Horses are magnificent creatures that people keep for riding purposes. There are three distinct categories of horses. These are hot bloods, cold bloods and warm bloods. The categorization is based on the general temperament of the horses. Hot bloods are highly spirited. More over, they have a lot of speed and endurance. Cold bloods are muscular in stature. Accordingly, they are used as draft horses for such purposes as logging and farming. Warm bloods are a cross-breed between the hot and the cold bloods. These particular horses are bred for the specific purpose of riding.
Horses have a life expectancy of between 25 and 30 years. However, this largely depends on the breed of the horse. Some horses live to be 40 or 50 yeas old. You may not know this but you can tell a horse’s age by looking at his teeth. You may not be able to correctly tell the age of a horse the very first time. Nonetheless, with a little practice, you will be able to do with ease. The best person to teach you how to tell a horse’s age is a breeder or someone who has spent a considerable amount of time around horses.
Though horses are big and powerful creatures, they are also fearful. Among the things that frighten horses are abrupt movements and loud sounds. If your horse is frightened, being gentle yet firm and using quiet words to soothe him will help to calm him down. A terrified horse can be dangerous. More over, it can be hard trying to calm him down. You can only succeed if you also stay calm.
The best way to train your horses is to use incentives and punishment. By giving incentives, say apples or carrots, your horse will learn to obey commands. Conversely, using punishment will teach your horse not to do certain things. It is worth noting that you do not always have to use food as an incentive. Such simple actions as petting and using kind words can also serve as rewards. Punishment does not also only involve using spurs to jab your horse or hitting with a crop. Using a harsh sharp voice and tightening the reigns on your horse are also forms of punishment.
Before you go out and buy a horse, it is important to research and learn a few general things about them such as how to differentiate different breeds. The internet is a superb pace to learn more about horses.