Basic Horse Care and Riding Skills

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Basic Horse Care and Riding Skills Can be Fun to Learn

This page helps you get familiar with some of the more common breeds of horses and helps to give you an idea about the basics of riding & horse care. It also gives you great resources on other breeds and care.

Believe it or not, I've only been riding since April of 2008, but I've grown up LOVING horses. My mother used to board horses in her backyard, of course most of them were hers! When I was younger, I found my mom's old riding things and since then, my interest in horses and riding kept growing and growing, but we never had the time to get me into riding lessons, so before I knew it, I was 18, with a love of horses, without even riding a horse (other than the occasional trail rides in Myrtle Beach!). Lucky for me, my mom was at a party and ran into a neighbor of ours and what do you know... THEY'VE GOT 6 HORSES, Homer, Cliff, Norman, Timing, Doc & Bailey (check out MY BARN!! for more info on the boys!!)!! Before I knew it, I was down at the barn every day!! I help them out with whatever they need (feeding, picking stalls, etc.) and they give me riding lessons! Sweet deal, right?

Horses can be an amazing thing to pick up on. They're strong, beautiful animals that are so versatile! But whether you've rode your whole life, or just months, it's important to know the ins and outs of horse behavior and care.

What Is Your Favorite Breed of Horse? 

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Horse Anatamy 

horseanatomy

Ever wonder what's what on a horse? Well here's a cheat sheet... A horse is made up of many different parts, much like a human.

We'll start at the top... The head and neck are made up of four main components:
  • The Forelock
  • The Poll
  • The Crest
  • The Withers
The forelock is simply the extension of the mane that hangs down between the ears. The poll is the point at the top of the skull right behind the ears. It is especially important in riding because it helps to make sure that the bridle, bit, and reins stay in the correct place.

The crest is the upper part of the neck where the mane grows. There are no nerve endings in the crest, making it possible to pull a horse's mane. The withers are the highest point of the back, right between the shoulder blades.

Still with me?? Great!! Let's move onto the back of the horse. It's made up of five main parts:
  • The Back
  • The Loin
  • The Croup
  • The Haunch
  • The Dock
The back is the main part of the top of the horse, where the saddle goes. The loin is the area directly behind the saddle, going from the last rib of the horse to the croup. The croup is the top of the hind quarters of the horse, beginning at the hip and extending until the dock of the tail. The dock is simply the point where the tail connects to the rear of the horse.

Now how about those legs? The legs are made up of six main components:

  • The Hock
  • The Cannon
  • The Fetlock
  • The Pastern
  • The Coronet
  • The Hoof

The Hock is the large joint in the hind leg, equivalent to the knee in the human. The Cannon bone is area between the hock and the fetlock joint. The fetlock is the smaller buldge above the hoof, equivalent to the ankle in the human. the Pastern is the connection between the coronet and the fetlock. The hoof is the hard, nail-like foot of the horse.

Grooming Your Horse 

So your horse is dirty, huh? Not a problem... After these simple grooming tips, your horse will look great!!

First, securely attach your horse to it's crossties. To start off, grab your curry comb!! Curry comb is used to get off dried on dirt, mud, or dust. In circular motions, firmly sweep the curry comb over your horses body and legs. After currying, use the body brush to shine up the coat and knock the remainder of the dust off your horse's coat. When using the body brush, do short quick strokes starting from the top of your horse, working your way down. Make sure to do under the belly, too! For a nice shine, take a warm, damp towel and wipe the body of your horse, including their face.

Now onto their hoofs. Lift up each foot and use the pick to get out the dirt and stones from inside the hoofs. Then, while the foot is on the ground, use the brush side of your hoof pick to get off any dirt or mud on the hoof. For healthy hoofs, you can also use any kind of hoof dressing (I recommend Fiebings Hoof Dressing). Hoof dressing should be applied twice a week, depending on the dryness of the area the horse lives in.

