horse
Explore the transformative role of horses throughout human history; equines were instrumental in the spread of agriculture, language, culture, technology and more.
Icelandic Wild Horses
I went to Iceland to find myself again. I needed to be back in nature, in raw unfiltered nature, away from the city, feeling the power of the Earth, the mountains, and the purity of clean cold air against my skin. Iceland had been a place deeply connected to my heart, both for the kindness of the people, and because of the incredible beauty of the landscape. It reminds me of how the Earth must have looked when she was born. Raw, powerful, pure.
By Maria Haddad5 years ago in Petlife
A Horse is a Horse
There is a saying in the entertainment industry that goes, "The hardest type of film to work on is one with animals or children." The reason for this is because kids and animals are, well, unpredictable-- Even when they are trained. (The animals... Not the kids.)
By Candice Cain5 years ago in Petlife
The Clydesdale horse
The Clydesdale is one of three native British breeds of heavy horse, the others being the Suffolk Punch and the Shire. In the days before farm tractors, these horses were the mainstay of British agriculture, being bred to pull ploughs through heavy soil for hour after hour.
By John Welford5 years ago in Petlife
Second Chance Pony
My Mom and I went to the spring mixed breed sale at the auction house. I promised myself I wouldn’t come home with anything, but I brought along my horse trailer. You know, because it’s easy to hook up the trailer and take it along through city streets and find parking when you absolutely won’t be bringing home a horse.
By Elizabeth McCowan5 years ago in Petlife
Horse Breeds
Do you know your Suffolk Punch from your Clydesdale, and can you tell a Cleveland Bay from a Thoroughbred? To the untrained eye, many horses can look quite alike. But, while all domestic horses and ponies belong to the same species — Equus ferus caballus — there are many hundreds of different breeds, all of which have their own unique physical characteristics and temperaments.The sheer number of different kinds of horses and ponies can be overwhelming, even for equestrian enthusiasts. So, to help you brush up on your knowledge, we’ve put together a list of common horse breeds that you’re likely to come across in the UK, along with some facts about the size, traits, origins, and common uses of each type. We’ll cover:Horse breeds by region.English horse breeds,Scottish horse breeds,Welsh horse breeds,Irish horse breeds,Endangered and rare horse breeds,How many horse breeds are there?There are thought to well be over 350 breeds of horse in existence around the globe today. However, given that there’s no scientifically accepted definition for what formally constitutes a horse breed, there isn’t an exact number. Plus, new types of horse are always being bred, meaning that the overall total continues to increase by the day.While the definition is somewhat vague, it’s generally accepted that a breed is a type of horse that displays distinct true-breeding characteristics over several generations. There are a number of societies that protect and promote each one, to help ensure that standards for each type of horse remain consistent. The bloodlines of certain horse breeds are also recorded in General Stud Books, which help breeders ensure that their animals are of true purebred heritage.Some breeds have stricter rules about what does and doesn’t constitute a purebred. For example, certain breeds — including Thoroughbred horses — can only be considered a true example if they possess a very narrow set of characteristics. However, for other types of breeds where the pedigree is less important, the definition of what constitutes a purebred can be much broader and more variable.The reason there are so many breeds is all to do with the history of horses as working animals. Over thousands of years, people have selectively bred horses and ponies to emphasise traits that make them well-suited to different kinds of work, from farming and industry, to sport and leisure. Many breeds are also deeply rooted in the area where they are bred, with characteristics that help them to thrive in certain landscapes and weather conditions — you can learn more about this in our horse breeds by region section.As a result of years selective breeding, horses are quite a unique animal in terms of the sheer variety between different breeds. For instance, how many other animal subspecies boast a size difference quite like that between a Shire horse and a Shetland pony? The incredible versatility and variety of horses is one of the many reasons that these creatures have remained our constant companions throughout the centuries.Horse breeds by region.While many horses and ponies are selectively bred with the intention of making them more suitable for a particular kind of work or sport, the landscape and climate that they are bred in can also greatly influence their physical characteristics. As a result, horse breeds are often closely tied to the place where they first originated. Many are even named after the place where the breed was first established.In this guide, you’ll find information about a number of the most popular and well-known horse breeds from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Given the huge number of different horse breeds out there, it’s important to note that this guide is by no means exhaustive. However, you will find most of the most common horse breeds that you’re likely to encounter in the UK and Ireland.If you’re looking to buy a horse or pony of your own, then this guide is a great place to begin your research, especially if you’re still making up your mind about what size horse you will need, and which type will best suit your needs and lifestyle.Cleveland Bay Horse.Physical appearance: The Cleveland Bay has a large head with a convex face, a long strong neck, sloping shoulders, clean legs, and powerful hindquarters. They have a very handsome, noble appearance.Permitted colours: A rich bay colour (hence the name). Some Cleveland Bays also have a white marking on the forehead.Characteristics and uses: The Cleveland Bay is one of the oldest known English horse breeds, and was originally used for agriculture and pulling coaches. Over the years, Thoroughbred blood was introduced to the breed, and the Cleveland Bay became a competitive sport horse. They’re now quite a popular horse for all kinds of sports, especially showjumping and hunting.Cleveland Bays are also sometimes used at state occasions and royal celebrations, no doubt thanks to their powerful, handsome appearance and beautiful bay colouring. They generally have a calm, sensible disposition.Dale Pony.Physical appearance: The Dale pony is small in stature with a strong neck, broad chest, long sloping shoulders, and strong hindquarters and legs. They usually possess silky feathered legs and thick, shaggy manes and tails that make them hardy enough to stand the unforgiving climate of the Dales. They are closely related to the Fell pony, which is a little more pony-like in terms of build.Permitted colours: Black and brown are common, but bay, brown, and sometimes even grey or roan may be permitted.Characteristics and uses: These plucky ponies are brave, docile, calm, and hard-working, all characteristics that make them very suitable as family ponies. They possess enough stamina and power to excel at trekking and long-distance riding, but can also make fine jumpers, too.Dartmoor Pony.
By Zarinabanu Zarinabanu5 years ago in Petlife
Winter's Fury
Another picture, perfect day on the chilcotin landscape had me resting on my back country skis with eyes transfixed on the spectacle before me. Snow devils like tornados sucked snow from the surface of the airfield and spun the frozen pelts like coton candy. Whisps of snow tumbled from the vortex scattering through the clear, crisp air. I watched intently, as two snow devils combined and danced across the frozen landscape.
By Wolf Spirit5 years ago in Petlife
Diane's Purchase
Tears of joy and sorrow: In Memorium Diane/Lola The day was beautiful.. cool, clear blue skies.. and Diane. She came to the corral door and stuck her head in the halter... stole a mouthful of hay from the hay wagon, loaded into the trailer after balking a tad.. and off we went to her 3 PM appointment to join her friends Diosa and BB. What a beautiful soul we had to say goodbye to today. Cancer SUCKS.. .she had to leave us WAY too soon at just 20 years of age. Her pain was too much to ask her to continue.
By Lady Karina Benish5 years ago in Petlife
Me Trust? Neigh!
He was the ugliest male I had ever seen in my life. He had a bloody wound on his nose, hair six inches long on his chest, and he weighed about 700-800 pounds (about 400 pounds shy of his best weight). His name is Hawkeye and he has been my partner for 14+ years now. Hawkeye (or Beastie as he is sometimes called) is a mustang horse and he has taught me what it is to trust.
By Lady Karina Benish5 years ago in Petlife
