Mar
12
2010
0

Advice On Buying Your Next Horse

When looking for horses for sale, there are a few points which are worth considering in order to make the buying process easier, and to make sure you end up with your perfect horse.

  • All horses have issues – just make sure that your chosen one has faults that you can live with and that won’t affect your enjoyment.
  • Take an expert with you, someone who is knowledgable of your capabilities and strengths. Ideally take someone who is able to spot whether the horse is lame or any illnesses. Or even your trainer who can tell if the chosen horse is appropriate for your style of riding – your aptitude and confidence.
  • Check any relevant documets and passport.  A horse passport is not proof that your chosen horse is owned by the person selling it so ask to see a receipt as proof of purchase. It is unlwful to buy or sell a horse that don’t have a passport.
  • Find out if all innoculations are up to date. A new course of innoculations can cost a lot of money and can take months to come into effect before you can compete.  You will not be popular moving a horse to another horse if it brings illness with it.
  • Once you have decided the horse is for you, employ a vet to perform out the highest vetting that you can afford. Don’t rush or be forced into purchasing if you believe you need the horse looked at by your vet.
  • Where possible view your chosen horse or pony demonstrating the trials you would like it to do. Reschooling a horse will add a considerable amount to the total cost if you cannot do this on your own.
  • Try to negotiate a trial loan in which the horse can be sent back if it is not suitable.
  • Always be realistic when looking to buy a young horse, do you have the required experience to bring it on. Another thought is that, a more mature horse may just have the stability and maturity to build your confidence and teach you the ropes.
  • Don’t feel you have to purchase the first horse you view and don’t be pressurised by the many other people that are waiting to buy the horse if you don’t – very often this is just a ploy to push you to make an impulse buy. Take your time when buying a horse.
  • As soon as the sale is completed take out insurance on the horse before you consider transporting it.  The majority of injuries happen in transit or whilst introducing a horse into a new yard with other horses.
  • Trust your judgement – if you believe the vendor is hiding something from you then they most probably are.
  • Be mindful that your horse is a major investment of both your time and your money – be sure you have budgeted accurately for all the expenses that you will encounter.

Finally, enjoy your new addition and enjoy many hours horse riding together! Click here to find horses for sale online!

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Mar
11
2010
0

Graces Exciting Guidelines To Understand While You Are Shopping For Used Horse Trailers

Horse trailers are a must if you have horses which need transportation on a regular basis to special horse events, horse races or even to the vet. Each horse owner demands some form of horse transportation from time to time. Horse trailers are one concern, but part of an excellent job is that when hauling horses at all, be sure to check laws covering shipment within a state, between states and/or internationally. Health certificates are needed plus always carry owner s papers or proof of registration. 

Horse trailers are designed with safety in mind for the horse when towed “properly”. Go around messing with that by modifying things and you defeat the security of it. Horse trailers are built with the capability to haul 2 to 10 or more horses. Depending on the heavy duty capability of your tow vehicle and the amount of horses you are planning to travel with on your own or with friends, you should consider longer term needs when making your purchase. Learn more about used horse trailers here.

Gooseneck horse trailers differ from tag-a-long, or bumper pull horse trailers in their hitch. The gooseneck is attached inside hauling truck’s bed with a ball and coupler system. Gooseneck hitches are more secure plus are excellent for larger trailers. They even offer storage space in the neck, that may be helpful if your trailer does not have a tack room. Gooseneck horse trailers are easier to maneuver and park, come with storage space, and can have a camper or living area. You’ll need an open truck bed plus truck-bed hitching system, generally sold separately. 

Steel-framed horse trailers are a smart choice if corrosion is a problem within your climate, or if you’re not happy concerning the thought of maintaining the exterior of the trailer. Steel-framed trailers are commonly made with an aluminum skin, that resists corrosion. Steel is three times stronger than aluminum. Therefore, it takes three times the quantity of aluminum to create a trailer as sturdy as a steel one. 

Hauling live tall animals, having a high center of gravity naturally, would the easiest place to detect the dramatic improvement the WD hitches may add for best steering control and braking which, a level stable rig provides. WDH may do extra to safely level your sagging vehicle rear end than each one the springs, shocks and air luggage combined. Haul your ATV’s, motorcycles plus different toys in design on the weekends, and haul your work equipment during the week.

 

 

 

 

 

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Mar
10
2010
0

Caring for Horses During Winter

When you care for your horse, it is important to make provision for the colder months. Horses need to be able to tolerate the cold weather and remain as healthy as possible. For the period of the winter horses will have special needs which you as the owner will have to address. It is imperative to organize for winter in advance.

Horses are naturally tolerant to cold weather. In fact, horses deal with winter weather conditions a good deal better than scorching weather. Regardless of this, there are some rudimentary things horse owners will need to do to ensure their horses remain in good health. You should make sure the horse doesn’t have any parasites, and has been vaccinated up to date. The costs for doing these things will significantly pay off throughout the winter months, as the costs of feeding the horse will be lower.

