Painted Pistol, aka Pistols and Roses, had been on stall rest for a sesamoid fracture; the vet’s advice to let his ankle heal and then be as good as new in a few months. He was a talented racehorse; winning $268,327 in earnings with 17 wins, 12 places and 12 shows. He had last raced [...]

The Pryor Mountain wild horses are considered an endangered and rare breed. Their history has led scientists to believe the original herd descended from Spanish horses and may have been brought over by Columbus. Settlers brought these horses to the Atlantic coastal areas and western territories setting up breeding colonies. Most of these sturdy animals [...]

The Conyers/Burton Equine Protection Act is designed to finally end horse slaughter and the transportation of US  horses for slaughter  permanently. As to the unwanted horse problem, there are many practical solutions within our very reach.
Just the other day, Idaho pumped out legislation aiming to promote the slaughter of horses for human consumption. Alleging complaints [...]

The  American mustang has been revered through history as a living symbol of our natural heritage. Introduced in North America by early European, English and French explorers, raised and bred by Indians, domesticated by settlers, ridden by the US Calvary and surviving harsh climates, predators and challenging environments, wild horses and burros have been met [...]

By far, the most common bits used by horsemen are snaffle bits. And, there are many, many different types of snaffles out there, made in different sizes and made of different materials. Snaffle bits are all alike in this one way…they provide direct contact from the rider’s hands to the horses’ mouth. Curb bits, on [...]

Parents always ask how much they should spend on a horse for their child when they learn to ride a horse. There is not one answer. It entirely depends on what you want to do. Buying a top level show horse can cost over six figures! But, when you first learn to ride a horse, [...]

There are several kinds of Western saddles that are used for a variety of purposes. Their look and style vary depending on their intended use. This article is a quick overview of the basic western saddles for the equestrian.
1. In most boarding barns you will see a generic Western Show Saddle, designed for looks rather [...]

Some people find that horse riding clothing is rather chic! In fact, millions of dollars are spent each year in this industry. However, there is one piece of clothing that you cannot do without: a helmet. It matters not how chic you look if you incur a brain injury that leaves you debilitated or worse.
There [...]

Horse riding boots come second only to helmets when you are dressing for safety. One of the most frightening accidents you can have with a horse is getting thrown (or falling off) and having your foot caught in the stirrup. Once you are off his back, but your foot is stuck in the stirrup, your [...]

In an earlier article about horse riding equipment, I discussed various snaffle bits. With snaffle bits, the reins of the bridle are attached to the bit rings at the corner of the horses’ mouth and you, the rider, have DIRECT contact with his mouth. Curb bits work differently from that. In this article I will [...]