Video: The Incredible Loyalty of Arabian Horses

Video: The Incredible Loyalty of Arabian Horses
Photo – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-CkWKonST0

Originating from the middle East, Arabian horses are considered one of the most famous and easily recognizable equine breeds. The bloodlines of this ancient breed are said to be present in other modern breeds as manifested by their improved refinement, elegance, power, agility, speed and endurance.

This breed also come in black, chestnut, gray and roan coats – with black being less common. ^[1] In addition to possessing well-refined “wedge-shaped” heads that are easily recognizable, Arabian horses are also recognized for their elegantly arched necks, as well as fine and silky manes.

Arabian horses are known not only for their admirable beauty, elegance and endurance, but for their willingness and loyalty which are yet to be paralleled by other breeds.

One study suggested that horses can be one of human’s loyal and long-term buddies, provided that their owners treat them properly. In fact, even after long periods of separation, horses can recognize people who had been good to them before. ^[2]

The study involved a female experimenter which has been separated from three saddlebred and 20 Anglo-Arabian horses for eight months. In one of the tests, whenever the experimenter gave out the verbal command “Reste” (which means “stay” in English), the horses would remain immobile.

After eight months of being separated, researchers have noticed that the horses elicit the same behaviors towards the experimenter. They even suggested that with continuous positive reinforcement, horses have become cordial even to new faces. And when re-introduced to people who have shown them goodness, they show the same desirable behaviors.

Futhermore, the researchers have claimed that the reaction of horses towards positive reinforcement in correcting behaviors does not significantly deviate from that of humans: When training is conducted with positive reinforcement, horses tend to learn better. Also, learning as well as memorization takes place easily with the help of positive reinforcement, whereas horses that are not trained with positive reinforcement tend to show a number of negative behaviors which may include falling down, kicking, and biting towards humans. ^[3]

Arabian horses are said to be intelligent and easily trained. And with ample training that is accompanied by positive reinforcement, there could be high chances that you’ll be able to bring out the loyal characteristics of your Arabian horses.

Okay, here is the awesome video:

References:
[1] http://agarabianhorse.com/articles/65-arabian-horse-history.html
[2] http://news.discovery.com/animals/zoo-animals/horse-friends-memory-trainers.htm
[3] http://news.oneindia.in/2010/03/18/loyalhorses-remember-kind-hearted-human-buddies.html

How To Check A Horse’s Health

How To Check A Horses Health – Image To Repin / Share
Image – © Monkey Business – Fotolia.com

We found a great tutorial on checking a horse’s health. Link follows after our introduction to the topic… Checking the horse’s health on a regular basis is considered to be one of the vital responsibilities of an owner. The health of horses play a crucial part in their performance in competitions, as well as in the amount of pleasure they can give to their owners. Performing a regular physical examination is beneficial in detecting any signs of illness or injury in horses which can hamper their ability to perform their daily functions later on.

Early detection of illnesses, especially serious ones, brings a number of benefits not just to the owners but to the horse as well. There are conditions which, when not treated immediately, can result in fatal damage to the health of the horse – and even put other horses at risk: In extreme cases, there’s no other way of preventing the spread of disease to other equines but to kill the infected ones. Imagine the financial loss you would incur if a number of horses in the stable are already infected with a contagious disease. Also, early identification of diseases enable owners to separate the infected ones, thereby preventing the spread of transmissible health conditions.

When conducting regular physical examinations, some of the areas which need to be focused on include the eyes, the ears, and the nose. The horse’s mucous membrane must also be checked. To make sure that it’s healthy, it should be moist, slippery, shiny and pink. Otherwise, it could be a sign that the equine could be suffering from an illness.

The horse’s respiratory, heart and pulse rates as well as the temperature should also be thoroughly checked. However, it should be noted that the breathing as well as the heart rates may vary significantly depending on the fitness and health of the horse. ^[1] These records could be of great help to veterinarians in determining the actual condition of the horse.

Also, check for other signs of malaise or injury which may include swelling, seizures, change in appetite, unusual behaviors such as shivering, staggering, aggression, limping, and persistent cough. ^[2] When you suspect that there is something wrong with your horse, immediately call the attention of a veterinarian.

Ok, here is the link to the full page on how to check a horse’s health: < a href="http://www.equineguelph.ca/pdf/facts/Horse_Health_Check_description.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.equineguelph.ca/pdf/facts/Horse_Health_Check_description.pdf

References:
[1] https://www.bluecross.org.uk/2146-2826/routine-healthcare-for-horses.html
[2] http://horses.about.com/od/basiccare/a/healthcheck.htm

Tutorial: Avoiding Equine Dental Problems

Tutorial: Avoiding Equine Dental Problems – Image To Repin / Share
Image – © chelle129 – Fotolia.com

For grazing animals like donkeys and horses, a good dentition is a must for survival. By age of five, a horse possesses around 36 to 44 teeth that come in different shapes, which are used for a variety of purpose. Like humans, horses have incisors, molars, and pre-molars. Some of them also have wolf teeth and canine teeth.

A horse has twelve incisors at the front of its mouth which are used for cutting grass while grazing. Sometimes, they are also used to defend against predators. Meanwhile, the molars are used to chew foods that are cut by incisors.

After birth, the first set of teeth erupts, and these are referred to as deciduous, milk, baby or temporary teeth. At age five, the second set of teeth which are considered permanent will begin to appear. ^[1]

Just like in humans, horses can suffer from a number of dental problems, most especially when owners failed to have them examined by professional veterinarians. Some of the most common signs that your horse is suffering from dental problems include drooling, spilling grain, quidding, cudding, and poor health conditions. ^[2] In many cases, equine dental problems are caused by continuous chewing over a long period of time. Oftentimes, these problems can result in behavioral issues and poor performance.

Other problems associated with equine dentition include loose, cracked, abscessed or infected teeth. The build-up of plaque, as well as the retention of deciduous teeth, is also experienced by some horses.

One of the most common dental problems experienced by horses is sharp edges. As the new set of teeth continues to erupt, sharp edges begin to develop which could trigger ulcers, lacerations, and soreness to the tongue, as well as in the side of the mouth. This makes chewing very painful to the horse, which may trigger them to spit out the hay.

The shedding of deciduous teeth can also cause problems to a horse because it can be painful. It can also lead horses to manifest bad habits like tossing their heads due to pain.

Decaying teeth also impose difficulties and pain to horses. When the teeth or rotted, or infected due to abnormal wear over a period of time, it can trigger the onset of other health problems in addition to poor performance owing to pain. Furthermore, when the upper cheek teeth decay, it can stimulate the occurrence of sinusitis. ^[3]

Want to learn more tips on how to avoid equine dental problems? Visit this website http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-exclusives/avoiding-dental-problems.aspx to discover valuable information on this topic.

References:
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_teeth
[2] http://horses.about.com/od/horsehealth/qt/dental-care-for-horses.htm
[3] http://www.baedt.com/problems_5386.html