Now for the big finish, the mane and tail. Using your mane and tail brush, brush the mane. You can brush it starting at the withers and pulling your brush up towards the ears, or you can brush it going towards the ground. The mane should lay on the right side of the horse. Now onto the tail. Many people get nervous standing behind a horse. My advice, DON'T. There are many ways to brush a tail without standing behind them. For starters, you can stand to the side of the tail and pull it up to you, being sure to walk up to the horse and touch them lightly to let them know that your there so you don't startle them. Hold the tail to the side of the horse as you brush. Another way (for the adventurous type) is to sit on the rear of the horse and pull the tail up to you to brush it. If you use this method, be sure the horse is securely in the crossties and there is nothing around that might spook it, such as other loose horses or animals.

Grooming Supplies! 

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Tacking Up Your Horse 

One of the most basic skills to learn in horse care is learning how to properly tack up your horse. First and foremost, you want to make sure that your horse is secured in the crossties with it's halter. Then, you want to make sure it's clean. Using a body brush on the body and a damp rag should get the dirt off. Sometimes a good curry is needed. Also, lift up each foot and use a hoof pick to get out mud and stones so your horse comfortable while riding.

Now it's time to tack them up. First, put a saddle pad or blanket on the horse's back. The top of the pad or blanket should be just over the withers. Make sure that it's even on both sides of the horse. Next, gently place the saddle on top of the pad or blanket so that it's positioned on the hollow space right behind the withers. Make sure the pad or blanket is completely under the saddle so that the saddle isn't touching the horse, to prevent rubbing.

Once your saddle is in place, attach the leather side of the girth to the saddle on the right side of your horse. Then walk around the front of the horse to the left side, reach under the horse and bring the girth up to attach the stretchable side of the girth to the left side of the saddle. Be sure that your girth is nice and tight and be sure it's not twisted. To ensure that your horse's skin is not "pinched", left one of the front legs, grab the knee of the leg and pull towards the front of the horse, stretching the skin out from the girth. Repeat with the other front leg.

Now that the saddle's all set, let's move onto the bridle! First, unbuckle the nose band and throat latch of the bridle. Remove your horse's halter and place the reigns over the head of your horse and onto it's neck. Then stand to the left of your horse's head, facing the same direction. Hold the bit with your left hand and the headstall with your right. Slide the bridle over your horses head and slip the bit into it's mouth. If your horse is resisting to open it's mouth, you can use your fingers of your left hand, place them behind the horse's teeth and gently try to pry it open while pushing the bit into the mouth. Be careful not to bang the bit against your horse's teeth.

Once the bit is in place, slide the headstall over your horse's ears. Secure the brow band so that the headstall isn't pushing down on the horse's ears. Then buckle your throatlatch, leaving a least 3 fingers between the leather and your horse's next. Then buckle the nose strap, this can be tight to ensure control.

Got A Show Coming Up?? 

Here's some tips to getting you and your horse ready!!

So you've got a show coming up, but your nervous and everything is happening so fast, you don't know what to do?! Calm down!! Here's some tips on getting yourself and your horse ready for the big show!

The horse's coat needs to be clean and neat. It's best to bathe your horse the day before the show so that the coat is nice and shiny the day of. Using size 30 or 40 clippers on the little whiskers around the muzzle, and the eyes helps keep your horse looking smooth and put together.

The day of the show, rub your horse down with a wet rag and make sure there is no dirt or mud. You can also take down the tail and brush it out, before braiding if you wish. Another trick is putting a white powder (such as baby powder, or chalk powder) on white socks to make them really stand out.

Now what about you? The typical English rider outfit consists of black riding boots, tan or beige breaches, any color ratcather, gloves, a hunt coat, and a helmet! Give your boots a good scrub with saddle soap and warm water the night before so they are able to dry over night... On the morning of, shine them up with some black leather shoe polish! Make sure your breaches, hunt coat, and ratcatcher are clean and spot-free.

Now what to do at the show? When you get there, it's a good idea to walk your horse around and get him used to the scenery so that they don't get startled in the show ring. Schooling classes before your class are also a great idea! Now, before your class, get yourself ready and make sure everything is put together, then tack up your horse and have a good show!!!

Here's some Great Resources for getting ready for a show! 

