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Horse Breeds From Italy

Italy FlagIt’s Friday again and a great day for visiting an exotic location and learning about the fabulous horse breeds it’s given rise to. Looking at each breed in the context of their origins is an interesting ride, today a peek at the breeds from Italy.

Bred For War

It makes sense that many of today’s breeds came originally out of a need for sturdy war mounts and hardy mountain-type agricultural animals. Some of their breeds (like the Avelignese Horse & Bardigiano) are cousins to the well-loved Haflinger. All three of these breeds share common ancestors and come from the horses of invading Belgian Gauls.
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How To Fall Off

Click to see VideoAlthough it may seem counterproductive, learning to fall is more important than learning to ride. Anyone who wants to ride a horse has to understand one thing perfectly clearly, you will fall off.

If You Haven’t Fallen…

We’ve all heard the saying if you haven’t fallen off you aren’t a real rider and it is actually very true. The more hours you log in the saddle the greater your chances of hitting the ground at some point. That’s why preparing yourself by knowing how to fall can be invaluable.
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Horsemanship for Women Line Drawings to Color

Horsemanship for WomenIt’s the middle of the week and time for another section of the Horsemanship for Women series. If you haven’t already be sure to check out parts one and two.

Riding Sidesaddle

These drawings come from a book titled Horsemanship for Women, published in 1887 by Theodore Hoe Mead & illustrated by Gray Parker. I’m not sure how indicative of the era these drawings are, but they are certainly a change from the riding I grew up with. These are fun because they are all sidesaddle examples. I guess if you wanted to learn how to ride sidesaddle from drawings in the 1880’s, you picked up a copy of Horsemanship for Women.
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Horse Breeds From Ireland

Ireland FlagIt’s the end of the week and time to visit another beautiful location and learn about the hardy horse breeds it’s given rise to. Looking at each breed in the context of their origins is an interesting ride, today a peek at the breeds from Ireland.

Made Ireland Tough

Most of the breeds from Ireland are smaller and tougher than your average horse. In large part due to the climactic conditions and physical geography of the country itself. Perhaps my favorite being the Kerry Bog Pony, tinier than the Shetland and once used to transport peat moss from bogs.
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How to Photograph A Horse From Under A Jump

Click to see VideoToday’s video is a quick how to that can help turn your amateur photographer skills and average camera into a pro. Learn how to photograph a horse from under a jump (ahem, without getting kicked).

Not An Easy Subject

Suffice it to say, horses are beautiful animals but difficult photography subjects. Either moving too much so they come out shaky or just not looking quite as gorgeous as they are in real life. Jumping is a particularly difficult movement to capture so every little tip helps. A little creativity can help turn mediocre photography skills into pro-league images.
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Horsemanship for Women Coloring Pages

Horsemanship for WomenLast week I posted part one of this interesting line drawing series and today I’ve got more to share (and this is hardly all of it, there is more to come).

Skirts & Horses

These drawings were published in 1887 in a book called Horsemanship for Women by Theodore Hoe Mead & illustrated by Gray Parker. Clearly over a century later, horse women have changed. We no longer wear skirts when we ride and while some of us still enjoy the art of sidesaddle, most of us prefer to put a leg on either side, because it just makes sense.
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Strange Fits of Passion Have I Known

Woman on a horse at night

Today’s bit of horse in poetry was composed by William Wordsworth in 1798. While it isn’t about horses, they do play a part in the tale he weaves.

Strange Fits of Passion Have I Known

Strange fits of passion have I known:
And I will dare to tell,
But in the lover’s ear alone,
What once to me befell.

When she I loved looked every day
Fresh as a rose in June,
I to her cottage bent my way,
Beneath an evening-moon.

Upon the moon I fixed my eye,
All over the wide lea;
With quickening pace my horse drew nigh
Those paths so dear to me.
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Horse Breeds From Iran

Iran FlagIt’s the end of the week and time to visit another exotic location and learn about the fabulous horse breeds it’s given rise to. Looking at each breed in the context of their origins is an interesting ride, today a peek at the breeds from Iran.

Family Business

Perhaps one of the purest ancient Iranian breeds is the stunning Asil, an incredibly pure strain of Arabian. The bloodlines of these animals are kept within tribes and families and their breeding was thought to bring spiritual and material gain. As with many ancient breeds, their origins are unclear, however rock carvings of horses have been found in the area that date back 5,000 years.
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