Vomiting is a complex physiological event that requires a closely coordinated sequence of reflexive motions. When you are going to throw up, you draw a deep breath, your vocal cords close, your larynx rises, and the soft palate shifts to close off your airways. Then your diaphragm contracts downward, which …
Gaited horses are a specific category of horse breeds that possess unique, smooth, and natural gaits in addition to the traditional horse gaits of walking, trotting, and cantering/galloping. These additional gaits are often referred to as “ambling” gaits and are characterised by their smooth, evenly spaced footfalls. The presence of …
The classification of horses as hot, warm, and cold bloods can be confusing. As mammals all horses are warm-blooded – they don’t need to lie around in the sun to summon energy for the day, although some do like to! These classifications are based on their temperament, build, and historical …
Ponies are small equines that belong to the same family as horses. They are characterised by their diminutive stature, typically measuring less than 14.2 hands (58 inches or 147 centimetres) at the withers (the highest point on the back, located between the shoulder blades). However, the exact height cut-off to …
In a nut shell, two main pigments are responsible for horse coat colours are eumelanin (black) and pheomelanin (red/yellow). The chestnut or red coat occurs due to the absence of extension gene (‘e’) while black is produced by the presence of extension gene (‘E’). Black, gray, bay, and chestnut are …
Your horse is full of pressure points that he regularly uses to communicate with other horses. It’s incredibly beneficial for you to know what these points are and how to use them for more effective communication with your horse. Let’s first talk about volume. This is similar to how you …
Horses evolved to run. That’s why your horse has the legs of a runner. To survive, they needed to run fast, and this was the driving force of their evolution. Your modern horse walks on just one digit (toe), where her ancestors walked on as many as four toes. If …
Horses have been our trusted companions and sources of power for centuries, aiding in transportation, agriculture, and various other activities. But have you ever wondered just how much horsepower a horse possesses? Horsepower is a unit of power. And power describes how fast energy is exchanged; a use of energy …
The flehmen response is a behaviour in which your horse curls back her upper lip exposing its front teeth, inhales with the nostrils usually closed, and then tyically holds this position for several seconds. The nostrils of your horse flare to draw more scents into the long, cavernous nasal passages that are …
When you disturb your horse’s sense of smell, like overwhelming it with a very strong scent, her social interactions are radically altered. As prey animals, horses need to be able to detect even the slightest scent of danger on the wind to stay safe. Horses are also quick to note …
Horses have evolved teeth to eat rough, varied forage that wears down the teeth. However, many domestic horses today eat a diet which is low in abrasive minerals and materials and so their teeth don’t wear down as they would in the wild. Just because our horses are now living …
A mature horse can be worked very hard, but if the horse is never given the chance to fully develop before being put to work, how much of his full potential will he ever achieve? When buying, training and starting a young horse – or when looking at problems of …
