It is something very special to buy a horse when it is still young or even a foal. Untrained and completely inexperienced, young horses need a lot of attention and knowledge, but ultimately it makes us riders very proud to work together with our beloved animals to become a great rider-horse team. However, any horse owner who plans to break in the horse themselves should first ask themselves critically whether they have the necessary riding skills and whether they have the time available. In any case, you should work hand in hand with a trainer to find solutions to even minor problems together. After all, it's about laying the foundation, which is essential for the horse's further training. Another option is to give the unbroken horse to a professional who has the necessary routine and experience in breaking in young horses. Often, just a few months are enough, and you can then bring the horse back and continue training it together with a trainer.
If our horse was born in a loving hobby breeding program, the chances are greater that it has already had frequent contact with humans than if it was born on a farm with hundreds of horses. It is also important to know how carefully the foal was handled. This is because a horse's first impressions and contacts with humans shape its personality.
It is nice if a foal is already learning to wear a halter. Perhaps it can already be led on a rope alongside its mother, who trusts her human. Skills such as giving its hooves and allowing its whole body to be touched are also part of the foal's ABC.
After the wild time our horse spent as a yearling and two-year-old in the herd on the pasture, things are slowly starting to get serious. Hopefully, our horse knows the farrier, the veterinarian, is used to being led in a halter, being groomed by us, and maybe even knows its tying spot.
During walks to the paddock or across a riding arena, it may have already had one or two exciting encounters outside the group. This allowed us to see how our horse deals with unfamiliar situations and what kind of character it might show us when working. Our horse should be physically mature and mentally resilient before we start breaking it in.
At three years old, we can start getting our horse used to the equipment it will encounter as a riding horse. It will probably already be familiar with the indoor arena or outdoor arena from previous winters. It will have to get used to a bridle. This should be properly fitted and not rub or pinch. Accepting the bit is a small challenge for some young horses. It is therefore advisable to choose a very soft bit. It is also a good idea to check the horse's mouth, i.e. its teeth, beforehand. Are there any tooth hooks or wolf teeth that may need to be removed?
At first, it is sufficient to let the bridle be worn for only a few minutes until the horse feels comfortable. The next step is to lead the horse with the bridle. At the same time, the young animal can learn to walk on the lunge. It is advisable to start lunging in a round pen, a fenced-off area of the riding arena, or with an assistant in a larger arena. It is sufficient to start with a halter. Later, the bridle can be placed under the halter and the horse can continue to be led by the halter until it has become more and more accustomed to the bit.
A lunging girth and an underblanket can be used the first few times the horse is allowed to run free. The horse will probably buck (more or less depending on its temperament) until it gets used to the situation and the new equipment. You can then put the saddle on the horse while it is on the lunge line so that it gets used to the weight on its back.
In a third step, auxiliary reins (fastened very loosely) can be used to ensure that the horse has to step a little through its neck and is slowly brought into a stretching position. This also trains contact with the horse's mouth. However, it is advisable to always consult an experienced trainer.
It is important that each training session is kept as short as necessary – 30 minutes is usually sufficient – and ends with a positive experience for the horse.
It's not quite that simple when it comes to mounting and riding a young horse that hasn't been broken in yet. Trust and good groundwork are essential. Those who break in a lot of horses can continually refine their techniques and try out new things. Every rider has their own approach. Some prefer to work with a helper, while others prefer to do everything on their own. For the first time, it is advisable to choose a quiet and enclosed area.
You may want to work the horse on a double lunge line before you mount a young horse for the first time. This will give the horse a feeling of "going on the reins."
Here are a few thoughts on how to proceed for your first real ride:
Very important! "Problem areas" and critical situations must be avoided at all costs during the breaking-in phase. Horses remember the good things and trust their riders. But unfortunately, they don't forget frightening experiences so quickly. After all, we are riding flight animals and instinct remains instinct.
But take heart. Breaking in a horse is wonderful work. And there is nothing more beautiful than experiencing a former foal as a trusting, graceful riding horse after successful basic training.
Since the liver has a very high regenerative capacity and functional reserve capacity, most liver diseases in horses initially progress without visible signs of disease and are only diagnosed at an advanced stage.
Kissing spines is a condition that causes the vertebrae to grow into each other. It is a change in the horse's spine. This results in a significant narrowing of the spaces between the vertebrae in the thoracic and lumbar spine, often in the saddle area. The diagnosis requires riders and owners to be vigilant and provide the right training.
Mitral valve disease (MMVD) is a chronic degenerative disease of the heart valves. It is the most common heart disease in dogs and mainly affects older dogs of smaller breeds. An exception is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which often develops the disease at the age of 1.5 to two years.
Your cat is sure to appreciate a change of scenery now and then, especially if it lives indoors all the time. Of course, it's not just indoor cats that like to play with their humans—outdoor cats enjoy it too.
Are you also fascinated by the beauty, intelligence, and strength of character of these cheerful, playful companions? Wonderful! Then we have some tips for you.
As in many other sports, doping plays an important role in equestrian sports when it comes to competitions and performance comparisons. Unlike in athletics, however, it is not the human being who tries to enhance their own performance by taking certain substances, but the animal whose performance is to be enhanced by administering these substances. Since the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, the issue of doping in equestrian sports has also come into the public spotlight due to numerous proven cases of doping, which has resulted in considerable damage to the image of equestrian sports.
Tumors of the urinary bladder or urethra are relatively rare in dogs, but are often malignant. In most cases, they are transitional cell carcinomas. Older female dogs are primarily affected. A higher incidence has been observed in Scottish Terriers, Airedale Terriers, West Highland White Terriers, and Beagles.
This tumor, which originates in the spleen, is one of the most malignant cancers in dogs. The spleen tumor grows very quickly and spreads metastases to all other organs, often before the actual primary tumor is discovered. Older dogs between the ages of eight and ten are most commonly affected.
Leukosis is a tumorous disease of the hematopoietic system and, unlike in dogs or cattle, is relatively rare in horses. Lymphatic leukosis is the most common form in horses and develops as a result of the degeneration of cells in the immune system.
Tooth fractures are relatively common in dogs and are usually caused by playing with stones or sticks, biting, or accidents. This can result in small, sharp chips in the enamel or larger defects that expose the pulp (nerve and blood vessels). If the pulp cavity is exposed, the tooth should be treated as soon as possible to reduce the risk of infection and preserve the tooth. The incisors, canines, and fangs are primarily affected. Young dogs are particularly at risk because their teeth are still developing and are therefore much more unstable than those of adult dogs.
Just like us humans, our pets may also require surgical or diagnostic procedures that cannot be performed on an awake animal. Most operations and some diagnostic procedures, such as endoscopies or dental treatment, require anesthesia (a medically induced state of sleep), which carries certain risks even in healthy animals and during routine procedures. We will explain what you need to bear in mind before and after such a procedure in order to minimize these risks and what complications can arise during anesthesia.
Lens dislocation, medically known as luxatio lentis, is an eye condition in which the lens becomes detached and displaced from its natural position. By obstructing the flow of aqueous humor, this condition can quickly lead to a dangerous increase in intraocular pressure. If not treated in time, it can result in blindness.
