Horses And All Things Equine

Mar 05 2010

The Older Rider – Recapturing Your Love Of Horses

Published by I Luv Horses under Riding

Returning to horse riding as an older rider can be an eye opening experience. It quickly becomes very clear that the memories you had of galloping along, wind in your hair are no longer a reality. Walking around on horseback for five minutes makes you hurt in places you forgot you had. This leads you to ask yourself, why am I doing this again?

You’re doing this again because you have never stopped being the horse crazy little girl. And now as an older rider, you want to recapture that magical time when you wanted nothing more than to be at the barn, smelling the leather and the sweet horsey smell.

Being an older rider, you really are a beginner and need to start over. When I returned to riding, I admittedly was disappointed that it wasn’t the same. I was nervous, I didn’t know what I was doing and felt completely out of place. The following tips will help you overcome the emotional and mental baggage that will keep you from enjoying returning to riding.

1. Don’t compare yourself to the teenagers wizzing around. Let’s face it, they don’t have the same responsibilities or wisdom that you have. You have a better handle on what can go wrong. When I first returned to riding, I was intimidated by the 15 year olds that seem to know everything and certainly rode better than I did. The mentality of the older rider is such that when you are older you should be better at it then these youngsters. Don’t let this deter you, just smile at them knowing that their day will come too.

2. Find someone to ride with in your age group that understands what the older rider is going through. This admittedly can be a bit difficult at a “show barn” but having someone to commiserate with is extremely helpful.

3. Make sure the riding instructor understands the needs of the older rider. I prefer an instructor in my age group. An instructor that is in their early 20’s doesn’t have a clue about about being a parent, owning a home and all that this entails. Having these responsibilities makes one assess risk at a different level. Who’s going to take care of all of this if you get hurt?

4. Juggling family, work and a horse can be daunting. Don’t fall into the trap that your horse will suddenly implode if you don’t go out to the barn every day. If you’re confident that he’s being cared for properly, your horse is perfectly content to hang out with his horsey friends all day. Like you, he appreciates a couple of days off.

5. Riding is supposed to be for your enjoyment. If you find you are riding to please your instructor, fellow riders, or anyone else, you will soon find that you will begin to resent the pressure and this will begin an avoidance of the barn.

Having realistic expectations of what your capabilities are and how much time you can devote to your riding will greatly decrease the pressure you put on yourself. Don’t worry what other people think about you, your horse or your riding.

If you are returning to riding after many years, approach it as a beginner horse rider. Many things have changed since you were active in the equestrian world and you will soon learn all that you have forgotten. For more information that you need to know as a beginner rider, visit my website at http://www.squidoo.com/beginnerhorseriding.

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Mar 04 2010

The Super Seven Brain Foods

Published by I Luv Horses under Feed And Nutrition

The Super Seven Brain Foods

Using binaural technology isn’t the only way to increase brain power. There are many natural methods one can use to aid in healthy brain function. Below we have chosen the Super Seven, the very best foods that feed brain productivity. We’ve collected the data from nutritionists to scientists to determine what you should be putting in your mouth to get those neurons firing!

1. Salmon
Besides the health benefits derived for other parts of the body including essential fatty acids (EFAs), salmon provides a great source of protein with a low level of mercury. Choosing wild salmon over farm grown salmon is important to reduce the actual contaminants in the fish. This is the wild catch that our ancestors would have access to giving them cleaner arteries, healthier neural connections and even improving mood. If you haven’t already added salmon to your diet, doing so will greatly aid in mind and body functioning.

2. Avocado
Similar to salmon, avocado provides an excellent source of natural fat, as well as a source of vegetable protein. Consuming avocado promotes better blood circulation bringing oxygen to your brain faster and lowering the chance of heart attacks and the like. Your brain not only reacts faster to every day events, but the open channels in your body help promote clarity in your thinking and planning. Don’t overdo the avocado, but it can be added to salads, sandwiches or snacks.

3. Blueberries
The antioxidant super berry! These little berries are packed full of vitamins as well as having the highest antioxidant level of any other fruit. Antioxidants help prevent the ageing process and keep the mind and body young. Not only are these tasty, they’re also high in fiber and have linked with stress reduction and lower chances of Alzheimer’s. Strangely enough, blueberries also contain EFAs, just like the next food.

