Variations of riding-Games
Polo is often known as one of the world’s most dangerous sports. A rider carries a mallet and
swings it in a circular motion to hit a ball into the opposing team’s goal. The riders change
ponies during the game periods and each team has four riders. Left handed people are not
allowed to play as a safety precautions for both horse and rider. When watching the game, I
found that it looks like a cross between soccer and crochet on horseback. The horses tails are
cut and braided and its mane is trimmed very short, this is to assure it does not interfere with
the game.
A rider playing polo
A good looking polo pony in harness
Vaulting is in which a rider or riders perform gymnastics on horseback. Sometimes seen bare
back but quite often consists of a special made saddle called a surcingle which has several hand
and foot holds. The horse canters or trots on a lunge line in circles while riders do flips,
somersaults, handstands and flips. The rider(s) are judged based one their originality, balance
and difficulty. Draft horses are often seen being used as they do not have bouncy gaits, are
fairly wide and can carry the weight of many riders.
Horse Grooming
Aside from brushes, grooming does not have to be done in any particular order. Always
make sure to groom a horse before riding and give him a quick rub down. If you go for a
hack/trail ride pay close attention to his hooves after for any rocks that may become lodged
and can cause serious damage to the horse’s foot and even lameness.
Essentials to a grooming kit
Curry comb-Used to be made of metal, now is only made of rubber or
plastic. The curry comb has several this bristles which when rubbed over the
horses body will loosen dirt, hair and other debris. Avoid using the curry
comb on sensitive areas such as the legs and face, use lightly in a circular
motion.
Flick/Dandy brush- This is a long, narrow brush with firm bristles. Use the
brush over the horse’s body and legs in a flicking motion to whisk away debris
which the curry comb left behind. Do not use this on the horses face, and
sometimes if mud is on the horses hooves I like to use the dandy brush to
clean them off a bit.
Body brush-Is similar to the dandy brush, but with softer bristles. Use the
body brush with long strokes across the entire body, legs and if you do not
have a face brush then around the horse’s brow and cheeks as well.
Mane/tail combs-Try to avoid excessive brushing of the mane and tail,
practice doing it only once a week or before shows as the hair grows slowly.
To prevent breakage, start at the bottom of the hair and work your way up.
When doing the tail start with a small section then gradually add more as you
work through.
Hoof pick-Use the hoof pick before and after riding to dislodge mud and
rocks. Stand with your back to the horses head and run your had down the
front left hoof first. When you reach the fetlock, ask him to pick his foot up. Once
his foot is up, work around the frog (the fleshy part of the foot) as it is very
sensitive and pick out anything that shouldn’t be there. I prefer a hoof pick with
both a metal hook and bristles because it makes it easier to whish away mud if
necessary.
Other handy items
Face brush-This is a small, very soft brush to use around the cheeks, muzzle,
brow and ears
Finishing brush- Use this last, it will remove any final remnants of dust and it
adds a beautiful glossy finish to your horse’s coat. It’s one of my favourite tools to
use in a grooming kit as it gives you a chance to see your hard work progress.
Scissors- These can be used to trim any excess hair around the face,
fetlocks, mane and tail which you may find un-complementary. I would
recommend purchasing safety scissors with the rounded tip to avoid
accidentally poking the horse.
Fetlock shears- Use the shears on where the name states, the fetlock (fur
around the back of the hoof) when it becomes undesirably long. Fetlock shears,
unlike scissors will cut and thin out the fur. A trick I use to avoid your final result
to be chunky is to backcomb the fetlock first and when the fur is sticking up in the
comb, trim it with the shears. Start at the bottom then push the comb up as you
go, this will give the fetlock a smoother, natural finish.
Mane and tail detangles- This is a great asset if you want to avoid breaking the
horses hairs and for him to grow a long healthy mane/tail. Spread the hair on the
tail then spray sparingly, spray the mane as well. Use your horses comb to brush
through the hair to work the product throughout. Use the product before first
brushing the hair.