Grooming To Win: How to Groom, Trim, Braid, and Prepare Your Horse for Show

Grooming To Win: How to Groom, Trim, Braid, and Prepare Your Horse for Show

by: Susan E. Harris

Amazon Price: $23.09 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Judging Hunters and Hunter Seat Equitation: A Comprehensive Guide for Exhibitors and Judges

Judging Hunters and Hunter Seat Equitation: A Comprehensive Guide for Exhibitors and Judges

by: Anna Jane White-Mullin

Amazon Price: $18.21 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

101 Horsemanship & Equitation Patterns: A Western & English Ringside Guide for Practice & Show

101 Horsemanship & Equitation Patterns: A Western & English Ringside Guide for Practice & Show

by: Cherry Hill

Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Riding Basics

So your learning to ride?? Don't be scared!! Believe me... I know how frustrating it can be learning... but if you keep working hard, and stay focused, riding can be so rewarding! And every time you master a new skill, it feels GREAT!!

Riding Exercises 

Riding requires strength from every part of your body. I found that there are good exercises to keep those muscles strong.

First, keeping your heels down below the stirrup irons can be very challenging. A good exercise to help with that is to stand on the balls of your feet on the edge of a step and let all your weight drop into your heel, stretching your Achilles tendon for about 5 seconds. Then go back to having your foot straight for about 5 seconds, then back to stretching down. This will help to stretch your Achilles and make the position more natural. It may be slightly uncomfortable at first, but the more you do it, the more natural it will feel.

Although you will gain most of your riding muscles actually riding, an exercise I found that helps with leg muscle is the wall sit. Position your back against the wall with your feet about 6-12 inches from it. Slide your back down the wall until you are in a sitting position. Hold this position in increments of 10 or 20 seconds, depending on how difficult it is for you.

Cardio work such as jogging and running is also good for riding. Core muscles such as back and abs are also main riding muscles as they help you to pull yourself into the saddle, making it easy to sit the trot and canter. Basic crunches help to strengthen those core muscles. Also yoga is a great way to tone and learn balance, as staying in the center of your horse is key to staying up!

Proper Posture 

Basic English riding posture is key to proper riding. First off, your stirrups should be the proper length. Mostly, you just want to feel comfortable and in control, but a good way to get the right length is to hold the buckle of the stirrup and bring the iron back to your body, the stirrup should be the length of your arm.

When sitting in the English saddle, you should sit on the pockets of your pants, keeping your back nice and tall. Your shoulders, hips, and heels should always be in alignment. The irons of the stirrups should be positioned on the balls of your feet for maximum control. Let your weight drop into your heel so that your heel is below the irons. Your knees should be bent at about a 45 degree angle and you should not be able to see your toes if you look down at your knees. Your elbows should be kept at the sides of your body and always bent. Keep your fingers closed around the reins to ensure control of your horse.

Now your ready to ride...

Walking 

Walking is the slowest gait of the horse. (see below for a full description) Because the walk is slow, it is the best gait to learn most of the basics at. If you haven't mastered most skills at the walk, getting your horse to do them at the trot or canter is nearly impossible.

For example, if your riding in a ring, sometimes, just keeping your horse on the outside is challenging. If you are going to the right, you use the right aids to keep your horse out of the center. By pulling slightly on the right rein and using your right leg to push the horse to the rail, you can keep your horse from crowding in towards the center of the ring.

Another thing to remember at the walk is that you have to move with your horse. If you just sit in the saddle like a sack of potatoes, the horse is going to think it's on a Sunday afternoon walk (as my teacher always says)! Even though you are at a walk, you want the horse to know that they are still working and you are in control. You want them to be ready when you ask for a trot or canter, instead of just throwing them into it. Follow the movement of the horse's back with your seat, this will also keep the horse at a good, working walk.

Trotting 

Trotting is the next gait after the walk. (see below for a full description) At the trot, you can either sit or post. Sitting takes more muscle and can be very uncomfortable for the inexperienced rider, especially for the horse!

To signal a horse to trot, you simply put your hands forward, giving a little with the reins, and squeeze with the calves and thigh. Some horses (like big Clifford) take more than just a small squeeze to get them going, which is where the spur comes into play. By gently squeezing with the leg, and pressing your heel and spur into the horses side, it signals the horse that you want the trot.

