Can you label the parts of a horse?

Basic horse anatomy check-up

Horse lovers: Here’s a trick question. (Actually, here are a few.)

Do you know basic Horse Anatomy? Can you tell a forelock from a fetlock? What’s the difference between a hock and a hoof?

Test your horse structure savvy.

Fill in as many blanks as you can, using this drawing to tag The Anatomy of the Horse.

4D Vision Horse Model

(Don’t scroll down 
for the answers 
until you’ve identified 
as many equine body parts 
as you can.)

Visible Horse

Ready for the answers?

Did you fill in as many blanks as you possibly can - before scrolling down to see the answers?

OK, then take a look at the labels on this second Equine Anatomy drawing.

How well did you do at identifying the parts of a horse?

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Does your horse stand still for mounting?

Gotta say it. One of my pet peeves about horse training is the horse that begins walking off, just as the rider starts to step aboard.

Some equines step off as soon as the rider is seated in the saddle, even before he or she gathers up the reins. Others start their promenade while the rider is swinging a leg over the horse. And some horses start to go forward even earlier.

I’ve seen more than a few professional horse trainers (as maybe you have too), who allow this bad behavior to continue.

Sure, it may not rattle a lifelong horseman or horsewoman to mount a moving target. Maybe old-time cowboys didn’t mind playing catch-up while climbing onto a horse. OK, several particularly game riders have even vaulted aboard running horses.

Not me, thanks.

Several years ago, I actually took a terrible tumble when my horse stepped off from the mounting block before I was seated and balanced. I was riding bareback, even without a Bareback Pad (because it was about 100 degrees that day). As you might imagine, it took little to send me into a gravitational spin, which sent me to the emergency room.

With that fall, I lost a quarter of an inch of height, crushing a lumbar vertebra when I bounced off the edge of the mounting block on the way down. Ouch!

Yes, I used a Mounting Block. My Warmblood Horse was 16.3 hands high, and I’m somewhat height-challenged. 

You know the drill.

Enter Clinton Anderson with a few practical pointers. I liked this video, and it’s come in quite handy with a young horse I’m working with right now.

Maybe you’ll find Anderson’s tips helpful too. Yes, it’s fairly common-sense stuff, but he puts it together in a workable way.

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Hold it, little horse. This time, you’re standing for mounting!

Clinton Anderson's Downunder Horsemanship: Establishing Respect and Control for English and Western Riders

photo credit: Eduardo Amorim via photopin cc

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A Pleasingly Puzzling Present for Pony Pals

Here’s a puzzle. Actually, it’s more like a riddle.

What’s a horse lover to do when an equestrian clinic seems to drag on forever? 

Or how can a rider pass those hurry-up-and-wait minutes, which invariably stretch into hours, while glancing at his or her equestrian-themed wristwatch or the stable wall clock and peeking at the barn driveway for the farrier or horse vet truck to show up?

You know the drill. 

There’s not enough time to saddle up a favorite horse (or even the mount that seems to be sound today). But the moments seem to freeze, no matter the weather.

Enter the solution. This looks like serious fun.

The Equestrian Scramble Squares - from B Dazzle is a brain-teaser for horse lovers. It’s sort of like a cross between a set of pony flash cards and a Rubik’s Cube. This ponderous plaything retails for about $10. 

You're supposed to line up all the little horses on all sides of every square. It's positively maddening - and marvelous.

Like equestrian pursuits, the puzzle is a lot harder than it appears.

B Dazzle also has Scramble Squares in bear, buffalo, cow, fairies, fish, kitten, moose, parrot, turtle, and dozens of other varieties. But the equestrian version is perfect for a pony pal.

Hey, Cupid! Skip the chocolates this year, and pick up one of these little puzzle games instead. I don’t need the sweets this Valentine’s Day. I’m still trying to burn off those Christmas calories.

No, I didn’t receive a Scramble Squares: Equestrian Puzzle for free or promotional purposes. But I’d really like one. I bet I could name five or six horse-loving friends who'd be hooked on this challenge too. Of course, once we started, we'd probably never find time to ride our horses. We'd be gripped by the puzzle till we got it right. Uh-oh!

I know someone who might like the golf version as well.

But we'd still better pick up a bin of Stud Muffins for you-know-who.

Image:

Equestrian Scramble Squares

From B Dazzle

Promotional photo/ fair use

Related Item/s:
10 Calorie-Burning Activities for Equestrians - Getting in Shape for the Horse Show Season
Here's a trick question for avid equestrians. How many calories can a horseback rider burn, simply by performing activities and tasks that he or she might already be doing?

Feel free to follow on GooglePlus and Twitter. You are also invited to join this writer's fan page, as well as the Chicago Etiquette Examiner, Madison Holidays Examiner, Equestrian Examiner and Madison Equestrian Examiner on Facebook.