Coat gloss- Spray coat gloss over the shoulders, neck, legs, hind quarters and hair if
desired. Avoid the face area and the horses back as the gloss makes the coat slippery and
the saddle will slide on the horses back. Coat gloss shouldn’t be a part of your daily
routine as it can begin to make the hair greasy, instead spray the horse once a week or
less and for shows.
Braiding for show- For many English competitions, it is required to braid your
horse’s mane and tail in what is called a hunter braid. To put it simply, this is just
a French braid that runs along the neck of the mane and dock of the tail. Braid a
ribbon into the horse’s hair as well to add a more done up look.
Light horse breeds
Arabian Horse
14.2hh-15hh
Hot blood
The Arabian horse is known as
the oldest pure horse in the world.
Their origin can be traced to the
Arabian Peninsula 4500 years ago. The
first Arabian stallions were brought to
America in 1725. Many horse breeds
today have bloodlines traced back to Arabian ancestry because the owners
wanted horses with the speed and stamina that the Arabian inherits. They are
sought after for their unique “dished” face, their bodies are slender with long
dainty legs. When the Arab exhibits its springy gaits, he carries his proud head
high as well as his tail. An interesting characteristic of the Arabian is that he has
one less rib then other horse breeds, taking the original 18 to 17.
Mustang
15hh or smaller
Warm blood
Mustangs can be found throughout
the United States. They are strong built, and
hearty. The name “mustang” comes from
the Spanish word mesteno which means wild
and stray. They descend mostly from Spanish
horses and Arabian, they were originally
brought to America by Spanish riders which allowed them to become feral. Most
often the horses are left in the wild but if they are captured they are commonly
seen as western pleasure horses. Today, the remaining mustangs appear to be
either Kiger or Cerat mustangs.
Appaloosa
14.2hh-15.2hh
Warm blood
The appaloosa is a very common western
breed, like most western breeds it has a short/broad
build and is well known for its unique colourings.
Appaloosas are fairly fast and have recently been
added to many English barns because of their
beauty and established jumping ability. Pictures of
the Appaloosa were found on cave walls in France,
potentially making them almost as old as the
Arabian. They were also commonly found domesticated by the first nation’s
people.
Andalusian horse
15.2hh-16.2hh
Warm blood
During the 18th century the
Andalusian horse was made a mount of
royalty to high rankings in the military,
they were also popular in bull fighting.
After this era however, the numbers
began to diminish. The horses are
ridden both English and western, they
have also dominated Spanish riding for their flexibility towards the famous
“Spanish walk”. Most Andalusian horses are grey but can also be found as black
and bay. They are have broad necks and dainty legs, you may recognize the horse
with its beautiful thick, flowing mane.
Drum horse
17hh and up
Cold blood
The drum horse is a relatively new
breed and is one of the most popular draft
horses for mount. He was first used to
carry large drums for the queen in her
ceremonial band. The numbers dwindled
shortly after that though, as multi
coloured horses were not as sought after as one-colour horses (black, bay, brown,
chestnut). The numbers have since rapidly increased across North America as
people see their beautiful piebald/skewbald coats, long feathering and potential
as a driving and dressage horse.
Belgian horse
16.2-17hh
Cold blood
Belgians, also known as Brabant’s, is seen
with its thick next, broad chest and small head. The
muscles in its front quarter’s show specifically what
the horse has been bred to do-pull. The horse is
commonly seen in driving and heavy weight
competitions. As the same implies, the horses
originated in western Belgium. You may easily
recognise a Belgian among other drafts as the one
with the palomino coat, though they also come in
various shades of chestnut and red roan.
Percheron
16.2hh-18hh
Cold blood
Percherons are one of the most common draft
breeds in the US, accounting for 70% of all draft horses.
They are believed to have originated in Perch Valley,
France in the 17th century. They were originally bred as a
war horse for their tall, muscular builds. Today though,
you can see Percherons in draft shows pulling wagons or
in heavy weight competitions. Percherons can be found
as greys or blacks and quite often have a flea bitten
pattern. They have broad chests and strong legs, they are known for their eager
personality and intelligence.