary based on age, weight and amount of activity.

To start out with, your horse naturally uses fodder as being a fundamental component of their diets. It is without doubt one of the Main necessities for any correctly functioning digestive system. When we speak of forage, we usually mean natural pasture and cut hay.

Older horses commonly eat approximately 2 to 2.5 percent of their body mass in feed every day. So a one thousand pound horse will eat approximately 20 to 25 lbs of feed a day. Therefore premium feed, not low quality high fibre feed (which can interfere with correct digestion).

In a perfect pasture world, your horse ought to eat no less than 1 % of its body weight in hay/pasture forage every day. If your horse doesn't do much exertion, they will do nicely on strictly forage, with no grain introduced in.  On the other hand, developing, in breed, or working horses need supplements along with forage - for instance grain or a supplement concentrate.  Imagine it this way, forages should provide at least one half or more of the overall mass of the feed eaten every day for maximum growth and development.

Before you can feed a well balanced "meal" to your horse, you have to know the nutrient content and quality of your forage. When you know that, you can figure out the precise amounts of each to meet nutrient necessities.

The very best resource, and the least costly one for summer feed is your pasture.  And, normally good pasture by itself can provide all the nutritional requirements your horse needs.  How do you figure out just how much pasture is needed to give food to a horse?  This is a rough guideline to help you: (using a weight of 1,000 - 1,200 lbs)

Mare and foal 1.75 to 2 acres
Yearlings 1.5 to 2 acre
Weanlings 0.5 to 1 acre

Wintry weather feed of course would be cut hay, and again, high quality if you can offer it.  It should be cut early, be leafy and green in color and as free as achievable of dust, moulds, weeds and stubble.  This feed will likely be abundant with protein, mineral deposits and natural vitamins.

Yes, you may want to use alfalfa hay, but be cautious about the higher protein content in case you are giving to young growing horses, as it could contain an excessive amount of calcium in correlation to phosphorus.  A lot of calcium isn't good for rising horses.  If you are not positive about hay quality, have it checked.

If you're presently looking for horses for sale or ponies for sale, be sure to visit The Horse and Pony Directory.

Horse Anatomy – Bones and Muscles

When you possess a horse, it truly is crucial for you to be familiar with several basic areas of horse body structure to be sure that you can be caring for your horse in the best way you can. You are able to do this through studying by yourself or it is possible to chat to your veterinarian to understand the very basics.

First of all, you must appreciate that laying down is extremely tough on your horse. Horse’s bodies are not designed to lay down for lengthy periods of time, which is why it's essential to realize that if your horse is laying on the ground, there is something amiss with it. If a horse lays on the ground for any amount of time they are chancing damaging their organs, so if you see your horse lying on the floor, you should call your vet right away, because it can be a crisis.

A horse’s limbs are the most key part of his body. Not just do they hold all of his load, and carry him while he is asleep or while it is wide awake, but they really are very thin and are easy to injure. Should a horse get a broken leg, there will probably be a lot of problems as he won’t be capable of lie down to heal it, which means that the healing development can be very painful. What this implies for you personally is you have to make certain to always, look after your horse’s legs and feet at all times. This is essential as a horse owner.

An additional thing that you have to make sure to look after in terms of a horse’s anatomy is his skin and his coat. These are things you have to concentrate on since they keep out a great deal of problems and help keep your horse content and healthy. This means that it's a must to  concentrate on these points. You should be grooming it daily, and particularly should be grooming it after anytime have ridden him. You should always aspire to perform the best you can do to care for all aspects of your horse.

It is also important to note a horse has a very sophisticated heart and lung system that can permit them to keep running or walking for an extended duration. This doesn’t imply that it never needs to rest; it merely means that you can exercise a horse more than you are likely to be capable of exercise yourself!

If you are presently looking for horses for sale or ponies for sale, take a look at The Horse and Pony Directory.

