We’ve seen them in film, on the track, in stories, and in history books. We’ve heard about their incredible speed and stamina on the track, their love of hunting with our ancestors, and how they make fantastic pets at home. The Greyhound is one of the world’s most popular dogs, and as their day on the racecourse comes to a close in many countries, that doesn’t mean that they will stop being wonderful companions.
Like with any dog breed, Greyhounds need a certain amount of love and attention, and like any breed, they have their share of health problems. The Greyhound tends to be an overall healthy dog, and doesn’t suffer from many of the genetic problems that many other breeds are born with.
Looking after your new Greyhound, whether it’s an older dog or a new puppy is generally quite easy, but there are some concerns that you will always need to keep in the back of your head, especially as they become older.
Adopting An Ex Racer
Many countries around the planet are putting an end to Greyhound racing as a whole. It has lost its popularity with the crowds, and many believe that the sport is cruel to the dogs. This also means that are more ex-racer hounds up for adoption than ever before, and because their previous racing life was quite physically-intensive, they may have suffered some injuries.
It’s not that different from adopting an ex-racing horse, and if you’re clued up with your horse racing tips, you’ll know what to look out for in your animal. Some of the more prevalent conditions that will affect an older race dog include protozoan disease, Lyme disease, worms, dental problems, osteoarthritis, and intervertebral disk disease. Almost all of these conditions warrant a trip to the vet, and while some of them are lifelong for the animal, their symptoms can be lessened to a degree.
Common Greyhound Ailments
As a breed, the Greyhound does have a predilection to some problems. One of these is cancer; specifically bone cancer, which is very common in many greyhounds. This is a serious disease that can quickly kill a dog, so it’s important that they have regular check-ups at the vet.
Some of the symptoms include an extreme increase in hunger, the dog losing lots of weight, and lameness in one or more of the legs. This requires a trip to the vet as soon as possible, where they will issue a bone biopsy to check if the animal has developed any bone cancer.
Another common problem is a gastrointestinal syndrome, most commonly referred to as bloat. This is almost always an emergency, and getting your hound to a vet is extremely important, as otherwise it can kill the dog in a matter of hours. Symptoms include not eating, not drinking, pacing around as if in pain, and wincing if you attempt to touch the dog.
Greyhounds – Faithful Companions
Despite some of the issues these dogs may suffer over their lifetimes, they are sweet, energetic, loving companions who deserve a home as much as the next dog, especially the ones that spent most of their life being on the racetrack.
Horse Breeds And Their Different Temperaments
If you’ve ever spent a substantial amount of time with different horses, you will know that each one has a personality of their own, much like humans. The behaviour of a horse can be influenced over time by a variety of factors, such as their upbringing, where they were raised, and how well they are treated.
Despite all this, there are some personality traits and temperaments that are endemic to certain breeds, as any seasoned trainer will tell you. That’s why each breed has different kinds of training, which is often also specialised further for that specific animal and its needs.
This can be apparent if you’re an avid horse enthusiast, or you follow horse racing betting sites – they will all show you the same thing: that different breeds act and behave in ways that other breeds simply do not emulate.
As far as temperament is concerned, there are generally two kinds of breeds: hot-blooded, and cold-blooded. We will discuss both, and which breeds fit into which group.
Hot-Blooded Breeds
As you may have guessed, a hot-blooded breed tends to be the kind of horse that is high strung, full of energy, nervous, and often with fiery tempers. These are the kinds of horses that are generally much harder to train, but at the same time, are often some of the best competitors in the racing scene.
Long distance and speed racing are the best attributes of these breeds, which usually make up for the time and patience it takes to train them.
- Thoroughbred: the Thoroughbred is well known across the world as a fast, powerful horse that has dominated race tracks for generations. They’re mostly used for racing, mounted athletics, and jumping, and although they take much longer to train, they also tend to be much more competitive than other breeds.
- Anglo Arabian: A cross between a Thoroughbred and an Arabian that has retained the best traits of both, the Anglo Arabian is not so much a racer as a recreational horse. They are much easier to train, but are highly strung, and overreact in stressful situations.
- Arabian: One of the oldest breeds on record, Arabians have had a lot of influence on many of the world’s modern breeds, especially where genes are concerned. The Arabian is a runner, and enjoys long distance riding like few other horses, but they are easily scared, and their curiosity can sometimes land them in a tight spot.
Cold-Blooded Breeds
A cold-blooded breed is the complete opposite to the hot-blooded, and while many of the breeds to share some similar personality traits; they are much easier to train and not as highly strung. Cold-blooded breeds are usually quite tall and muscular, and due to their calm natures and strong stature, they have made popular workhorses in the past.