When you sit to a trot, you need to pull yourself in, keeping your leg very long. This is where your core muscles come into play. Tightening your abs and back help to pull yourself in. Also, as with the walk, you have to move your seat to the motion of the horse's back. Just sitting there causes you to bang against the horses back, which some horses will not tolerate. It helps to grab a little mane.

Posting to a trot gives you and the horse a little relief. When you post, you rise up and forward in the saddle with ever stride. When you post, you have to be on the correct diagonal. For example, you always rise as the front, inside leg goes forward. So if you are going to the right, you will rise to the right leg, if you are going to the left, you will rise to the left leg. When you go back down into the saddle on the opposite leg, it is only for a split second, then you go right back up. If you are on the incorrect diagonal, all you have to do is sit for two strides instead of the one, and pop back up on the third stride.

Cantering 

The canter is one of the fastest gaits for an English horse. (see below for a full description) Sitting the canter is generally easier to sit to than the trot. Although it is very easy to pop out of the saddle during the canter, which is where the core muscles come in handy. As with the sitting trot, tightening your abs, back, and legs help to pull yourself into the saddle during the canter.

To signal a horse to canter takes leg muscle. You can go straight into a canter from a walk, or start with a trot.The left and right lead of the canter help the horse make its way around turns. If you are going to the right, the horse should be on the right lead. To signal a right lead, you use your left aids. Keeping close contact with your right leg, squeeze tightly with the left leg, signaling the horse that you want a right lead canter, and vice-versa with the left lead.

English Riding Gear!! 

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Thoroughbreds 

Tall, athletic, and very smart

Most people dislike the Thoroughbred because they have a mind of their own... but that's precisely the reason why they're my favorite breed!! Thoroughbreds are tall, athletic, and very smart. Most known for their time on the racetracks, they're very fast. Thoroughbreds have well-chiseled heads on a long neck, high withers, a lean, muscular body, and long legs. Although the Thoroughbred is mostly used for racing, they can also be used for many other disciplines, such as show jumping, dressage, polo, and fox hunting. Most all Thoroughbreds start out as race horses, and when retired, they are trained for the other disciplines.

Because of the high speeds these horses are pushed to, accidents and injuries are more likely to occur. A large number of Thoroughbreds suffer orthopedic problems, including fractures.

Thoroughbred Resources 

Training Thoroughbred Horses

Training Thoroughbred Horses

by: Preston M. Burch, Alex Bower

Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Beyond the Track: Retraining the Thoroughbred from Racecourse to Riding Horse

Beyond the Track: Retraining the Thoroughbred from Racecourse to Riding Horse

by: Anna Ford, Amber Heintzberger

Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Quarter Horses 

Strong and Versatile

Quarter Horses are possibly the most popular breed of horses, because of their versatility. Measuring anywhere from 14 to 17 hands, they come in all shapes and sizes. The modern Quarter Horse has a short, refined head with a strong, muscular body. There are two main body types of Quarter Horses, the stock type, and the hunter or racing type.

The stock type is used for reining and cutting because of the smaller size with quick, agile movements and very powerful hindquarters.

The hunter or racing type are taller and smoother-muscled, closely resembling the Thoroughbred. Racing Quarter Horses are trained to sprint short distances so they're legs are very long with leaner bodies while the Hunter Quarter Horses are slimmer.

Quarter Horse Resources 

The American Quarter Horse: An Introduction to Selection, Care, and Enjoyment

The American Quarter Horse: An Introduction to Selection, Care, and Enjoyment

by: Steven D. Price

Amazon Price: $17.95 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

The American Quarter Horse (Edge Books: Horses)

The American Quarter Horse (Edge Books: Horses)

by: Amanda Parise-Peterson

Amazon Price: $22.60 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Morgans 

The Morgan is one of the earliest horse breeds known to man. It is compact and refined, with large eyes, well-defined withers, and arched neck. Morgans are widely versatile. They've been used in driving, jumping, endurance riding, or farm-working. Because the Morgan is more substantially built than other breeds, they can carry heavier loads and riders with longer legs. Registered Morgans most commonly come in bay black and chestnut. Less common colors include gray, palomino, roan, cremello, perlino, dun, buckskin, and silver dapple.

