ASKHQ: COW HOCKS

Q: My instructor says that my horse has cow hocks. Should I be concerned? Will this affect his sale-ability in the future? Asked anonymously [A] Cow hocks are deviations of the hock when the hocks are viewed from behind. In the case of cow hocks, the hocks are set closer together than the fetlocks. If extreme, this…

BylizzieFebruary 9, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Breed Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training Know How

ASKHQ: CONFORMATION

Q: Which conformational factors are considered important to look for in a riding horse? A: When looking at the conformation of the horse to assess his rideability, the following factors should be considered: The back and ribs A relatively short back is generally strongest for taking weight, as it has shorter, stronger coupling than a longer back. A…

BylizzieDecember 11, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Breed Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training Know How

ASKHQ: UPHILL OR DOWNHILL

Q: Is my horse built ‘uphill’ or ‘downhill’? A: Body balance is partly determined by the relative height of the croup and withers of the horse, but also by the positioning of the spine in terms of how high or how low the base of the neck is, and where the neck vertebrae join the thoracic…

BylizzieDecember 10, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training Know How

ASKHQ: PASTERN BONE

Q: When is a pastern considered too short? Q: The pastern is the area between the fetlock joint and the top of the hoof, and consists of two bones: the long pastern bone, or first phalanx, under the fetlock joint, and the short pastern bone, or second phalanx, which joins with the coffin bone, the third…

BylizzieDecember 10, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Breed Horse Channel Horse Health Know How

ASKHQ: LARGE FEET

Q: Why are large feet preferred in horses? A: It is not simply that large feet are preferred, but rather that the feet need to be in proportion to the body of the horse. If feet are too small for a horse’s build, they are less likely to hold up under strenuous work. The bigger the…

BylizzieDecember 9, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Know How

ASKHQ: BARREL-CHESTED

Q: People say my horse is barrel-chested. What does this mean? Is it a positive or a negative? A: There are two types of chest conformation that are considered efficient. These are the round, barrel chest and the wide, deep chest. Horse-people generally tend to prefer the wide, deep chest, as a barrel-chested horse can appear to…

BylizzieDecember 6, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

ASKHQ: SPLINTS

Q: What causes splints in horses? A: Splints are inflammation or injury of the splint bones in the lower leg and/or the adjacent bones (such as the canon bone) and/or the associated ligaments. Splints are most commonly seen in young horses training at very high intensity levels, such as Thoroughbreds. Splints also occur from working on…

BylizzieOctober 21, 20190Comments

Horse Channel Horse Training

THE IDEAL CARRIAGE HORSE

Conformation The ideal carriage horse should be up in front and have a good length of rein. He should have strong hindquarters, and a powerful second thigh. He should move with his hocks well underneath him. Temperament He should be people-orientated, and not be suspicious when led in hand or handled. He should not…

BylizzieFebruary 13, 20190Comments

Horse Channel Know How

What to look for when buying a youngster

A young horse is a rewarding investment if you're willing to put the time in [dropcap]W[/dropcap]hen you buy a young horse, you buy potential. The only thing a young horse can offer is his conformation, temperament and bloodline. Some young horses will be further along in their schooling and may even have gone to their first…

BylizzieMay 4, 20170Comments

Horse Channel Know How

10 signs he’s not the right horse for you

Do you find yourself stuck in a rut? Maybe he's not the right horse for you [dropcap]I[/dropcap]t’s always a dull moment in riding when you leave the arena, be it after a lesson or show, feeling like you’ve given it your all but your horse just didn’t give you back his best effort. Now we’re not…

BylizzieOctober 17, 20160Comments

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