Horse stall mats are becoming increasingly popular, due to the advantages they provide over other stall floor surfaces:

- Yielding. The traditional concrete floor is very hard. Unless you provide a thick layer of bedding, this hardness can stress joints, possibly injure feet, and cause sore points where the horse lays down to rest or sleep. Mats provide a softer and more yielding surface which is more comfortable for horses and less likely to result in impact stress injuries.

- Warmth. The materials used to make horse stall mats are naturally insulating. This is both more comfortable and healthier for horses, especially in winter.

- Traction. Concrete and wooden floors can be slippery when wet; mats provide better traction and reduce this risk to horses.

- Smooth. Many mats have a smooth surface, which is much easier to clean than concrete or wood surfaces.

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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 were then used for farming, endurance duties and transportation in a yet untamed world. In the Great Pueblo Revolt of 1680, Indians raided these farms, stole horses and traded them. With a lot of chaos created by the constant battles, many of these horses escaped and became feral as they ran wild in nature.

They were able to thrive on forage that other breeds could not exist on, and their speed and agility set them apart as a breed to be revered. Through survival of the fittest for generations, the Spanish Mustang essentially culled their own herds, resulting in the healthiest, sturdiest and most intelligent. They showed their ability to survive and multiplied where other breeds had perished. Considered to be extremely tough with incredible stamina,the herd evolved in nature as their heads grew larger, their eyesight became more acute and their sharp minds grew as they focused on survival.

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If you are a professional horse-rider and are interested in a more challenging way to test your skills and have some fun and excitement at the same time, Then, look no further! This article give you some overview on some fun filled horse riding games while on horse back. The objective of each game are also explained.

Horse riding games can be enjoyable for people of all ages and genders and at various level of skill. Certain games, especially those played by children, ponies are used. Different games are designed for the enjoyment of couples, individuals or teams.

Most of the horse-riding games are similar to the ones that we play even without mounting horses. One such game for children is the egg and spoon race. Each child is provided with an egg and a spoon. They have to balance the egg on the spoon and reach the finish line by riding on their ponies. The child that reaches the finish line first with the egg intact on the spoon is adjudged the winner.

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It is important that you keep your horse active and having enough room for them to run around is key. Most horses need to be able to move around and gallop so make sure that if you do not have a large place to keep your horse that you get them out and ride them to allow them to get proper exercise. It is important that you make sure that your horse gets the proper shoes so that they can have less issues with there feet when they are moving around. The horse needs ot have a good cardiovascular workout so that they can maintain good health.

Along with making sure your horse gets the proper exercise you want to feed them the best food so they will stay healthy. It is important that if you see any issues with your horse that you get them medical attention so that the vet can give them treatment and prevent any damage. You need to remember that a horse is a living breathing animal and needs to be exercised. Some people think of there horse like a motorcycle they can jump on and ride at anytime. It is crucial that you build a trusting relationship with your horse so that when you ride them you will have a good relationship with them.

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What type of horse do you look for when you are looking for your’ next hunting horse? A lot of people in the United Kingdom are now not only looking for a winter hunter but also a horse that they can ride during the summer months in horse trials and eventing competitions.

To find the perfect hunting horse let us first take a look at desirable traits and features.

A good hunting horse should be extremely athletic and should be a natural at jumping fences; it should be intelligent, confident and ride out well with other horses in the middle of a bunch.

This is why an Irish sports horse is a natural choice when looking for your next hunting or eventing horse.

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Horses’ being slaughtered for meat is an everyday fact of life in many countries. But for those of us who keep horses because we enjoy riding and just being around then, it’s very difficult to accept that an increasing number of horses are being taken to slaughter, by their owners.

In the present difficult financial climate, it’s becoming an all too frequent option for people strapped for cash, and desperate to release themselves from the huge costs of keeping a horse. For years, this has been the fate of some race horses, bred for racing and business purposes, and often disposed of at the abattoir at the end of a short racing life. Race horses are often over breed in any case, in the hunt for that ’special’ horse, the ‘ordinary’ and surplus ones being simply disposed off in the abattoir. Some might even argue that a highly strung race horse, trained only for racing and with no schooling for everyday riding, will always be difficult to handle, and perhaps this is a kinder option in the long run. But the credit crunch has made this a more common ending for young, healthy horses, where places at rescue centers are becoming increasingly hard to find because of high demand.

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Typically, horses are wormed using a rotation schedule. This practice of deworming is not based on evidence but simply a schedule and an assumption that your horse needs to be dewormed.

Perform Fecal Egg Count (FEC) tests on your horse frequently to determine the type and quantity of parasites he may be carrying. Armed with these results, you will be able to make better deworming choices.

Evidence-based deworming may:

* Reduce the likelihood of parasite resistance;
* Decrease unnecessary chemical exposure;
* Stimulate your horse’s natural immunity;
* Save money.

There are three classes of deworming chemicals (macrocyclic lactone, pyrimidine and benzimidazole) and a fourth, praziquantel, that is used to treat tapeworms.

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By nature the horse was intended to live in grassy fields with natural protection through trees and the landscape from the elements. The horse lived in herds and most herds were groups of mares with one stallion for protection. As technology advanced and we began to rely on the horse more and more, we began to change the way the horse lives. The horse was stabled and shod and moved away from the grassy fields to barns and stables in cities. This was a drastic change for the horse and he has had to overcome many of his natural instincts for this new way of life.

To compensate for changing the horse’s natural way of life we have to do everything that we can to make it easier and more comfortable on our horses. There are certain procedures that we must do to ensure that our horses remain healthy and live happy lives. Horses are all day grazers and we must remember this when it comes to our feeding schedules. Horses were intended to walk and run on hard ground, so this too must be remembered when we stable our horses and bed our stalls. Racehorses actually have more of a healthier life than many stabled horses. (more…)