The morgan horse gets it's name from a stallion named Figure, owned by a man named Justin Morgan. Giving the horse the other name, "The Justin Morgan Horse". Justin Morgan was a horse breeder and composer. Figure became a breeding stallion and his descendants make up the first American breed of horse to survive to today.

Morgan Resources 

The Morgan Horse (Allen Breed Series)

The Morgan Horse (Allen Breed Series)

by: Sally Spencer

Amazon Price: $20.90 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Arabians 

Arabian horses have refined, wedge-shaped heads, a broad forehead, large eyes, large nostrils, and small muzzles. Even small Arabian horses can carry heavy riders. Arabians stand between 14 and 15 hands tall and can be bay, gray, chestnut, black and roan.

Arabians are very versatile. They can be used in horse racing, cutting, reining, show jumping, dressage, and much, much more. Arabians dominate in the field of endurance racing because of their stamina.

Arabian Resources 

Arabians

Arabians

by: Peter Upton, Rik van Lent Jr.

Amazon Price: $25.55 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

The Arabian English Pleasure Horse: A Guide to Selecting, Training and Showing

The Arabian English Pleasure Horse: A Guide to Selecting, Training and Showing

by: Kathleen Obenland

Amazon Price: (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Draft Horses 

Curious about what kind of horse the Budweiser mascot is?? Well look no further, it's a DRAFT!!! Known for they're size and strength, the draft horse is most used for transporting large loads. They tend to have a more upright shoulder, short backs, and very powerful hindquarters, making them best suited for pulling. Draft Horse range from 14 to 19 hands and 1,400 to 2,000 pounds.

Although the size is so large, the Draft Horse's metabolism is similar to that of a pony in that they have lower need per body weight. A grain feeding of only .3% of their body weight is sufficient.

Draft Horse Resources 

Draft Horses: An Owner's Manual

Draft Horses: An Owner's Manual

by: Beth A. Valentine, Michael J. Wildenstein

Amazon Price: $32.00 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

The Book of Draft Horses: The Gentle Giants that Built the World

The Book of Draft Horses: The Gentle Giants that Built the World

by: Donna Campbell Smith

Amazon Price: $17.21 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Draft Horses Today

Draft Horses Today

by: Robert Mischka

Amazon Price: $32.95 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Ponies 

Ponies are any horse measuring under 14.2 hands, although there are some exceptions. Breeds that are considered HORSES regardless of their height are the Quarter horse, Morgans, and Arabians. Ponies are very round, with a well-built muscular body, short legs, and heavy mane and tail. The body is barrel-like with a long back and well rounded ribs. There are many different breeds of ponies. The Shetland Pony and the Highland Pony are a couple.

Ponies can be used in many different equestrian fields. They have been entered into Dressage classes, equitation classes, flat classes, even jumper classes!

Pony Resources 

The United States Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship: Basics for Beginners/D Level (Howell reference books)

The United States Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship: Basics for Beginners/D Level (Howell reference books)

by: Susan E. Harris

Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 01/08/2010) Buy Now

Basic Gaits of a Horse 

The four basic gaits of a horse are:

  • The Walk
  • The Trot 
  • The Canter
  • The Gallop
Below are explanations of each of these gaits.


The Walk 

The walk is a four-beat gait that averages about 4 mph. When a horse is walking, it's legs follow this sequence: left hind leg, left front leg, right hind leg, right front leg. At the walk, the horse will always have one foot raise, and the other 3 on the ground. The bobbing of the head at the walk helps the horse with it's balance. The rear foot should over step the front foot at that walk. The more it oversteps, the smoother the walk is. It's important to start at a walk to ensure control of your horse. It's also important to have your horse put together at the walk so that when you start a trot or canter, both you and the horse feel secure.

