My experience.

I have had a lifetime experience with horses. Although I do not rememeber my first time riding, I do know that I love it with a passion. I have been riding most of my life, but I did not start jumping untill I was 7. I loved it and it became my life. Everyday after getting off the bus i would go start to the barn and ride my Fat Albert, Spike for short. Over the years I have grown to love horses and if I do not always get to ride them I will always have the memories in my heart.

Diet.

Horses/ponies eat a very basic diet unless they have health problems. They will usually eat a pellet or grain twice a day they also have supplements given to them in their pellet based on what they are used for. Horses/ponies also eat a lot of hay and will be put out almost every day to graze on grass. Many owners will give their horses/ponies treats such as carrots, mints, and stud muffins. Fresh buckets of water should be put in the horse’s/ponie’s stale. Some owners may choose to put a salt lick to promote good hydration.

The Winners Circle.

Unlike in other sports horseback riding has more then first second and third. The places go all the way to ninth. Each place has a different color ribbon.

First is blue

Second is Red

Third is Yellow

Fourth is white

Fifth is pink

Sixth is green

Seventh is purple

Eighth brown

Ninth is gray

Tenth is pale blue

 

The Gaits.

The horse/pony have 4 different gaits; walk, trot, canter and gallop. The walk is a 4 beat and speed of the walk is about 4 mph.

The trot is a 2 beat gait and goes about an average of 8 mph. The trot is like a slow jog.

The canter is a 3-beat gait the canter is fastert then the trot and slower then the gallop.

The gallop is like the canter but much faster and the 3-beat canter changes to a 4-beat gait.

(you can see the gallop in motion just click the link below)

(http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Muybridge_race_horse_animated.gif)

 

 

 

 

Tack

When riding a horse/pony you usually use tack. There are (in my opinion) 2 main pieces of tack: the saddle and bridle. The saddle is put on the withers of the horse. There are a pair of stirrups located on both sides of the saddle which you put your feet in.

 The English Saddle

(http://www.equusite.com/articles/basics/images/basicsEnglishSaddle.jpg)

The Western Saddle

(http://www.equusite.com/articles/basics/images/basicsWesternSaddle.jpg)

The bridle is leather and has a bit which the reigns are connected to. The bridle is used to steer the horse/pony.

 

 

 

Attire

When praticing at your barn, you usually can wear jeans and a t-shirt/polo but in the show ring this is unexceptable. For example in the Hunter Jumper show ring you would wear breeches, belt, tall boots, a show dress shirt with rat cacther (collar), and a show jacket. Also, an approved helmet is required and most people choose to wear black leather gloves.