Welcome To HLU!

Hi everyone! Here you can learn about everything you need to know about horses, how to approach a horse, and all of that kind of stuff. I love to ride horses, and now you can learn too! Learn: -How to approach a horse - Different horse breeds -Find out which horse would be best for you - Find out which horse breed you are AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!!!

Ok. I ride at a place called Just Colours Farm, and I just LOVE it there! Here is a picture of the horse that I ride. Her name is Tiki. She is the one on the right. The other is a horse named Paco.

Riding @ Just Colours Farm- A Journal

This is a journal of my Just Colours Farm riding experiences. I'll try to edit it a lot...

~Saturday, May 24, 2008~
At riding today, I rode a horse named Dutchess. She's absulutley gorgeous! I walked, trotted, and cantered on her. She is a thoroughbred, (I might have spelt it wrong lol) and she is grey, with dapples and is a little bit flea-bitten (dappled is a colour- read on more to find out about colours). I also might be leasing her in the summer.

Popular Horse Breeds Of The World

There are some really popular horse breeds out there, and here are some of them listed with their pictures!

The Quarter Horse

This breed has a very good temperment which makes them a very good riding horse. They are also very polular horse for trail riding. The quarter horse is the most popular breed. All in all, they are a great breed, and can be used for new riders, to very experienced riders.

The Arabian

The arabian is the olders purebred horse in the world. Arabians are used for hunting, jumping, endurance racing, dressage, trail riding, and also working on ranches. They are also a very popluar breed of horse.

The Thoroughbred

You probably know that the thoroughbred is a great racer, and yes, it is. But aside from racing, the thoroughbred also makes a great horse for jumping, eventing, polo, and hunting. The thoroughbred has been bred for over 300 years becuase of its great speed and endurance. The thoroughbred has also bred to create new breeds, or/and to upgrade others.

The Appaloosa

For the appaloosa, the main colouring is a spotted colour. This is also a very old breed, and is also very popular. The appaloosa is used for showing, flatwork, and also showjumping. The appaloosa was used by native americans. The appaloosa is a very good breed for riding.

The Shetland Pony

The shetland pony was named after where it came from, which would be the Shetland Islands. The little pony is so hairy probably because the islands where it came from where so cold. This pony is very polular for kids, and has a good temperment. It's also easy to care for. However, many may think that the shetland pony may be the smalles pony in the world, but it's not. The falabella is the smallest.

Which Breed Of Horse Is Best For You?

To find this out, we first have to find out a few other questions. First, are you a beginner, or advanced rider? Do you do western, or english? Got them answered? Good! Ok... Down to buisness.

English

Answer the following questions:

Are you into competition?

Are you advanced?

Are you ready for the big shows?

IF ANSWERED YES TO ALL, THEN YOU SHOULD GET A COMPETITION BREED LIKE THE:

-Selle Français- very good at jumping

-Welsh Pony- Competiton- good for kids and adults

-Thoroughbred- Great at jumping and other english competitions

English CONT.

Answer the following questions:

Have you ever ridden before?

Can you control a horse well?

Would you like to have a horse with a good temperment?

IF ANSWERED YES TO ALL, THEN YOU SHOULD GET A HORSE LIKE THE:

-Welsh Pony- Competiton- good for kids and adults

-Quarter Horse- Great for everyone and good for both english and western

-Appaloosa- Great for everyone!

Western

Answer the following questions:
Have you ever ridden before?
Can you control a horse well?
Can you control a horse at all of its paces?

IF ANSWERED YES TO ALL, THEN YOU SHOULD GET A COMPETITION BREED LIKE THE:

-Appaloosa- This horse is good for beginners and advanced, and is great for western or english.

-Quarter Horse- This horse is good for beginners and advanced, and is great for western or english.

-Paint/Pinto- This horse is good for beginners and advanced, and is great for western or english.

Basic Horsemanship

Here is some basic horsemanship stuff for you to remember:

1. Grooming

- Horses love to be groomed most of the time.

Try currying them down with the curry comb after a ride for a nice massage.

- Getting rid of the dirt is very important too.

Brush your horse before and after a ride. If your horse has sweat a lot, use the sweat scraper.

- Clean your horses hooves.

Little rocks that are wedged in your horses hooves can hurt your horse when you're riding it.

2. Exercise

- Put your horse out into the pasture.

Horses can get exercise by running around in the field with their friends.

- Lunging your horse is a great way for exercise or warming up.

Clip the lunge line to your horse and give it some exercise.

- Riding your horse often will give it exercise.

Riding your horse will give it exercise, and you will love it too!

3. Feeding

- Don't feed your horse too often.

Feeding your horse too often will make your horse go overweight.

- The pasture.

The pasture is a great way for your horse to get food. It will graze in the fields, but also feed it regularly.