4. Almonds
Almonds are packed with ALA which aids in keeping your brain sharp in peak condition. We mentioned the EFAs before, but almonds are also crammed full of healthy protein that does your body good. All these attributes combined give your sensory perception and brain processing speed a significant boost. Almonds also contain natural mood-enhancers, but they aren’t the only good nut, others like walnuts, pecans are also excellent as well as the smaller seeds like flax.

5. Broccoli
Officially a real super food! Broccoli has so many good qualities it’s tough to list them all. To begin with broccoli slows the ageing process and is antioxidant rich. It also improves memory function and keeps you functioning well throughout the day. This wonder vegetable also contains folate and vitamin B6, two vitamins that will keep your energy up and your alertness high. Broccoli is also very filling, especially when served raw, it makes an excellent snack for those dieting.

6. Wholegrains
Good sources such as oatmeal, whole wheat bread and cereals have been known improve brain circulation, keeping you functioning at your best throughout the day. Good whole grains also contain essential fibers and vitamins that will keep feeding your brain as you go about your day. Carbohydrates are on the main energy sources for your brain and providing high quality sources from wholegrain foods is one the best ways to make sure you’re treating your brain well.

7. Green Tea
Known for millennia as food for the brain, different teas have been consumed for a variety of healing and practical reasons. Green tea especially boosts memory and relaxes the mind allowing you to think more clearly. There are also studies that show green the boosts the immune system slows the ageing process (again those antioxidants at work). Green teas also contains a variety of vitamins depending on the brand name, you can likely find certain teas with vitamins A and C in abundant quantities.

That’s the list, the Super Seven Brain Foods. These are by all means not the only foods that will aid in healthy brain function, but they are without doubt some of the most powerful. Making these foods a part of your diet will improve your brain’s power without fail! The fastest and most effective way to do this is to get a quick and easy meal planner.

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Feb 26 2010

Learn Riding The Easy Way

Published by I Luv Horses under Riding

To Learn Horse riding is a great goal.
As a Physiotherapist and elite rider I understand the task involved to learn riding a horse.
Horses are a personality of their own and this is a feature of riding many don’t respect.

To learn to ride a horse at any age is a huge task, but to learn riding as an adult is even more difficult. Adult riders are more set in their ways; their body is most likely stiff and has some posture issues.

To learn riding in the later years can be a great experience, riding is a great way to get fit, improve your posture and achieve a goal.
Horse riding is sport unlike many others. Horses have a mind of their own; therefore a rider needs to learn a number of things to be successful.
A rider must learn

• about the temperament of their horse
• about their own body and how it works
• about the movement of the horses paces
• about the fitting of the gear
• about the posture required to ride
• about the muscle function of their body as well the horse
• about the symmetry required in the rider and the horse

Many non riders look at a good rider and say it is so easy. We who have ridden know better. It is not easy. To learn riding from the beginning has its advantages and disadvantages. Fear and risk of injury is a disadvantage. Achieving fitness, strength and that wow look at me feeling is the outcome. This is certainly an advantage.

To learn to ride a horse I believe a person needs to be instructed from the ground by a qualified instructor but also to read and watch the experts.
Experts are knowledgeable people with experience in all of the above.

An instructor is a great way to start, but has limited knowledge and expertise in the how the body and the muscles work. Riding instructors are able to identify horse rider’s problems but are unable to offer advice on how to fix it.

This is where an exercise program specific to the horse rider is the key to better learning and understanding the above. Pilates for horse riders is an excellent program.

Humans are one sided, to ride efficiently we need to be symmetrical in our strength and flexibility. This will only be achieved if riders learn from the start how to train their riding muscles for riding.
Applied Posture Riding (Pilates for Horse riders) is the program becoming very popular amongst all riders to learn to ride properly. Any rider at any level needs to stretch and strengthen their muscles and understand how they work.

To learn riding from the beginning horse riders have the advantage if they learn what muscles and how to train them from the start. Combining this with a great riding instructor is the best way to learn to ride horses.

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Feb 23 2010

Tips To Bath Your Horses

Published by I Luv Horses under Horse Care

You are getting ready to ride your horse, go on a trail ride, take them to a show, or it has been raining. You discover your horse has been “rolling in the mud.” If it hasn’t happened to you yet, sooner or later you’ll get a surprise at the worst time. I have seven beautiful Paint Horses or, most of the time they are beautiful. When they roll in mud, it is not a very pretty sight to see and if neglected for an extended period of time, it will have undesirable effects on your horse’s mane, coat and skin. I live in Texas, in an area where the soil is a black-clay so when it rains, the soil becomes deep, sticky and very muddy.