- Shire: A huge horse that is often seen pulling a carriage, these gentle giants are generally quite docile and hard working. Their patience has made them excellent companions in the past, especially on long journeys through rough country.
- Clydesdale: Another large, taller horse, the Clydesdale has been used as a farm labourer for hundreds of years, and are quite unique due to their intelligence and high spirits. They’re also quite an energetic breed, and can still be found on farms across the world today.
There are many more horse breeds in the world, and while we’ve only covered a few, these breeds are the ones that most people have come across or heard of at least once before, and are favourites for modern day trainers.
Worlds Most Popular Horse Breeds
The Most Popular Horse Breeds In The World
Horse breeding is almost as old as dog breeding, and it’s something that mankind has been mastering for thousands of years. The first cases of horse breeding can be dated back to past civilisations, especially in the east with the discovery of the Arabian, a breed that is still around today.
Once people had learned just how fast, agile, and strong the Arabian was, they began introducing its genes to other breeds in attempt to make them better.
In today’s era, horse breeding is one of the world’s favourite pastimes, and there are now dozens and dozens of breeds found all over the world.
From the tiny miniature pony to the massive work horse, horse breeding has become as popular as NZD bingo, and continues to feature in both show horses, racers, entertainers, and even as pets.
We will look at the five most popular breeds in the world and what makes them different to other well-known breeds.
1. The Arabian
The most famous horse breed of them all, the Arabian is considered by many to be the oldest horse breed in existence, first being found in the Middle East thousands of years ago.
It’s speed and endurance was quickly apparent to those that first discovered the breed, and it wasn’t long before the Arabian had made its way around the world.
Even today, the Arabian is a highly prized breed and remains as a dedicated racer among other disciplines.
2. Thoroughbred
Some of the most famous horses in history have been of Thoroughbred stock, and it is believed by many to be the most popular horse of today.
With Arabian ancestry, the Thoroughbred was designed to be a machine of speed and strength; a natural racer that would go on to dominate countless tracks throughout racing history.
There is a common misconception that a Thoroughbred is a horse that is pure stock, where it’s actually a breed of horse on its own.
3. Quarter Horse
The Quarter Horse was first bred in the United States, and has gone on to become one of the most popular breeds in the country. With its incredible bursts of speed over short distances, the breed was created for both competition racing and for the harsh trails that pioneers used to travel the country.
Today, the Quarter Horse is used mostly for racing, roping and cutting, and as recreational horses.
4. Paint Horse
A fairly unique breed thanks to its magnificent coat, the Paint is a combination of Pinto colour and western stock. Although many believe that the Paint is a breed of colour, they’re officially designated as a true breed thanks to their pure bloodlines and distinct characteristics.
5. Appaloosa
The Appaloosa was first bred by the Nez Perce tribe in the Pacific North West of America, and are well-known for their gorgeous spotted coats, often with a splash of white paint.
The breed is extremely hardy and strong, and they were used mainly as work and trail horses. Today, they are mostly used for pleasure riding and trails, and remain a popular choice for breeders.
The Fundamentals of Horse Racing
Horse Racing – The Basics
Horse racing is one of the world’s most popular competitive sports, and continues to be a powerful force in the sporting world. The sport itself can be traced back thousands of years, as horses have always been raced due to their speed and stamina. Modern racing as we know it today has only existed for the last two hundred years or so, and has not changed much in that time.
While there are many types of horse racing found throughout the world, we will focus mostly on the most popular type: flat racing. Flat racing is a horse race that is done on a flat racecourse, usually done over a predetermined distance, and each race has different requirements that, including the breed of the horse, and the type of class the horse is.
Flat racing has seen substantial growth in popularity over the last several decades, and like online bingo Sweden, this is thanks in large part to the massive betting scene that has grown and prospered around the sport. Horse race betting is a favourite pastime for enthusiasts the world over, and makes for some truly thrilling entertainment. If you’re interested in taking up horse race betting, or simply want to know more about how flat racing works, read on to find out more.
All About Flat Racing
While flat racing distances are predetermined, they will always be within a certain lengths, such as 2 furlongs – which is 402 metres – up to 4.8 km. The distance depends on the host of the track, the class and breed of the horses participating, and the event that is taking place. Most flat races are done in either a test of speed, stamina, or a combination of the two, and is often also a test of how well the jockey can perform on the back of their racer.
