Horse Sports

Polo is one of the few sports that teams man with beast and forces the two species to work together in order to win the game. Polo horses actually enjoy playing the game; in fact, it takes a...

THERE IS SO MUCH RESTING ON YOUR STALL FLOOR DECISION! How do you know if your horse is getting enough rest. What goes in your stall floor is important if your horse spend any time in there at...

Horse owners and stable hands are masters of restoring used and antique equipment. The treatment is much the same as for new tack, but, you will need to double up treatments until the leather is...

Breast collars are pieces of equipment used in both English and Western riding disciplines to keep the saddle from sliding out of place down a horse's back. Called a breast plate in English...

Any old glove will not due for keeping hands warm when horseback riding. Most gloves are too thick to be of any use. Riding gloves are thin enough to keep fingers flexible and to prevent blisters.

Measuring yourself to sit in an English saddle will only give you a general idea of what size saddle you will need in order to ride safely and comfortably. Because of manufacturer design...

If you want to play a sport where there is excitement, speed and big wins within seconds you need to read this.

Many trainers prefer harnesses with full collars, or hames collars, over breast collar harnesses. Collars allow the horse to support his load with his whole body while keeping his shoulders free....

A golf handicap is a way to keep track of your progress, play against more or less experienced players and keep things competitive, and it is required for many tournaments. Once you have...

If you have a good relationship with your horse, you can put your horsemanship skills to the ultimate test by teaching your horse to lay down. Prey animals will not lay down alongside another...

Polo can be a fun but dangerous sport for a person to participate in. However, it would be impossible to play without his most important teammate---his horse. Horses play a vital role in polo and...

A properly fitting harness is essential for any equine driving discipline, from harness racing to competitive pulling. A harness a little too small or a little too large can cause sores, strains...

Spurs are used by intermediate and advanced riders to increase the pressure of the leg aids when a horse is not willing to move. Only riders capable of controlling their legs so that leg aids and...

An exacta bet in horse racing is a wager made to select the first and second place finishers in the race. Picking a winner is tough, but picking the first two finishers is even harder.

The first polo match recorded took place in 600 B.C. The match was conflict resolving, and was played between the Turkomans and Persians. Therefore, the rules and etiquette of polo have a long...

The addition of spurs can make a rider more effective and in better control of the horse. Whether riding English or western, spurs can be used for many of the same reasons. Some horses are so well...

Teaching a horse to lie down is an exceedingly delicate proposition. More than any other trained behavior, whether simple riding commands or more complex tricks, a horse's lying down depends on a...

English and Western bridles are used for two completely different styles of riding. Western riding is based on signals through the rider's seat and weight. English riding is based on close contact...

Man harnessed horses for work and battle long before he ever thought to ride them. As a result, driving has been a sport since those ancients first tamed horses. But to join that sport, you must...

It seems a simple joy,,jaunting down the lane in a stylish horse cart, driving a high-stepping steed for all to admire. But before the cart can jaunt anywhere, the horse must be correctly...

Polo is a team sport in which riders on horseback use long mallets to pass and shoot a ball into a goal to score points. Polo requires equipment significantly different from most riding equipment....

Equestrian hunting, typically known as fox hunting, is a traditional sport for those who seek to enjoy the outdoors through a brisk horseback ride through meadows and woods.

On an English saddle, the girth is the part that holds the saddle to the horse; it's the English equivalent of the Western saddle cinch. According to Audrey Pavia and Janice M. Posnikoff, authors...

A flex tree saddle is designed to provide more comfort for both the rider and the horse. The saddle tree, or the foundation from which the rest of the saddle is built, flexes for more freedom of...

A girth is the part of a saddle used to keep it in place. The girth goes under the horse from one side of the saddle to another. It's attached by two or three straps called billets; according to...

Riding Western style is a tradition that dates back to the cowboys of the Old West and beyond. A Western saddle is identifiable by a horn that rises up in the front, and a high back called a...

Horseback riding can be a fun and relaxing way to pass the time, or an intense competitive sport depending on your skill level. No matter why you choose to ride, if you are riding English you will...

In the show ring, you need riding skills, but you also need to look good and so does your horse. Follow these steps to success and your horse will be looking amazing!

Polo is played on horseback. Players wear knee-high leather boots and not shoes. The boots are part of the players' protective clothing, which includes helmets, some with face guards, gloves and...

Equestrians, like any other athletes, should do exercises to strengthen and stretch the major muscle groups that they use most in their sport. The abs, thighs and calves are the most important...

The feeling of gently guiding a horse and flying over the landscape while in the saddle is one of exhilaration. At least, that is what it is supposed to be. For horseback riders who experience...

Handicapping a horse race is far from an exact science. There are a number of variables that come into play, including the ride a jockey gives a horse, weather conditions, the quality of the...

Standard saddles have a "tree"--a rigid core that gives the saddle its structure. All other parts of the saddle are built around the tree. Treeless saddles can look very similar and have many of...

Every horse enthusiast has heard it: "No hoof, no horse." When a horse becomes lame, he can't do his job. That's why proper care for hooves and legs should be a top priority for horse owners.

A bit is a metal contraption that sits inside a horse's mouth. It is attached to a leather bridle that fits around the horse's head, and to reins. The bit allows a rider to guide the horse by...

Tacking up a horse can be complicated, and it is important to familiarize yourself with your tack for multiple reasons. For one thing, knowing how everything is supposed to look when it is working...

Jodhpurs and breeches are horse-riding trousers designed to provide a more comfortable and safer ride. There are not many differences between the two types of trousers, but the choice between the...

Bitless bridles work by applying pressure to different areas of the horse's head to steer and stop. Rope halters, rope hackamores and sidepulls put pressure on the nose. Other bitless bridles...

Leather chaps come in many different types. They are popular as western wear as well as for motorcycle wear. They are not all style and can be very functional for people who commonly wear them.

Whether you are practicing for stadium jumping or cross-country, it is helpful to have your own jumps, and they should be constructed in a safe and practical manner suited to the competition....

Horse jumps have to be set exactly. Horse shows are judged by the number of faults collected. By the end of the competition, the horse and rider with the fewest faults and the best time walk away...

It is very easy to become burned out in the equine industry—long, hard hours of physical labor for very little profit, dealing with the public—it can all lead to you to feel downhearted and...

This is a very effecient way to clean and condition all your leather goods: bridle, saddle, boots, etc.

Leading a horse could potentially be very dangerous if you do not know how to do it correctly. Hear are some easy tips that may help!

Harness racing is when the horse is pulling a light two-wheeled cart and a driver rather than having a rider. The horse usually is not galloping, but performing at a trot or a pace. Pacers and...

Reining is a horse sport that grew out of daily tasks performed by a ranch horse. Rider and horse compete singly, and perform a set routine of very difficult maneuvers before a judge. The horse...

Santa Anita Thoroughbred Racetrack is located in Arcadia, California. It is one of the most famous race tracks in North America. One of the more noteworthy attributes of the track is a large...

Many horse racing fans will tell you that there's nothing like winning a wager on a race. However, many of these will tell you that wagering on horse racing is one of the hardest ways to make...

The number one step you can do to keep you--and the horse in question--safe is to use common sense when working with the animal. If something looks like a bad idea, like trying to mount him when...

Lunging is a good exercise for the horse. Not only does it allow the horse to move its limbs in an active fashion, it helps you teach the horse how to move in a controlled fashion--even on the end...