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Horses aren't considered domestic animals, but they are efficient assistants that could help owners perform different and complex activities.
For example, horses on farms are used to help transport commodities and carry heavy loads of crops and agriculture products to other locations. In far-away communities, horses serve as the essential and efficient mode of transportation because those areas are still not provided the basic infrastructure.
But horses in the wild aren't ready to do those activities in an instant. Horses when untamed are truly uncontrollable and wouldn't be helpful to people for whatever purpose.
Traditionally, horses have been trained for different functions, like for transport, for farm works, for sports and even for warfare. You might have seen those epic movies and sagas where warriors are riding horses during battle.
You might have been awed, at one point of your life, over the usefulness of horses to people and businesses. However, always be reminded that horses can be destructive when left untamed and untrained.
That is why it is very important that horses undergo training sessions, where they will be taught the basic skills and tricks to perform many different helpful tasks.
Hiring A Horse Trainer
Thus, for the horse owner who aims to turn his horse into a useful assistant and as an alternative to machines, it is imperative that a horse trainer be hired.
The horse trainer will help unlock the full potentials of the horse. He will be tasked to condition the mindset of the horse so it could be prepared for training sessions and could be open to learning tricks.
A horse owner will play a very important role to unlocking the horse's potential. That is because in him lies the efforts and the skills to help the animal embrace learning and action on queue.
If you are a horse owner and you are aiming to hire a good horse trainer, the first thing you can do is to seek for recommendations from peers and other horse owners.
Peer advice would be helpful in finding a good trainer for the task. If peers are unable to give such recommendations, the local veterinarian will be of great help. He should know about the best horse trainers in the community. The vet could tell if the horse trainer is doing good and on the right track.
Be advised that there are some vets who also offer horse training services, but in general, not all of them do so. That is because horse training requires a lot of effort and patience, which vets would understandably have lost as they practice animal medicine.
You could also directly hire a horse trainer. You could seek links and contacts from the online Craig's list or from the traditional and online classifieds.
You must do an interview and examine the personal and work history data of the horse trainer to ensure that the services your horse will be provided will be commensurate to the remuneration package.
Several accreditations from horse training bodies and industry groups are also being provided to certify a horse trainer's capabilities. If the applicant horse trainer holds one, then, you are assured that the horse trainer would be the perfect candidate for the position.
Choosing The Best Horse Trainer
When it comes to choosing the best horse trainer, it is a relative and case to case basis. What is good enough for the standard of one horse owner may not be good enough for another. Preferences and standards of horse owners vary.
That is why you can't rely on the experiences of other horse owners on horse trainers. Though, recommendations would be helpful, it isn't advisable that you entrust the overall welfare of your horses wholly to the horse trainer. Take heed from your personal discretion and insights.
Remember, when hiring a horse trainer, you should always look for the best candidate there is. However, the best don't assure that overall care for the horse is guaranteed. Through the interview process, you can get an idea at the overall disposition of the applicants.
Jolliness and genuine interest of horses would be the best trait a good horse trainer must have. The horse trainer applicant in your front may not be the best according to recommendations from vets and peers, but knowing the person through a sincere talk may indicate that he is truly interested in training horses.
That would be the best quality of a horse trainer.
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Saturday, December 27, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Horses In Art, Literature And Mythology
Few animals have influenced the history of human culture like the horse. These four-legged running machines gave us food, mobility, and enhanced success at hunting hard-to-catch animals. And the influence goes both ways: archaeologists say that horse skeletons dating from 2000-2500 BCE already show differences from those of wild horses that attest to the effects of breeding and (partial) domestication, while scientists theorize that the adoption of horses by Late Ice Age-era Eurasian tribes may well have saved these horses the extinction that befell their North American counterparts.
But with all else they've given us, horses have symbolized grace and power for thousands of years. Paleolithic cave art is some of the oldest known art on earth; what inspires awe, however, is - bluntly - that it's as great as it is old. Here at the dawn of art history we find images of animals so subtle in their artistry, in the mixing of the colors and in their observed details, and yet so grand in size and conception that they still transfix observers today.
The Lascaux cave paintings of southwestern France, near the village of Montignac, represent the most famous examples of this branch of art. Discovered in September 1940 by four French teenagers and a dog, these caves hold nearly 2000 figures, including animals (an estimated 900, of which 605 have been identified), some faint dot configurations which may represent constellations, and a single human.