The Plentiful Reasons for People to Enjoy Racing Horses

Throughout the centuries, there has perhaps never been a sport as exciting for people all over the world than horse racing. All through historical accounts from Norse Mythology down to the Circus Maximus in Rome and finally to today’s modern-day racetracks, horse racing enthusiasts have felt the exhilaration and excitement of watching live horse races enough to keep them coming back for more. No doubt about it, wherever you are in the world, you cannot find anything that’s more entertaining than horse racing. Wagering in horses even adds more flavor to the excitement of horse racing today. However, even if you do not bet, Betfair horse racing can be exciting.

The earliest race horses were held in Greece. These races often involved both mounted horse races and chariot races. Horse breeding and racing in this part of the world died down with the fall of the Roman Empire. Eventually, horse racing was revived in the 1100s when English king Henry I took an interest in breeding and training horses from an Arabian stallion line. Purebred mounts soon raced at the Smithfield Track in London, the first racetrack ever to be built after the fall of the Roman Empire. Horse racing is also a popular feature in most English fairs. Due to its roots, horse racing has been accorded the label the “Sport of Kings.”

In the mid-1600s, the first American racetrack was built in Long Island, New York. The Newmarket, as this racetrack was named, was the site of the earliest horse races in the Northern American region. Not long after, Americans started importing more purebred British horses for breeding, training, and horse racing. The horse racing enthusiasts soon organized themselves and formed clubs to standardize horse breeding, training, and racing practices. Huge amounts of money were poured into the sport. Patrons have likewise made money out of the sport through betting. The American Jockey Club was formed late in the 19th century in order to standardize the ethics in horse racing. The responsibility for maintaining the American Stud Book, the rule book for horse racing all over the United States, was soon taken over by the American Jockey Club. The Thoroughbred Racing Associations of the United States in Chicago was later on established.

There is nothing more entertaining for horse racing enthusiasts than watching live horse races. Nothing beats standing in the sidelines or watching up on the bleachers around the race track, cheering with all horse racing enthusiasts around, and feeling the rush of horses race by. Knowing how to bet adds to the fun of it all – why wouldn’t it if it could make you lots of money doing something you really enjoy. Understanding the game first before you go on betting on your choice of horses could help you plan out your bets.

There are different types of races you can bet on. Depending on the amount of money you want to gamble and the kind of odds you want to take on, you can choose to bet in any one of them. There are also differing horse race gambling rules depending on where you are located. Wagering in horse races involves pari-mutuel betting. This kind of betting pools together all the bets placed on a race, deducts the amount of taxes and racetrack expenses, and then divides the money among the winners. Such betting in thoroughbred horse racing made the sport flourish. In the United States, horse racing enthusiasts get all fired up in betting in the Triple Crown races composed of the three top horse races – the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont Stakes, and the Preakness.

Horse Trailer Tips – Bumper Pull or Gooseneck

When deciding on a new horse trailer, there are numerous features to take into account. One crucial feature is whether the horse trailer will have a gooseneck or bumper pull design. There are numerous reasons why you might benefit from either design. .

Bumper Pull Trailers - Advantages and Disadvantages
Bumper pull trailers, also known as tag-along trailers, are trailers that connect to a hitch on the pulling vehicle. The trailer simply "tags along" following the hauling vehicle and therefore a part of the complete vehicle.

Plus Points
There are many plus points of bumper pull layouts. They usually cost far less than a gooseneck trailer. It's not essential to drive a pickup truck for pulling the trailer, because of this more people can tow this design of trailer with their normal vehicle. Manouverability is often easier because the tag-along design will go along with the path of your tow vehicle. You don't need a large amount of space for the trailer as you would for a gooseneck trailer. The trailer doesn't have to be classified as a "commercial" vehicle for licencing because the weight of both the trailer and towing vehicle is more often than not under 10,001 pounds.

Bad Points
There are several bad points as well. These type of trailers do not present as much room for the dressing/tack room. A few bumper pull horseboxes might not be sufficient for hauling any more than two horses as a result of the style of hitch required for the mass of the trailer. Also, these designs are more likely to to fishtail on wavy roads, which can be hazardous.

