Having a horse as a partner is something very special. There are many different types of equestrian sports, so everyone can find something that fulfills them and that both humans and horses enjoy. We have listed some of the most well-known disciplines and terms for you below.
Dressage riding is actually the foundation of horse riding. It involves training and further education of the horse. The aim is to encourage the horse's natural urge to move and its ability to move freely in all gaits. At the beginning of training, the horse is accustomed to the appropriate aids and goes through a process based on the so-called training scale. Later, further elements and exercises are added to show what abilities the horse has as a "dance partner" under the saddle.
In jumping, the horse is ridden over various obstacles that vary in height and width depending on the degree of difficulty. However, a good show jumper needs not only courage and ability, but also a good dressage foundation, because the course also requires responsiveness and "staying on the aids."
Eventing is a discipline that basically requires three different skills from the horse-rider team: dressage, jumping, and cross-country. This requires courage, endurance, and flexibility. Trust between horse and rider is particularly important in eventing. The performances required, especially in cross-country, cannot be achieved with skepticism and fear.
Carriage driving, driving a carriage with one, two, four or even 20 horses, has a longer tradition than riding. Here, too, there are various disciplines: dressage tests, cross-country tests and obstacle driving. Dressage tests the horse's gymnastics and level of training. Obstacle driving focuses on speed, skill, obedience, and responsiveness. The cross-country event with its spectacular obstacles is particularly impressive. But the number of horse lovers who enjoy driving is also growing in the leisure sector.
In hunting riding, riders ride cross-country and over natural obstacles behind a pack of dogs. No game is hunted. The dogs simply follow a scent trail. Scent attractants are used, and a hierarchy among the riders ensures a certain, albeit not always recognizable, structure during a hunt.
Distance riding requires stamina. Endurance is particularly important for both horse and rider. The distances to be covered vary in length depending on the degree of difficulty, and a minimum speed is always specified. The horse's condition is checked repeatedly at fixed points along the route.
Trail riding takes place in groups or alone and involves setting a pace and finding destinations using a map and compass. Here, too, obstacles may have to be crossed.
Western riding comes from the USA and is based on specific work processes that are carried out on horseback. One example is cutting, which originally involved herding cattle. Western riding is divided into many different areas, such as reining, trail riding, and western pleasure.
Costumes also play a role in baroque riding. The horses usually belong to a specific breed, such as the Friesian. The lessons start with basic dressage work and progress to passage and piaffe.
Expressiveness through movement is the idea behind gait tests. Special horse breeds, such as Icelandic horses, are in demand here. Gait horses have their own fascination and presence.
Everyone is probably familiar with this. Horses that are trained to gallop at top speed from a very young age compete against each other on the racetrack. Or they trot, harnessed to a sulky, in a race. However, both are equestrian disciplines that are not usually practiced by private individuals.
Vaulting is a demanding sport that is usually practiced in groups. It involves performing figures and physical exercises on a galloping horse. A sense of rhythm, trust, and balance are particularly important in vaulting.
The already large group of recreational riders is growing steadily. The basics here are harmony and mutual respect, but also respect for nature.
Some horse lovers don't even need to be on horseback to be happy. Groundwork, spending time together and working on little tricks and dressage is just as much fun for the horse-human team. Whether it's learning circus tricks or simply going for a walk together in the countryside, anything that both human and animal enjoy is possible.
Botulism is a serious neurological disease caused by the ingestion of botulinum toxin (a poison) from contaminated feed. Even the smallest amounts of this toxin can cause severe poisoning in horses, leading to death.
This term refers to a deforming disease of the spine. It occurs mainly in large dogs and involves spur-like or bridge-shaped bony growths on the underside, side, or, in rare cases, the top of the vertebral body.
The topic of deworming is a recurring discussion among horse owners. For anyone wondering whether it is necessary to deworm their horse, the answer is yes. Anyone who has ever seen how vast numbers of worms can completely block parts of the small or large intestine during colic surgery will no longer ask this question. Without treatment, worm infestation can become life-threatening for horses. Initially, a noticeable increase in tail rubbing may be an indication of this. As the infestation progresses, internal organs can be damaged and colic can occur. The horse loses weight despite being fed adequately. The parasites weaken the horse more and more. Regular deworming is necessary to reduce the infestation to a level that is tolerable for the horse's organism. It is almost impossible to completely rid the horse of worms, as new infections will always occur through the environment. There are two methods of deworming: strategic and selective deworming. You should avoid alternative deworming methods.
The air sacs of horses are part of the upper respiratory tract. They develop in foals as a mucous membrane protrusion on both sides of the Eustachian tube (the connection between the middle ear and the nasopharyngeal cavity), each with a capacity of approximately 300 ml. Air sacs are found exclusively in equines and some other odd-toed ungulates, making them a unique feature. There are various theories about the function of the air sacs. The most likely is that they serve to cool the brain. There is a connection between the horse's throat and the air sacs, which is why infections of the upper respiratory tract can also spread to the air sacs. The most important diseases of the air sacs are described below.
Sticker's sarcoma is an infectious tumor of the external genital organs of male and female dogs. It is also known as transmissible venereal tumor or venereal sarcomatosis. The disease occurs worldwide, but is primarily found in tropical and subtropical countries (Mediterranean region, Africa, Eastern Europe, South America) where there is a large population of stray dogs.
Neoplasms of the mammary gland account for more than half of all cancers in female dogs. These benign or malignant tumors occur primarily in older, unspayed female dogs and initially appear as small, nodular changes along the entire mammary gland, which can later become very large. Different types of mammary tumors can occur.
Cryptorchidism refers to the failure of the testicles to descend from the abdominal cavity into the scrotum. Small male dogs are most commonly affected by cryptorchidism.
Every rider knows this feeling. The horse is somehow stiff, tense, and no longer moves smoothly. However, it is not lame, just less supple. When you touch different points on its back, neck, or hindquarters, the skin and tissue feel tight, too tight. This may be because the horse's muscles are tense. However, it is often due to the connective tissue, the fascia. When it is stuck together, tension arises.
Megaesophagus (mega = large; esophagus = food pipe) describes a pathological enlargement of the esophagus. In the case of megaesophagus, the esophagus is not contracted by the muscles as usual, but is abnormally dilated and filled with air as a result of muscle paralysis.
An interesting question: Where is it better for a dog to live? In the city or in the country? There are good arguments for both.
This adrenal gland disorder, also known as Addison's disease, was first described in humans in 1855 by Thomas Addison (chief physician at a London hospital), after whom it was named. It causes adrenal insufficiency (also known as hypoadrenocorticism), which is the partial or total failure of hormone production in the adrenal cortex. It is much less common in dogs than adrenal hyperfunction (Cushing's disease), but can lead to life-threatening symptoms. It primarily affects middle-aged female dogs of large breeds.
A very special friendship can develop between children and dogs. However, it is important for parents and dog owners to observe a few basic rules. And it is also important to remember that some dog-child pairs are simply not meant for each other, and this must be recognized responsibly. The basis for a partnership with a dog is always respectful and loving interaction—and training with clear rules for human-dog communication.