The caves' bison paintings may rank among its most famous - one bison is 17 feet long, while another, "The Crossed Bison," shows a use of perspective that doesn't recur in painting again until the 15th century CE - but a visitor to Lascaux would see more horses than any other kind of animal: 364, in fact.
"Would see" because the caves were closed to the public in 1963 after twenty-three years of tourism left the paintings visibly damaged by carbon dioxide. However, the images can be easily found in books and on the Internet, while tourists to France can visit Lascaux II, a replica of two cave halls that opened in 1983.
Horses rear their powerful heads in much of ancient culture and literature; references to horseback riding appear, for example, in Mesopotamian documents that represent some of the earliest written remains of human culture. But no one could forget the myth of the Trojan Horse - the gigantic horse replica wrought by Epeius and presented as a peace offering to the unfortunate Trojans, who didn't realize this "gift" was stuffed to its pointy ears with heavily-armed Greek warriors determined to end the ten-year Trojan War with a sneak attack.
The origins of this myth, as with the larger narrative of the Trojan War, are shrouded in mystery, though it's possible that they reflect at least some genuine history. (Some modern commentators suggest that the Greeks might simply have made a horse-shaped battering ram, and that the story of the giant hollow horse arose from later oral historians' misunderstanding of surviving veterans' descriptions of a "horse."
Ancient Assyrians, after all, often gave animal names to their siege machines.) In any case, the story comes down to us from a brief vignette in Homer's Odyssey (the hero of which, Odysseus, came up with the scheme in the first place), and, most of all, from Virgil's achingly vivid depiction in Book II of his Aeneid. Here we learn of Laocoon's brave effort to warn his fellow Trojans - "Don't trust this 'horse,' Trojans! Whatever it is, I fear even gift-bearing Greeks" - and the midnight raid on Troy, from which Aeneas, the mythical founder of Rome, escapes with his life (but not, alas, his wife).
Among ancient painters of horses, the Tang Dynasty artist Han Gan deserves special praise. Hailing from Chang'an (the province of China we now know as Xi'an), or perhaps Shaanxi or Henan - accounts differ - the young painter came to the attention of the great Buddhist poet Wang Wei, who, like a modern-day Guggenheim Foundation or National Endowment For the Humanities, paid for Han's education.
He became a painter in the Han court, working with many subjects; however, he's most famous for his paintings of horses. His reputed ability to paint not only the body, but the spirit of a horse earned him the privilege of painting the Emperor Xuanzong's favorite horse, "Night-Shining White," among many others.
Finally, horses recur in Norse mythology, where they are as closely associated with particular gods and heroes as Silver with the Lone Ranger. There's Heimdallr and Gulltoppr, Odin and eight-legged Sleipnir. Little wonder, then, that horse racing is viewed, from time immemorial, as the "sport of kings."
About the Author:
TRP Services offers Thoroughbred horse racing and horse racing tips online for horse racing handicapping and those who love thoroughbred horses for the horse racing tracks.
But with all else they've given us, horses have symbolized grace and power for thousands of years. Paleolithic cave art is some of the oldest known art on earth; what inspires awe, however, is - bluntly - that it's as great as it is old. Here at the dawn of art history we find images of animals so subtle in their artistry, in the mixing of the colors and in their observed details, and yet so grand in size and conception that they still transfix observers today.
The Lascaux cave paintings of southwestern France, near the village of Montignac, represent the most famous examples of this branch of art. Discovered in September 1940 by four French teenagers and a dog, these caves hold nearly 2000 figures, including animals (an estimated 900, of which 605 have been identified), some faint dot configurations which may represent constellations, and a single human.
The caves' bison paintings may rank among its most famous - one bison is 17 feet long, while another, "The Crossed Bison," shows a use of perspective that doesn't recur in painting again until the 15th century CE - but a visitor to Lascaux would see more horses than any other kind of animal: 364, in fact.
"Would see" because the caves were closed to the public in 1963 after twenty-three years of tourism left the paintings visibly damaged by carbon dioxide. However, the images can be easily found in books and on the Internet, while tourists to France can visit Lascaux II, a replica of two cave halls that opened in 1983.