Gooseneck Layouts - Advantages and Disadvantages
Gooseneck trailers are different from bumper pull designs in the way they are hitched. The gooseneck is attached within the hauling pickup's load bed using a ball and coupler joint. This design offers several benefits. It doesn't sway or snake like a bumper trailer often does, and towing is therefore more stable. It provides more room for living space, which can be handy for camping and overnight trips. The gooseneck is also more easy to reverse up to and line up with the ball while joining it to your towing vehicle, as you can view it easily from the rear window. The gooseneck design is safer without the fear of the trailer becoming detached while travelling anywhere.

Negative Points
There's also a few disadvantages. Gooseneck trailers are more expensive and are generally larger so they must be pulled with a 4x4 that is able to handle it. The hitching system is also more expensive for a gooseneck setup. A further negative point is that while hitching the trailer, you must climb into the bed of the pickup to finalize the attachment. Also, you will have to take off your load cover from the truck to tow a gooseneck trailer.

Choosing the Right Style
Whether looking for a bumper pull or gooseneck design, you can go on the internet to look at several designs of each. If you're budget is limited, you might consider searching for used horseboxes for sale and horse trailers for sale to find a bargain. Consider the plus points and disadvantages of each design before handing over any money. For more information and horses for sale, visit the Horse and Pony Directory

 

Useful Advice On Buying Your New Horse

When looking for horses for sale, there are a few factors which are worth considering to make the buying process easier, and to ensure you end up with your desired horse.

·     Every horse has niggles – just be sure that your chosen one has issues that you can put up with and that won’t reduce your enjoyment.

·     Take an expert along, someone who is informed of your capabilities and weaknesses. In an ideal world take someone experienced who is able to spot {whether the horse is lame} lameness or any illnesses. Or even your instructor who will be able to tell if the chosen horse is suitable for your style of riding – your skill level and confidence.

·     Always check any relevant papers and passport.  Remember the horse passport is not proof that the horse is actually owned by the person selling it so ask if there is a receipt as proof of purchase. It is against the law to sell or purchase horses that don't have a passport.

·     Check if all innoculations are current. A new course of innoculations can be expensive and take many months to come into effect before you can compete.  It will not go down well if you move a horse to another horse if it carries illness with it.

·     Once a decision is made, employ a qualified vet to carry out the most thorough inspection that you can afford. Don't make a rush decision or be pressured into purchasing if you feel you need the horse checked out by your vet.

·     Try to view the horse or pony carrying out the tasks you would like it to do. Reschooling a horse adds considerably to the cost if you cannot do this on your own.

·     Try to negotiate a trial period in which the horse can be sent back if it does not suit.

·     Be realistic when purchasing a young horse, ask yourself if you have the required experience to bring it on. At the other end of the scale an older horse may just have the stability and experience to give you confidence and teach you the basics.

·     Don’t feel pressured to purchase the first one you view and don’t be pressurised by the multitudes of other people just waiting to purchase the horse if you don’t – very often this is just a ploy to push you into an impulse buy. Take your time when buying a horse.

·     As soon as the sale is agreed make sure you insure the horse before you moved it to its new home.  The majority of injuries occur during transit or whilst introducing a new horse into a new yard with new companions.

·     Trust your judgement – if you believe the seller is hiding something from you then they probably will be.

·     Be mindful that your horse is a major investment of both your time and your money – be sure you have considered a budget for all the expenses that you are likely to encounter.

Finally, have fun with your new horse and look forward to many hours horse riding together! Click here to see horses for sale online!

Equine Colic – Advice and Information

A diagnosis of colic is a situation that worrries any horse owner. But what is colic? What signs should you be aware of?

Colic refers to pain which stems from the abdomen. Generally horses will not hide pain of the abdomen very well. So if there is any abnormality in gut functioning they will usually display signs of distress.

Signs of discomfort might be stretching, a stance as if to urinate, and pawing the ground. If in great discomfort the horse will get up and down, and try rolling to get more settled.

The horse will likely start sweating. In more severe cases it will get up and lie down and continuously roll.

