The holiday season has come and gone and as we enter the 2016 breeding season, the business of breeding horses is in full swing. Babies are born, breedings are booked and broodmares are made ready, all with thoughts of the 2017 foal crop and the next “great one”.
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Stallion owner Sandra Morgan echoes a popular sentiment when she describes meeting her 16.1 hand, handsome hunk of a horse known as Mechanic. “I’ve always loved Mechanic since the first time I set eyes on him,” she says.
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There are three bones inside the horse’s foot—the coffin bone (3rd phalanx), the lower end of the short pastern bone (2nd phalanx) that attaches to the coffin bone, and the small navicular bone that sits behind the coffin bone. These bones articulate together in the coffin joint. Of these three bones, the one most commonly fractured is the coffin bone.
Continue reading …Sneak Peak – New Horse & Rider Teams for 2016
November 15, 2015 Comments Off on Sneak Peak – New Horse & Rider Teams for 2016
Each New Year brings about new beginnings. In the horse world, the turning of a calendar page brings excitement for a fresh show season with many newly formed horse and rider teams making their debuts. In 2016, these four teams will strive to compete with the best of the best with the hopes of growing together and achieving their lifelong goals.
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All horse people accumulate a lot of trappings related to their passion, but there are some who take buying equine items to another level: the collectors. Whether it’s beautifully tooled bits, antique saddles, braided rawhide, or halters, interest in the history, artistry, craftsmanship, and design of these pieces is on the rise.
Continue reading …Keeping The Peace – Keys to a Healthy Barn Dynamic
November 13, 2015 Comments Off on Keeping The Peace – Keys to a Healthy Barn Dynamic
Anyone who has been part of a competitive show barn knows, that at times, drama and conflict can make it feel like you’re in the middle of a reality television show. However, unlike reality TV, barn drama is less than entertaining and can cause a myriad of other problems that ultimately interfere with productivity and success. In order to deal with barn drama, many top professionals have refined their programs and established rules to help keep the peace.
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September is certainly a month dedicated to the halter horse industry. The Breeders’ Halter Futurity, World Conformation Horse Association Breeders’ Futurity, and the Big Money Halter Futurity all take place within a few weeks of each other. If you’re a conformation enthusiast, it’s a guarantee that you will find the industry’s finest Halter specimens and handlers at these world-class events.
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Are you good at solving word problems? How about geometry? Can you fit a square peg into a round hole? It seems like you must have earned an “A” in trigonometry in order to fit all of the necessary equipment into your horse trailer when packing for a show. Hopefully, you’ve won a few games of Tetris, because you’re going to need it.
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An old horseman once remarked, “Heck, you could ride your mare with a piece of string.” To me, that evoked a mental image of galloping unencumbered through fields of wildflowers. It also terrified me – how could I control anything without a bit?
Continue reading …Sharing Expertise – Reaching Out to Specialty Trainers
November 9, 2015 Comments Off on Sharing Expertise – Reaching Out to Specialty Trainers
Everyone is familiar with the motto, “There’s no ‘I’ in team.” Even athletes like superstar extraordinaire Michael Jordan knew he was a better player when he worked together with his team.
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