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Horse INKlings
Volume 2 Issue 1
Wednesday January 17, 2001
Welcome to the first
issue of Horse INKlings for 2001. Its aim is to provide
interesting, entertaining and useful information about the horses with whom we
share our lives. Please let me know what you think.
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SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
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"Wherever man has left his footprint in the long ascent from barbarism to
civilization, we will find the hoofprint of a horse beside it."
-- John Trotwood Moore
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FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH
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Riding outside in winter presents some additional challenges. Dressing warmly
can take care of the weather, but there's not much you can do about the footing.
Stay off icy patches, and remember that frozen ground, even if it's not icy, can
be as hard as concrete. Don't go any faster than a walk unless there's a good
cushion of snow on top and you know for sure
there's no ice underneath.
Just as we need proper footwear to walk safely on winter ground, so our horses
need special provisions. If your horse is shod, talk to your farrier about pads
and caulks. If he's barefoot, spraying the sole with a nonstick cooking product,
or even coating it with old fashioned vaseline, can help prevent the snow from
balling up. In any case, don't expect your horse to walk on high heels. Carry a
hoofpick with you and be prepared to stop periodically and pick out the icy
build up.
Be careful bringing your horse into the barn after being outside. Snow ball feet
are very slippery. Preferably, dig out the snow at the barn door. If you can get
the hoofpick under the snow pack at the back of the foot, you can often pry it
all out at once, especially if you coated the sole as suggested above. Be
careful you don't dig into the frog, though. If you can't budge it, chip off the
snow until it's even with the hoof wall and then wait for the hooves to warm up
before removing the rest.
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GROANER TIME
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Q) What is the best type of story to tell a runaway horse?
A) A tale of WHOA!
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HORSE TRIVIA
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A horse's lungs can hold 30 quarts of air. By comparison, the
lungs of an average man can hold 5 quarts.
SOURCE: The
Illustrated Veterinary Encyclopedia for Horsemen
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THIS MONTH'S FEATURED BOOK
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The Less-Than-Perfect Rider by Lesley Bayley and Caroline Davis is
a book for every rider who occasionally has doubts about their riding ability --
and for those who don't but should have.
Subtitled "Overcoming Common Riding Problems", the book
covers communicating with your horse, safety, the effect of your
attitude on your riding and the effect of different human body
types. It then goes on to address common riding faults on the flat
and over fences. There's even a chapter for nervous riders.
The authors take a very practical approach, providing exercises
and tips for real life problems. For example, have you ever rubbed
yourself raw in the crotch area? It's not something you see
mentioned in many books, but Bayley and Davis tell you what to
do. What kind of breeches hide fat best? How do you find the
right instructor? What are good stretching and fitness exercises
to do both on and off the horse? These are just a few of the
points covered.
This is a very accessible book for any rider. Attractively laid out
with sections and sidebars, it's also generously illustrated.
Photographs complement the text making the explanations even
clearer. If you'd like a boost to your riding, The Less-Than-Perfect Rider
is a good book to read.
For more information on this book, click
here. To buy a copy for yourself or as a gift, click on one of the links
below and add it to your shopping basket.
amazon.ca
amazon.com
amazon.co.uk
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