Once my horses roll, because they are wet, they turn black instead of their natural color which is mostly white. This is what I do to keep them groomed, brushing not only for their skin condition, but to look really good. Friends often ask me “how do you keep those horses so shining.” The
answer is simple… I clean them regularly. Now it is time, not only to groom your horse, but to give them a bath first.Simply brushing the horse only removes some of the dirt and the remaining dirt and dust is unhealthy to their coat and skin. Your horse should always have a healthy diet for that natural shine to their coat. If you groom and/or bath your horse and they still have a dull coat, you should make sure they are getting a healthy and proper diet.

You will need clean supplies. Buying online products are cheaper, even with shipping and offer discounts. You don’t have to get the most expensive brands to groom your horse either. You will need the following:

1. Shampoo – Suave™ — Inexpensive (buy at local grocery store) or, use Vetrolin Bath™ as it is not that expensive and a little goes a long way — It contains PABA Sunscreen (buy on-line).

2. Conditioner – Suave™ — Buy this at your local grocery store… very inexpensive or use Vetrolin Conditioner™ as it is not that expensive and a little goes a long way. It contains PABA Sunscreen (buy on-line).

3. A good detangler – Survivor Detangler™ by Eqyss — Expensive but well worth it. Great for the Mane and Tail and it smells wonderful (buy on-line).

4. Sheen (optional) – If you really want your horse to have a brilliant shine, you can use a “ready to use” spray such as Vetrolin Sheen™ (buy on-line).

You want your equipment to last so it’s best to spend a little extra in this area. If it’s really cheap, there is usually a reason.Here are some suggestions:

1. A comb for your horses mane and tail (buy on-line)

2. A regular curry brush (buy on-line).

3. A good rubber curry comb. Using the rubber curry comb to lather your horse will give them a great message. (buy on-line).

4. A good brush for when the horse is dry – Pick one that will feel good to your horse (buy on-line).

5. Electric clippers – I use all Oster™ products because they last forever (buy locally or on-line) Used to clip bridal paths, chin hair, ears but it’s not natural to cut a horses mane or tail. These are best combed out with brush or detangler.

Now that I have everything I need, I put all my stuff in a horse bucket that I can carry around (except the clippers).

Location – Pick a spot where you can tie your horse and have a water hydrant and hose long enough to avoid getting their legs tangled-up in the hose. Try to avoid bathing in area that will become muddy during your horses bath. It’s easiest to use a variable sprayer for your hose, of the garden variety.

1.Wet the entire horse down, starting in the rear and working your way forward and around the other side. When you wet their heads and, avoid spraying them directly in the face. Using the “mist” selection on the sprayer works really well from about 18″ away from the face and spray upwards and allow the mist to settle gently on their faces. This will minimize your horse’s resistance to getting their faces sprayed.

2. Once your horse is wet, you can begin to apply the shampoo using the rubber curry brush, creating a good lather, and giving them a nice massage. Most horses really enjoy this part once they get used to being wet. Wait until the very end to apply any shampoo to the facial area in case your horse gets soap in their
eyes. You don’t want to try bathing them with their eyes full of soap. When applying to the face, use a sponge, a mildly soapy rag, or even your hands.

3. Rinse well and message, with rubber curry, to get out any remaining shampoo and spot clean any dirty areas still visible

4. Apply the conditioner and leave it on for a few minutes. Again, wait to apply to your horse’s face last, with your sponge, instead of the hose.

5. Rinse your horse thoroughly with the “shower” setting on your sprayer but, use the “mist” setting to rinse your horses head.

6. Use a squidgy to get most of the water off by starting at the upper neck and working your way down to the hooves.

7. Spray the horse with Vetrolin Sheen™. Do not spray the sheen to the horses back if you plan to ride the horse because it is too slippery and will cause your saddle to slip.

8. Apply the de-tangler to the mane and tail with your hands. Comb out the mane and tail, starting at the bottom and work your way toward the roots.

9. Tie your horse in a dry spot until they are totally dry. The last thing you want is to have your horse roll while wet and ruin your efforts.

Grooming does not have to be a problem. When it rains, I try to wash one horse a day until they are all clean and I wait until after the weather dries out for a day or two before I begin. Once they are clean, brushing them every day or two will keep them quite clean. Of course you don’t want to over bathe your horse as this will dry out their skin by removing
all the natural oils necessary for a healthy coat. Bathing them every other month is sufficient unless “Mother Nature” gets involved.

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