What Can You Do?
If you think your horse is suffering from colic, you should call an equine vet immediately. He or she will be in a position to supply emergency pain relief and make a decision whether additional action is appropriate.

Is there anything you can do while you wait for the vet? Leading your horse for a walk sometimes helps. It can sometimes encourage his intestines to start working ina normal manner and soothe any pain. It could also prevent him lying down to roll. If however he is currently lying on the floor quietly then let him stay there.

It was thought that horses could cause a twisted gut by rolling around. That has been proven to be probably incorrect. However it is preferred to prevent him rolling around if possible. That way you can prevent him causing injury himself by striking himself on nearby walls. Of course take care that you don't hurt yourself. Horses often forget all their normal manners if in pain.

There are many different reasons for horses to get colic. But often the signs look similar regardless of the cause.

How does the vet look into the issue? He or she will listen to your horses abdomen using a stethoscope which will tell whether there is any more activity in the gut than there should be.

Monitoring the heart rate provides a good indication of the severity of the pain and the severity of the colic. Usually a horse with a normal heart rate does not have a serious case. Whereas higher heart rates are not such a good sign.

A really useful part of the examination is the rectal examination. By feeling the gut, the vet may be able to find the cause of the issue. Without doubt this is a very complicated procedure, that is potentially dangerous for both parties. However for an experienced equine vet the information it provides is incredibly useful in deciding the nature of the issue. It may reveal an obstruction, or a swollen area of gut as a result of a loop or other intestinal issue.

In all but the simple cases the vet may inset a tube through the nose into the stomach. Though it sounds unpleasant but often may make the horse comfortable by lowering any pressure from the stomach. It can also give the vet detailed information about whether the stomach is functioning correctly.

Sometimes the horse might be so much pain that it isn't possible for the vet to diagnose fully without first giving a dose of sedative.

Only by collecting all of the signs revealed by a careful examination is the vet able to make an initial diagnosis. Though it might not be possible to tell exactly what is going on.

It might be the case that, after the initial examination, your horse needs surgery. But more usually the vet will choose to treat the horse with a short-acting painkiller and monitor his condition after a few hours. Most examples display a quick improvement. But others will show no response to the treatment, or they might respond initially, only to start showing signs of pain again later on.

In preference to having to bring the vet out several times, it is normally preferred to transport these cases to a specialist practice where they can be closely monitored and surgery can be performed if necessary.

Conclusion
Thankfully the vast majority of examples respond quickly to medical treatment. Although if surgery is necessary - it is vital to operate as soon as possible. The chance of a successful outcome is far greater if the operation is carried out before too much damage has occurred.

For more information, horses for sale and more, please visit the Horse and Pony Directory.

3 Simple Groundwork Exercises When Horse Training

When training a horse, whether your own or someone else's, there are a few basic hands-on exercises which can be used on the ground. It is important to get these exercises right first, as this is how you and the horse will become familiar with each other and build a trusting relationship. Good groundwork sets the stage for all future training. Your horse needs to be taught how to respect your personal space bubble in the interests of safety.

The key to success in horse training is to be patient, persistent and to employ positive reinforcement techniques in every exercise you perform together. 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.
This is a perfect place to start before practising more advanced exercises with your horse. Grooming is a great way for you to get to know each other. Stand beside him and brush his neck and back. A horse will often turn to give you a little love bit at this time. This is natural behaviour between horses, but obviously they cannot do this to humans. 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. Be patient and very calm. He'll soon understand and cooperate. There's no need to get carried away and shout or frantically wave or smack. This will only destroy the fragile trust you are still building.

2. Lead your horse.
Walk on the left side of your horse, holding the lead rope just below his chin in your right hand. Take a step and walk slowly forward. He should remain at your right side and never try to go ahead of you. You should walk around to you left in a circle if he does try. Do this as many times as necessary. Be persistent. By circling to your left you will stay just ahead of him as it should be. Should your horse not want to walk with you then stand slightly behind him, at his shoulder, facing the same direction. Hold the rope close to his chin and push forward. 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 decides to bolt you'll be going along and it will not be pretty.