- Types of food.

Grain, barley, hay, pellets, and corn are all great sources of food for your horse. Try a sweet feed for your horse too. This consists of molasses, corn, pellets, grain, and barley.

Dressage

Ever heard the word dressage? If you ride horses, you probably have. Dressage is french for 'training', and it involves many moves and hard work. Dressage was originally intended for military use, and began in the 16th century. Early dressage consists of walking, trotting, and cantering. You may use circles, serpentines, diagnols, and much more to prefrom dressage. At the beginning, you must halt and sulute. GIRLS: Square halt your horse, and nod. GUYS: Remove your riding hat and place it behind your right leg, and nod. That is the sulute. You must sulute at the beginning, and at the end of your dressage test.

Above: This rider is Preforming a canter in

her Dressage test.

FACTS

1. The higher you compete, the higher your fame and your horses fame has to be.

2. If a judge hears you speak to your horse, you will lose marks.

3. Germany is the leading country in dressage.

4. In a dressage competition, you are marked out of 10 on every move you preform on your test.

5. Above 65% on a test is considered good

Western VS English

I prefer english because I find it more competative. There's jumping, cross country, dressage and hunter. Plus, there are also some pony clubs that you can join. If you want to do english, be prepared for a little, but comfertable sadde, and loads of fun! I used to ride western, and it was pretty fun too. If you love relaxing trail rides, racing around barrels, and adventure, then western is for you! You can choose whatever you want. Riding is tons of fun!!! Western is easier that english riding. The main difference is what tack the horse wears.

Question Section

1 Q. Why do horses flatten there ears?
1 A. They flatten their ears to show anger, or fear, or aggravation.

2 Q. Why don't I run up to a horse?
2 A. Horses can only see you out of the side of their eyes, and running up will spook them.

3 Q. What does a 'green' horse mean?
3 A. No, it does NOT have anything to do with the colour. A green horse simply means that the horse is not trained fully.

4 Q. I heard someone talking about the 'four gaits' of a horse. What are they?
4 A. The four gaits of a horse are the walk, trot, canter, and the gallop.

5 Q. What is '3 Day' eventing?
5 A. 3 day eventing consists of show jumping, dressage, and cross country. In other words, it is a series of shows that consist jumping, cross, and dressage.

6 Q. What kinds of colours there are for horses?
6 A. The colours are chestnut (light brown), bay (brown with a black mane and tail), dark bay, light bay, dapple grey, (dark circles or rings that appear on the body) flea-bitten grey (grey with flecks of brown hair), grey, red roan (brown mixed with white hair), blue roan (black mixed with white hair), black, white (albino), brown, palamino (golden coat with a white mane and tail), skewbald (brown and white), piebald (black and white), dun (beige coat with a black mane and tail), and an appaloosa (a spotted horse).

Which Breed Of Horse Are You?

Q. DO YOU LOVE COMPETITION?

a. Yes

b. YES!!!

c. What?

d. Sure... why not?

e. I'll try my hardest!

Q. DO YOU LOVE TO RUN

a. OH YEAH!

b. It spoils my hair!

c. Not really...

d. And kick up the dust!!

e. When I'm free.

Q. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF SOMEONE HAD BAD BREATH?

a. Offer them a tic tac very calmly, then watch intensly.

b. Make a BIG deal!

c. Hide!

d. Offer them a breath mint politely and say that they taste great! (In other words, don't make it sound like they have REALLY bad breath)

e. Graciously give them a very minty mint!

Q. IF SOMEONE WANTED TO BE YOUR FRIEND, HOW WOULD YOU REACT?

a. Uh, sure! Come on! Lets's go!

b. Stare and ask many, MANY questions.

c. Shy away and hope that they didn't see you OR try and be their friend very calmly.

d. Accept! Everyone needs a friend!

e. Think about it in a friendly way.

Q. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURTE GAIT (MOVEMENT eg. TROT) ON A HORSE?

a. Galloping

b. Lightly prancing

c. Walking slowly...

d. Cantering

e. All of the above.

Q. IF YOU WERE SHOVED INTO A WESTERN SADDLE, HOW WOULD YOU REACT?

a. Huh?

b. EWW!

c. Hold onto the saddle horn for dear life!

d. YEEHAW!

e. Give it a try.

Q. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SPORT?

a. Racing!

b. Ballet.

c. NOT HOCKEY OR FOOTBALL!!!

d. ANYTHING FAST AND DANGEROUS!

e. Hip hop!

DID YOU GET A MIX? OR GET THE SAME NUMBER FOR EACH? IF SO, YOU ARE A MORAB! YOU ARE HALF MORGAN, HALF ARABIAN, AND NOTHING STOPS YOU FROM HAVING FUN AND BEING YOURSELF!