Many will agree that the Arabian horse has to be among the most majestic and beautiful of all breeds. In fact, the blood of the ancient animals has been used to refine and enhance other breeds all over the planet.
A favorite of horse lovers worldwide, the Arabian family tree is large and has branches throughout Asia, the Middle East & Africa. Their origins are a mystery, however their spirit, beauty and hardiness has been prized for hundreds and hundreds of years.
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Last week we took a look at simple seat building exercises so in the vein of equine fitness this week we take a look at more helpful exercises for riders…namely the dreaded squats.
Although painful, squats are great exercises for riders (and who knew there were so many different varieties). The video below shows several different types of squats, specifically chosen to strengthen the muscles of riders. Like the seat exercises, these are not just great for riding, but great for working problem areas for many women…the lower body & upper legs.
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When it comes to riding, having a strong seat is vital. Anyone that rides will tell you that riding a horse uses muscles that you don’t use for anything else. Regardless of your discipline, sitting astride an unpredictable animal is hard on the body & strong muscles will help to keep you balanced should when the unexpected happens.
The video below is short and offers easy exercises that you can do while mounted (at a standstill or a walk) and they all emphasize keeping your seat deep and developing essential riding muscles. They are simple exercises and while they may look a little silly, they are meant to develop muscle in the lower body, thighs and bottom.
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When it comes to caring for horses it seems like there are a million things to learn & every day you realize there is something else you didn’t know. Applying a stable bandage (also called standing wraps) is something most people just figure out, but thanks to the Internet there are now resources for beginners to work from.
The video below provides some examples of stable bandage use and a detailed step-by-step instruction process for wrapping your horse up nice and neat. From which way to roll up the wraps pre-application to wrapping the leg to the removal process.
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Regardless of your riding discipline, chances are you use a leather saddle & leather equipment. Proper care of your leather will make it last longer and keep everything in good working order.
On a horse, every strap counts so keeping them in good shape is more than just important, it’s essential. Routine cleaning & oiling provides you an opportunity to give your tack a thorough inspection for safety issues. This video provides some quick basics for the care of your saddle, the single most important piece of any riders equipment (although the tips can be used to care for all leather items).
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An important part of enjoying you time on a horses back is choosing & wearing suitable riding clothes. The proper outfitting ensures your comfort and allows you maximum safety and flexibility.
Learning about the riding essentials allows you to gauge your riding style and determine which elements you need. This video offers tips to help you size your head for helmets and measure your legs for fitting boots. Important elements that many new owners don’t consider before heading to outfit themselves.
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Over the past few weeks I’ve been posting how to draw videos that cover a wide variety of horse-like creatures, arguably horses but still animals who we will never be able to sketch from a photograph. Now you can draw Unicorns, Pegasus and Centaurs, oh my!
Horses are tough subjects to start with, so adding elements to them can only make you a better horse artist, right? Thanks to the artists below for their helpful videos, Centaur is a challenging subject and I need all the help I can get…and maybe a magic pencil too.
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Last week we took a youtube look at drawing Pegasus and I was shocked to see that I hadn’t posted anything about drawing unicorns. Considering their popularity in the horse world, I went searching for some how to draw unicorn videos.
Perhaps an easier subject than Pegasus, the unicorn also seems to pull at the heartstrings of people of all shapes & sizes, even the boys. The videos below feature two different artists who offer help drawing the lovely unicorn (this will help you brush up on your horse drawing skills too). I’m on a roll with these artistic videos & will continue to post more drawing tips when I find them.
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It’s no secret that drawing horses is no easy task, all those curves, all those shadows and all of those shapes that just don’t seem to fit together on the page (of course not, it doesn’t frustrate me at all). 😉
This post aims to make things even more difficult by throwing feathers into the mix. That’s right, everyone loves Pegasus the winged horse but, drawing him is another story altogether. Luckily there are artists who can draw Pegasus and here are a couple of tutorials to help you do the same.
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If you don’t ride dressage, chances are you have questions about it, all of those fancy moves & lead changes with every stride? The video below offers a quick look at what dressage is & provides a little bit of information about the discipline.
This video is a short clip, but it may surprise you how beneficial much of the dressage work can be. Helpful in increasing both flexibility & athleticism of your animal, as well as enhancing the relationship between you and your mount. If you find dressage interesting you may want to check out some of the discipline terminology, A – E, F – O & P – W (yes there really is that much of it, so start studying them now!).
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Basic hoof care can be the difference between a sound horse and a perpetually lame one. Regardless of your skill level, keeping your horses feet clean and well-trimmed is an essential duty that should be taken seriously.
First things first, a good farrier (and a good trim every 6 weeks or so) is paramount when it comes to hoof health, whether you opt for shoes or not. The video below offers you tips for keeping your horse’s feet in good shape between trims.
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This is a quick clip but it covers some important information & a great jumping off point, a place to gather information for further research.
All horse owners should have basic knowledge of the diseases that can be fatal to their animals. Don’t let it scare you, the more you know the better armed you are to deal with any number of problems & intimate knowledge of your horse is essential.
Familiarity with your animals regular behavior & habits help you notice out of place symptoms & off behavior.