You may also consider consulting your vet in arranging up a health plan to care for your horses. Preparing your horse for cold weather will help it reduce the need to eat copious amounts of food in order to sustain its weight. Your horse should never lose weight during the winter. Allowing your horse to put on a slight amount of weight will aid them during the colder months, as the additional fat will work as a guard to supply the horse with energy if it becomes stressed. For the duration of the winter you will want to give your horse some extra calories.

Probably the most effective protection for a horse during the winter is its natural winter coat. When it grows long, it will act as a warm jumper which will lower the heat loss that the horse is subjected to in cold scenarios. A horse’s coat is also smooth and will help brush off off snow and ice. If kept outside, you will want to make sure their coats grow long prior to winter commencing.

To monitor the condition of your horse, you will need to rub its ribs. Having a longer than usual coat may hide a slight loss in weight You should be able to feel your horses ribs, but not be able to see them. Your also want to feel the ears of the horse. Are they cold? If this is the case, your horse is cold.

As with all warm-blooded animals, your horse must maintain its body temperature to stay fit and well. It is important that they preserve heat through the winter, so you must ensure they’re prepared for the cold.

Visit the Horse and Pony Directory for more information and horses for sale

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Mar
09
2010
0

The Arabian Horse or Arab

The Arabian horse is an animal which has lived on the Arabian Peninsula for well over 2000 years.

The Arab horses, when properly bred display many character traits including endurance, strength and beauty. Arabian horses have been researched, and concluded to be one of the most ancient breeds of horse.

The nomadic Bedouins were first given credit for taming Arabs. Of the horses they aquired the Bedouins could account for their lineage and ancestry. This is why it was crucial during these times to depend on a strong, reliable horse. It also had to be capable of surviving in the desert environment. The Bedouin tribes were constantly at war with other tribes in the region, and it was necessary to have a horse which could lead them into battle.

The Bedouins soon gained a reputation for breeding some of the most beautiful horses ever seen. Many people would trade horses with them, and they would get together and share the lineages of the horses which were traded. There are a number of different variations of Arabian horses, which are known as strains. These Arabs have shared ancestory as well as a likeness in their appearance. Including; Kuhaylan, Dahman and Hadban.

The Arabian horse of one of the most well known breeds in the world. The head is triangular in shape, with large eyes in comparison to small muzzle. Arabian horses which have a concave shaped nose are highly prized. The neck of an Arabian horse should be arched, and their legs should be muscular and lean. Their coat should be shiny, and can be likened to silk. As they do not have a good bascule Arabian breeds are not frequent competitors at show jumping meets.

Typically, their coat is brown or grey although it is not unusual for some Arabian horses to have black coats. As the desert heat is so intense, black coated Arabs were a lot more rare as the heat absorption could be dangerous. Such is the purity of the Arabian horse gene, it is frequently used in accentuating the features of other breeds. Arabian horses have a good temperament, and this also makes them attractive to breeders.

Professional horse competitions have used Arabian horses for a great deal of time, and there are even competitions each year between Arabian horses and there owners.

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

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Mar
07
2010
0

Building a Chicken Pen. 7 Things You Probably Didn’t Know

Building a chicken pen can and should be a fun and exciting adventure for you and your family.  Like any project, chicken pens can become more work than you anticipated, without the proper planning.  Therefore, I have gathered up some important facts that you may not have known about chickens and the process of building a chicken pen.  Here are some things everyone should know when it comes to building chicken coops.

What a Chicken Pens should NOT do:

  •   Consume your life
  •   Cost excessive amounts of money
  •   Take you an entire season to complete

What a Chicken Pen SHOULD include:

  •   Design
  •   Protection
  •   Ventilation
  •   Lighting

These are just  few of the very important things that go into buiding a chicken coop, both of which should be taken very seriously before you begin your project.  So those are some things to know before beginning your new project, but what about the things you probably don’t know.  Maybe you realize what goes into building a chicken pen, but do you know what goes into raising chickens?  Below is a list of common things people often overlook until they have their coop all set up and their new pets already home.

  •   First off you should understand that each hen will lay on average ONE egg a day given the right environment.
  •   Hens cannot lay eggs until they are approximately 6 months old.
  •   Just like people, chickens have their own personalities and do not always get along.
  •   Roosters do not only crow in the morning, and can often become very loud.
  •   You do not need a rooster to lay eggs.
  •   Chickens will fly, not for far distances, but they can and they will fly.
  •   Every chicken will go to the bathroom in their food if possible.

Although, it may sound a little scary, many of the annoying things that come along with raising chickens can be eliminated with a good set of plans or a good chicken pen design.  Plans can be found and downloaded online; you maybe able to even find a good set of plans online for free.  If you happen along a good set of free plans, just make sure it included the items discussed, this will aid in making your life and your chickens lives less stressful in the long run.

If you’re still a little concerned and have a few more questions, check out Building a Chicken Coop for more information on building a chicken pen, and raising chickens as pets.  Happy Egg-laying!

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