Golden Bloodlines?
A study from Mississippi State University shows that most palomino show horses in America descend from six sires. In fact, one stallion accounts for nearly 60 percent of current bloodlines.
Pros and Cons of Feeding Horses Beet Pulp
What is beet pulp and why do we feed it to horses? Is it a concentrate or is it forage? Does it supply more or less calories compared to hay or oats? Is it high in sugar? Is it a good choice for easy keepers? Learn about this common and important feed for horses.
What are the 4 Lengths of Horses’ Feet?
A Hall of Fame farrier defines each of the lengths and how they apply to disciplines. The three important lengths for the soundness of the horse — dorsal length, horizontal length and vertical length (or depth). This brief discussion encompasses a thought process of four different lengths of overall hoof length — too short, protective, optimum…
Can Riders Accurately Assess Saddle Placement?
A recent study indicates that riders who have had saddles fitted by professionals are more likely to identify a saddle in the correct position on a horse.
Horses Could Be Secret Weapon Against Wildfires
Mediterranean forests face an escalating wildfire crisis, but researchers in Spain have discovered an unlikely ally grazing in their midst. A groundbreaking study reveals that horses possess remarkable dietary flexibility that could transform how we approach forest fire prevention across the region’s vulnerable landscapes.
Humans Get as Attached to Horses as They Do to Pets
Humans have long described strong relationships with their horses, but until now, there has been no validated method for assessing the attachment styles in the context of human–horse relationships. Researchers from the University of Turku and the University of Helsinki in Finland used a specific survey to measure how people form an emotional attachment to…
RCMP Name the Foal Contest
The annual RCMP Name the Foal contest is on from April 7 to 24th. The winning names will be given to as many as nine foals expected to be born this spring at the RCMP’s horse breeding farm in Pakenham, Ontario. To qualify, a participant must: be 14 years old or younger* submit a name that begins…
Become a Pony Express Trail Junior Ranger
April 3 marks the first ride of the Pony Express, which began back in 1860. The National Park Service offers an opportunity to become a Junior Ranger for the Pony Express National Historic Trail. You’ll learn about the fascinating history of the Pony Express and earn a Junior Ranger badge when you submit your completed…
World’s First Gene-edited Horses are Shaking Up the Sport of Polo
Five 10-month-olds are the world’s first genetically edited horses: cloned copies of a prize-winning horse named Polo Pureza, or Polo Purity, with a single DNA sequence inserted using CRISPR technology with the aim of producing explosive speed.
Horses May Have Become Rideable With the Help of a Genetic Mutation
Humans as early as the Bronze Age may have been intentionally cultivating genes in horses that made them easier to tame and more able to bear the weight of riders.