Horses rear their powerful heads in much of ancient culture and literature; references to horseback riding appear, for example, in Mesopotamian documents that represent some of the earliest written remains of human culture. But no one could forget the myth of the Trojan Horse - the gigantic horse replica wrought by Epeius and presented as a peace offering to the unfortunate Trojans, who didn't realize this "gift" was stuffed to its pointy ears with heavily-armed Greek warriors determined to end the ten-year Trojan War with a sneak attack.
The origins of this myth, as with the larger narrative of the Trojan War, are shrouded in mystery, though it's possible that they reflect at least some genuine history. (Some modern commentators suggest that the Greeks might simply have made a horse-shaped battering ram, and that the story of the giant hollow horse arose from later oral historians' misunderstanding of surviving veterans' descriptions of a "horse."
Ancient Assyrians, after all, often gave animal names to their siege machines.) In any case, the story comes down to us from a brief vignette in Homer's Odyssey (the hero of which, Odysseus, came up with the scheme in the first place), and, most of all, from Virgil's achingly vivid depiction in Book II of his Aeneid. Here we learn of Laocoon's brave effort to warn his fellow Trojans - "Don't trust this 'horse,' Trojans! Whatever it is, I fear even gift-bearing Greeks" - and the midnight raid on Troy, from which Aeneas, the mythical founder of Rome, escapes with his life (but not, alas, his wife).
Among ancient painters of horses, the Tang Dynasty artist Han Gan deserves special praise. Hailing from Chang'an (the province of China we now know as Xi'an), or perhaps Shaanxi or Henan - accounts differ - the young painter came to the attention of the great Buddhist poet Wang Wei, who, like a modern-day Guggenheim Foundation or National Endowment For the Humanities, paid for Han's education.
He became a painter in the Han court, working with many subjects; however, he's most famous for his paintings of horses. His reputed ability to paint not only the body, but the spirit of a horse earned him the privilege of painting the Emperor Xuanzong's favorite horse, "Night-Shining White," among many others.
Finally, horses recur in Norse mythology, where they are as closely associated with particular gods and heroes as Silver with the Lone Ranger. There's Heimdallr and Gulltoppr, Odin and eight-legged Sleipnir. Little wonder, then, that horse racing is viewed, from time immemorial, as the "sport of kings."
About the Author:
TRP Services offers Thoroughbred horse racing and horse racing tips online for horse racing handicapping and those who love thoroughbred horses for the horse racing tracks.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
All About Horses, Cowboys & Indians Western Decor
A little bit about my store, Horses, Cowboys and Indians Western Decor. Since I love the western decor theme and being artistically inclined, I needed an outlet for my Gourd Art and Horseshoe Art, so I opened this store. I looked around for other products to stock here since it is a bit difficult to find quality western decor. I think I have done this as I have a nice selection of reasonably priced items to offer for sale. You can't just visit my store once and say that you have seen everything because I am constantly adding new items from my suppliers, and occasionaly taking some items off because they are no longer available, but I am constantly creating new Gourd and Horseshoe Art too, and no 2 pieces are alike. Most horseshoe items you can purchase more than one of because we can make more of most of them. But the site is always changing so come back often to see what's new.
I have found a source for nostalgic tin signs with a rustic country theme that I think are really nice. Also I have found a line of cast iron items that are pretty cute and reasonably priced. Now, the Liberty Bronze Collection of horses, cowboys and indians are great. They are made from alabastrite or stone resin and finished with a bronze-like finish that makes them look and feel like real bronze. From a distance you can't tell if they are real bronze sculptures or not. They are very nice and make great gifts.
The latest thing we have added is a free certificate with every purchase to join a Travel Club that offers discounts on cruises and hotels, two for one airfares. We think it makes a great thank you gift.
So come by and check out the store often for new items and rest assured that your ordering is secure. www.horsescowboysandindians.com
Source: Free Articles
I have found a source for nostalgic tin signs with a rustic country theme that I think are really nice. Also I have found a line of cast iron items that are pretty cute and reasonably priced. Now, the Liberty Bronze Collection of horses, cowboys and indians are great. They are made from alabastrite or stone resin and finished with a bronze-like finish that makes them look and feel like real bronze. From a distance you can't tell if they are real bronze sculptures or not. They are very nice and make great gifts.