Despite all the breeds that take part in flat racing, the Thoroughbred has been the dominant breed for the last two hundred years thanks to its unparalleled speed and endurance. Some of the greatest flat racers in history were Thoroughbred, such as Man ‘o War and Secretariat.
While most flat race surfaces are made up of short grass, they can vary depending on where the racecourse is. It can also depend on the breed taking part, as some breeds perform better on certain surfaces.
In colder countries that tend to snow often, courses will often be synthetic to disallow them from freezing over and causing the horses to slip. These all-weather surfaces are made up of a mixture of sand and/or rubber and synthetic fibre, and covered by a special type of wax in many cases.
Other Types of Popular Horse Racing
Flat racing is the most followed horse racing in the world, that much is true, but there are other types that have gained massive popularity.
Jump racing is another, and this is where the horses are required to jump over special hurdles. There is also harness racing, where the animal has to wear a harness and pull a sulky.
Horse racing shows no sign of slowing down, and if you’re interested, there has never been a better time to get involved.
Equestrian Disciplines – Horse Training Disciplines Worth Knowing
Barrel racing
Barrel racing is rodeo event originally developed for women; the origin is thought to be Texas (where else?) The originally runs were either a figure eight or the cloverleaf pattern, though it changed to simply be the cloverleaf pattern which had the popular vote.
The purpose of barrel racing is to complete the pattern as fast as possible. The timer for a run starts as the horse and tide cross the start line and ends once the entire barrel run is completed and the horse and rider cross the finish line. The only rule for the sport is the fastest time wins, as long as you complete the course correctly.
Dressage
Dressage basically means training in French, so it is the art of training your horse and controlling it. This discipline requires a high skill of horse riding and is considered the highest expression of horse training by leading equestrians.
The point of dressage is for the horse to be so well trained that they respond to a bare minimum of direction by the rider and perform the pre determined set of movements.
Dressage is even an Olympic event, and competitions often consist of individual tests that increase each time with difficulty. Some movements in these tests include the Passage, a trot that seems to have the horse pause between each stride or a Pirouette which is a 360 turn in place. This is an art form and can be as enjoyable as playing the online bingo UK has to offer. When you have time, look up some Dressage and learn exactly how disciplined a horse can be.
Show Jumping
Show jumping is one of the most well known and popular equestrian sports today. This forms part of the English riding events, but is practiced worldwide and is also part of the Olympics.
There are few classes under show Jumpers, Hunters, Jumpers or hunt seat Equitation classes.
4Hnters are judged by how well they meet the standard set for manners and style, where as Jumpers are scored numerically on whether they attempted a jump, clear it and finished the set course in the required time.
The Equitation class is the judging of the rider’s abilities on the horse, and is similar to the Hunter style in scoring.
Polo
Another well known equestrian discipline often thought to be a sport of the rich, famous or royal. Thought to have originated in the Middle East, either in the 6th century BC or up to the 1st Century AD, many peoples and civilisations have played some variation of this sport since then.
Polo is one of the few equestrian team sports, and the objective is to drive a small ball into your opponent’s goal, and thereby scoring.
Polo is popular in the Modern age with its most common players being found in England, India, USA and most well known in Argentina.
Racing
Racing is the most popular equestrian sport, with thousands of people following the races, horses, jockeys and trainers avidly. Plenty of bets are made and loads of fun and excitement is had with a day at the races.
With a history going back to Ancient times, horse racing in one form or the other has been with mankind for a long time. Horse racing can include chariot racing, jump racing or the most well known Flat racing.
The Art of Horse Training
So you want to get a horse and train that horse? Believe us when we say it is not all black beauty or The Horse Whisperer, it takes a lot of dedication and time to correctly train a horse. Yes some people are naturals with horses, but for the mere mortal non horse whisperer, we give you some basics to get you started before the intense higher level training efforts.
Before starting the training, remember horse care – as we have discussed before, a health horse is a happy horse. So make sure you get the basics right, like shelter, feed and grooming. This simple basic of making sure your horse is as healthy as absolutely possible, will greatly assist when trying to train the horse.
The top two basics to focus on before intense training starts:
Groundwork – Before jumping on your horse and riding off to the sunset, you should start with groundwork. Meaning you do not even get on the horse! Just like you’d practice before playing Skrill online casino gambling games for real money, do some research, or hire a professional to train you and start out with your new adventure in horse training.
Try getting these basics of groundwork training done before moving on:
Leading – lead your horse from point A to B
Touching – touching your horse acclimates it to being around you and being touched all over by you. Start with stroking the horse with both your hands and move on too grooming your horse. Grooming is essential to creating a friendship with your horse, and horse love good grooming.