The Trot 

The trot is a two-beat gait and has a very wide variation in possible speeds. A very slow trot is sometimes referred to as a jog. The trot can also get up to very high speeds and sometimes can exceed the speed of even a canter. In the trot, the horse moves it's legs in unison with the opposite diagonal leg. It is a very stable gait, which doesn't need the bobbing of the head for stability. Sitting to a trot can be difficult because the body of the horse actually drops a bit between beats and bounces up again. Depending on the horse and speed, sitting a trot can be a difficult thing to learn. You must adapt the proper back, leg and stomach muscles.

In the English riding category, riders post to the trot, rising up and down with the rhythm of the horse. Posting keeps the rider from jolting out of the seat. It is also easier on the horses back instead of constantly banging up and down if the sit has not been perfected.

The Canter 

The canter is a three-beat gait that is usually a bit faster than the average trot but slower than the gallop. The canter follows this sequence: one of the rear legs, then the opposite front leg, then the other two diagonals in unison.

The canter has a right and a left lead. On the left lead, the gait starts with the rear right leg, then the front left, then the front right and left rear in unison. On the right lead, the gait starts with the rear left leg, then the front right, then the front left and right rear in unison. When the horse is going in an arena to the right, it is put into it's right lead. When the horse is going to the left in an arena, it is put into it's left lead. This helps them around the turns. If the horse is on the wrong lead, the turn will be very difficult. If the horse picks up the wrong lead, the rider can ask for a "flying lead change" signaling the horse to change it's lead while in the air. A "flying lead change" is also a dressage move.

The Gallop 

The gallop is much like a canter, only faster and the three-beat changes to a four-beat gait. The gallop is the gait of the race horse. Most horses can only go about a mile or two in a gallop before they have to slow down and rest. Like a canter, the horse will start with it's rear, outside foot. Then, the inside rear foot hits the ground a split second before the outside front foot, followed by the front inside foot, making it only slightly different from the three-beat gait.

Horse Supplements 

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YOUR Supplements!! 

So now you've seen the supplements a horse needs to stay healthy. What about you?! Ever wonder why you don't feel quite up to speed sometimes? Or maybe some days you just feel sluggish and tired? Or sore and sick? Have you ever been standing in the vitamin aisle at the drug store and just couldn't figure out what YOUR supposed to be taking? Wouldn't it be great if they would make a vitamin that's specified to what YOUR body needs. Well hey, they do!!! It's called Genewize Life Sciences.

Genewize uses your specific DNA to make a vitamin directly containing what your body needs. I've been on my vitamins for almost 2 months now and I feel great!! Because the vitamins are specifically made with what my body needs, I get everything needed to keep me healthy. But don't take my word for it... See it for yourself!!!

Genewize Life Sciences

My Barn!!! 

So the barn I ride at has 6 horses: Doc, Timing, Homer, Norman, Bailey, and Cliff. I started there in April of 2008 and haven't been able to keep away. I thought I'd tell you a little bit about the horses there. All six of them are geldings (a male who has been fixed). Five of them are Thoroughbreds with one Quarterhorse/Draft mix (Big Clifford).

First there's Doc, the old man. He's very dark brown, almost black with lots of dapples. He's somewhere between 25 and 30 years old. I know what your thinking... how do you not know how old he is? Well... Doc has the horrible habit of CRIBBING (locking his teeth on the side of a stall and sucking in air) which has almost completely worn away his top teeth, and coincidentally, that's how you tell the age of a horse. Doc's retired and hasn't been ridden in about 5 years but he's got a great personality and used to be one heck of a jumper!!

Next is Timing. Timing is a little darker than Doc with a big star! Doc and Timing came from the same owner who now lives in California. Timing is 22 years old and is also retired, but we recently started doing light exercises with him. Whole lot of horse beneath the rider!!

Now onto Homer, my personal favorite. Homer is a 19 year old bay with the personality of a 6 year old! Homer is the horse that I learned to ride on mostly. He's very quiet, low spook-level. His owner even uses him to cut limbs of trees on because when they fall, he doesn't budge... how about that?!