The latest thing we have added is a free certificate with every purchase to join a Travel Club that offers discounts on cruises and hotels, two for one airfares. We think it makes a great thank you gift.
So come by and check out the store often for new items and rest assured that your ordering is secure. www.horsescowboysandindians.com
Source: Free Articles
Monday, December 1, 2008
How to Provide First Aid for Your Horse
If your horse is in the field, and it suffers a severe cut, you will want to stop the bleeding as soon as possible. You will need to make a call to your vet, and there are steps you also need to take in order to provide first aid to your horse as soon as possible. You will want to stabilize the horse prior to the arrival of the vet.
The first thing you want to do is make sure you have a first aid kit available for the horse in advance. The first aid kit should have all the important constituents necessary for emergencies and small cuts. You always want to make sure that you have first aid readily available. You will want to make sure you have all the important tools you need, and you will want to know how to use them.
A commercially available first aid kit for horses will cost between $39 and $80. You will want to make sure the kit has a thermometer so that you can check the temperature of the horse. All horses should have a standard temperature of 99 to 115 degrees. The first aid kit should also come with a stethoscope so that you can monitor the heart rate of the horse. You can listen clearly to the heartbeat just under the elbow on the left side of the horse.
All first aid kits should have a flashlight, in case you have an emergency in the dark. You will also want to have electrolytes in case the horse becomes dehydrated. Warming up water and adding a small teaspoon of electrolytes can encourage water consumption by your horse. The first aid kit should also have neosporin, iodine, and hydrogen peroxide. Avoid using the hydrogen peroxide on wounds as it will destroy benign tissue.
You will also want to have wire cutters handy in the event the horse gets stuck in a gate or wire. You will also want to use a twitch which can calm your horse and keep him controlled in situations where it will be in great pain. You will also want to make sure you have a knife cutting bandages and other materials. You will want to make sure you don't injure your horse when handling the knife.
You will want to use the iodine solution to clean out any thick wounds. Any wounds which will be treated by a veterinarian within a hours of the injury should not have medications applied, and should only be flushed with iodine or clean water to prevent them from drying.
Article Source: http://www.ArticlesandAuthors.com - THE Premier Site for Articles AND Authors
About this Article Author:
Michael Colucci is an experienced horse competitor and writes articles for www.horsegathering.com - A free site that includes horse articles, buying/selling horse items, event calendar and a horse discussion forum.
The first thing you want to do is make sure you have a first aid kit available for the horse in advance. The first aid kit should have all the important constituents necessary for emergencies and small cuts. You always want to make sure that you have first aid readily available. You will want to make sure you have all the important tools you need, and you will want to know how to use them.
A commercially available first aid kit for horses will cost between $39 and $80. You will want to make sure the kit has a thermometer so that you can check the temperature of the horse. All horses should have a standard temperature of 99 to 115 degrees. The first aid kit should also come with a stethoscope so that you can monitor the heart rate of the horse. You can listen clearly to the heartbeat just under the elbow on the left side of the horse.
All first aid kits should have a flashlight, in case you have an emergency in the dark. You will also want to have electrolytes in case the horse becomes dehydrated. Warming up water and adding a small teaspoon of electrolytes can encourage water consumption by your horse. The first aid kit should also have neosporin, iodine, and hydrogen peroxide. Avoid using the hydrogen peroxide on wounds as it will destroy benign tissue.
You will also want to have wire cutters handy in the event the horse gets stuck in a gate or wire. You will also want to use a twitch which can calm your horse and keep him controlled in situations where it will be in great pain. You will also want to make sure you have a knife cutting bandages and other materials. You will want to make sure you don't injure your horse when handling the knife.
You will want to use the iodine solution to clean out any thick wounds. Any wounds which will be treated by a veterinarian within a hours of the injury should not have medications applied, and should only be flushed with iodine or clean water to prevent them from drying.
Article Source: http://www.ArticlesandAuthors.com - THE Premier Site for Articles AND Authors
About this Article Author:
Michael Colucci is an experienced horse competitor and writes articles for www.horsegathering.com - A free site that includes horse articles, buying/selling horse items, event calendar and a horse discussion forum.
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