Pressure – training your horse to yield to physical pressure when applied to certain body parts. For example pushing backwards on the horse’s nose so that the horse yields and moves backwards. Or applying a small amount of pressure to the chest to make the horse take a step back.
Indirect pressure – this is training your horse to respond without apply pressure. The movements are similar to the direct pressure training but requires more energy from you to enforce your direction on the horse. This takes patience and skill from both you and the horse, so take your time.
Groundwork can be extremely challenging but also very enjoyable, so start with basic groundwork skills and conquer them – then move on to the more advanced groundwork skills.
Horse manners are similar to groundwork; there are a few basic manners a horse should be taught in order to ensure the rest of the training goes as smooth as possible.
– Enter a trailer – this goes in hand with being lead, as a horse needs to put easily in a trailer safely for travel or for emergency situations
– Stay – Getting a horse to hold position is part of indirect pressure and is relevant to both your and the horses safety. If a horse does not listen to commands and stay as ordered he could hurt both you and itself.
– Allow them to be caught – You need to train your horse to be caught when called, as a horse that will not allow itself to be caught is basically impossible to train. This is also urgent for emergency situations like evacuations.
– Stand for hoof inspection – as a horse’s hooves should be trimmed every 6 to 8 weeks, it makes life a lot simpler if a horse is trained to allow its feet touched anytime.
The Art of Greyhound Breeding
Whether you’re planning on breeding your own greyhounds or are looking into the history of a particular greyhound you are interested in purchasing, knowing how to breed these dogs is essential.
So if you are really interested in breeding greyhounds and are looking for a great animal to breed, take a break from your online bingo Canada time and knuckle down for some hard work with Grey hound breeding.
So let’s start with the basics of greyhound breeding:
The Breeding pair
The breeding pair’s lineage is very important and greatly affects the pups that will be sired. So do a lot of thorough research before breeding to another dog. The breeding pool of greyhounds is one of the largest for purebred dogs in the world, this keeps the dogs healthy and free from any genetic disorders that could arise from inbreeding too much.
There are few things to consider when selecting a breeding pair
- Outcome – what exactly do you want out of the new puppies? Do you want more agility, more speed, and better coordination? Once you know what your outcome should be, finding a suitable match of breeding pair can be tricky but is done.
- Female – selecting a female who has bred before can be quick way to see what possible outcomes your litter may have. Also look into her pedigree and traits to see if they suit your needs
- Male – once you have chosen the female, and know her good and bad traits, you then select a male to compliment or “correct” the defecates in the female.
Work and sacrifices
If you are a new breeder you will quickly learn the amount of work and dedication it takes to consistently breed and rear great greyhounds.
You will spend a lot of time with your greyhounds, and get to know them and their delicate needs well. So be prepared to work for those winning puppies.
Costs
The costs involved can be a bit of a shock in the beginning, but if you succeed in setting up a great breeding kennel with good bloodlines, you could earn from your male stud fees. Do not try an be cheap when breeding greyhounds, as this will lead to bad results and lack of registration as a pure bred.
Costs to remember:
- Starting out stud fee
- Starting female cost
- Food
- Housing
- Vet bills (deworming, vaccines, surgeries etc)
- Trainer fee
Pets
If you are not planning on breeding your greyhounds for racing, then do consider them for breeding as pets. Greyhounds have a long history as companions to people, and make great pets for people homes.
Also consider rehoming retired greyhounds to ensure that these racers get a great retirement after their track days are over.
If all else fails or perhaps you feel a bit overwhelmed by the information out there – hire a professional. A breeding program does not happen overnight, so consulting a professional breeder or working with one could greatly assist your own breeding efforts.
Horse Health Care – A Guide
The basics of caring for your horses
When beginning your new obsession of breeding horses, it helps to start with the basics and focusing on the fundamental requirements horses need in order to be healthy. If you focus on these in the beginning instead of trying to produce the top racing horse, you will have happy healthy horses that are better to breed.
So when you take a break from playing real money bingo Canada, implement some or our entire guide for caring for your horses.
These are the basics guidelines to follow:
Stabling:
The most basic but important need for horse breeding is ensuring they are housed correctly and safely, this also include stabling you hire form other landowners.
– Natural elements – your horse needs to be securely sheltered against not just cold rainy weather but harsh sun as well
– Run in shelter – if you are lucky enough to have your own land, consider building a run in shelter so the horses can decide when they want to be in the elements. Have a stable with a permanent stall for your horse is also a great option, but remember you will need to spend more time exercising them
– Check for hidden dangers – you should always ensure that the environment your horse moves around in is free from plants that could poison horses or from barbed wire or indentations that could damage their legs.