3. Lunge your horse.A great many horse owners and all horse trainers I have come across use this great exercise with their equines. Lunging is so useful to the trainer in that it can be used to teach many of the commands and cues that your horse will need to perform saddle work in the future.

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 will be a long rope - about ten metres - much longer than the rope you would use for leading.

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 natural reaction will be for the horse to step forward. Make a kissing sound as you let out the lunge lead and follow him just behind and to the left. He'll begin to associate that sound with "move forward". Just hold the whip slightly behind the horse's hindquarters as you are turning and the horse is moving in a circle around you. Do not use the whip to hit the horse. You just need to wave it a bit to get the horse's attention.

Now, as he moves forward, you should move yourself slowly backwards, so that you come to the centre of your training circle. Stand in the middle and turn in a circle with the lunge line fully extended and the horse walking around you in a good circle. Watch your horse's hip area as he's going round.

This is the perfect time to teach your horse to understand "whoa". 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. You will help him remember what to do through this positive reinforcement.

Now you can change your lunging position to move him in the counterclockwise manner. This is done simply by swapping the lead over to be clipped onto the right of the halter, and holding the lunge whip in your left hand.

These exercises are simple ways to get you started when traiing your horse. Bear in mind that a horse is a huge and powerful creature. This alone should be enough to remind you to have adequate horse insurance in place should either you or your equine be injured. Safety and trust is crucial to your success in training ventures and in all future activities. 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.

Belgian Draught Horses

As suggested by the name. This breed emerged from Belgium. Back in the medieval times, the center of Western Europe became well-known for the large black horses known as "Flemish". Heavily armoured knights were carried into war by these horses. Only the fittest, largest and most powerful were selected and trained as "chargers" and "destriers". From this stock, genetic make-up was drawn for other breeds.  At the heart of this area, Belgium was established as a country. The regions stallions' were shipped throughout Europe as larger draught horses were demanded to work in both agricultural and industrial environments. 

As Belgium was the supply upon which other countries relied for such large stock animals, all that was left was for the country to establish the breed and increase the strength of the genetic makeup already at hand. The breed was refined by the Belgiun government who set up a national show, the winners of which would compete in the National Show in Brussels. Only the finest were selected by the Country's inspection committee to stand as stallions for public service. As a result of this, the fixed-breed improved substancially, and the Belgian horse was established as a national treasure. 

When the Belgian was initially brought into the States, they were slated for being "too thick, too low-headed, straight shouldered, and round-boned". The Belgians however soon found work with the American breeders who loved their temperament, eagerness to work and strength. So the Belgian remained, and American breeders set out to keep what was right and fix what was "wrong". As a result it is considered one of the most successful breeding stories ever told. Today's American Belgian still has the solid middle, deep strong feet, plenty of bone and strong musculature, and that great disposition. Belgian horses are are easy to care for, ship well and are willing workers. The breeders from America basically developed a new horse with cleaner lines, an increased slope in the pasterns and shoulders and a head and neck that was more elegant. 

Description
When it comes to color, while the initial Belgians to be imported to the States were a wide mix, about half were bay and bay-brown. There was however, no particular colour which was considered a defining characteristic. Through breeding, shown by American preference, the ideal for a Belgian in the U.S. today is a chestnut or sorrel with a snow-white mane and tail, a white stripe on the face, and four white socks. A large selection of colours can still be found in other areas of the globe. 

With regards to height, Belgian horses are usually 16 hands (162.5 centimeters, or 64 inches) at the shoulder, but can exceed 18 hands (183 cm or 72 inches) to the shoulder. US Belgian horses are more often seen with a noticeably large head, larger hind-quarters and compact, muscular legs. 

The average weight is 1600 to 2000 lbs (113.6 to 142 stones), but stallions can be in excess of 2400 pounds (170.4 stones).

For more information and horses for sale, please visit the Horse and Pony Directory

Next Page »