Onto Norman... Norman is also 19 years old and the only white horse in the barn!! Norman has a different kind of personality, much like the typical Thoroughbred, stubborn and independent!! I also learned to ride on Norman. He also HATES to be groomed, so whoever gets that task sure has to get to know him first!! (Check out the lens photo for a sneak peak of Normy!!!)

Now Bailey, AKA B!! Bailey is a 16 year old bay. Bailey is just like Norman, very independent. You very rarely see B with his ears UP, always pinned back, but he never seems to be in a bad mood, very deceiving!!

And last but certainly not least, Big Cliff!! Cliff is a 6 year old Draft/Quarter Horse mix. Big boy with a BIG attitude. Cliff is also one of my favorites at the ranch. Although he is a kicker, so you have to be careful, Cliff and I have been through our ups and downs. Considering Cliff was the first and ONLY horse I've ever fallen off of. Because Homer wasn't ridable for a short while, Cliff was the only horse I rode for about 2 1/2 months and let me tell you, if you want to learn to ride, Cliff is the one to learn on!! Very tough skinned, and VERY frustrating at times, but I'll tell you something, Cliff gave me most of the muscle that I need to ride any other horse!!

So there you have it... All six of my boys...

The Other Barn!!! 

Recently I started taking care of another barn... This barn is right next door to the ranch with the 6 boys... The owner goes out of town a lot, so I help her out by feeding and doing all the work in her barn while she's gone... This barn has 4 horses, Zooker, Muffy, Paco, and Slick.

Zooker is a Morgan in his 30's. He's all black with a white sock on his back leg. Zooker is a lot like Bailey, very rarely having his ears up!! His owner says he's got a bit of an attitude problem but he's "all talk". Zooker is very gentle and kind.

Muffy is a Morgan in her 20's. She's a deep roan color and just like Zooker, ears always pinned. It's very deceiving though because both of them are very kind. Both Zooker and Muffy are no longer ridden but they're great horses.

Paco is a 7 year old Morgan. He's a very dark brown, almost black. Paco rarely has his ears pinned but he's an occasional biter so you have to watch your back around him!!! He's also a great trail horse.

And last but not least, there's Slick. Slick is a 5 year old bay colored Shetland Pony. His name isn't Slick just because it sounds cute. He's a devious little guy. He pulled an entire bail of straw into his stall when my back was turned!!! He's very smart, and a big trouble-maker, but very, very sweet!

Help Protect the Animals! 

By donating to the ASPCA, even just a small amount, you're helping to save that new litter of kittens that was abandoned, or the horses that don't get the care necessary. Please help this cause. Go to http://www.aspca.org and do your part to save these animals.

The Society was formed to alleviate the injustices animals faced then, and we continue to battle cruelty today. Whether it's saving a pet who has been accidentally poisoned, fighting to pass humane laws, rescuing animals from abuse or sharing resources wi

We at Squidoo passionately believe in creating new ways to support good causes online. By making a donation to ASPCA from this page, you are sending money directly to that organization, in whatever amount you want. We don't touch it. We don't even see it. The author of this page doesn't either. And if you made it this far, thanks for caring.

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PAPL 

PAPL (Portage Animal Protective League) has agreed to partner Mia Bella Candles in conducting an online candle fundraiser. It will begin November 7th and end on December 13th with all profits going to PAPL.

Maybe you'd like to start your holiday shopping a little early or buy something for yourself, knowing your purchase is going to help a great cause - our four-legged friends.

Perhaps there's a family member or friend that you just don't know what to buy them (for a birthday, anniversary, housewarming, thank you gift, teacher gift, etc.). Why not purchase a 16 oz. gourmet scented candle, soap, foaming hand wash or any of our other great products; there's sure to be something they will be thrilled to receive.

Go to our online storefront here and you will see a list of products on the left hand side, just click on your desired option(s) and go shopping! Once you have made your selection(s) and checkout, you will be asked for a fundraising code, which is PAPL, so the animal rescue gets the credit.

Portage Animal Protective League and I thank you for your help in raising much needed funds for the animals !!

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by italia2008

Hey everyone!! My name's Ashley DiLauro. I'm from Cleveland, Ohio and I just graduated from high school this year and decided to take some time off be... (more)

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