If you’re looking for a dog to keep around your horses, I’d start with one question: can the dog watch a horse move without trying to chase, circle, or get under its feet? Quick answer: A calm Labrador Retriever is worth considering, and I’ve had good experiences with Mountain Curs around our horses. Herding breeds …
How old can a horse breed? Most mares remain productive until their mid-to-late teens, with some producing foals into their early twenties. Stallions generally stay fertile much longer and may continue breeding into their mid-twenties or beyond. But breeding age isn’t determined by a number alone. Fertility depends on reproductive health, breeding history, genetics, and …
I was leading a new horse from the walker to the barn when a car came around the corner. The horse reared up and started pulling — scared out of his mind by something that barely registered to me. I’ve seen it at the track too: a perfectly trained Thoroughbred that handles the chaos of …
I was picking out my horses’ hooves one morning when my grandson asked why horses don’t have toes. It’s a good question because, when you look at a horse’s lower leg, it’s easy to wonder where the toes went. There’s no row of toes like we have, and the hoof looks more like a foot …
Horses are large, domesticated animals, so it’s fair to wonder why Americans raise cattle, hogs, and sheep for meat but leave horses off the menu. In France, Japan, and several other countries, horse meat is still bought and eaten. In the United States, though, you won’t find it in a grocery-store meat case. So why …
Full-service horse boarding in the U.S. typically runs $600–$1,200 per month in most areas, but the real range is much wider. What catches most owners off guard is how quickly the monthly cost climbs once you factor in vet and farrier work, supplements, insurance, and add-ons. This guide breaks down 2026 prices by board type, …
Why don’t horses have horns? Horses don’t have horns because they evolved as prey animals built for speed, not combat. Unlike deer, cattle, and antelope — which developed horns for defense and male competition — horses survived by outrunning predators across open terrain. Nature selected for quickness, endurance, and acute senses rather than the heavy …
Popular horse breeds like Clydesdales, Friesians, Belgians, and Thoroughbreds developed in Europe, making it easy to assume horses are European animals. But is that actually true? Quick answer: Yes, horses are native to Europe in the sense that wild horses lived there for tens of thousands of years. But Europe isn’t where the horse family …
Owning a horse can bring lots of fun, get you outdoors, and keep you active. Picture yourself astride a horse, feeling the steady rhythm of its steps, breathing in the fresh air as you ride under the open sky. This is not just an exhilarating form of exercise, but it’s also a great way to …
A Western saddle has a lot of parts, and knowing what each one is called makes it easier to spot wear, discuss repairs with a saddle maker, and explain a possible fit problem to your trainer. Whether you’re shopping for a saddle, checking out a used one, or simply curious how all those leather pieces …