Food:
The nutrition horses need can come from simple grasses, but simple it is not really the word to describe a horse’s digestive system.
– Fresh Food– the food you supply your horse should be fresh, their digestion is sensitive and mouldy hay can cause serious issues
– Fresh water – a horse should have access to clean fresh water
– Extra nutrients – Supplements can be a great way to ensure your horse remains healthy, and sometimes are necessary to ensure your horse gets their full nutrient supply
– Know your poison – make sure that you or your stable hands know what is detrimental to your horse’s health and never gets fed to them
Fundamental hygiene:
Al lot of people think horse care is all about brushing a horse down, but in reality there is a lot more to monitor and do.
Teeth
As your horse teeth keep growing you need to make sure they get checked by a vet at least once a year. Letting your horses teeth get in bad shape can affect their overall health and lead to quite a few health issues.
Keep an eye out for bad breath, discomfort when using a bit or undigested hay, to make sure that your horses teeth stay in shape.
Hooves
A horse’s hooves also grow continuously, so make sure you trim them regularly especially if your horse spends a lot of time in the stable and gets no natural wear and tear.
When grooming your horse, take the time to check for any potential health issues, from their teeth to the hooves. Also check for ticks or any injuries to your horse that can be treated on the spot.
Horse Health:
Horses can get suddenly sick, so ensure you keep an eye on their health and make sure to get a trusted and experienced vet to care for them.
As a horse owner you should learn the basics of horse healthcare, like take their vital signs or knowing the symptoms of curtails common illnesses. Make sure to learn about Colic, as is often afflicts horse, and make sure you keep your horses vaccinations up to date.
How to Catch a Horse That’s Hard to Catch
Not being able to catch your horse when you need to is a very frustrating experience. Chasing it down, or tricking it into letting you approach is not a great way to begin the time you are going to be spending together either.
It really is worth spending a while teaching your horse to be caught safely: after all, not only does having to out-think and out-maneuver a horse that doesn’t want to be caught tax your time and patience, there may be a time that it is vital that you do so quickly, too. (more…)
Keeping Greyhounds as Pets
Greyhounds make great pets, but knowing this breed’s traits and understanding a former racer’s background is vital when deciding whether one would be the right choice as a pet for you or not.
Being a Pet is a Totally New Experience
As punters who enjoy the races that bookmakers providing sports betting in Australia and around the rest of the world will well know, the race track is part and parcel of a greyhound’s life from the day it is born.
Thanks to these dogs living the extremely sheltered and regimented lives they do, becoming pets is almost like being reborn for them. Even though the majority of former racers are over two-years old when they retire from the track, they will, for the most part, not have been exposed to the daily sights and sounds common to our familiar homes and surroundings.
Stay Patient as They Find Their Way
Rides in cars, dog toys, TVs, children, stairs, the smells wafting from kitchens, noises from the street, and almost everything that you and I consider to be normal aspects of daily life will be totally strange to greyhounds who were once racers.
They will be curious, dumbstruck, and possibly even a little frightened of all of these, so make sure you take your time with them. They will need to adjust to their new surroundings, and each one will do so at a different pace.
Greyhounds are Wonderful Companions
Greyhounds enjoy being with both people and other dogs, and, thanks to the fact that they will have spent their whole lives with their racing counterparts, they are usually very easily able to adapt to other dogs living with you.
Most greyhounds will also have no trouble getting along with your cats and kids, too.
These dogs are docile and very tolerant, but will best suit quiet, gentle children who are not given to overly boisterous play.
Be aware that even the calmest dog may snap at a child who is hitting, pinching, poking, or hurting it, and make sure that any kids that will be interacting with your dogs are aware of how the dogs should be treated.
An Easy Dog for People to Keep
Greyhounds do not require high levels of maintenance, either. Their skins are slightly oily, so a few baths a year is recommended, unless of course your greyhound is fond of playing in the mud!
Make use of a grooming mitt a couple of times a week to keep its coat in good condition, and clipping its nails monthly as well as ensuring that its ears are kept clean is also required.
Your greyhound will not need to be housebroken, since they have been trained from a young age to do their business outside their kennels, and so keep them clean. You may need to walk them more frequently at first, but they will very quickly learn that their new homes have the same rules in place as their kennels once did, and they will go outside to relieve themselves from the get-go.